In this workshop you practise a short, polite exchange with a French bus or taxi driver. You will learn how to check the route, say where you are getting off, and ask the driver to let you know before your stop. You will also practise understanding the driver's short reply. All the French you need is in the recordings, so you can speak from the first minute. Work through the sections, then do the three tasks with the audio. You can play both roles yourself: first as the passenger, then as the driver.
Check the route first
Before you ask for help, it is useful to check that you are on the right bus. A simple way to confirm your route is «C'est bien le bus pour le centre-ville ?». The phrase 'C'est bien...' means 'Is this really...' or 'Is this the...' and shows you think it is true but want to be sure. The driver may answer with a short confirmation like «Oui, c'est celui-là. Montez.». Here 'celui-là' means 'this one', and 'Montez' means 'Get on'. Listen to the rhythm: the driver speaks quickly, but the words are short. Repeat both lines aloud, copying the melody. If you can say the question and understand the answer, you are ready to ask about your stop.
Say your stop and make the request
Now give your destination and ask the driver to help you. A clear, polite model is «Je descends à la gare, s'il vous plaît.». It means 'I'm getting off at the station, please.' Notice the order: destination first, then 's'il vous plaît'. To ask the driver to tell you when to get off, use «Pouvez-vous me dire quand je dois descendre ?». This means 'Can you tell me when I have to get off?' The verb 'descendre' means 'to get off' a bus, tram, train or taxi. Another natural request is «Pouvez-vous me prévenir avant mon arrêt ?», which means 'Can you warn me before my stop?' The verb 'prévenir' means 'to let someone know in advance'. Both requests are polite because they use 'vous' and a question form. Practise saying each one slowly, then at normal speed.
Understand the driver's confirmation
When you make your request, the driver will usually answer briefly. A helpful reply is «Pas de problème, je vous préviens avant.». It means 'No problem, I'll let you know beforehand.' The key words are 'Pas de problème' (no problem) and 'je vous préviens' (I let you know). You do not need to reply with a long sentence. A simple 'Merci' is enough, but the recordings here focus on the driver's line so you can recognise it. In the full exchange, the passenger puts the destination and the request together, as in «Je descends à la gare. Pouvez-vous me dire quand je dois descendre ?». This line means 'I'm getting off at the station. Can you tell me when I have to get off?' Listen for the two parts: first the stop, then the question. When you can hear both, you are ready for the tasks.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
Pouvez-vous me dire quand je dois descendre ?
Can you tell me when I have to get off?
poo-vay VOO muh deer kahn zhuh dwah day-sahndr
Pouvez-vous me prévenir avant mon arrêt ?
Can you warn me before my stop?
poo-vay VOO muh pray-vuh-neer ah-vahn mohn ah-reh
Je descends à la gare, s'il vous plaît.
I'm getting off at the station, please.
zhuh day-sahn ah lah gar, seel voo pleh
C'est bien le bus pour le centre-ville ?
Is this the bus to the city centre?
say byan luh boos poor luh sahn-truh veel
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Bonjour, c'est bien le bus pour le centre-ville ?
Hello, is this the bus to the city centre?Oui, c'est celui-là. Montez.
Yes, it's this one. Get on.Je descends à la gare. Pouvez-vous me dire quand je dois descendre ?
I'm getting off at the station. Can you tell me when I have to get off?Pas de problème, je vous préviens avant.
No problem, I'll let you know beforehand.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided exchange: passenger asks for help
Imagine you are on a bus and you want the driver to warn you before your stop. You will play the passenger. The driver's lines are in the recordings, so you can pause and answer aloud.
Your task: First, check the route by saying the line from «C'est bien le bus pour le centre-ville ?». Then say where you are getting off and ask the driver to tell you when to get off, using the line from «Je descends à la gare. Pouvez-vous me dire quand je dois descendre ?». Say both lines aloud, slowly and clearly. If you want extra practice, repeat the request from «Pouvez-vous me dire quand je dois descendre ?» on its own.
Reply comprehension: what did the driver say?
In this task you only listen. You will hear two short driver replies. Your job is to choose the correct meaning for each one. You can replay the recordings as many times as you like.
Your task: Listen to «Oui, c'est celui-là. Montez.». Does the driver mean (a) 'Yes, it's this one. Get on.' or (b) 'No, this bus does not go there.'? Then listen to «Pas de problème, je vous préviens avant.». Does the driver mean (a) 'I don't know your stop.' or (b) 'No problem, I'll let you know beforehand.'? Say your answers aloud, then check below.
Recall with correct roles: passenger and driver
Now put the whole exchange together from memory. You will say the passenger's lines and then the driver's lines. The recordings are still available if you need to check.
Your task: Say the passenger's route-check question from «C'est bien le bus pour le centre-ville ?». Then answer as the driver with the line from «Oui, c'est celui-là. Montez.». Next, say the passenger's destination and request from «Je descends à la gare. Pouvez-vous me dire quand je dois descendre ?». Finally, answer as the driver with the line from «Pas de problème, je vous préviens avant.». Do the whole exchange once without looking at the text, then check with the recordings.
Common questions
Do I need to use 'Pouvez-vous me prévenir avant mon arrêt ?' or 'Pouvez-vous me dire quand je dois descendre ?'
Both are polite and useful. The line «Pouvez-vous me dire quand je dois descendre ?» asks the driver to tell you when you have to get off. The line «Pouvez-vous me prévenir avant mon arrêt ?» asks the driver to warn you before your stop. In a taxi or on a bus without a screen, «Pouvez-vous me prévenir avant mon arrêt ?» is very natural. On a bus with a screen, «Pouvez-vous me dire quand je dois descendre ?» is also fine. Choose the one you find easier to say, and keep the same polite 'vous' form.
What should I say after the driver replies?
The recordings in this workshop focus on the request and the driver's confirmation. A short 'Merci' is a normal and polite way to close the exchange. You do not need a long reply. If you want to check that the driver understood, you can repeat your stop from «Je descends à la gare, s'il vous plaît.» and add 'Merci'. Keep it simple and friendly.
Sources and further reading
- french: ask to be notified of stopChecked September 2026
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