23: "Sorry, I can't make it tonight..."

FromLearn French by Podcast

Start listening View podcast show

23: "Sorry, I can't make it tonight..."

FromLearn French by Podcast

ratings:

Length:

10 minutes

Released:

Sep 19, 2006

Format:

Podcast episode

Description

In this lesson we'll discover how to postpone an appointment we've made. We'll study the expression "Je ne vais pas pouvoir ... [+ infinitive]" and we'll work with the verb "décevoir", to disappoint (someone).

Released:

Sep 19, 2006

Format:

Podcast episode

Titles in the series (100)

Learn French by Podcast is an exciting series of French lessons for everybody. Work with high-quality audio podcasts in your own time and at your own pace. Want to clarify some details? Something you couldn't quite understand? Then download comprehensive with transcripts, details grammatical explanations, cultural points of interest, and more.

Skip carousel

2: Discussing family: In this lesson, learn how to say you get on well with someone. Speak about things in general and talk about playing musical instruments. Learn about adjectives ending in "-if", as well as the key verb "avoir". by Learn French by Podcast
10 min listen
3: Talking about work: Learn how to say where and for whom you work. Discuss colleagues. Discover some French acronyms, as well as the adverbs "bien" and "mal". See how to use the verb "pouvoir"; in a variety of situations. Are the French hard workers? Find out now. by Learn French by Podcast
13 min listen
5: A look at the alphabet!: Whether you're opening a bank account, or sending something by registered mail, chances are that someone is going to ask you to spell your name, your address, or whatever. But, how do you do that in French?! Let's find out. by Learn French by Podcast
13 min listen
24: "Excuse me... Is this seat taken?": It's a situation we find ourselves in regularly. We're in a bar or an auditorium looking for a seat. But... is the one we have our eye on actually free? How should we ask? Let's find out in this short, but practical, lesson. by Learn French by Podcast
4 min listen
33: "Excuse me... would you have the time?": Whether we like it or not, our modern lives are ruled by the clock. Let's study one of the basics in this lesson: how to tell the time. We'll also meet the expressions: "I'm going to be late!", "I'm going to be early!" and "I'm going to be on time!" by Learn French by Podcast
12 min listen
4: Problem at the airport!: Martin arrives in Charles de Gaulle airport, Paris. His luggage doesn't, however! Can you follow the directions he receives? Learn about the verb DEVOIR, the pronoun Y, talking about things in the past, and more. It's all in this lesson. by Learn French by Podcast
15 min listen
1: Introducing yourself: Welcome to Learn French by Podcast! In this first lesson, learn how to introduce yourself, saying where you live and what you do. Learn some new verbs. Then take a test to see how well you are doing. by Learn French by Podcast
5 min listen
18: "A return ticket to Toulouse, please...": In this lesson, let's find out how to buy a train ticket. The vocabulary we'll meet will be just as useful when purchasing inter-city bus tickets, plane tickets, and so on. Let's see, also, how to say we'd prefer a window or aisle seat, or travel in... by Learn French by Podcast
11 min listen
8: Making a suggestion: How do we propose going to the cinema, or the theatre? Or choosing between Thai or Chinese food? For that matter, how do we say "I don't mind - that's up to you!" Let's find the answers and learn a few colloquial expressions, too. by Learn French by Podcast
7 min listen
10: Discussing a movie you've seen: Learn how to talk about a movie you saw last night - what it was about, where it was filmed, some adjectives to describe the plot, the way in which it was filmed - it's all in this lesson. If you haven't seen a particular movie, study the questions... by Learn French by Podcast
12 min listen
13: A visit to the doctor: You're on a vacation in France but, unfortunately, you develop an earache while you're there. There's nothing for it but a visit to the doctor. But how will you explain the problem? Furthermore, will you be able to understand what the doctor is saying... by Learn French by Podcast
11 min listen
7: Talking about the future: In our previous lessons, we've confined ourselves mainly to the Present tense. But how do we talk about what we'll be doing next week, or for our summer vacation? We'll find out in this lesson. by Learn French by Podcast
14 min listen
32: "How are things going for your new colleague?": In this lesson, lesson 32, we'll be talking about Amélie's new colleague at work. Let's see what his responsibilities are and discover a little about his linguistic abilities. We'll meet the verbs "s'occuper de" and "apprendre" as well as the... by Learn French by Podcast
10 min listen
19: "My cell phone isn't working. I'd like to have it repaired, please...": "My cell phone isn't working. I'd like to have it repaired, please..." In this lesson, we'll find out what to say if we need to have something repaired. First, we'll describe the problem. Then we'll see how long it will take to sort everything out. by Learn French by Podcast
