How to Ask for Clarification

Learn how to ask for clarification

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Vocabulary (Review)

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Lesson Transcript

Welcome to Can-Do French by FrenchPod101.com.

In this lesson, you’ll learn how to ask for clarification in French.

For example, "Can you repeat that?" is

Peux-tu répéter ?

Coralie Collin meets her neighbor, Theodore Toussaint , for the first time in the lobby of their building.

Theodore introduces himself but Coralie doesn’t catch his name and asks for clarification.

Before you hear the conversation, let's preview some of its key components,

répéter

"repeat"

répéter

Note, Coralie uses informal French.

Enchanté. Je m'appelle Théodore.

Excuse-moi, peux-tu répéter ?

Je m'appelle Théodore.

Once more with the English translation.

Enchanté. Je m'appelle Théodore.

“Nice to meet you. My name is Theodore.”

Excuse-moi, peux-tu répéter ?

“Excuse me, can you repeat that?”

Je m'appelle Théodore.

"My name is Theodore."

Let's take a closer look at the conversation.

Do you remember how Theodore introduces himself?

"Nice to meet you. My name is Theodore."

Enchanté. Je m'appelle Théodore.

First is enchanté, meaning "glad." Enchanté. Enchanté.

Enchanté is actually a shortened version of Enchanté de vous rencontrer, meaning "Glad to meet you." Enchanté de vous rencontrer.

Theodore uses the shortened version, Enchanté, in his introduction. This is the standard version when meeting someone for the first time, and is appropriate for both informal and formal situations.

Next is Je m’appelle Théodore. “My name is Theodore.” Je m’appelle Théodore.

First is Je. "I." Je. Je.

Next is m’appelle, which translates as “call myself.” M’appelle. M’appelle.

Note me is contracted with appelle to form m’appelle.

Me. "Me." Me. Me.

Next is appelle. "Call," as in “I call.” Appelle. Appelle.

Appelle is from the verb appeler, meaning “to call.” Appeler.

Together, m’appelle, “call myself.”M’appelle.

After this is Theodore’s given name: Théodore. Théodore.

Note: Theodore only uses his given name. Coralie and Theodore are young adults in an informal situation, so he only uses his given name.

Together, it’s Je m’appelle Théodore. Literally, “I call myself Theodore,” but translates as "My name is Theodore." Je m’appelle Théodore.

All together, Enchanté, je m’appelle Théodore. "Nice to meet you. My name is Theodore."

Théodore Toussaint : Enchanté. Je m'appelle Théodore.

Coralie can’t catch his name.

Do you remember how she asks,

"Excuse me. Can you repeat that?

Excuse-moi, peux-tu répéter ?

First is Excuse-moi. "Excuse me." Excuse-moi. Excuse-moi.

Note: Excuse-moi is the informal form of "Excuse me." In this conversation, Théodore and Coralie are of similar age, so the informal excuse-moi is more natural.

Next is peux, "can," as in “can you.” Peux. Peux.

Peux is from the verb, pouvoir, "to be able." Pouvoir.

Next is tu. "You." Tu. Tu.

Together, it’s Peux-tu, “Can you?” Peux-tu. Peux-tu.

Notice the word order when asking a question: verb, "peux," followed by the subject, "tu." “peux-tu, in this case.”

When this inverted word order occurs in French, there is a hyphen between the verb and the subject.

Last is répéter, “repeat,” Répéter. Répéter.

Note: the verb répéter, “to repeat,” is in its infinitive form.

All together, Excuse-moi, peux-tu répéter ? Literally, "Excuse me, can you repeat?" but it translates as, "Excuse me, can you repeat that?"

Coralie Collin : Excuse-moi, peux-tu répéter ?

Pronunciation note: notice the rising intonation indicating a question.

Finally, do you remember how Theodore says,

“My name is Theodore.”

Hint, you’ve heard it before.

Je m’appelle Théodore. "My name is Theodore."

Enchanté. Je m'appelle Théodore.

In this lesson, you learned how to ask for clarification in an informal situation:

Excuse-moi, peux-tu répéter ?

Excuse me, can you repeat?

To ask for clarification in a formal situation:

Excusez-moi, pouvez-vous répéter ?

Excuse me, can you repeat?

Excusez-moi, pouvez-vous répéter ?

Note the following changes in the formal form.

First, Excusez-moi, replaces Excuse-moi.

