#121 Buying a Bouquet at a Flower Shop｜French Shopping Phrases
Izumi Curious French
#243 Requesting Eyeglass Repair｜French Daily Life Phrases
Izumi
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If you regularly wear glasses, there may be times when repairs are necessary—for example, when the frame becomes bent or a screw comes loose.
In such situations, you will need to visit an optical shop and explain the issue while requesting a repair.
In this section, I will explain useful French expressions for requesting eyeglass repair, following the flow of a typical conversation, along with key grammatical points.
Contents
Dialogue
Excusez-moi, je voudrais faire réparer mes lunettes.
（Excuse me, I would like to have my glasses repaired.）
Bien sûr. Quel est le problème ?
（Of course. What seems to be the problem?）
La branche est un peu tordue et la vis est desserrée.
（The temple is slightly bent, and the screw is loose.）
D’accord. Nous pouvons ajuster la monture et resserrer la vis.
（I see. We can adjust the frame and tighten the screw.）
Parfait. Est-ce que cela prendra longtemps ?
（Thank you. How long will it take?）
Cela prendra environ dix minutes.
（It will take about ten minutes.）
Très bien, merci beaucoup.
（All right, thank you very much.）
1. Requesting a Repair
When you arrive at the shop, you can request a repair as follows:
Example
- Je voudrais faire réparer mes lunettes.
（I would like to have my glasses repaired.）
The phrase “je voudrais” is the conditional form of “vouloir” and expresses a polite and modest request, similar to “I would like to …”.
The structure “faire réparer” follows the pattern “faire + infinitive,” which means “to have something done by someone.”
Here, “faire” is not used in the sense of “to do,” but rather as a causative verb.
Points
- Je voudrais réparer mes lunettes.
→ You intend to repair the glasses yourself. - Je voudrais faire réparer mes lunettes.
→ You want someone else to repair them.
In an optical shop, the latter is the appropriate expression.
2. Explaining the Problem
When requesting a repair, it is important to describe the issue clearly and specifically.
Example
- La branche est un peu tordue et la vis est desserrée.
（The temple is slightly bent, and the screw is loose.）
The word “tordue” comes from the past participle of “tordre” (to bend).
By adding “un peu” (a little), you soften the statement and indicate that the damage is minor rather than severe.
Related Expressions
- un peu tordue
（slightly bent） - un peu desserrée
（slightly loose） - un peu abîmée
（slightly damaged）
In “La vis est desserrée,” the form “desserrée” is the past participle of “desserrer” (to loosen), agreeing in gender and number with “la vis” (feminine singular).
Although “tordue” and “desserrée” originate as past participles, they are used here adjectivally to describe a state.
3. Asking About the Time Required
After requesting the repair, you may want to ask how long it will take.
Example
- Est-ce que cela prendra longtemps ?
（How long will it take?）
Here, “cela” refers to the repair process or the time required.
The verb “prendra” is the simple future form of “prendre.” In addition to its basic meaning “to take,” it is also commonly used to express the amount of time something requires.
Because the repair has not yet begun, and you are asking for an estimate, the simple future tense is used.
Related Expressions
- Cela prendra dix minutes.
（It will take ten minutes.） - La réparation prendra un peu plus de temps.
（The repair will take a little longer.） - Nous finirons la réparation cet après-midi.
（We will finish the repair this afternoon.）
In this way, the French simple future is used not only for definite future events, but also for reasonable expectations or estimates.
Summary
Key French Phrases
- Je voudrais faire réparer mes lunettes.
→ Use “faire + infinitive” to request a repair politely. - La branche est tordue / La vis est desserrée.
→ Describe the problem clearly and specifically. - Est-ce que cela prendra longtemps ?
→ Ask about the time required.