14 min listen
9: Discussing a sports event: You watched a match on TV last night with friends. Everybody is talking about it today. Your team played well and deserved their victory. But how do we talk about it all in French? Let's learn how to describe last night's atmosphere as well as some... by Learn French by Podcast
13 min listen
52: "I'd like to make an appointment to see the dentist...": We'll see how to make an appointment to see the dentist in this lesson. We'll meet a variety of useful expressions, including 'prendre rendezvous avec quelqu'un', 'ressentir (une douleur)' and 'le plus rapidement possible'. To see what all these mean... by Learn French by Podcast
13 min listen
6: Discussing your interests: In French, there are many ways of discussing the things that interest us. In this lesson, we'll meet a variety of verbs which will allow us to do that. We'll also look at "faire", a key verb in a wide range of activities. by Learn French by Podcast
15 min listen
15: "May I have one of those, please?": If you've been in France or another French-speaking country, chances are that you've found yourself in a shop asking for something in French. But how do we say "I'll have that one... no, sorry... the one on the right..."? In this lesson, let's learn... by Learn French by Podcast
14 min listen
40: "How am I going to explain it to him?": Relationship problems are the topic of this lesson! We'll learn how to ask someone what's wrong, we'll meet the reflexive verb "se séparer" and we'll ask ourselves the question, "How am I going to explain it to him?" We'll also distinguish... by Learn French by Podcast
7 min listen
20: "I need something for these mosquito bites!": A trip abroad can often lead to some unexpected physical condition - an upset stomach, itching from insect bites, blistered feet, or whatever. That, in turn, can lead us to the local pharmacy. But, what do we say when we get there? Let's find out. by Learn French by Podcast
10 min listen
21: "How was your holiday?" [Part I]: You're just back from a fantastic vacation. The first question you'll be asked, of course, is "How did it go?" There's so much to talk about: the weather, the food, the people, the location. Let's try out some of the vocabulary you're likely to need.... by Learn French by Podcast
12 min listen
11: Talking about the weather: Wherever we are, whatever we're doing, the weather seems to have an effect on our general state of mind. In this lesson, we'll meet some expressions which will provide the basics, whether it's a beautiful day or raining cats and dogs. by Learn French by Podcast
8 min listen
12: "I've got a hangover!": Type the word "hangover" into Google and it will return millions of hits. Remedies, cures, avoidance strategies, explanations - someone out there has all the answers. We can't pretend to have the ultimate cure, but we can, on the other hand, provide... by Learn French by Podcast
8 min listen
29: "It's been a long time!... What have you been up to?!": In this lesson, lesson 29, we'll find out how to say "It's been a while!" or "It's been a long time!" We'll also see how to ask what someone's been up to recently. by Learn French by Podcast
10 min listen
17: "She's not here right now - would you like to leave a message?": You make a phone call, but the person you're looking for isn't there. Should you leave a message? Or maybe that's not necessary - you'll call back later. Let's see, in this lesson, how the conversation might unravel. by Learn French by Podcast
8 min listen
34: "That fragrance is nice, don't you think?": We often pass comment on fragrances - food, perfume, flowers, nature, and so on. Let's study, in this short lesson, some expressions which will allows us to do that. We'll meet the verbs "sentir" and "mettre", in particular. We'll also see how to say... by Learn French by Podcast
6 min listen
16: "Is it ok if I take your photo?": People are usually very accommodating when we wish to take a photograph with them in it. But it's often advisable to ask first. Let's see how to do that in this lesson. We'll also see how to have them take our picture, using our camera. by Learn French by Podcast
7 min listen
26: "Could you do me a favour?": In this lesson, our goal is to find out how to ask someone to do a favour for us. We'll meet the expression "rendre un service à quelqu'un". We'll also re-visit the expression "il y a" but in the Immediate Future form. Finally, we'll study how... by Learn French by Podcast
8 min listen
25: "Is this a vegetarian dish?": You're in a restaurant, looking forward to your meal. That menu, however, is a little confusing: what about all those ingredients... and the names of those dishes! How can we make sense of it? We'll need to know how to ask some key questions. Let's... by Learn French by Podcast
10 min listen
Learn French by Podcast: Announcement: Hello from Learn French by Podcast. This is a special announcement regarding our audio French lessons and accompanying Lesson Guides. Those of you who have been following our lessons since we started in June 2006 will be aware that both our podcasts... by Learn French by Podcast
1 min listen

