Need to knows: Year 9 (4ème)
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This booklet is jam-packed, full of useful vocabulary, phrases and grammar that will help you become a successful language learner.
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Prof: ……………………………… Contents
Page Page
TV programs 3 What can you do? 27
Time phrases (TV) 4 In my house 28
Online activities 5 My old house (past) 29
Cinema 6 My ideal house (conditional) 30
Household chores 7 Body parts 31
Time 8 Injuries & illnesses 32
Infinitive structures 9 Phrases to impress 33-34
Morning Routine 10 Core Language 35-37
Articles (definite and indefinite) Present Tense 11 38 & Alphabet
Last Weekend 12 Numbers 39
Past Tense (Activities) 13 Prepositions 40
Jouer & Faire 14 Adjectives 41-43
Sport 15-16 Reasons 45
Sport opinions 17 High frequency words 46-48
To be a good sportsperson 18 Present tense 49-55
To be more active 19 Perfect Tense (Past) 56-62
Food & Drink 20-21 Future tense 63-64
Keeping fit 22-23 Conditional tense 65
Time phrases (health) 24 Imperfect tense (Past) 66
Where I live 25 Pronouns 67-68
Describing my area 26 Websites 69 2 Learning Due Date: ______
Mod 1 QU’EST-CE QUE TU WHAT DO YOU WATCH REGARDES À LA TÉLÉ? ON TV? J'aime / Je n'aime pas... I like / I don't like... les comédies comedies les dessins animés cartoons les documentaires documentaries les feuilletons soaps les infos the news les jeux télévisés gameshows les séries (policières) (police) series les émissions de...... programmes cuisine cookery musique music sport sport science-fiction science fiction télé-réalité reality
parce qu'ils/elles sont... because they are... ridicules ridiculous divertissants / divertissantes entertaining intéressants / intéressamtes interesting passionnants / passionnantes exciting pleins / pleines d'action full of action ennuyeux / ennuyeuses boring nuls / nulles rubbish marrants / marrantes funny bêtes stupid 3 Learning Due Date: ______TU REGARDES LA TÉLÉ? DO YOU WATCH TV?
Je regarde la télé... I watch TV... avant les cours before lessons tous les soirs every evening le weekend at the weekend dans le salon in the living room dans le bus on the bus dans ma chambre in my bedroom avec ma famille with my family seul / seule alone Qu’est-ce que tu fais Do you normally do? normalement? Normalement normally J’écoute de la musique I listen to music Je lis des BD I read comics Nous jouons en ligne We play online
Qu’est-ce que tu as fait le What did you do last weekend dernier? weekend? Je suis allé(e) I went J’ai choisi de… I chose to…
Qu’est-ce que tu vas faire le What are you going to do weekend prochain? next weekend? Je vais regarder I am going to watch 4 On va voir We are going to see Learning Due Date: ______QU’EST-CE QUE TU FAIS EN WHAT DO YOU DO LIGNE? ONLINE? Je regarde... I watch... des chaînes sur YouTube YouTube channels à la demande, sur Netflix on demand, on Netflix sur mon smartphone on my smartphone sur mon ordinateur on my computer sur ma tablette on my tablet Mon portable My mobile Mon ordinateur portable My laptop
c'est facile it's easy c'est varié it's varied ce n'est pas cher it's not expensive j'écoute de la musique en streaming I stream music je télécharge des chansons I download songs je crée des playlists I create playlists je joue sur ma Xbox I play on my Xbox j'achète des jeux et je joue en ligne I buy games and play online
On peut You can (general “ you ”) on peut télécharger de la My laptop musique mon portable est plus rapide que My mobile is faster than my mon ordinateur computer mon portable est moins rapide My mobile is less fast than que mon ordinateur my computer
mon portable est aussi rapide My mobile is as fast as my que mon ordinateur computer 5 Learning Due Date: ______TU VEUX ALLER AU DO YOU WANT TO GO TO CINÉMA? THE CINEMA?
Je vais au cinéma I go to the cinema Tu viens? Are you coming? Ça dépend. Qu'est-ce que tu vas voir? It depends. What are you going to see?
