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Present tense |
Past tense (imperfect) |
Future tense |
|||||||||
fais | /fɛ/ | faisons | /fəzɔ̃/ | faisais | /fəzɛ/ | faisions | /fəzjɔ̃/ | ferai | /fəʀɛ/ | ferons | /fəʀɔ̃/ |
fais | /fɛ/ | faites | /fɛt/ | faisais | /fəzɛ/ | faisiez | /fəzje/ | feras | /fəʀa/ | ferez | /fəʀe/ |
fait | /fɛ/ | font | /fɔ̃/ | faisait | /fəzɛ/ | faisaient | /fəzɛ/ | fera | /fəʀa/ | feront | /fəʀɔ̃/ |
Another past tense (passé composé) uses the present tense forms of avoir plus the past participle of faire: fait. J'ai fait translates as I did/made whereas je faisais translates as I was doing/making, I used to do/make (continuous action in the past).
Faire is used in expressions of weather
(il fait beau) and many other idiomatic expressions:
faire de (a sport) - to play (a sport)
faire le sourd / l'innocent - to act deaf / innocent
faire le (subject in school) - to do / study (subject)
faire le ménage - to do the housework
faire la cuisine - to do the cooking
faire la lessive - to do laundry
faire la vaisselle - to do the dishes
faire une promenade - to take a walk
faire un voyage - to take a trip
faire les courses - to go (grocery) shopping
faire des achats - to go shopping
faire de l'exercice - to exercise
faire attention - to pay attention
faire la queue - to stand in line
22. Work & School / Le travail & l'école
Masculine | Feminine | |||
---|---|---|---|---|
actor / actress | l'acteur | /aktœʀ/ | l'actrice | /aktʀis/ |
singer | le chanteur | /ʃɑ̃tœʀ/ | la chanteuse | /ʃɑ̃tøz/ |
architect | l'architecte | /aʀʃitɛkt/ | l'architecte | /aʀʃitɛkt/ |
accountant | le comptable | /kɔ̃tabl/ | la comptable | /kɔ̃tabl/ |
judge | le juge | /ʒyʒ/ | la juge | /ʒyʒ/ |
business person | l'homme d'affaires | /ɔm dafɛʀ/ | la femme d'affaires | /fam dafɛʀ/ |
baker | le boulanger | /bulɑ̃ʒe/ | la boulangère | /bulɑ̃ʒɛʀ/ |
hair dresser | le coiffeur | /kwafœʀ/ | la coiffeuse | /kwaføz/ |
computer programmer | le programmeur | /pʀɔgʀamœʀ/ | la programmeuse | /pʀɔgʀamøz/ |
secretary | le secrétaire | /səkʀetɛʀ/ | la secrétaire | /səkʀetɛʀ/ |
electrician | l'électricien | /elɛktʀisjɛ̃/ | l'électricienne | /elɛktʀisjɛn/ |
mechanic | le mécanicien | /mekanisjɛ̃/ | la mécanicienne | /mekanisjɛn/ |
cook | le cuisinier | /kɥizinje/ | la cuisinière | /kɥizinjɛʀ/ |
salesperson | le vendeur | /vɑ̃dœʀ/ | la vendeuse | /vɑ̃døz/ |
fire fighter | le pompier | /pɔ̃pje/ | la pompier | /pɔ̃pje/ |
plumber | le plombier | /plɔ̃bje/ | la plombier | /plɔ̃bje/ |
librarian | le bibliothécaire | /biblijɔtekɛʀ/ | la bibliothécaire | /biblijɔtekɛʀ/ |
police officer | l'agent de police | /aʒɑ̃ də pɔlis/ | l'agent de police | /aʒɑ̃ də pɔlis/ |
reporter | le journaliste | /ʒuʀnalist/ | la journaliste | /ʒuʀnalist/ |
blue-collar worker | l'ouvrier | /uvʀije/ | l'ouvrière | /uvʀijɛʀ/ |
banker | le banquier | /bɑ̃kje/ | la banquière | /bɑ̃kjɛʀ/ |
lawyer | l'avocat | /avɔka/ | l'avocate | /avɔkat/ |
postal worker | le facteur | /faktœʀ/ | la factrice | /faktʀis/ |
carpenter | le charpentier | /ʃaʀpɑ̃tje/ | la charpentière | /ʃaʀpɑ̃tjɛʀ/ |
engineer | l'ingénieur | /ɛ̃ʒenjœʀ/ | l'ingénieure | /ɛ̃ʒenjœʀ/ |
doctor | le médecin | /mɛdsɛ̃/ | la médecin | /mɛdsɛ̃/ |
nurse | l'infirmier | /ɛ̃fiʀmje/ | l'infirmière | /ɛ̃fiʀmjɛʀ/ |
pharmacist | le pharmacien | /faʀmasjɛ̃/ | la pharmacienne | /faʀmasjɛn/ |
psychologist | le psychologue | /psikɔlɔg/ | la psychologue | /psikɔlɔg/ |
dentist | le dentiste | /dɑ̃tist/ | la dentiste | /dɑ̃tist/ |
veterinarian | le vétérinaire | /veteʀinɛʀ/ | la vétérinaire | /veteʀinɛʀ/ |
taxi driver | le chauffeur de taxi | /ʃofœʀ də taksi/ | la chauffeur de taxi | /ʃofœʀ də taksi/ |
writer | l'écrivain | /ekʀivɛ̃/ | l'écrivaine | /ekʀivɛn/ |
teacher (primary school) | l'instituteur | /ɛ̃stitytœʀ/ | l'institutrice | /ɛ̃stitytʀis/ |
teacher / professor | le professeur | /pʀɔfesœʀ/ | la professeur | /pʀɔfesœʀ/ |
student | l'étudiant | /etydjɑ̃/ | l'étudiante | /etydjɑ̃t/ |
intern | le stagiaire | /staʒjɛʀ/ | la stagiaire | /staʒjɛʀ/ |
retired person | le retraité | /ʀətʀete/ | la retraitée | /ʀətʀete/ |
Notice that some professions are always masculine, even if the person is a woman. There are also words that are always feminine (such as la victime) even if the person is a man.
School Subjects / Les matières
Math | les mathématiques | /matematik/ | Geography | la géographie | /ʒeɔgʀafi/ |
Algebra | l'algèbre | /alʒɛbʀ/ | Physics | la physique | /fizik/ |
Calculus | le calcul | /kalkyl/ | Biology | la biologie | /bjɔlɔʒi/ |
Geometry | la géométrie | /ʒeɔmetʀi/ | Chemistry | la chimie | /ʃimi/ |
Business/Trade | le commerce | /kɔmɛʀs/ | Zoology | la zoologie | /zɔɔlɔʒi/ |
Accounting | la comptabilité | /kɔ̃tabilite/ | Botany | la botanique | /bɔtanik/ |
Economics | les sciences économiques | /sjɑ̃ zekɔnɔmik/ | Art | les arts-plastiques | /aʀ plastik/ |
Foreign Languages | les langues vivantes | /lɑ̃g vivɑ̃t/ | Music | la musique | /myzik/ |
Linguistics | la linguistique | /lɛ̃gɥistik/ | Dance | la danse | /dɑ̃s/ |
Literature | la littérature | /liteʀatyʀ/ | Drawing | le dessin | /desɛ̃/ |
Philosophy | la philosophie | /filɔzɔfi/ | Painting | la peinture | /pɛ̃tyʀ/ |
Psychology | la psychologie | /psikɔlɔʒi/ | Computer Science | l'informatique | /ɛ̃fɔʀmatik/ |
Political Science | les sciences politiques | /sjɑ̃s pɔlitik/ | Technology | la technologie | /tɛknɔlɔʒi/ |
History | l'histoire (f) | /istwaʀ/ | Physical Education | l'éducation physique (f) | /edykasjɔ̃ fizik/ |
Notice that you do not use an indefinite article before professions, unless they are preceded by an adjective.
