Describing accommodation in French

• The indefinite article (a, an or some) is usually used in the same way as it is in English.
• The definite article (the) is used differently in French.
• Use the conditional tense to express what would, could or should happen.
• This guide contains reading and listening practice.

Options for places to stay on holiday include:

For example:

Nous restons dans un camping. - We stay / we are staying on a campsite.

On a reservé deux chambres dans un hôtel. - We reserved two rooms in a hotel.

Je vais passer les vacances dans ma famille ou chez mes copains. - I am going to spend my holidays staying with family or friends.

In English, the definite article is always ‘the’ and the indefinite article is either ‘a’ or ‘an’ (before a vowel).

In French, the words for ‘the’ and ‘a/an’ change, depending on whether the noun is masculine, feminine or plural.

Remember

Le and la become l’ before a noun which starts with a vowel or a silent h.

In English, the definite article is 'the' and there are differences between the way in which it is used in French and in English.

Have a look at the table to see how the definite article is used in French when it is not used in English.

The definite article can also be used to turn an adjective into a noun.

For example:

• seul (alone, only, lonely) becomes le seul (the only one)

• anglais (English, adjective) becomes l’Anglais (the English person)

The definite article is omitted in French in the following situations.

1. After expressions of quantity including:

• beaucoup de (a lot of)

• plus de (more)

• trop de (too much)

• peu de (little, few)

• assez de (enough):

For example:

Il y a beaucoup de bateaux ici. – There are a lot of boats here.

Nous avons trop de choix. – We have too much choice.

2. After negative expressions including:

• ne … pas de (none/not any)

• ne … jamais de (never any):

For example:

On n’a pas de réservation. – We don’t have a reservation.

Je n’ai jamais d’argent. – I never have any money.

In English, the indefinite article is 'a/an' and is usually used in the same way in French as it is in English.

For example:

J’ai trouvé un appartement de vacances. – I found a holiday apartment.

However, it is not used in French when talking about jobs or membership.

For example:

Je suis serveuse dans un hôtel. – I am a waitress in a hotel.

Il est membre d’une équipe de foot. – He is a member of a football team.

Find out more about using articles in the Definite and indefinite articles in French guide.

Match the type of accommodation which best fits the descriptions in the adverts.

A. A castle

B. A youth hostel

C. A farm campsite

D. A boat

Useful phrases for talking about holiday facilities include:

For example:

Malheureusement, il y avait beaucoup de problèmes pendant mon séjour. - Unfortunately, there were a lot of problems during my stay.

J’étais content car le lit était extrêmement confortable. - I was pleased because the bed was extremely comfortable.

All vocabulary listed in this guide can be found on the vocabulary sheet below.

The conditional is used in the following situations to express what would, could or should happen. It is also used to say what would happen if certain conditions were fulfilled.

1. Using the verb vouloir (to want to)

• je voudrais - I would like

• tu voudrais - you singular informal would like

• il / elle voudrait - he/she would like

• on voudrait - we would like

For example:

Je voudrais une chambre pour deux personnes. I would like a room for two people.

2. For politeness when making requests

For example:

Je voudrais un café. I would like a coffee - is more polite than je veux un café - I want a coffee.

3. Using vouloir with an infinitive verb to say what someone would like to do

For example:

Je voudrais aller en Italie. I would like to go to Italy.

4. With a variety of verbs

For example:

Je regarderais la télévision toute la journée. Ce serait super ! - I would watch TV all day. It would be great!

Find out more about using the conditional tense in the The conditional in French guide.

You are listening to a podcast interview with a French student talking about a trip to England last year.

Choose the correct option for each question.

Click or tap on the image below for a list of useful vocabulary to use when describing accommodation.

In French, use the definite article with dans (in) but not with en (in, for example, a country).

For example:

Il y a un lit deux places dans la chambre. – There is a double bed in the bedroom.

Je suis allée chez mes copains en France. – I went to my friends‘ house in France.

The conditional is formed by adding the imperfect tense ending to the infinitive for regular er verbs.

Forming the conditional tense with irregular verbs

The following four common irregular verbs all have irregular stems in the conditional, but the same endings:

• avoir - to have

• être - to be

• aller - to go

• faire - to do/make

The conditional is often used with ‘if’ clauses and the imperfect to say what you would do if the circumstances were different.

For example:

Si c’était possible, je voudrais ma propre chambre. - If it were possible, I would like my own room.

S’il avait plus d’argent, il irait en France. - If he had more money, he would go to France.

Find out more about using the conditional tense in The conditional in French guide.

Now you have revised the important vocabulary and key grammar points for describing accommodation, why not have a look at Describing myself and others in French?