Je vais regarder... I'm going to see... une comédie a comedy un film d'animation an amimated film un film romantique a romantic film un film d'action an action film un film d'horreur a horror film Il y a une séance à 14h There's a screening at 2pm
Bonne idée! Je veux bien. Good idea! I'd like to. Tu rigoles! You're joking! Je n'ai pas envie I don't want to. Désolé(e). Je ne peux pas ce soir. Sorry. I can't this evening. Rendez-vous où et à quelle heure? Where and when shall we meet? Chez moi / Chez toi At mine / At yours à 19h At 7pm À plus See you later à demain See you tomorrow à samedi See you Saturday Je peux vous aider? Can I help you? Je voudrais trois billets pour... I would like 3 tickets for... Deux adultes et un enfant Two adults and one child Ça fait combien? How much is it? C'est quelle salle? Which screen? 6 Learning Due Date: ______Mod 2
QU’EST-CE QUE TU FAIS À WHAT ARE YOU DOING LA MAISON POUR AIDER? AT HOME TO HELP OUT?
On doit... We / People must... Je dois... I must... Ma sœur / Mon frère doit... My sister / My brother must...
garder ma sœur look after my sister garder mon frère look after my brother
ranger ma chambre tidy my room rapporter l'eau collect the water laver la voiture wash the car faire la cuisine do the cooking faire la vaisselle do the washing-up faire la lessive do the washing nourrir les animaux feed the animals
Je dois I have to Je ne dois pas I don’t have to Il/ elle doit He/ She has to Il/elle ne doit pas He/she doesn’t have to Je peux I can Je ne peux pas I can’t Je ne fais rien I don’t do anything 7 Learning Due Date: ______
QUELLE HEURE EST-IL? WHAT TIME IS IT?
Il est…..heure(s) It is ……. o’clock Il est midi It is 12 (noon) Il est minuit It is 12 (mignight) à huit heures at 8 o’clock
8 Learning Due Date: ______
INFINITIVE STRUCTURES (STRUCTURES THAT USE AN INFINITIVE AFTER)
I want Je veux me coucher – to go to bed I can Je peux me changer– to get changed You (one) can On peut manger – to have tea You (one) must On doit prendre le petit-déjeuner – I have to Je dois to have breakfast I wish/want J’ai envie de me réveiller– to wake up dormir – to sleep I would like Je voudrais m’endormir – to fall asleep I am going Je vais me doucher – to shower Before …ing Avant de aller au collège– to go to I decided J’ai décidé de school I would prefer Je préférerais me laver – to have a wash It’s important Il est important me lever – to get up my mum makes me Ma mère me fait gouter - to have a snack (sl) I hope J’espère promener le chien– to walk I’ve always J’ai toujours rêvé de the dog dreamed of me relaxer – to relax Instead of Au lieu de me presser- to be in a hurry m’habiller - to get dressed My parents let me Mes parents me laissent rentrer à la maison– to return home they stop me FROM Ils m’interdisent de
9 Learning Due Date: ______
CE QUE JE FAIS LE MATIN WHAT I DO IN THE MORNING
déjeuner To have lunch prendre un bain To have a bath se brosser les cheveux To brush your hair prendre le petit-déjeuner To have breakfast se réveiller To wake up se doucher To have a shower durer To last aller au collège To go to school se laver (les dents) To wash / clean your teeth se lever To get up arriver To arrive en arrivant On arriving se maquiller To put on make up se peigner To comb/ brush your hair grignoter To snack on s’habiller To get dressed rarement Rarely puis Then / later immédiatement Immediately tout de suite Straightaway être pressé(e) To be in a hurry je me lève I get up je me lave les I clean my teeth dents je prends le petit I have breakfast déjeuner je quitte la I leave the maison house je me douche I have a shower je me lave I have a wash je me coiffe I do my hair je me couche I go to bed je m'habille I get dressed 10 Learning Due Date: ______
REFLEXIVE PRONOUNS
I ME You TE S/He SE We NOUS You pl VOUS They SE
Se réveiller: to wake up Je me réveille Tu te réveilles Il se réveille Nous nous réveillons Vous vous réveillez Ils se réveillent 11 Learning Due Date: ______
CE QUE J’AI FAIT LE WHAT I DID LAST WEEKEND WEEKEND DERNIER
Arriver à la maison * to arrive home Rentrer à la maison* to return home Se changer * to get changed Se mettre en pyjamas * to get undressed S’endormir * to fall asleep / to oversleep dormir to sleep Se mettre au lit * to lie down / to go to bed Faire la grasse matinée to have a lie-in travailler to work Faire la cuisine to make food diner to have tea /evening meal Se démaquiller * to take your make-up off Se relaxer to relax Trainer to hang out Faire de l’exercice to exercise Promener le chien to walk the dog Sortir * to go out Passer du temps to spend time Faire le ménage to do the cleaning Gouter to have a snack
*takes être in the past tense instead of avoir
12 Learning Due Date: ______
13 Learning Due Date: ______Mod 3 jouer = to play je joue I gplay tu joues You play (Fam./sing.) il/ elle joue He/She plays nous jouons We play vous jouez You play (plural /polite) ils/elles jouent They play (m) (f)
Faire= to do
Je fais I do Tu fais You do (Fam./sing.) il/elle fait He/she does nous faisons We do vous faites You do (plural / polite) ils/elles font They (m) (f) do