Qu'est-ce que vous faites dans la vie ? What
do you do for a living?
Je suis avocate. I am a lawyer. (fem.)
Je suis professeur. I am a professor.
Je suis étudiant. I am a student (masc.)
Où est-ce que vous faites vos études ? Where
do you study?
Je vais à l'université de Michigan. I go to
the university of Michigan.
Je fais mes études à l'université de Toronto.
I study at the University of Toronto.
Qu'est-ce que vous étudiez ? What do you study?
Quelles matières étudiez-vous ? What subjects
do you study?
J'étudie les langues étrangères et la linguistique.
I study foreign languages and linguistics.
Je fais des mathématiques. I study/do math.
Ma spécialisation est la biologie. My major is biology.
Slang words/abbreviations for school:
dictionary | un dico | /diko/ | student | un potache | /potaʃ/ |
paper / essay | une disserte | /disɛʀt/ | book | un bouquin | /bukɛ̃/ |
college / faculty | la fac | /fak/ | to work | bosser | /bɔse/ |
quiz | une interro | /ɛ̃tɛʀɔ/ | to understand | piger | /piʒe/ |
to have detention | être collé(e) avoir une colle |
/kɔle/ /kol/ |
to skip (a class) | sécher (un cours) | /seʃe/ |
Listen to the le travail : carrossier / vendeur mp3s and try the cloze (fill-in-the-blank) exercises from French Listening Resources.
23. Prepositions & Contractions
at / to / in | à | /a/ | during | pendant | /pɑ̃dɑ̃/ |
from / of / about | de | /də/ | since / for | depuis | /dəpɥi/ |
at the house of | chez | /ʃe/ | among | parmi | /paʀmi/ |
in | dans / en | /dɑ̃/ /ɑ̃/ | between | entre | /ɑ̃tʀ/ |
for | pour | /puʀ/ | around | autour de | /otuʀdə/ |
by / through | par | /paʀ/ | against | contre | /kɔ̃tʀ/ |
in front of | devant | /dəvɑ̃/ | toward | vers / envers | /vɛʀ/ /ɑ̃nvɛʀ/ |
behind | derrière | /dɛʀjɛʀ/ | through / across | à travers | /atʀavɛʀ/ |
before | avant | /avɑ̃/ | with | avec | /avɛk/ |
after | après | /apʀɛ/ | without | sans | /sɑ̃/ |
up | en haut | /ɑ̃no/ | inside | dedans / à l'intérieur | /dədɑ̃/ /alɛ̃teʀjœʀ/ |
down | en bas | /ɑ̃ba/ | outside | dehors / à l'extérieur | /dəɔʀ/ /alɛksteʀjœʀ/ |
on | sur | /syʀ/ | outside of | hors de / en dehors de | /ɔʀdə/ /ɑ̃ndəɔʀdə/ |
over / above | au-dessus de | /odəsydə/ | because of | à cause de | /akozdə/ |
under / below | sous / au-dessous de | /su/ /odəsudə/ | according to | selon / d'après | /səlɔ̃/ /dapʀɛ/ |
across from | en face de | /ɑ̃fasdə/ | approximately | environ | /ɑ̃viʀɔ̃/ |
near | près de | /pʀɛdə/ | in spite of | malgré | /malgʀe/ |
far from | loin de | /lwɛ̃də/ | as for | quant à | /kɑ̃ta/ |
You can also use dessus and dessous as adverbs to mean over it / on top of it and beneath it / underneath it, respectively. They are not followed by nouns or pronouns, unlike prepositions.
à + le = au | /o/ | at / to / in the |
à + les = aux | /o/ | at / to / in the (pl.) |
de + le = du | /dy/ | of / from / about the |
de + les = des | /de/ | of / from / about the (pl.) |
In: Dans vs. En
Dans is used to show the time when an action will begin, while
en shows the length of time an action takes.
Je pars dans quinze minutes. I'm leaving
in 15 minutes.
Il peut lire ce livre en une demi-heure. He can
read this book in a half hour.
With: Avec vs. De vs. A vs. Chez
Avec implies doing something or going along with someone; de
is used in phrases of manner and in many idiomatic expressions; à
is used when referring to someone's attributes; and chez is used
to mean "as far as (person) is concerned." To describe the way a
person carries him/herself, no extra word is used.
Je vais en France avec ma sur. I'm going
to France with my sister.
Elle me remercie d'un sourire. She thanks me with a smile.
L'homme aux cheveux roux est très grand. The man with
the red hair is very tall.
Chez cet enfant, tout est simple. With this child, everything
is simple.
Il marche, les mains dans les poches. He walks with his hands
in his pockets.
24. Countries and Nationalities / Les pays et les nationalités
Africa | l'Afrique (f) | /afʀik/ | Hebrew (lang.) | hébreu | /ebʀø/ |
African | africain/e | /afʀikɛ̃/ /ɛn/ | Italy | l'Italie (f) | /itali/ |
Albania | l'Albanie (f) | /albani/ | Italian | italien/ne | /italjɛ̃/ /ɛn/ |
Albanian | albanais/e | /albanɛ/ /ɛz/ | Japan | le Japon | /ʒapɔ̃/ |
Algeria | l'Algérie (f) | /alʒeʀi/ | Japanese | japonais/e | /ʒapɔnɛ/ /ɛz/ |
Algerian | algérien/ne | /alʒeʀjɛ̃/ /ɛn/ | Korea | la Corée | /kɔʀe/ |
America | l'Amérique (f) | /ameʀik/ | Korean | coréen/ne | /kɔʀeɛ̃/ /ɛn/ |
American | américain/e | /ameʀikɛ̃/ /ɛn/ | Latvia | la Lettonie | /letɔni/ |
Argentina | l'Argentine (f) | /aʀʒɑ̃tin/ | Latvian | letton/ne | /letɔ̃/ /ɔn/ |
Argentine | argentin/e | /aʀʒɑ̃tɛ̃/ /in/ | Lithuania | la Lituanie | /litɥani/ |
Asia | l'Asie (f) | /azi/ | Lithuanian | lituanien/ne | /litɥanjɛ̃/ /ɛn/ |
Asian | asiatique | /azjatik/ | Luxembourg | le Luxembourg | /lyksɑ̃buʀ/ |
Australia | l'Australie (f) | /ostʀali/ | Luxembourger | luxembourgeois/e | /lyksɑ̃buʀʒwa/ /az/ |
