Skip to content
Contents

Le français au QuébecDialogues · Chapter I

Web version
‹
vieauqc.com

Chapter I · Social interactionsB1

36Dialogue · B1

Asking a neighbour to keep an eye on the apartment during a trip

Situation

You're going away on a trip for about ten days. You'd like to ask your same-floor neighbour to water your plants and pick up your mail. You knock on her door one evening, after dinner.

The roles

AYouBThe same-floor neighbour
  • You
    Listen

    Bonsoir Hélène, je te dérange pas en plein souper ?

    Good evening Hélène, I'm not interrupting your dinner, am I?

  • The same-floor neighbour
    Listen

    Bonsoir ! Non, non, on a fini. Entre deux secondes.

    Good evening! No, no, we're done. Come in for a sec.

  • You
    Listen

    Merci. Écoute, je voulais te demander un petit service, mais sens-toi à l'aise de dire non.

    Thanks. Listen, I wanted to ask you a small favour, but please feel free to say no.

  • The same-floor neighbour
    Listen

    Vas-y, demande toujours.

    Go on, ask anyway.

  • You
    Listen

    Je pars en voyage la semaine prochaine, une dizaine de jours. Est-ce que tu pourrais passer chez moi de temps en temps ?

    I'm going on a trip next week, about ten days. Could you stop by my place every now and then?

  • The same-floor neighbour
    Listen

    Avec plaisir. Il faut faire quoi exactement ?

    Gladly. What exactly needs to be done?

  • You
    Listen

    Surtout arroser les plantes — j'en ai cinq ou six dans le salon — et ramasser le courrier dans la boîte aux lettres.

    Mostly water the plants — I have five or six in the living room — and pick up the mail from the mailbox.

  • The same-floor neighbour
    Listen

    C'est faisable. Tu veux que je passe tous les combien ?

    That's doable. How often do you want me to come by?

  • You
    Listen

    Deux ou trois fois pendant la semaine, je dirais. Les plantes n'ont pas besoin d'eau tous les jours.

    Two or three times during the week, I'd say. The plants don't need water every day.

  • The same-floor neighbour
    Listen

    Parfait. Et tu veux que je t'envoie un message si quelque chose cloche ?

    Perfect. Do you want me to message you if anything seems off?

vieauqc.com— 75 —

Simplifiez votre vie au Québec · Simplify your life in Quebec

vieauqc.com

Asking a neighbour to keep an eye on the apartment during a tripDialogue 36

  • You
    Listen

    Oui, s'il te plaît. Surtout s'il y a une fuite d'eau ou si tu sens quelque chose de bizarre. Pour le reste, ça peut attendre mon retour.

    Yes, please. Especially if there's a water leak or if you notice something strange. For the rest, it can wait until I get back.

  • The same-floor neighbour
    Listen

    Compris. Tu pars quel jour, exactement ?

    Got it. What day do you leave, exactly?

  • You
    Listen

    Mardi matin tôt, et je reviens le jeudi de la semaine d'après. Je peux te donner les clés cette fin de semaine, si ça te va.

    Tuesday morning early, and I come back the Thursday of the following week. I can give you the keys this weekend, if that works for you.

  • The same-floor neighbour
    Listen

    Pas de problème. Passe quand tu veux samedi, je serai là toute la journée.

    No problem. Come by whenever you want on Saturday — I'll be home all day.

  • You
    Listen

    Super. Je vais te laisser aussi mon numéro et celui de mes parents, au cas où.

    Great. I'll also leave you my number and my parents' number, just in case.

  • The same-floor neighbour
    Listen

    Bonne idée. Et n'hésite pas à m'écrire pendant le voyage si tu veux des nouvelles.

    Good idea. And feel free to message me during the trip if you want updates.

  • You
    Listen

    C'est gentil, merci beaucoup Hélène. Tu me sauves la vie.

    That's kind, thank you so much Hélène. You're a lifesaver.

  • The same-floor neighbour
    Listen

    Mais non, ça me fait plaisir. Bon voyage d'avance !

    Not at all, it's my pleasure. Have a great trip in advance!

Vocabulary

  • un petit servicea small favour— Same low-pressure opener as for borrowing a tool — flexible request framing.
  • arroser les plantesto water the plants
  • la boîte aux lettresthe mailbox
  • tous les combien ?how often?— Casual way to ask the frequency of something.
  • si quelque chose clocheif something is off / not right
  • une fuite d'eaua water leak
  • les clésthe keys
  • au cas oùjust in case
  • tu me sauves la vieyou're a lifesaver— Common warm thank-you for a real favour — not literal.

Culture note

In Quebec, asking a neighbour to keep an eye on the apartment during a trip is very common, especially when you don't have close family around. Handing someone your keys implies a certain trust — people often pair the favour with a small gift when they return (a souvenir, chocolates) to thank the neighbour, though it's not required.

Web version

Translations, save words, play all.

Asking a neighbour to keep an eye on the apartment during a tripWeb version ↗
vieauqc.com— 76 —

Simplifiez votre vie au Québec · Simplify your life in Quebec

›
Dialogue 36 / 369 · p. 75–76 / 742