14 Learning Due Date: ______TU FAIS DU SPORT? DO YOU DO A SPORT? Quels sports fais-tu? What sports do you do?
Je fais… I do… de l’athlétisme athletics du vélo bike riding du roller roller skating
du patin à glace ice skating
du skate skateboarding
du parkour parkour
de l’équitation horse riding de la danse dancing de la natation swimming de la gymnastique gymnastics des promenades (go) for walks Je joue… I play.. au badminton badminton
au rugby rugby
au basket basketball au tennis tennis au foot football au hockey hockey au volley 15 15 Learning Due Date: ______QUEL SPORT PEUT-ON WHAT SPORTS CAN FAIRE A BOLTON? YOU DO IN BOLTON?
Dans ma ville / mon village, il y a... In my town / my village, there is/are... beaucoup de lots of peu de few / not many possiblités sportives sporting possibilities une salle de fitness a gym On peut jouer... You can play... au basket / au billard basketball / pool au foot / au football football au handball / au hockey handball / hockey au rugby / au tennis rugby / tennis au tennis de table / au ping-pong table tennis / ping pong
au volleyball volleyball à la pétanque / aux boules boules On peut faire... You can do... du cyclisme / du vélo cycling du judo / du patin à glace judo / ice-skating du ski skiing de la danse / de la gymnastique dance / gymnastics de la musculation weight training de la voile / de la plache à voile sailing / windsurfing de l'athlétisme / de l'équitation athletics / horse-riding des arts martiaux martial arts Je suis membre d'un club I am a member of a club Je m'entraîne deux fois par semaine I train twice a week 16 Learning Due Date: ______QUEL SPORT WHAT SPORTS DO PRÉFÈRES-TU? YOU PREFER?
Je trouve le tennis / la I find tennis / gymnastics... gymnastique... amusant(e) fun compliqué(e) complicated divertissant(e) entertaining fatigant(e) tiring intéressant(e) interesting passionnant(e) exciting relaxant(e) relaxing violent(e) violent ennuyeux / ennuyeuse boring
difficile difficult facile easy
À mon avis / Pour moi... In my opinion / For me...
le footing est plus facile que jogging is easier than la natation swimming la voile est moins amusante sailing is less fun than skiing que le ski
17 Learning Due Date: ______POUR ÊTRE UN BON IN ORDER TO BE A SPORTIF… GOOD SPORTS PERSON
Il faut... It is necessary... travailler dur to work hard manger équilibré to eat healthily boire beaucoup d'eau to drink lots of water avoir de l'assurance to be confident être motivé(e) et déterminé(e) to be motivated and determined
aller à la salle de fitnes to go to the gym dormir huit heures par nuit to sleep for 8 hours a night
faire d'autres activités aussi to also do other activities
Il ne faut pas... You must not... fumer des cigarettes smoke cigarettes consommer de drogue take drugs Sur la photo il y a... In the photo there is / are...