Excusez-moi, "Excuse me,” in the formal form. Excusez-moi.

Second, pouvez-vous, replaces peux-tu.

Pouvez-vous, “can you,” when using formal French. Pouvez-vous. Pouvez-vous.

Pouvez is from the verb pouvoir, meaning "to be able." Pouvoir.

Next is vous, a formal form for "you," which is singular in this context. Vous is the second person plural word for "you," but in formal contexts can be used with just one person.

Let’s look at the expressions once more.

Listen and repeat or speak along with the native speaker. First you will hear informal expressions, followed by their formal counterparts.

Excuse-moi.

"Excuse me."

Excuse-moi.

Peux-tu répéter ?

"Can you repeat that?"

Peux-tu répéter ?

Excuse-moi, peux-tu répéter ?

"Excuse me, can you repeat that?"

Excuse-moi, peux-tu répéter ?

Excusez-moi.

"Excuse me."

Excusez-moi.

Pouvez-vous répéter ?

"Can you repeat that?"

Pouvez-vous répéter ?

Excusez-moi, pouvez-vous répéter ?

"Excuse me, can you repeat that?"

Excusez-moi, pouvez-vous répéter ?

Je ne comprends pas.

"I don't understand."

Je ne comprends pas.

Pouvez-vous parler plus lentement ?

"Can you speak more slowly?"

Pouvez-vous parler plus lentement ?

Did you notice the new phrases?

Je ne comprends pas.

"I don’t understand." Je ne comprends pas. Je ne comprends pas.

Next is

Pouvez-vous parler plus lentement ? “Can you speak more slowly?” Pouvez-vous parler plus lentement ?

First is pouvez-vous, "can you," formal form. Pouvez-vous.

Next is parler, "speak." Parler. Parler.

After this is plus, "more." Plus. Plus.

Finally, lentement, "slowly." Lentement. Lentement.

All together, Pouvez-vous parler plus lentement ? "Can you speak more slowly?" Pouvez-vous parler plus lentement ?

For now, please remember Je ne comprends pas. and Pouvez-vous parler plus lentement ? as set phrases.

Let’s review the key vocabulary.

Parler

"speak."

Parler. Parler.

Plus.

"More."

Plus. Plus.

Lentement.

"Slowly."

Lentement. Lentement.

Let's review.

Respond to the prompts by speaking aloud. Then repeat after the native speaker, focusing on pronunciation.

Ready?

Do you remember the informal way to say,

“Excuse me.”

Excuse-moi.

And how to say "repeat?"

Répéter

Répéter.

Do you remember how Coralie asks,

"Excuse me, can you repeat?"

Remember she uses informal French.

Excuse-moi, peux-tu répéter?

Do you remember how to say

"Nice to meet you."

Enchanté.

And do you remember how Théodore says,

"Nice to meet you. My name is Theodore."

Enchanté, je m’appelle Théodore.

Do you remember how to say, "speak?"

Parler.

And how to say, "more?"

Plus.

Do you remember how to say, "slowly?"

Lentement.

And how to say,

“Can you speak more slowly?” in a formal way

Excusez-moi, pouvez-vous parler plus lentement ?

Let's practice.

Imagine you're Corentin Collin. Théodore introduces himself, but you can’t catch his name. Start with, “Excuse me, and ask him to repeat it using informal French.

Ready?

Enchanté. Je m'appelle Théodore.

Excuse-moi, peux-tu répéter ?

Listen again and repeat.

Excuse-moi, peux-tu répéter ?

Let’s try another.

Imagine you're Theodore. Constance Collin introduces herself, but you can't catch her name. Use formal French.

Ready?

Enchantée. Je m'appelle Constance Collin.

Excusez-moi, pouvez-vous répéter ?

Listen again and repeat.

Excusez-moi, pouvez-vous répéter ?

Let’s try one more.

Imagine you're Christophe Collin. Ask Fleur Toussaint to speak more slowly.

Ready?

Enchantée. Je m'appelle Fleur Toussaint.

Pouvez-vous parler plus lentement ?

Listen again and repeat.

Pouvez-vous parler plus lentement ?

This is the end of this lesson.

In this lesson, you learned how to ask for clarification in French. This plays an essential role in the larger skill of getting clarification on things when you're speaking French.

Remember, these Can Do lessons are about learning practical language skills.

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