How to Use Essential Social Expressions

Ben Lee sees that fellow commuter, Victor Villaume, has dropped his wallet. Ben rushes off the train to
return it to him (Scenes 1 and 2). The train door closes before Ben can get back on the train, and Victor
apologizes to him (Scene 3).

SCENE #1
Excusez-moi.
Oui ?

SCENE #2 SCENE #3
Je suis
Merci désolé.
Je vous beaucoup. Ce n’est rien.
en prie.

Scene 1 Scene 2 Scene 3

Ben Lee: Excuse me. Victor Villaume: Thank you. Victor Villaume: I’m sorry.
Victor Villaume: Yes? Ben Lee: You’re welcome. Ben Lee: No problem.

Excusez-moi. Excuse me. expression

Merci beaucoup. Thank you very much. expression
Je vous en prie. You’re welcome. expression
Je suis désolé(e). I am sorry. expression
Ce n’est rien. It’s nothing. expression
Using Excusez-moi to Mean “Excuse me” and “I’m sorry”

Excusez-moi is a useful phrase that covers “excuse me” as well as “I’m sorry.” You can use this phrase to
get the attention of someone.

Excusez-moi. Je suis désolée.

Oui ? Ce n’est rien.

To respond to Excusez-moi meaning “Excuse To respond to Je suis désolé(e) meaning

me,” you can say Oui ? meaning “Yes?” to “I’m sorry,” you can say Ce n’est rien to
acknowledge that you have been called. mean “No problem.”

Saying Thank You

Merci is an interjection related to the verb Remercier. You can add emphasis by adding some words.

Merci beaucoup. Merci du fond du Mille mercis. Merci pour tout.

cœur.
Many thanks. Heartfelt thanks. A thousand thanks. Thank you for everything.

To respond to Merci, there are a few versions.

Je vous en prie. De rien. C’est moi.

You’re welcome. You’re welcome. You’re welcome.

Literal translation: It’s me (who is

Literal translation: I pray you. Literal translation: About nothing.
thankful).

Pair up with a classmate and role play the conversations in the scenes below.

Sadia Simon gives a French Mark Lee bumps into the person Sasha Lee picks up a
sweet to Karen Lee. next to him on the train. handkerchief that someone has
dropped in the street.