More Episodes from Learn French by Podcast

Skip carousel

211: Les rénovations se paient cher … à moins que l’on ne les fasse soi-même!: This time, our lesson relates to a DIY job that frightens off a lot people, that is, laying tiles. Let’s start with a dialogue. by Learn French by Podcast
13 min listen
210: ‘Que penses-tu de chatGPT? Faut-il en avoir peur?’: Since the launch of chatGPT in November 2022, everyone is talking about it. Some are in awe of its potential while others go so far as to say that it represents an existential threat. Let’s talk about this technological evolution in this lesson. by Learn French by Podcast
15 min listen
209 : Vers une société sans argent liquide: It seems we are inexorably headed towards a cashless society. It is not uncommon now for some retailers to even refuse cash payments. What are the consequences of this development? Let’s talk about it. by Learn French by Podcast
14 min listen
‘Les garçons ne pleurent pas’: In this lesson, we will hear Bertrand’s thoughts on a book he has just finished reading. But we are going to discover that the book’s title isn’t really true. by Learn French by Podcast
14 min listen
207: J'ai eu le covid.: People were starting to feel invincible. After over two year’s of covid, they were saying to themselves: ‘it’s over – we can get back to normality’. But covid is still circulating. Let’s start with a conversation. by Learn French by Podcast
13 min listen
206: De retour au bureau - à temps partiel: Back to the office, part-time by Learn French by Podcast
17 min listen
205: Le monde appartient à ceux qui se lèvent tôt!: 205: The world belongs to those who get up early! by Learn French by Podcast
17 min listen
204: Prendre - un verbe polyvalent: 204: Prendre - a multipurpose verb by Learn French by Podcast
7 min listen
203: L'indice de réparabilité - un petit pas dans la bonne direction: The repairability index - a small step in the right direction by Learn French by Podcast
18 min listen
202: Ça pousse, ton jardin?!: 202: How is your garden doing?! by Learn French by Podcast
16 min listen
201: La covid-19 - une crise inédite: 201: Covid-19 - an unprecedented crisis by Learn French by Podcast
29 min listen
200: La crise des opioïdes: 200: The opioids crisis by Learn French by Podcast
19 min listen
199: ‘Les décroissants’, c’est qui?: The ‘décroissants’, who are they? by Learn French by Podcast
11 min listen
198: Je viens chercher mon fils!: 198: I've come to pick up my son! by Learn French by Podcast
10 min listen
197: Quand l’Afrique a gagné la Coupe du Monde: 197: When ‘Africa’ won the World Cup! by Learn French by Podcast
18 min listen
196: Le Président Macron réinstaurera le Service national: 196: President Macron is going to reintroduce national service by Learn French by Podcast
17 min listen
195: La présidence Trump approche des élections de mi-mandat: The Trump presidency is approaching mid-term elections by Learn French by Podcast
19 min listen
194: France: la réforme de l'accès à l'université: France: university entrance reform by Learn French by Podcast
19 min listen
193: "Que penses-tu du Brexit?": "What do you think of Brexit? by Learn French by Podcast
14 min listen
192: Le transfer de Neymar : comment expliquer une telle outrance ?: The Neymar transfer: what can explain such an excess? by Learn French by Podcast
14 min listen
191: “Je vais m’offrir un téléphone basique”: “I’m going to buy myself a basic phone” by Learn French by Podcast
16 min listen
190: Le phénomène Macron ... en marche!: The Macron phenomenon ... up and running! by Learn French by Podcast
12 min listen
189: Comment parler d’un accident de la route?: How to talk about a traffic accident by Learn French by Podcast
14 min listen
188: Le retrait des États-Unis de l’Accord de Paris sur le changement climatique: The withdrawal of the U.S. from the Paris Accord on climate change by Learn French by Podcast
20 min listen
187: Un diplôme universitaire, cela en vaut-il la peine?: Is a university degree worth it? by Learn French by Podcast
17 min listen
186: "Est-ce que tu regardes quelque chose d'intéressant à la télé?": 186: "Are you watching anything interesting on TV?" by Learn French by Podcast
14 min listen
185: Les récifs coralliens menacés de disparition: The coral reefs threatened with extinction by Learn French by Podcast
15 min listen
184: Les tablettes tactiles en classe: un 'canular' coûteux?: Digital tablets in the classroom: a costly 'hoax'? by Learn French by Podcast
14 min listen
183: La Norvège : 'un pays de cocagne': Norway: 'a land of plenty' by Learn French by Podcast
14 min listen
182: Les centres d’appel: ‘les ateliers de misère du 21e siècle’?: 182: Call centres: ‘the sweatshops of the 21st century’? by Learn French by Podcast
8 min listen