des athlètes some athletes des joueurs some players Ils / Elles They... participent à are taking part in jouent are playing portent are wearing une course a race un maillot de course a running vest un maillot de basket a basketball shirt Il / Ellle marque un panier He/She is scoring a basket
18 Learning Due Date: ______IN ORDER TO BE MORE POUR ÊTRE PLUS ACTIF ACTIVE Review use of present future together TENSE TIME PHRASES EXAMPLES Present • aujourd’hui = today Je fais du sport après • en ce moment = at the moment l’école • maintenant = now • d’habitude = usually Je joue au football • Normalement = normally • en général = generally Je fais de la natation • parfois / quelquefois = sometimes depuis cinq ans • deux fois par semaine = twice a week • le matin = in the morning Je regarde la télé • le soir = in the evening • depuis = since / for Future • ce soir = tonight J’ai l’intention de • demain = tomorrow devenir member de • après-demain = the day after tomorrow l’éuuipe de handball du • dans deux semaines = in two weeks college • le week-end prochain = next weekend • l’été prochain = next summer J’espère voir un film au • la semaine prochaine = next week cinema • l’année prochaine = next year • pendant les grandes vacances = during Je vais jouer au football the summer holidays trois fois par semaine • à l’avenir = in the future D'habitude je regarde la télé le soir mais il faut s'entrainer dur alors la semaine prochaine je vais jouer au foot trois fois par semaine. Usually, I watch TV at night but you have to train hard, so next week, I’m going to play football three times a week. 19 Learning Due Date: ______Mod 4
QU’EST-CE QUE TU WHAT DO YOU LIKE TO AIMES MANGER/BOIRE? EAT/DRINK? La nourriture Food les boissons Drink du beurre Butter du fromage Cheese du lait Milk du pain Bread du poisson Fish du poulet Chicken du yaourt Yogurt de la confiture Jam de la glace Ice-cream de la viande Meat de l’eau (f) Water des bananes Bananas des fraises Strawberries des œufs Eggs des pêches Peaches des poires Pears des pommes Apples 20 des pommes de terre potatoes Learning Due Date: ______QU’EST-CE QUE TU WHAT DO YOU MANGES/BOIS? EAT/DRINK?
Les repas meals Qu’est-ce que tu prends pour What do you have for breakfast? le petit-déjeuner? Qu’est-ce que tu manges à What do you eat at midi? lunchtime? Qu’est-ce que tu manges What do you have as a snack? Qu’est-ce que tu manges le What do you eat in the soir? evening? Qu’est-ce que tu bois? What do you drink? Pour le petit-déjeuner.. For breakfast … À midi, … At lunchtime … Comme casse-croûte.. As a snack … Je prends/je mange … I have/I eat … un sandwich a sandwich du pain grillé toast de la salade salad des céréales cereal Je bois du jus d’orange. I drink orange juice.
21 Learning Due Date: ______QU’EST-CE QUE TU FAIS WHAT DO YOU DO TO POUR GARDER LA FORME? KEEP FIT? pour garder la forme il faut… to stay in good shape, you have to…. il est sain de It is healthy to il est important de It is important to il est nécessaire de It is necessary to + infinitive manger sain Eat healthily manger cinq portions de fruit et Eat 5 portions of fruit and veg a légumes par jour day éviter les sucreries Avoid sugary treats éviter de manger trop de Avoid eating too many fatty matières grasses foods éviter les boissons gazeuses Avoid fizzy drinks faire au moins vingt minutes Do at least 20 minutes exercise d’exercice par jour a fay dormir au moins huit heures par Sleep at least 8 hours a night nuit éviter l’alcool et les cigarettes Avoid alcohol and cigarettes éviter le stress Avoid stress mener une vie active Lead an active life éviter de passer des heures Avoid spending hours in front of devant l’ordinateur ou la télé the computer or the TV
22 Learning Due Date: ______QU’EST-CE QUE TU WHAT DO YOU DO FAIS POUR GARDER LA TO KEEP FIT? FORME? Pour être en pleine To be in good shape, … forme, … Pour éviter le stress au To avoid stress at school, … collège, … je mange sainement I eat healthily je mange rarement des I rarely eat sweets or cakes bonbons ou des gâteaux je bois uniquement de I only drink water l’eau je ne bois jamais de I never drink fizzy drinks boissons gazeuses je me couche tôt I go to bed early j'essaie de me I try to disconnect from déconnecter des écrans screens from time to time de temps en temps