Australian | australien/ne | /ostʀaljɛ̃/ /ɛn/ | Macedonia | la Macédoine | /masedwan/ |
Austria | l'Autriche (f) | /otʀiʃ/ | Macedonian | macédonien/ne | /masedɔnjɛ̃/ /ɛn/ |
Austrian | autrichien/ne | /otʀiʃjɛ̃/ /ɛn/ | Malta | Malte (f) | /malt/ |
Belgium | la Belgique | /bɛlʒik/ | Maltese | maltais/e | /maltɛ/ /ɛz/ |
Belgian | belge | /bɛlʒ/ | Morocco | le Maroc | /maʀɔk/ |
Bosnia | la Bosnie | /bɔsni/ | Moroccan | marocain/e | /maʀɔkɛ̃/ /ɛn/ |
Bosnian | bosniaque | /bɔsniak/ | Netherlands | les Pays-Bas | /peibɑ/ |
Brazil | le Brésil | /bʀezil/ | Dutch | néerlandais/e | /neɛʀlɑ̃dɛ/ /ɛz/ |
Brazilian | brésilien/ne | /bʀeziljɛ̃/ /ɛn/ | Dutch (person) | hollandais/e | /'ɔlɑ̃ dɛ/ /ɛz/ |
Bulgaria | la Bulgarie | /bylgaʀi/ | New Zealand | la Nouvelle-Zélande | /nuvɛlzelɑ̃d/ |
Bulgarian | bulgare | /bylgaʀ/ | New Zealander | néo-zélandais/e | /neozelɑ̃dɛ/ /ɛz/ |
Cambodia | le Cambodge | /kɑ̃bɔdʒ/ | Norway | la Norvège | /nɔʀvɛʒ/ |
Cambodian | cambodgien/ne | /kɑ̃bɔdʒjɛ̃/ /ɛn/ | Norwegian | norvégien/ne | /nɔʀveʒjɛ̃/ /ɛn/ |
Canada | le Canada | /kanada/ | Poland | la Pologne | /pɔlɔɲ/ |
Canadian | canadien/ne | /kanadjɛ̃/ /ɛn/ | Polish | polonais/e | /pɔlɔnɛ/ /ɛz/ |
China | la Chine | /ʃin/ | Portugal | le Portugal | /pɔʀtygal/ |
Chinese | chinois/e | /ʃinwa/ /az/ | Portuguese | portugais/e | /pɔʀtygɛ/ /ɛz/ |
Croatia | la Croatie | /kʀɔasi/ | Quebec | le Québéc | /kebɛk/ |
Croatian | croate | /kʀɔat/ | Quebecker | québécois/e | /kebekwa/ /az/ |
Czech Republic | la République Tchèque | /ʀepyblik tʃɛk/ | Romania | la Roumanie | /ʀumani/ |
Czech | tchèque | /tʃɛk/ | Romanian | roumain/e | /ʀumɛ̃/ /ɛn/ |
Denmark | le Danemark | /danmaʀk/ | Russia | la Russie | /ʀysi/ |
Danish | danois/e | /danwa/ /az/ | Russian | russe | /ʀys/ |
Egypt | l'Egypte (f) | /eʒipt/ | Scotland | l'Ecosse | /ekɔs/ |
Egyptian | égyptien/e | /eʒipsjɛ̃/ /ɛn/ | Scottish | écossais/e | /ekɔsɛ/ /ɛz/ |
England | l'Angleterre (f) | /ɑ̃glətɛʀ/ | Senegal | le Sénégal | /senegal/ |
English | anglais/e | /ɑ̃glɛ/ /ɛz/ | Senegalese | sénégalais/e | /senegalɛ/ /ɛz/ |
Estonia | l'Estonie | /ɛstɔni/ | Serbia | la Serbie | /sɛʀbi/ |
Estonian | estonien/ne | /ɛstonjɛ̃/ /ɛn/ | Serbian | serbe | /sɛʀb/ |
Europe | l'Europe (f) | /øʀɔp/ | Slovakia | la Slovaquie | /slɔvaki/ |
European | européen/ne | /øʀɔpeɛ̃/ /ɛn/ | Slovak | slovaque | /slɔvak/ |
Finland | la Finlande | /fɛ̃lɑ̃d/ | Slovenia | la Slovénie | /slɔveni/ |
Finnish | finnois/e | /finwa/ /az/ | Slovene | slovène | /slɔvɛn/ |
France | la France | /fʀɑ̃s/ | Spain | l'Espagne (f) | /ɛspaɲ/ |
French | français/e | /fʀɑ̃sɛ/ /ɛz/ | Spanish | espagnol/e | /ɛspaɲɔl/ |
Germany | l'Allemagne (f) | /almaɲ/ | Sweden | la Suède | /sɥɛd/ |
German | allemand/e | /almɑ̃/ /ɑ̃d/ | Swedish | suédois/e | /sɥedwa/ /az/ |
Great Britain | la Grande-Bretagne | /gʀɑ̃dbʀətaɲ/ | Switzerland | la Suisse | /sɥis/ |
British | britannique | /bʀitanik/ | Swiss | suisse | /sɥis/ |
Greece | la Grèce | /gʀɛs/ | Taiwan | Taïwan | /tajwan/ |
Greek | grec / grecque | /gʀɛk/ | Taiwanese | taïwanais/e | /tajwanɛ/ /ɛz/ |
Hungary | la Hongrie | /'ɔ̃gʀi/ | Tunisia | la Tunisie | /tynizi/ |
Hungarian | hongrois/e | /'ɔ̃gʀwa/ /az/ | Tunisian | tunisien/ne | /tynizjɛ̃/ /ɛn/ |
Iceland | l'Islande | /islɑ̃d/ | Turkey | la Turquie | /tyʀki/ |
Icelandic | islandais/e | /islɑ̃dɛ/ /ɛz/ | Turk | turc / turcque | /tyʀk/ |
India | l'Inde | /ɛ̃d/ | Ukraine | l'Ukraine | /ykʀɛn/ |
Indian | indien/ne | /ɛ̃djɛ̃/ /ɛn/ | Ukrainian | ukrainien/ne | /ykʀɛnjɛ̃/ /ɛn/ |
Indonesia | l'Indonésie (f) | /ɛ̃dɔnezi/ | United Kingdom | la Royaume-Uni | /ʀwajomyni/ |
Indonesian | indonésien/ne | /ɛ̃dɔnezjɛ̃/ /ɛn/ | United States | les Etats-Unis | /etazyni/ |
Ireland | l'Irlande (f) | /iʀlɑ̃d/ | Vietnam | le Vietnam | /viɛtnam/ |
Irishman | irlandais/e | /iʀlɑ̃dɛ/ /ɛz/ | Vietnamese | vietnamien/ne | /vjɛtnamjɛ̃/ /ɛn/ |
Israel | Israël | /isʀael/ | Wales | le Pays-de-Galles | /peidəgal/ |
Israeli | israëlien/ne | /isʀaeljɛ̃/ /ɛn/ | Welsh | gallois/e | /galwɑ/ /ɑz/ |
The masculine forms of the nationalities are also used for the language. Adjectives of nationalities and languages are not capitalized in written French. The definite article is not used before a language when it follows the verb parler (to speak): Je parle anglais. Notice that French also uses hollandais when referring to Dutch people and sometimes the Dutch language, but this is not exactly correct (just as it is not correct to use Holland when referring to the Netherlands in English). Also notice that you do not use the definite article with Israël or Malte.
To make sentences negative, simply put ne and pas around the verb. In spoken French, however, the ne is frequently omitted, but it cannot be omitted in written French. And when you are replying "yes" to a negative question, you use si and not oui (though in Quebec, it is perfectly fine to just use oui).
Je suis du Canada. I am from Canada.
Je ne suis pas du Mexique. I am not from Mexico.
Je suis française. I am French (feminine.)
