In many cafés you may want a table for drinks only, without ordering a full meal. This workshop helps you ask that question politely, understand the server's reply, and confirm your request. You will practise a short exchange using the recorded lines, then check your understanding with a reply-choice task and a recall task.
Asking for drinks only
Start with a polite question. The recorded line «C’est possible de prendre seulement un verre ?» means “Is it possible to have just a drink?” It is a general way to ask whether drinks only are allowed. A similar request is «Est-ce qu’on peut s’asseoir juste pour boire ?», which means “Can we sit down just to drink?” Use this when you want to check whether sitting at a table is possible for drinks only. If you are speaking for a group, «Nous voudrions juste boire quelque chose.» means “We would just like to drink something.” This states your wish clearly after you have asked. A slightly fuller version is «On voudrait juste prendre un verre.», which means “We would just like to have a drink.” These lines all keep the focus on drinks and do not mention food.
A short café exchange
Here is a complete exchange. The first speaker asks «Bonjour, c’est possible de prendre seulement un verre ?», which means “Hello, is it possible to have just a drink?” The second speaker answers «Oui, bien sûr. Vous voulez vous asseoir en terrasse ?», which means “Yes, of course. Would you like to sit outside?” The first speaker replies «Oui, merci. Nous voudrions juste boire quelque chose.», which means “Yes, thank you. We would just like to drink something.” The second speaker then says «Très bien. Je vous apporte la carte des boissons.», which means “Very well. I’ll bring you the drinks menu.” Notice the order: greeting and question, answer and offer, confirmation, then closing response. The server offers a place to sit; the customer accepts and restates the request for drinks only.
Listen once, then say the phrase yourself. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Checking available voices…
C’est possible de prendre seulement un verre ?
Is it possible to have just a drink?
say po-SEE-bluh duh PRON-druh suhl-mahn uhn VAIR
Nous voudrions juste boire quelque chose.
We would just like to drink something.
noo voo-dree-ON zhoost BWAHR kel-kuh SHOHZ
Est-ce qu’on peut s’asseoir juste pour boire ?
Can we sit down just to drink?
ess-kon puh sa-SWAHR zhoost poor BWAHR
On voudrait juste prendre un verre.
We would just like to have a drink.
on voo-DREH zhoost PRON-druh uhn VAIR
Read one side aloud, then answer in your own words. The goal is to make the exchange yours.
Bonjour, c’est possible de prendre seulement un verre ?
Hello, is it possible to have just a drink?Oui, bien sûr. Vous voulez vous asseoir en terrasse ?
Yes, of course. Would you like to sit outside?Oui, merci. Nous voudrions juste boire quelque chose.
Yes, thank you. We would just like to drink something.Très bien. Je vous apporte la carte des boissons.
Very well. I’ll bring you the drinks menu.Your turn
Try each prompt out loud. Choose a guided start, the full sequence, or a challenge pass after your first attempt.
Guided café exchange
You are the customer. A server greets you at a café. You want to ask for drinks only and then confirm your request.
Your task: Read your first line aloud: «Bonjour, c’est possible de prendre seulement un verre ?». Then read the server's reply: «Oui, bien sûr. Vous voulez vous asseoir en terrasse ?». After that, read your confirmation: «Oui, merci. Nous voudrions juste boire quelque chose.». Finally, read the server's closing line: «Très bien. Je vous apporte la carte des boissons.». If you are practising alone, read both roles in this order.
Choose the matching reply
You have asked «Bonjour, c’est possible de prendre seulement un verre ?»: “Hello, is it possible to have just a drink?” The server answers with «Oui, bien sûr. Vous voulez vous asseoir en terrasse ?»: “Yes, of course. Would you like to sit outside?”
Your task: Which customer reply matches the server's offer and keeps the request for drinks only? Choose one: A) «Oui, merci. Nous voudrions juste boire quelque chose.» B) «Très bien. Je vous apporte la carte des boissons.» C) «C’est possible de prendre seulement un verre ?».
Recall the exchange
Cover the lines above. Imagine the same café scene: you greet the server, ask for drinks only, hear the reply, confirm, and hear the closing line.
Your task: From memory, say the four lines in order: customer question, server reply, customer confirmation, server closing. Use the recorded lines «Bonjour, c’est possible de prendre seulement un verre ?», «Oui, bien sûr. Vous voulez vous asseoir en terrasse ?», «Oui, merci. Nous voudrions juste boire quelque chose.», and «Très bien. Je vous apporte la carte des boissons.». Then check by reading them aloud again.
Common questions
Can I use these lines if I only want a coffee or a cold drink?
Yes. The recorded lines ask about drinks in general. «C’est possible de prendre seulement un verre ?» means “Is it possible to have just a drink?” and «Nous voudrions juste boire quelque chose.» means “We would just like to drink something.” They do not name a specific drink, so you can use them when you want only a drink and not a meal.
What should I say after the server offers a place to sit?
Use «Oui, merci. Nous voudrions juste boire quelque chose.», which means “Yes, thank you. We would just like to drink something.” It accepts the offer and repeats that you want drinks only. The server may then say «Très bien. Je vous apporte la carte des boissons.», which means “Very well. I’ll bring you the drinks menu.”
Sources and further reading
- french: table just drinks not eatingChecked September 2026
Practice real time conversations on Yapr for faster learning.
Take today's French into a conversation with a Yapr AI tutor. Speak, make mistakes, and try again.
Practice on Yapr