A1Beginner209 words · 3 min
At the corner store
There is no milk left at home. Kwame goes to the corner store for the first time and buys a few things.
The text
Kwame habite au Québec depuis trois semaines. Ce soir, il n'y a plus de lait à la maison. Il met son manteau et il marche jusqu'au dépanneur du coin.
Le dépanneur est petit, mais il y a de tout. Une cloche sonne quand Kwame ouvre la porte. La caissière le salue d'un sourire. Kwame regarde les rayons. Il prend un carton de lait, une douzaine d'œufs et un pain. Sur une étagère, il y a des chips, du chocolat et des bonbons. Il hésite un moment, puis il prend une tablette de chocolat pour sa femme.
Il va à la caisse et pose ses articles sur le comptoir. Il demande un sac, s'il vous plaît, et la caissière lui demande s'il a besoin d'autre chose. Kwame réfléchit quelques secondes : il voudrait aussi un journal. La caissière prend un journal derrière elle, met le lait, les œufs, le pain et le chocolat dans le sac, et Kwame paie avec sa carte. Ils se souhaitent une bonne soirée.
Kwame sort. La rue est calme et il rentre à la maison. Le dépanneur est tout près, c'est pratique quand on oublie quelque chose. À la maison, sa femme sourit et ouvre le chocolat pendant que Kwame met le lait dans le réfrigérateur.
Show the translationHide the translation
Kwame has been living in Quebec for three weeks. Tonight, there is no milk left at home. He puts on his coat and walks to the corner store, the dépanneur.
The dépanneur is small, but it has everything. A bell rings when Kwame opens the door. The cashier greets him with a smile. Kwame looks at the shelves. He takes a carton of milk, a dozen eggs and a loaf of bread. On one shelf, there are chips, chocolate and candy. He hesitates for a moment, then takes a chocolate bar for his wife.
He goes to the checkout and puts his items on the counter. He asks for a bag, please, and the cashier asks if he needs anything else. Kwame thinks for a few seconds: he would also like a newspaper. The cashier takes a newspaper from behind her, puts the milk, eggs, bread and chocolate into the bag, and Kwame pays with his card. They wish each other a good evening.
Kwame steps outside. The street is quiet and he walks home. The dépanneur is right nearby, which is handy when you forget something. At home, his wife smiles and opens the chocolate while Kwame puts the milk in the fridge.
Underlined words are in the glossary: tap one for its definition.
Comprehension questions 4
1. Pourquoi Kwame va au dépanneur ?（Why does Kwame go to the corner store?）
Answer : Il n'y a plus de lait à la maison.
2. Qu'est-ce que Kwame prend pour sa femme ?（What does Kwame get for his wife?）
Answer : Une tablette de chocolat.
3. Qu'est-ce que Kwame demande à la caisse ?（What does Kwame ask for at the checkout?）
Answer : Un sac et un journal.
4. Comment Kwame paie ?（How does Kwame pay?）
Answer : Avec sa carte.
Grammar point in this text
Practise speaking
Les achats et commercesShopping and commerce
Shopping, paying, returning an item — the French of stores and customer service.
Dialogues on the same theme. They open on the dialogue page.
The tasks where this French will help
Put these dialogues into practice in real life.
Commander la livraison de repas au Québec
Food Delivery in Quebec
Using Uber Eats, DoorDash, Skip and SkipTheDishes in Quebec — platform comparison, fees to know, tipping, money-saving tips and finding the best local restaurants.
Les épiceries au Québec : guide pratique
Grocery Stores in Quebec: A Practical Guide
Grocery shopping in Quebec: comparing IGA, Metro, Maxi and Super C, how to save money, and where to find international products.
Internet et télévision à la maison au Québec
Home Internet and TV in Quebec
Home internet and TV in Quebec: comparing Bell, Vidéotron and the smaller providers, choosing a plan and avoiding contract pitfalls.
Choisir un forfait cellulaire au Québec
Choosing a Phone Plan in Quebec
Choosing a phone plan in Quebec: the big carriers, the budget brands, Fizz, how much data you need and typical plans compared by profile.
Trouver les ingrédients de votre pays au Québec
Finding Home-Country Ingredients in Quebec
Where to find ingredients from your home country in Quebec: African, Asian, Middle Eastern and Latin American grocers, ethnic markets and online orders.
Ventes de garage, friperies et Kijiji au Québec
Garage Sales, Thrift Stores and Kijiji in Quebec
Buying second-hand in Quebec: garage sales, thrift stores, Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace to furnish and equip your home for less.
In the news
Recent changes that matter to newcomers.
Shelter Allowance: the new period opens October 1, up to $170 a month
A Revenu Québec benefit for households whose housing eats at least 30% of their income. Nobody sends it to you automatically — you have to apply.
Employment Insurance: temporary measures to get paid faster, until October 10, 2026
Lost your job? Three temporary measures make Employment Insurance easier to get: no waiting week, severance no longer delays benefits, and extra weeks for some.
Federal tax cut: the first bracket drops to 14%, up to $420 less per person
Since 2026, the federal tax rate on the first income bracket is 14% instead of 15%. Automatic: up to $420 per person, $840 per two-income couple.