Je ne suis pas suisse. I am not Swiss. (masculine
or feminine)
Il est australien. He is Australian.
Elle n'est pas danoise. She is not Danish.
Elles sont des Etats-Unis. They are from the United States.
Ils ne sont pas du Portugal. They are not from
Portugal.
Je parle chinois et japonais. I speak Chinese and Japanese.
Je ne parle pas suédois. I don't speak Swedish.
Vous n'êtes pas du Brésil ? You aren't
from Brazil?
Si, nous sommes du Brésil. Yes, we are from Brazil.
26. To / In and From places, cities, and countries
Places | Cities | Countries | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Masc. | au | du | à | de | au | du | ||
Fem. | à la | de la | à | de | en | de | ||
Vowel | à l' | de l' | à | d' | en | d' | ||
Plural | aux | des | aux | des | aux | des |
If the name of a country ends in-e, the gender is feminine. If it ends in anything else, it is masculine. All continents are feminine. The country exceptions are le Cambodge, le Mexique, le Zaïre, le Zimbabwe, and le Mozambique. Some cities have an article as well, such as La Nouvelle-Orléans (New Orleans).
Je vais à la boulangerie. I'm going
to the bakery.
Il vient de Londres. He comes from London.
On va en France demain. We're going to France tomorrow.
Tu viens du Mexique ? You come from Mexico?
To / In | From | |
Feminine | en |
de |
Islands | à |
de / d' |
Masc. w/ Vowel | en / dans l' |
d' / de l' |
Masc. w/ Consonant | au / dans le |
du |
In general, if a region, province or state ends in -e, it is feminine. Californie, Caroline du Nord / Sud, Floride, Géorgie, Louisiane, Pennsylvanie, and Virginie are the feminine American states; while Maine is masculine. For French régions or départements that begin with Haut(e), the h is an aspirate h, and therefore, there is no elision with preceding words, i.e. de Haut-Rhin, la Haute-Normandie, etc.
Elles habitent en Californie. They live
in California.
Il est de Haute-Savoie. He is from Haute-Savoie.
Ce fromage vient du Nord. This cheese comes from Nord.
Je veux voyager dans le Texas. I want to travel in Texas.
27. To Come & to Go / Venir & Aller
Venir-to come /vəniʀ/ |
|||||||||||
Present |
Past (Imperfect) |
Future |
|||||||||
viens | /vjɛ̃/ | venons | /vənɔ̃/ | venais | /vənɛ/ | venions | /vənjɔ̃/ | viendrai | /vijɛndʀɛ/ | viendrons | /vijɛndʀɔ̃/ |
viens | /vjɛ̃/ | venez | /vəne/ | venais | /vənɛ/ | veniez | /vənje/ | viendras | /vijɛndʀa/ | viendrez | /vijɛndʀe/ |
vient | /vjɛ̃/ | viennent | /vijɛn/ | venait | /vənɛ/ | venaient | /vənɛ/ | viendra | /vijɛndʀa/ | viendront | /vijɛndʀɔ̃/ |
Aller-to go /ale/ |
|||||||||||
Present |
Past (Imperfect) |
Future |
|||||||||
vais | /vɛ/ | allons | /alɔ̃/ | j'allais | /ʒalɛ/ | allions | /alijɔ̃/ | j'irai | /ʒiʀɛ/ | irons | /iʀɔ̃/ |
vas | /va/ | allez | /ale/ | allais | /alɛ/ | alliez | /alije/ | iras | /iʀa/ | irez | /iʀe/ |
va | /va/ | vont | /vɔ̃/ | allait | /alɛ/ | allaient | /alɛ/ | ira | /iʀa/ | iront | /iʀɔ̃/ |
Other verbs that are conjugated like venir: tenir - to hold, devenir - to become, obtenir - to get, revenir - to come back.
Je viens des Etats-Unis. I come from the United States.
Il tient un crayon. He's holding a pencil.
Nous allons en Espagne. We're going to Spain.
Tu ne vas pas au Brésil cet été. You're
not going to Brazil this summer.
► Aller + an infinitive means "going to
do something."
Ils vont aller en Angleterre. They are going to go to England.
Elle va parler russe. She's going to speak Russian.
Je vais devenir professeur. I'm going to become a professor.
► Aller is also used idiomatically when
talking about health.
Comment vas-tu ? How are you?
Je vais bien. I'm fine.
► Venir de + an infinitive means "to have
just done something."
Il vient d'aller en Finlande. He just went to Finland.
Vous venez de manger une pomme. You just ate an apple.
28. Conjugating Regular Verbs in the Present Indicative Tense
Verbs in French end in -er, -re, or -ir. The verb before it is conjugated is called the infinitive. Removing the last two letters leaves you with the stem (aimer is the infinitive, aim- is the stem.) The present indicative tense indicates an ongoing action, general state, or habitual activity. Besides the simple present tense (I write, I run, I see); there are two other forms of the present tense in English: the progressive (I am writing, I am running, etc.) and the emphatic (I do write, I do run, etc.) However, these three English present tenses are all translated by the present indicative tense in French.
To conjugate verbs in the present tense, use the stem and
add the following endings.
-er | -re | 1st -ir | 2nd -ir* | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
-e | -ons | -s | -ons | -is | -issons | -s | -ons | |||
-es | -ez | -s | -ez | -is | -issez | -s | -ez | |||
-e | -ent | - | -ent | -it | -issent | -t | -ent |
aimer - to like, love | vendre - to sell | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
aime | /em/ | aimons | /emɔ̃/ | vends | /vɑ̃/ | vendons | /vɑ̃dɔ̃/ | |
aimes | /em/ | aimez | /eme/ | vends | /vɑ̃/ | vendez | /vɑ̃de/ | |
aime | /em/ | aiment | /em/ | vend | /vɑ/̃ | vendent | /vɑ̃d/ | |
finir - to finish | partir - to leave | |||||||
finis | /fini/ | finissons | /finisɔ̃/ | pars | /paʀ/ | partons | /paʀtɔ̃/ | |
finis | /fini/ | finissez | /finise/ | pars | /paʀ/ | partez | /paʀte/ | |
finit | /fini/ | finissent | /finis/ | part | /paʀ/ | partent | /paʀt/ |
Notice how several conjugations are pronounced the same. This is why you must use the subject pronouns in French.
-er | -re | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
aimer | /eme/ | to like, love | vendre | /vɑ̃dʀ/ | to sell | |
chanter | /ʃɑ̃te/ | to sing | attendre | /atɑ̃dʀ/ | to wait for | |
chercher | /ʃɛʀʃe/ | to look for | entendre | /ɑ̃tɑ̃dʀ/ | to hear | |
commencer | /kɔmɑ̃se/ | to begin | perdre | /pɛʀdʀ/ | to lose | |
donner | /dɔne/ | to give | répondre (à) | /ʀepɔ̃dʀ/ | to answer | |
étudier | /etydje/ | to study | descendre | /dɛsɑ̃dʀ/ | to go down | |
fermer | /fɛʀme/ | to close | 1st -ir | |||
habiter | /abite/ | to live | bâtir | /bɑtiʀ/ | to build | |
jouer | /ʒwe/ | to play | finir | /finiʀ/ | to finish | |
manger | /mɑ̃ʒe/ | to eat | choisir | /ʃwaziʀ/ | to choose | |
montrer | /mɔ̃tʀe/ | to show | punir | /pyniʀ/ | to punish | |
parler | /paʀle/ | to speak | remplir | /ʀɑ̃pliʀ/ | to fill | |
penser | /pɑ̃se/ | to think | obéir (à) | /ɔbeiʀ/ | to obey | |
travailler | /tʀavaje/ | to work | réussir | /ʀeysiʀ/ | to succeed | |
trouver | /tʀuve/ | to find | guérir | /geʀiʀ/ | to cure, heal |
If a verb is followed by à (like répondre) you have to use the à and any contractions after the conjugated verb. Ex: Je réponds au téléphone. I answer the phone.