Dans le futur In the future Je veux I want Je voudrais I would like Je préférerais I would prefer +infinitive Me coucher tot To go to bed early Me déconnecter To disconnect Manger sainement to eat healthily 23 Learning Due Date: ______
TENSE TIME PHRASES EXAMPLES Past • L’année dernière = last year J’ai mangé des chips et • La semaine dernière = last week de la pizza. • Le week-end dernier = last weekend • le mois dernier = last month Je me suis couché à 3 • samedi/dimanche dernier = last heures du matin Saturday / Sunday • il y a une semaine = a week ago Je suis resté à la maison • il y a deux ans = two years ago • hier = yesterday Je n’ai pas pu jouer au • hier soir = last night rugby • avant-hier = the day before yesterday Present • aujourd’hui = today Il faut manger sain • en ce moment = at the moment • maintenant = now Il est nécessaire de bien • d’habitude = usually dormir • Normalement = normally • en général = generally • parfois / quelquefois = sometimes • deux fois par semaine = twice a week • present + depuis = since / for Future • ce soir = tonight J’ai l’intention de manger • Demain = tomorrow plus de salade • dans deux semaines = in two weeks • le week-end prochain = next weekend Je vais faire une • l’été prochain = next summer randonnée • la semaine prochaine = next week • pendant les grandes vacances = during Je voudrais me coucher the summer holidays plus tôt • à l’avenir = in the future Je vais aller chez mes cousins 24 Learning Due Date: ______Mod 5 OÙ HABITES-TU? WHERE DO YOU LIVE? J’habite dans … I live in
une grande maison A big house
un petit appartement A small flat
en ville In town
Un village In a village
à la campagne In the countryside
à la montagne In the mountains
au bord de la mer By the sea
dans un vieux château In an old castle
dans une vieille ferme In an old farm
Parce que Because
Beau/belle pretty
Nouveau/nouvelle new
Selon moi According to me
Où voudrais-tu habiter ? Where would you like to live? Je voudrais habiter I would like to live
à l’étranger Abroad 25 Learning Due Date: ______
C’EST COMMENT? WHAT IS IT LIKE?
C'est comment en été / hiver? What is it like in summer / winter? C'est... It's... amusant fun tranquille / calme peaceful / quiet ennuyeux / animé boring / lively nul / génial / joli awful / great / pretty très very trop too COMMENT EST TA WHAT IS YOUR REGION RÉGION? LIKE?
Dans ma région, il y a... In my region, there is/are... Un appartement A flat Un bâtiment A building Un champ A field Un jardin public A park Un lac a lake Un magasin a shop Une forêt A forest Une montagne A mountain Une plage A beach Une rivière A river Un(e) touriste A tourist Beaucoup de Lots of Plein de Plenty of Peu de Little / not many 26 Trop de Too much / too many Learning Due Date: ______QU’EST-CE QEU’ON PEUT WHAT CAN YOU DO? FAIRE?
On peut... You / People can... manger des crêpres eat pancakes visiter les monuments visit historic monuments historiques visiter des grottes visit caves aller au cinéma go to the cinema aller à la plage go to the beach aller en ville go to town faire les magasins go shopping faire du canoë-kayak go canoeing faire des randonnées go for walkes faire du ski go skiing
cultiver le coton grow cotton travailler dans les champs work in the fields acheter des animaux buy animals aller à l'école go to school vendre des légumes sell vegetables
27 Learning Due Date: ______Chez moi At home
Chez ma tante At my auntie’s
Il y a There is/are
Il n’y a pas de There isn’t/aren’t
Quatre pièces en tout 4 rooms in total
Un salon A lounge
Un jardin A garden
Une cuisine A kitchen
Une salle à manger A dining room
Une salle de bains A bathroom
Des escaliers stairs
Des w.c Toilets voici Here is/are
Ma chambre My bedroom
La chambre de mon frère My brother’s bedroom
La chambre de mes parents My parents’ bedroom
En bas/ au rez-de-chaussée Downstairs/ on the ground floor En haut/ au premier étage Upstairs/ on the 1st floor
Je trouve que I think that dehors outside 28 Learning Due Date: ______COMMENT ÉTAIT TA HOW WAS YOUR MAISON? CHILDHOOD HOME?