Related podcast episodes

Skip carousel

39: "I can't find my keys!": We'll deal with a common scenario in this lesson: we've lost our keys. We'll learn how to say we can't find them and where to look for them. We'll also meet the expression 'jeter un coup d'oeil'. Let's get started. by Learn French by Podcast
6 min listen
28: "Do you have the internet at home?": In this lesson, we'll be dealing with some internet-related vocabulary. We'll meet some other useful expressions, too, including "I don't want to complicate my life!", "I'm not promising anything" and "It would be good if..." This last expression will... by Learn French by Podcast
10 min listen
27: "Wow! Your hair looks great!": In this lesson, we're talking about someone's new hairstyle. We'll discover some "technical" terms in relation to hairstyling, we'll look at two different uses for "chez", and we'll see how to say we're "bored by" or "fed up with" something. Allons-y! by Learn French by Podcast
8 min listen
29: "It's been a long time!... What have you been up to?!": In this lesson, lesson 29, we'll find out how to say "It's been a while!" or "It's been a long time!" We'll also see how to ask what someone's been up to recently. by Learn French by Podcast
10 min listen
24: "Excuse me... Is this seat taken?": It's a situation we find ourselves in regularly. We're in a bar or an auditorium looking for a seat. But... is the one we have our eye on actually free? How should we ask? Let's find out in this short, but practical, lesson. by Learn French by Podcast
4 min listen
31: "Tell me about your hometown...": Let's listen to Xavier tell us a little about his home town in this lesson. We'll work with a number of useful expressions which could be used in a wide variety of situations. We'll discover the verb 'appartenir à', the expression 'à la... by Learn French by Podcast
9 min listen
30: "White, Red or Rosé?": In this lesson, we'll be talking briefly about wine, and the kinds of food we might eat with the various types of wines. We'll meet some useful vocabulary and expressions related to food, too. It's an intermediate lesson because there's quite an... by Learn French by Podcast
8 min listen
25: "Is this a vegetarian dish?": You're in a restaurant, looking forward to your meal. That menu, however, is a little confusing: what about all those ingredients... and the names of those dishes! How can we make sense of it? We'll need to know how to ask some key questions. Let's... by Learn French by Podcast
10 min listen
Learn French by Podcast: Announcement: Hello from Learn French by Podcast. This is a special announcement regarding our audio French lessons and accompanying Lesson Guides. Those of you who have been following our lessons since we started in June 2006 will be aware that both our podcasts... by Learn French by Podcast
1 min listen
22: "How was your holiday?" [Part II]: In the second part of this two-part episode we'll meet the verb "profiter (de)", we'll use the verb "devoir" to say things like "It must have been [difficult, shocking, fantastic]" and we'll revise the verb "prendre" in the Perfect tense, in relation... by Learn French by Podcast
9 min listen
79: "Would you like a coffee?": In this lesson, lesson 79, we will learn how to simply ask if someone would fancy a cup of coffee that we are about to make. And, while we are at it, we will learn some trivia about a former Phillipine First Lady!… by Learn French by Podcast
18 min listen
19: "My cell phone isn't working. I'd like to have it repaired, please...": "My cell phone isn't working. I'd like to have it repaired, please..." In this lesson, we'll find out what to say if we need to have something repaired. First, we'll describe the problem. Then we'll see how long it will take to sort everything out. by Learn French by Podcast
14 min listen
12: "I've got a hangover!": Type the word "hangover" into Google and it will return millions of hits. Remedies, cures, avoidance strategies, explanations - someone out there has all the answers. We can't pretend to have the ultimate cure, but we can, on the other hand, provide... by Learn French by Podcast
8 min listen
49: "There's a problem in my hotel room...": A hotel guest makes contact with the front desk in relation to a problem in his room. We'll discover how to say 'I can't get it to work'. We'll also practice using several verbs, including 'se mettre en marche', 'appuyer' and 'arriver à'. We... by Learn French by Podcast
9 min listen
21: "How was your holiday?" [Part I]: You're just back from a fantastic vacation. The first question you'll be asked, of course, is "How did it go?" There's so much to talk about: the weather, the food, the people, the location. Let's try out some of the vocabulary you're likely to need.... by Learn French by Podcast
12 min listen
11: Talking about the weather: Wherever we are, whatever we're doing, the weather seems to have an effect on our general state of mind. In this lesson, we'll meet some expressions which will provide the basics, whether it's a beautiful day or raining cats and dogs. by Learn French by Podcast