* The 2nd -ir verbs are considered irregular sometimes because there are only a few verbs which follow that pattern. Other verbs like partir are sortir /sɔʀtiʀ/ (to go out), dormir /dɔʀmiʀ/ (to sleep), mentir /mɑ̃tiʀ/ (to lie), sentir /sɑ̃tiʀ/ (to smell, feel) and servir /sɛʀviʀ/ (to serve.)
29. Pronominal (Reflexive) Verbs
These verbs are conjugated like normal verbs, but they require an extra pronoun before the verb. Most indicate a reflexive action but some are idiomatic and can't be translated literally. The pronouns are:
me | /mə/ | nous | /nu/ |
te | /tə/ | vous | /vu/ |
se | /sə/ | se | /sə/ |
s'amuser | /samyze/ | to have fun | se brosser | /səbʀɔse/ | to brush |
se lever | /sələve/ | to get up | se maquiller | /səmakije/ | to put on makeup |
se laver | /səlave/ | to wash (oneself) | se casser | /səkase/ | to break (arm, leg, etc.) |
se dépêcher | /sədepeʃe/ | to hurry | se réveiller | /səʀeveje/ | to wake up |
se peigner | /səpeɲe/ | to comb | se raser | /səʀɑze/ | to shave |
s'habiller | /sabije/ | to get dressed | s'ennuyer | /sɑ̃nɥije/ | to get bored |
se marier | /səmaʀje/ | to get married | se promener | /səpʀɔmne/ | to take a walk |
se reposer | /səʀəpoze/ | to rest | s'intéresser à | /sɛ̃teʀese a/ | to be interested in |
se souvenir de | /səsuvniʀ də/ | to remember | s'entraîner | /sɑ̃tʀene/ | to train/practice |
s'entendre bien | /sɑ̃tɑ̃dʀbjɛ̃/ | to get along well | se détendre | /sədetɑ̃dʀ/ | to relax |
se coucher | /səkuʃe/ | to go to bed |
When used in the infinitive, such as after another verb, the reflexive pronoun agrees with the subject of the sentence.
Je vais me coucher maintenant. I'm going
to go to bed.
Tu veux t'asseoir ? Do you want to sit down?
Sample Irregular Pronominal Verb | |||
---|---|---|---|
s'asseoir - to sit down /saswaʀ/ |
|||
je m'assieds | /ʒəmasjɛ/ | nous nous asseyons | /nunuzasejɔ̃/ |
tu t'assieds | /tytasjɛ/ | vous vous asseyez | /vuvusaseje/ |
il s'assied | /ilsasjɛ/ | ils s'asseyent | /ilsasej/ |
Listen to the la routine quotidienne: ma journée mp3 and try the cloze (fill-in-the-blank) exercise from French Listening Resources.
30. Irregularities in Regular Verbs
1. Verbs that end in -ger and -cer:
The nous form of manger isn't mangons, but mangeons.
The e has to stay so the g can retain the soft sound. The
nous form of commencer isn't commencons, but commençons.
The c must have the accent (called a cedilla) under it to make the
c sound soft.
manger-to eat /mɑ̃ʒe/ | commencer-to begin /kɔmɑ̃se/ | |||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
mange | /mɑ̃ʒ/ | mangeons | /mɑ̃ʒɔ̃/ | commence | /kɔmɑ̃s/ | commençons | /kɔmɑ̃sɔ̃/ | |
manges | /mɑ̃ʒ/ | mangez | /mɑ̃ʒe/ | commences | /kɔmɑ̃s/ | commencez | /kɔmɑ̃se/ | |
mange | /mɑ̃ʒ/ | mangent | /mɑ̃ʒ/ | commence | /kɔmɑ̃s/ | commencent | /kɔmɑ̃s/ |
2. Verbs that add or change to an accent grave:
Some verbs add or change to an accent grave (è) in
all the forms except the nous and vous.
acheter-to buy /aʃte/ | espérer-to hope /ɛspeʀe/ | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
j'achète | /aʃɛt/ | achetons | /aʃtɔ̃/ | j'espère | /ɛspɛʀ/ | espérons | /ɛspeʀɔ̃/ |
achètes | /aʃɛt/ | achetez | /aʃte/ | espères | /ɛspɛʀ/ | espérez | /ɛspeʀe/ |
achète | /aʃɛt/ | achètent | /aʃɛt/ | espère | /ɛspɛʀ/ | espèrent | /ɛspɛʀ/ |
3. Verbs that are conjugated as -er verbs: Some -ir
verbs are conjugated with -er endings. Examples: ouvrir-to open /uvʀiʀ/, couvrir-to cover /kuvʀiʀ/, découvrir-to
discover /dekuvʀiʀ/ and souffrir-to suffer /sufʀiʀ/
j'offre | /ɔfʀ/ | offrons | /ɔfʀɔ̃/ |
offres | /ɔfʀ/ | offrez | /ɔfʀe/ |
offre | /ɔfʀ/ | offrent | /ɔfʀ/ |
4. Verbs that end in -yer: Change the y
to an i in all forms except the nous and vous. Examples: nettoyer-to
clean /netwaje/, payer-to pay /peje/, and essayer-to try /eseje/
j'envoie | /ɑ̃vwa/ | envoyons | /ɑ̃vwajɔ̃/ |
envoies | /ɑ̃vwa/ | envoyez | /ɑ̃vwaje/ |
envoie | /ɑ̃vwa/ | envoient | /ɑ̃vwa/ |
5. Verbs that double the consonant: Some verbs,
including jeter-to
throw /ʒəte/, double the consonant in all forms
except the nous and vous.
j'appelle | /apɛl/ | appelons | /aplɔ̃/ |
appelles | /apɛl/ | appelez | /aple/ |
appelle | /apɛl/ | appellent | /apɛl/ |
31. Present Perfect Tense or Passé Composé
You have learned the present indicative so far, which expresses what happens,
is happening, or does happen now; but if you want to say something happened,
or has happened, you use the passé composé. The passé
composé is used for actions that happened only once, a specified
number of times or during a specified period of time, and as a result
or consequence of another action. All you need to learn are the
past participles of the verbs.
Regular Verbs: Formation of the Past Participle
-er | -é |
-re | -u |
-ir | -i |
Then conjugate avoir and add the past participle:
J'ai aimé le concert. | I liked the concert. |
Tu as habité ici ? | You lived here? |
Il a répondu au téléphone. | He answered (or has answered) the telephone. |
Nous avons fini le projet. | We finished (or have finished) the project. |
Elles ont rempli les tasses. | They filled (or have filled) the cups. |
To make it negative, put the ne and pas around the conjugated form of avoir.