J’habitais dans … I used to live in On habitait dans… We used to live in… Quand j’étais petit(e) When I was younger
Dans le jardin In the garden
Il y avait There was
Une balancoire A swing
Des Lego partout Lego everywhere
Je jouais/ On jouait I / We used to play
Je fabriquais/ On fabriquait I / We used to make
Des tentes Tents
Des cabanes Hiding place/hut
J’avais / On avait I / We used to have
Des trottinettes Scooters
29 Learning Due Date: ______COMMENT SERAIT TA WHAT WOULD YOUR IDEAL MAISON IDÉALE? HOME LOOK LIKE? ma maison idéale serait My ideal home would be énorme/ toute en verre Enormous / all glass en Belgique/au Canada in Belgium / in Canada aurait Would have dix étages Ten floors il y aurait there would be
Une piscine A swimming pool
Un terrain de foot A football pitch huit chambres Eight bedrooms
Une salle de cinéma A cinema room
30 Learning Due Date: ______
Mod 6
LES PARTIES DU CORPS BODY PARTS
la bouche mouth le bras arm le corps body le dos back l’épaule shoulder les fesses buttocks le front forehead le genou knee la jambe leg la main hand le nez nose l’oeil eye les oreilles ears le pied foot la tête head le visage face les yeux eyes
31 Learning Due Date: ______QU’EST-CE QUI NE VA WHAT IS WRONG? PAS? j'ai mal au bras I have a sore arm j'ai mal à la gorge I have a sore throat j'ai mal à l'œil I have a sore eye j'ai may aux yeux I have sore eyes j'ai de la fièvre I have a temperaure je me suis blessé(e) au pied / à la tête I've hurt my foot / head / shoulder / à l'épaule je me suis blessé(e) aux jambes I've hurt my legs j'ai la grippe I have the flu j'ai un rhume I have a cold
Il faut... You must... rester au lit stay in bed utiliser une crème use a cream mettre un pansement put on a bandage pratiquer des exercices modérés do some gentle exercises prendre des antidouleurs take painkillers
Vous allex bien? Are you well? Ça ne vas pas I'm not well depuis quand? Since when? depuis trois jours for three days depuis hier since yesterday Je peux I can Je ne peux pas I can’t Bouger ma jambe Move my leg 32 Learning Due Date: ______Phrases to Impress! Use as many of these as possible in your work to really impress!
1. An “Avoir” structure: e.g avoir besoin de to need J’avais besoin d’ un bon prof. I needed a good teacher. avoir envie de to want to J’ai envie d’aller en France I want to go to France en avoir marre to be fed up J’en avais marre. I was fed up with it.
2. At least THREE uses of vu que or étant donné que instead of parce que e.g Je suis allé en France vu que j’aime la cuisine. I went to France because I like the food.
3. At least TWO justified points of view e.g. Je crois la France est le meilleur pays du monde parce que la cuisine est tellement bonne. I think that France is the best country in the world because the food is so good.
4. J’ai décidé de … I decided to 5. Sans + inf e.g sans hésiter without hesitating sans perdre un instant without wasting a moment
6. Avant de … e.g. avant d’arriver before arriving avant de manger before eating
7. Après avoir + past participle e.g. après avoir mangé, je … After eating, I …
8. Exclamations. e.g Quelle bonne idée! What a good idea! Quel désastre! What a disaster! 9. At least THREE uses of the present tenses
10. At least THREE perfect tenses: one using avoir, one using être, one reflexive and one with an irregular past participle.
11. At least THREE future tenses including an irregular.
12. An imperfect e.g. Il pleuvait It was raining
13. a conditional e.g. Je serais I would be
14. Adjectives
15 Impressive vocabulary e.g. inoubliable unforgettable 33 Learning Due Date: ______
16 si, tellement (so) or vraiment instead of très eg. si important so important tellement utile so useful
17 malgré (in spite of) e.g. malgré le fait que je n’avais pas d’argent… in spite of the fact that I had no money
18 venir de e.g. Je viens de commencer à apprendre une nouvelle langue. I have just started learning a new language.