8 min listen
16: "Is it ok if I take your photo?": People are usually very accommodating when we wish to take a photograph with them in it. But it's often advisable to ask first. Let's see how to do that in this lesson. We'll also see how to have them take our picture, using our camera. by Learn French by Podcast
7 min listen
38: "My meeting has been cancelled!": 'annuler', 'reporter' and 'modifier' are three verbs we'll meet in this lesson, as well as the expression 'C'est (vraiment) pas de chance!' In this lesson, lesson 38, we'll be examining the vocabulary we would need in order to cancel or postpone a... by Learn French by Podcast
7 min listen
10: Discussing a movie you've seen: Learn how to talk about a movie you saw last night - what it was about, where it was filmed, some adjectives to describe the plot, the way in which it was filmed - it's all in this lesson. If you haven't seen a particular movie, study the questions... by Learn French by Podcast
12 min listen
17: "She's not here right now - would you like to leave a message?": You make a phone call, but the person you're looking for isn't there. Should you leave a message? Or maybe that's not necessary - you'll call back later. Let's see, in this lesson, how the conversation might unravel. by Learn French by Podcast
8 min listen
52: "I'd like to make an appointment to see the dentist...": We'll see how to make an appointment to see the dentist in this lesson. We'll meet a variety of useful expressions, including 'prendre rendezvous avec quelqu'un', 'ressentir (une douleur)' and 'le plus rapidement possible'. To see what all these mean... by Learn French by Podcast
13 min listen
55: "I think my dog may have eaten poison...": This time, our dog is in trouble and requires a trip to the vet. We'll learn how to say that something is wrong and we'll study a number of useful verbs, including 'rester', 'se mettre à', 's'attarder' and 'se rétablir'. It's a longer... by Learn French by Podcast
17 min listen
18: "A return ticket to Toulouse, please...": In this lesson, let's find out how to buy a train ticket. The vocabulary we'll meet will be just as useful when purchasing inter-city bus tickets, plane tickets, and so on. Let's see, also, how to say we'd prefer a window or aisle seat, or travel in... by Learn French by Podcast
11 min listen
44: "I had a narrow escape this morning!...": The French tendency to drive fast will form the basis of our lesson this time - our conversation will deal with a near miss on the road. We'll learn how to say 'I had a narrow escape', we'll meet the expression 'il m'a mis hors de moi' and we'll see... by Learn French by Podcast
11 min listen
20: "I need something for these mosquito bites!": A trip abroad can often lead to some unexpected physical condition - an upset stomach, itching from insect bites, blistered feet, or whatever. That, in turn, can lead us to the local pharmacy. But, what do we say when we get there? Let's find out. by Learn French by Podcast
10 min listen
48: "I'd like to book a room for this evening, please...": We'll learn how to carry out a common task in this lesson - to book a hotel room. We'll see how to ask the receptionist how we should pay, if we can have our luggage taken up to our room, if we can be called early for breakfast, and more. by Learn French by Podcast
13 min listen
15: "May I have one of those, please?": If you've been in France or another French-speaking country, chances are that you've found yourself in a shop asking for something in French. But how do we say "I'll have that one... no, sorry... the one on the right..."? In this lesson, let's learn... by Learn French by Podcast
14 min listen
56: "What are your thoughts on the situation in Iraq?": Hardly a day passes without the terrible conflict in Iraq making the news headlines. In this lesson, lesson 56, we'll study vocabulary which will allow us to offer an opinion on a situation for which a solution seems more elusive than ever. by Learn French by Podcast
14 min listen
7: Talking about the future: In our previous lessons, we've confined ourselves mainly to the Present tense. But how do we talk about what we'll be doing next week, or for our summer vacation? We'll find out in this lesson. by Learn French by Podcast
14 min listen
14: "Let's cook!": Whether you're an avid creator of wonderful, four-course dishes or incapable of boiling an egg, in this lesson you'll find a range of vocabulary which will take a meal through from preparation to completion. Don't worry - Amélie will tell us... by Learn French by Podcast
16 min listen

Discover this podcast and so much more

23: "Sorry, I can't make it tonight..."

23: "Sorry, I can't make it tonight..."

Description

Titles in the series (100)

More Episodes from Learn French by Podcast

Related podcast episodes