Je n'ai pas aimé le concert. | I didn't like the concert. |
Il n'a pas répondu. | He didn't answer (or hasn't answered). |
Elles n'ont pas rempli les tasses. | They didn't fill (or haven't filled) the glasses. |
32. Irregular Past Participles
avoir | to have | eu | /y/ | had |
connaître | to know | connu | /kɔny/ | known |
croire | to believe | cru | /kʀy/ | believed |
devoir | to have to | dû | /dy/ | had to |
dire | to tell | dit | /di/ | said |
écrire | to write | écrit | /ekʀi/ | written |
être | to be | été | /ete/ | been |
faire | to do, make | fait | /fɛ/ | made |
lire | to read | lu | /ly/ | read |
mettre | to put | mis | /mi/ | put |
permettre | to permit | permis | /pɛʀmi/ | permitted |
promettre | to promise | promis | /pʀɔmi/ | promised |
ouvrir | to open | ouvert | /uvɛʀ/ | opened |
offrir | to offer | offert | /ɔfɛʀ/ | offered |
pouvoir | to be able to | pu | /py/ | was able to |
prendre | to take | pris | /pʀi/ | taken |
apprendre | to learn | appris | /apʀi/ | learned |
comprendre | to understand | compris | /kɔ̃pʀi/ | understood |
surprendre | to surprise | surpris | /syʀpʀi/ | surprised |
recevoir | to receive | reçu | /ʀəsy/ | received |
rire | to laugh | ri | /ʀi/ | laughed |
savoir | to know | su | /sy/ | known |
voir | to see | vu | /vy/ | seen |
vouloir | to want | voulu | /vuly/ | wanted |
Seventeen so-called "house" verbs and all pronominal verbs are conjugated with être, and they must agree in gender and number with the subject. Irregular past participles are highlighted.
to go | aller | allé / allée | to go by / pass | passer | passé / passée |
to arrive | arriver | arrivé / arrivée | to return home | rentrer | rentré / rentrée |
to go down | descendre | descendu / descendue | to stay | rester | resté / restée |
to become | devenir | devenu / devenue | to return | retourner | retourné / retournée |
to enter | entrer | entré / entrée | to come back | revenir | revenu / revenue |
to go up | monter | monté / montée | to go out | sortir | sorti / sortie |
to die | mourir | mort / morte | to fall | tomber | tombé / tombée |
to be born | naître | né / née | to come | venir | venu / venue |
to leave | partir | parti / partie |
A mnemonic device to remember these 17 verbs is DR & MRS P VANDERTRAMP. Each letter in the name corresponds to the first letter of the verbs. Five of these verbs (monter, descendre, sortir, rentrer, and passer) are conjugated with avoir if they are used with a direct object.
Je suis sortie. I went out.
J'ai sorti la poubelle. I took the trash out.
Je suis resté(e) | Nous sommes resté(e)s |
Tu es resté(e) | Vous êtes resté(e)(s) |
Il est resté | Ils sont restés |
Elle est restée | Elles sont restées |
Add e for feminine and s for plural. Sometimes adding an -e causes the pronunciation to change, i.e. the preceding consonant that is silent in the masculine form is pronounced in the feminine form: Il est mort /mɔʀ/ vs. Elle est morte /mɔʀt/ To form the negative, place ne...pas around the auxiliary verb: Je ne suis pas resté.
Je me suis amusé(e) | Nous nous sommes amusé(e)s |
Tu t'es amusé(e) | Vous vous êtes amusé(e)(s) |
Il s'est amusé | Ils se sont amusés |
Elle s'est amusée | Elles se sont amusées |
To form the negative of pronominal verbs, place ne before the reflexive pronoun, and pas
after the auxiliary verb: Je ne me suis pas amusé.
There are only two cases with pronominal verbs where
the past participle does not agree with the subject:
1. When the pronominal verb is followed by a direct object.
Compare: Elles se sont lavées, but: elles
se sont lavé les mains.
2. With verbs where the reflexive pronoun is an indirect object,
such as se parler, se demander, se dire, s'écrire, se sourire, and
se téléphoner.
Ils se sont téléphoné.
34. Food and Meals / La nourriture et les repas
Breakfast | le petit déjeuner | /pti deʒœne/ | Egg | l'uf (m) | /œf/ |
Lunch | le déjeuner | /deʒœne/ | Cake | le gâteau | /gɑto/ |
Dinner | le dîner | /dine/ | Pie | la tarte | /taʀt/ |
Cup | la tasse | /tɑs/ | Milk | le lait | /lɛ/ |
Slice | la tranche | /tʀɑ̃ʃ/ | Coffee | le café | /kafe/ |
Bowl | le bol | /bɔl/ | Butter | le beurre | /bœʀ/ |
Glass | le verre | /vɛʀ/ | Water | l'eau (f) | /o/ |
Salt and Pepper | le sel et le poivre | /sɛl/ /pwavʀ/ | Ham | le jambon | /ʒɑ̃bɔ̃/ |
Fork | la fourchette | /fuʀʃɛt/ | Fish | le poisson | /pwasɔ̃/ |
Spoon | la cuillère | /kɥijɛʀ/ | Tea | le thé | /te/ |
Knife | le couteau | /kuto/ | Salad | la salade | /salad/ |
Plate | l'assiette (f) | /asjɛt/ | Jam | la confiture | /kɔ̃fityʀ/ |
Napkin | la serviette | /sɛʀvjɛt/ | Meat | la viande | /vjɑ̃d/ |
Ice cream | la glace | /glas/ | French fries | les frites (f) | /fʀit/ |
Juice | le jus | /ʒy/ | Beer | la bière | /bjɛʀ/ |
Fruit | le fruit | /fʀɥi/ | Wine | le vin | /vɛ̃/ |
Cheese | le fromage | /fʀɔmaʒ/ | Sugar | le sucre | /sykʀ/ |
Chicken | le poulet | /pulɛ/ | Soup | le potage | /pɔtaʒ/ |
Cereal | des céréales | /seʀeal/ | Ketchup | le ketchup | /kɛtʃœp/ |
Oil | l'huile (f) | /ɥil/ | Mustard | la moutarde | /mutaʀd/ |
Vinegar | le vinaigre | /vinɛgʀ/ | Mayonnaise | la mayonnaise | /majɔnɛz/ |
Yogurt | le yaourt | /jauʀt/ | Pasta | des pâtes | /pɑt/ |
In France, it is common to use déjeuner to mean to have breakfast as well as to have lunch. In Canada, Belgium, and Switzerland, the meals are le déjeuner, le dîner, and le souper. The plural of un œuf is des œufs, but fs is not pronounced: /œf/ vs. /ø/. Food is generally divided into two categories: sucré (sweet/sugary) and salé (savoury/salty). Le pain /pɛ̃/ is the general word for bread; if you want to specify white bread, use le pain de mie /pɛ̃ də mi/ . Because the French eat dinner so late in the evening (8 pm), young children have l'heure de goûter (snack time) after school. Le yaourt refers to fruit yogurts and sweet puddings and they are eaten as desserts in France. La glace is also a common dessert, and you can find several parfums /paʀfœ̃/ (flavors). The word for scoops (of ice cream) is boules /bul/. Many restaurants now offer take out food options, which is called à emporter (to take away). The opposite is sur place.
Listen to the les repas : le petit déjeuner mp3 and try the cloze (fill-in-the-blank) exercise from French Listening Resources.