19 sur le point de e.g J’étais sur le point de faire mes devoirs … I was just about to do my homework
20 comparatives e.g. plus beau que more handsome than moins fort que not as strong as aussi intelligent que as intelligent as moins jolie que not as pretty as
21 superlatives e.g. Le plus beau the finest le moins agréable the least pleasant
22 negatives e.g Je ne le fais plus. I don’t do it anymore 23 Try to reduce the number of simple verbs, je m’appelle, je suis, j’ai
24 Full descriptions i.e 10 pieces of information
25 Try not to repeat any verb
26 Use Connectives. qui. que, who/which/that tandis que whilst, whereas car for, because lorsque when puisque since
27 pour with the infinitive e.g. Pour voir mon ami In order to see my friend.
28. Pronouns e.g. Mon frère cadet m’a accompagné(e) My younger brother came with me. 34 Learning Due Date: ______KS3 French Core Language avoir – to have être – to be Pronouns J’ai I have Je suis I am je/j’– I tu – you Tu as you have Tu es you are he/she / il/elle/on – he/she/we Il / Elle / Il/elle/ he/she / one is one has informal On a on est nous – we Nous Nous avons we have we are vous – you (fam.pl.) sommes ils / elles – they Vous avez you have (pl. pol) Vous êtes you are (pol.pl.)
Ils/elles Ils/elles ont they have They are Time words sont maintenant – now avant – before Referring to things Referring to places Asking questions après – after aujourd’hui – today une chose – a thing ici – here Pourquoi? – why? hier – yesterday ce/cet/cette – this là-bas - there Quoi? – what? demain – tomorrow ça – that Quand? – when? encore - again Making links autre chose – Où? – where? toujours – always something else et – and Qui? – who? souvent – often autre – (an)other ou – or Combien? – how parfois – sometimes beaucoup – a lot aussi – also much/many? jamais– never (un) peu – (a) little mais – but Comment? – how? la semaine denière – très – very parce que – last week tous – because Opinions la semaine prochaine all/everything avec – with – next week sans - without Je pense que – I think that Sentence building Je crois que – I believe that Il me semble que – it seems Je peux / Il,elle,on I can/he,she can that.. peut Je veux/il,elle,on I want to/he,she wants to… Saying what you did veut Je dois/il doit I have to/he has to… Je suis allé(e) – I went J’ai fait – I did Je vais / Il va + verb I’m going to/he is going to… J’ai vu– I saw J’ai joué – I played J’aime/Il aime I like to/he likes to J’ai mangé – I ate Je/il n’aime pas I don’t/ he doesn’t like J’ai bu – I drank J’adore / Il adore I love to/he loves to…
Je voudrais/ Il I/he/she would like to… 35 voudrait Learning Due Date: ______KS3 French Core Language 2 Time words Present Imperfect maintenant – now Je suis/ I am/ J’étais I was/ avant – before après – after aujourd’hui – today Il/elle/ s/he/it is Il/elle s/he/it was de nos jours – nowadays c’ est C’était depuis …ans - …years ago hier – yesterday demain– tomorrow Il y a there is/ Il y avait there was/ la semaine dernière – last there are there were week la semaine prochaine– J’ai/ I have/ J’avais I had/ next week Il/elle a s/he/it has Il/elle avait s/he/it had Referring to places Comparing Asking questions Saying what you did ici – here plus...que – more than Pourquoi? – why? J’ai parlé I spoke moins..que – less than là-bas - there Quoi? – what? Tu as parlé you spoke aussi + adj + que – Quand? – when? Making links as.as Où? – where? Il/elle/on a he/she is/you aussi – also Qui? – who? parlé spoke (pol.sing) sans - without Combien? – how much/many? Nous avons we spoke Sentence building Comment? – how? parlé Vous avez Je(ne) peux (pas) I can(not) you spoke parlé (fam.pl.)