35. Fruits, Vegetables, and Meat
fruit | un fruit | /fʀɥi/ | corn | le maïs | /mais/ |
apple | une pomme | /pɔm/ | cucumber | un concombre | /kɔ̃kɔ̃bʀ/ |
apricot | un abricot | /abʀiko/ | eggplant | une aubergine | /obɛʀʒin/ |
banana | une banane | /banan/ | lettuce | la laitue | /lɛty/ |
blueberry | une myrtille | /miʀtij/ | mushroom | un champignon | /ʃɑ̃piɲɔ̃/ |
cherry | une cerise | /səʀiz/ | onion | un oignon | /ɔɲɔ̃/ |
coconut | une noix de coco | /nwadəkoko/ | peas | les pois | /pwa/ |
date | une datte | /dat/ | pepper | un piment | /pimɑ̃/ |
fig | une figue | /fig/ | potato | une pomme de terre | /pɔmdətɛʀ/ |
grape | un raisin | /ʀɛzɛ̃/ | pumpkin | une citrouille | /sitʀuj/ |
grapefruit | un pamplemousse | /pɑ̃pləmus/ | rice | le riz | /ʀi/ |
lemon | un citron | /sitʀɔ̃/ | spinach | des épinards | /epinaʀ/ |
lime | un citron vert | /sitʀɔ̃ vɛʀ/ | squash | une courge | /kuʀʒ/ |
melon | un melon | /məlɔ̃/ | tomato | une tomate | /tɔmat/ |
olive | une olive | /ɔliv/ | turnip | un navet | /navɛ/ |
orange | une orange | /ɔʀɑ̃ʒ/ | zucchini | des courgettes | /kuʀʒɛt/ |
peach | une pêche | /pɛʃ/ | meat | la viande | /vjɑ̃d/ |
pear | une poire | /pwaʀ/ | bacon | du lard, du bacon | /laʀ/ /bekɔn/ |
pineapple | un ananas | /ananas/ | beef | le buf | /bœf/ |
plum | une prune | /pʀyn/ | chicken | le poulet | /pulɛ/ |
prune | un pruneau | /pʀyno/ | duck | le canard | /kanaʀ/ |
raisin | un raisin sec | /ʀɛzɛ̃ sɛk/ | goat | la chèvre | /ʃɛvʀ/ |
raspberry | une framboise | /fʀɑ̃bwaz/ | ham | le jambon | /ʒɑ̃bɔ̃/ |
strawberry | une fraise | /fʀɛz/ | lamb | l'agneau (m) | /aɲo/ |
watermelon | une pastèque | /pastɛk/ | liver | le foie | /fwa/ |
vegetable | un légume | /legym/ | meatballs | des boulettes de viande | /bulɛtdəvjɑ̃d/ |
artichoke | un artichaut | /aʀtiʃo/ | pork chop | une côtelette de porc | /kotlɛtdəpɔʀ/ |
asparagus | des asperges | /aspɛʀʒ/ | rabbit | le lapin | /lapɛ̃/ |
beet | une betterave | /bɛtʀav/ | hamburger | le steak haché | /stɛkaʃe/ |
broccoli | le brocoli | /bʀɔkɔli/ | sausage | la saucisse | /sosis/ |
cabbage | un chou | /ʃu/ | dried sausage | le saucisson | /sosisɔ̃/ |
carrot | une carotte | /kaʀɔt/ | turkey | la dinde | /dɛ̃d/ |
cauliflower | un chou-fleur | /ʃuflœʀ/ | veal | le veau | /vo/ |
celery | un céleri | /sɛlʀi/ | venison | le chevreuil | /ʃəvʀœj/ |
Lettuce can also be referred to as la salade verte.
Prendre - to take, eat or drink /pʀɑ̃dʀ/ | Boire - to drink /bwaʀ/ | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
prends | /pʀɑ̃/ | prenons | /prənɔ̃/ | bois | /bwa/ | buvons | /buvɔ̃/ |
prends | /pʀɑ̃/ | prenez | /prəne/ | bois | /bwa/ | buvez | /buve/ |
prend | /pʀɑ̃/ | prennent | /pʀɛn/ | boit | /bwa/ | boivent | /bwav/ |
Other verbs that are conjugated like prendre: apprendre /apʀɑ̃dʀ/ - to learn, comprendre /kɔ̃pʀɑ̃dʀ/ - to understand and surprendre /syʀpʀɑ̃dʀ/ - to surprise
When you want to say "I am having wine," the French translation is "Je prends du vin." You must use de and le, la, l', or les and the proper contractions (called partitives) because in French you must always express some. So "je prends de la bière" literally means "I am having some beer" even though in English we would usually only say I am having beer.
Manger is a regular verb meaning "to eat," but manger is used in a general sense, such as Je mange du poulet tous les samedis. I eat chicken every Saturday. Boire is literally the verb to drink and is also used in a general sense only. Je bois du vin tout le temps. I drink wine all the time.
assez de | enough (of) | un morceau de | a piece of | une douzaine de | a dozen of |
une assiette de | a plate of | un peu de | a little (bit) of | un paquet de | a packet of |
beaucoup de | a lot of | une tasse de | a cup of | un panier de | a basket of |
une boîte de | a box of | une tranche de | a slice of | une poignée de | a handful of |
une bouteille de | a bottle of | trop de | too much, many | plus de | more |
un kilo de | a kilo of | un verre de | a glass of | un bouquet de | a bunch of |
With quantities and negatives, you never use partitives. The construction is always de or d' + noun.
Je voudrais prendre du fromage, mais pas de fruit.
I would like to have some cheese, but no fruit.
Il prend de la viande. He is eating some meat.
Nous prenons du riz et des brocolis. We are having some
rice and broccoli.
Il y a trop de lait dans la tasse. There is too much milk
in the cup.
Je voudrais un morceau de tarte. I would like one piece
of pie.
Est-ce que je peux prendre un verre de vin ? May I have
a glass of wine?
Je prends du vin. I'm drinking some wine.
Je ne prends pas de vin. I am not drinking any wine.
Use the vous, tu and nous forms for commands. | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Vous form | Polite and Plural | Same as verb form | Restez ! | Stay! | |
Tu form | Familiar | Same as verb form, but drop -s for -er verbs |
Regarde ! | Look/Watch! | |
Nous form | Let's... | Same as verb form | Allons-y ! | Let's go! |
When using pronominal verbs as commands, the pronoun is placed after the verb connected by a hyphen. Tu te dépêches becomes Dépêche-toi ! And in negative commands, the pronoun precedes the verb, as in Ne nous reposons pas.
être (be) | avoir (have) | savoir (know) | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
tu | sois | /swa/ | tu | aie | /ɛ/ | tu | sache | /saʃ/ |
nous | soyons | /swajɔ̃/ | nous | ayons | /ajɔ̃/ | nous | sachons | /saʃɔ̃/ |
vous | soyez | /swaje/ | vous | ayez | /aje/ | vous | sachez | /saʃe/ |
Ne sois pas méchant avec ta sur ! Don't be mean to your sister!
N'ayez pas peur ! Don't be afraid!
Sachez que j'apprécie votre aide. Know that
I appreciate your help.
ne...plus | /nə...ply/ | no longer |
ne...jamais | /nə...ʒamɛ/ | never |
ne...rien | /nə...ʀjɛ̃/ | nothing |
ne...aucun(e) | /nə...okœ̃/ /yn/ | not a single one |
ne...que | /nə...kə/ | only |
ne...personne | /nə...pɛʀsɔn/ | nobody |
ne...ni...ni | /nə...ni...ni/ | neither...nor |
ne...nulle part | /nə...nyl paʀ/ | nowhere |
The que in ne...que is placed directly before the noun it limits. Rien and personne may be used as subjects: Personne n'est ici. Aucun(e) by definition is singular, so the verb and nouns must also be changed to the singular. With ni...ni, all articles are dropped except definite articles. Je n'ai ni caméra ni caméscope, but Je n'aime ni les chats ni les chiens.
Il n'aime plus travailler. He no longer
likes to work. (Or: He doesn't like to work anymore)
Nous ne voulons faire des achats que lundi. We want
to go shopping only on Monday.
Elle ne déteste personne. She hates no one.
(Or: She doesn't hate anyone.)
Negatives with Passé Composé
1. Ne...pas, ne...plus, ne...jamais, and ne...rien
Ne comes before auxiliary verb, and the other part is between auxiliary
and past participle.
Nous n'avons rien fait. We did nothing.
Vous
ne vous êtes pas ennuyés. You were not bored.
2. Ne...personne, ne...aucun, ne...ni...ni, ne...nulle
part, and ne... que
Ne comes before the auxiliary verb, but the other part is after the
past participle.
Il n'a écouté personne. He listened to no one.
Il n'a fait aucune faute. He made not a single mistake.
* Use of ne ... pas de: In negative sentences,
the partitives and indefinite articles become de before the noun
(unless the verb is être, then nothing changes.)
Partitive: Je prends du pain et du beurre. I'm
having some bread and butter.
Negative: Je ne prends pas de pain ou de beurre.
I am not having any bread or butter.
Indefinite: J'ai un chien. I have a dog.
Negative: Je n'ai pas de chien. I don't have a dog.
Verb is être: C'est une chatte brune. It's a brown
cat.
Negative: Ce n'est pas une chatte brune. It's not
a brown cat.
Merry Christmas | Joyeux Noël |
Happy New Year | Bonne Année |
Happy Thanksgiving | Joyeux Thanksgiving |
Happy Thanksgiving (Canada) | Bonne Action de grâces |
Happy Easter | Joyeuses Pâques |
Happy Halloween | Bonne fête d'Halloween |
Happy Valentine's Day | Joyeuse Saint-Valentin |
Happy Birthday | Bon Anniversaire Joyeux Anniversaire |
Happy Saint Day | Bonne Fête |
Happy Holidays | Joyeuses Fêtes |
Christmas Eve or New Year's Eve | le Réveillon |
New Year's Eve | la Saint-Sylvestre |
If someone is named after a saint, you can wish them bonne fête on that saint's feast day. In Quebec, bonne fête is used for Happy Birthday.
Listen to the les fêtes : Noël en France mp3 and try the cloze (fill-in-the-blank) exercises from French Listening Resources.
The French National Anthem: La Marseillaise
by Claude-Joseph Rouget de L'Isle
Allons enfants de la Patrie,
Le jour de gloire est arrivé.
Contre nous, de la tyrannie,
L'étendard sanglant est levé,
l'étendard sanglant
est levé.
Entendez-vous dans les campagnes
Mugir ces farouches soldats.
Ils viennent jusque dans nos bras
égorger vos fils, vos compagnes.
Aux armes citoyens! Formez vos bataillons,
Marchons, marchons !
Qu'un sang impur Abreuve nos sillons.
Amour sacré de la Patrie,
Conduis, soutiens nos bras vengeurs.
Liberté, liberté chérie,
Combats avec tes défenseurs;
Sous nos drapeaux, que la victoire
Accoure à tes mâles accents;
Que tes ennemis expirants
Voient ton triomphe et notre gloire !
Aux armes citoyens !
Formez vos bataillons,
Marchons, marchons !
Qu'un sang impur Abreuve nos sillons.
Ye sons of France, awake to glory, Hark, hark, what
myriads bid you rise: Your children, wives and grandsires
hoary, Behold their tears and hear their cries, see their
tears and hear their cries! Shall hateful tyrants mischief
breeding with hireling hosts, a ruffian band
Affright and desolate the land, while peace and liberty lie bleeding?
To arms, to arms, ye brave! Th'avenging sword unsheathe!
March on! March on! All hearts resolved on victory or death.
O sacred love of france, undying,
Th'avenging arm uphold and guide
Thy defenders, death defying,
Fight with Freedom on their side.
Soon thy sons shall be victorious
When the banner high is raised;
And thy dying enemies, amazed,
Shall behold thy triumph, great and glorious.
To arms, to arms, ye brave! Th'avenging sword unsheathe!
March on! March on! All hearts resolved on victory or death.
Translation by Percy Bysshe Shelley (1st verse) and Mary Elizabeth Shaw (2nd verse) (This is not a literal translation.)
The Canadian National Anthem: O Canada
O Canada, terre de nos aïeux,
Ton front est ceint de fleurons glorieux.
Car ton bras sait porter l'épée,
Il sait porter la croix.
Ton histoire est une épopée
Des plus brillants exploits.
Et ta valeur, de foi trempée,
Protégera nos foyers et nos droits.
O Canada! Our home and native land!
True patriot love in all thy sons command.
With glowing hearts we see thee rise,
The True North strong and free!
From far and wide, O Canada,
We stand on guard for thee.
God keep our land glorious and free!
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
O Canada, we stand on guard for thee.
The Belgian National Anthem: La Brabannçone
Noble Belgique, à jamais terre chérie,
À toi nos cœurs, à toi nos bras,
Par le sang pur répandu pour toi, Patrie!
Nous le jurons d'un seul cri: tu vivras!
Tu vivras toujours grande et belle
Et ton invincible unité
Aura pour devise immortelle
Le Roi, la Loi, la Liberté!
Le Roi, la Loi, la Liberté!
La Liberté!
Noble Belgium, forever beloved land,
Thine our hearts, thine our arms,
By the pure blood shed for you Fatherland!
We swear it in a single shout: thou shalt live!
Thou shalt live, ever great and beautiful
And thy invincible unity
Shall have for everlasting motto:
The King, the Law, Liberty!
The King, the Law, Liberty!
Liberty!
The Swiss National Anthem: Cantique suisse
by Charles Chatelanat
Sur nos monts, quand le soleil
Annonce un brillant réveil,
Et prédit d'un plus beau jour le retour,
Les beautés de la patrie
Parlent à l'âme attendrie;
Au ciel montent plus joyeux
Les accents d'un cœur pieux,
Les accents émus d'un cœur pieux.
Lorsqu'un doux rayon du soir
Joue encore dans le bois noir,
Le cœur se sent plus heureux près de Dieu.
Loin des vains bruits de la plaine,
L'âme en paix est plus sereine,
Au ciel montent plus joyeux
Les accents d'un cœur pieux,
Les accents émus d'un cœur pieux.
Lorsque dans la sombre nuit
La foudre éclate avec bruit,
Notre cœur pressent encore le Dieu fort;
Dans l'orage et la détresse
Il est notre forteresse;
Offrons-lui des coeurs pieux:
Dieu nous bénira des cieux,
Dieu nous bénira du haut des cieux.
Des grands monts vient le secours;
Suisse, espère en Dieu toujours!
Garde la foi des aïeux, Vis comme eux!
Sur l'autel de la patrie
Mets tes biens, ton cœur, ta vie!
C'est le trésor précieux
Que Dieu bénira des cieux,
Que Dieu bénira du haut des cieux.
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