Je (ne) veux (pas) I (don’t) want to Ils/elles they/you ont parlé spoke (pol.pl.) J’ai (je n’ai pas) I (didn’t) want to j’ai visité I visited voulu J’ai acheté I bought Je (ne) dois (pas) I (don’t)have to Je suis resté I stayed
J’ai (je n’ai pas)/il a I (didn’t) have to/ s/he (didn’t) J’ai nagé I swam (n’a pas) dû have to.. J’ai passé I spent
Je vais / il/elle va + verb I’m going to / s/he is going to… Je me suis I had a good bien amusé time I was going to / s/he was going J’allais / il/elle allait J’ai voyagé I travelled to .. J’ai joué I played J’aime (je n’aime I (don’t) like to Je suis allé – I went pas) J’ai fait– I did J’adore / il/elle I love to / s/he loves to… J’ai vu – I saw adore J’ai mangé – I ate Je voudrais I would like to… J’ai bu – I drank 36 Learning Due Date: ______KS3 French Core Language 3 Sentence building Referring to belonging(s) Je(ne) peux (pas) I can(not) mon / ma my / mes Je (ne) veux (pas) I (don’t) want to ton /ta your /tes J’ai (je n’ai pas) voulu I (didn’t) want to son / sa his/her /ses Je (ne) dois (pas) I (don’t)have to notre our J’ai (je n’ai pas) dû I (didn’t) have to /nos votre / Je vais / il/elle va I’m going to / s/he is going to… your vos I was going to / s/he was going J’allais / il/elle allait leur / to .. their leurs I (don’t) like to / s/he doesn’t J’aime (je n’aime pas) like to
J’adore / il/elle adore I love to / s/he loves to…
Referring to things & people Je voudrais I/he/she would like to…
J’avais l’intention de I was planning to.. me me te you J’étais sur le point de I was about to....
le it / he Je viends de I have just.... + verb in the INFINITIVE form INFINITIVE the in verb + la it / she après avoir fait After doing les them avant de before (doing)
Expressing negatives ne….rien not…at all, nothing, not How to je(I) ai anything refer tu (you – 1 person, fam) as ne … pas not to the future Il / elle– he/she a ne…jamais never (not..ever) nous- we ons Je ne vais jamais au I never to go the cinema Infinitive vous – you pl., polite ez + cinéma Ils/ elles - they ont personne …ne No-one (not anyone) Je ne connais I don’t know anyone personne 37 Learning Due Date: ______
How to say ‘a’, ‘some’ and ‘the’: definite and indefinite articles un a (masculine object) une a (feminine object) des some (more than one masculine object) des some (more than one feminine object) le the (masc object) la the (fem object) l’ the (+ vowel) les the (more than one masc object) les the (more than one fem object)
NB: Sometimes the article is not needed in French: e.g. Je n’ai pas de frères = I haven’t got any brothers e.g. Mon père est professeur = My dad is a teacher
L’alphabet A [ah] J [jee] S [ess] B [ bay] K [kah] T [tay] C [say] L [ell] U [oo] D [day] M [em] V [vay] E [euh] N [en] W [dou – bluh – vay]
F [eff] O [oh] X [icks]
G [ghay] P [pay] Y [ee-grek] H [ash] Q [koo] Z [zed] I [ee] R [air] 38 Learning Due Date: ______Cardinal and ordinal numbers 1 un 10 dix 80 quatre-vingts 2 deux 20 vingt 81 quatre-vingt- 3 trois un 4 quatre 30 trente 82 quatre-vingt- 5 cinq deux 6 six 40 quarante 90 quatre-vingt- 7 sept dix 8 huit 50 cinquante 91 quatre-vingt- 9 neuf onze 10 dix 60 soixante 92 quatre-vingt- 11 onze douze 12 douze 70 soixante- 100 cent 13 treize dix 14 quatorze 71 soixante- 200 deux cents 15 quinze et-onze 16 seize 72 soixante- 210 deux cent dix 17 dix-sept douze 18 dix-huit 1000 - mille 19 dix-neuf
20 vingt premier/ière first 21 vingt-et-un deuxième second 22 vingt deux troisième third 23 vingt trois quatrième fourth 24 vingt quatre cinquième fifth 25 vingt cinq sixième sixth 26 vingt six septième seventh 27 vingt sept huitième eigth 28 vingt huit neuvième nineth 29 vingt neuf dixième tenth 30 trente 31 trente-et-un 39 Learning Due Date: ______Prepositions These are the most commonly used positioning words: à to, at avec with de from, of de / depuis from, since dans / à in entre between vers towards pour for à cause de because of sans without sur on/on top of à la fin de at the end of autour de around près de near devant in front of dedans inside derrière behind en face de facing, opposite dehors outside loin de far from
40 Learning Due Date: ______Rules about adjectives French Adjectives As in English, French adjectives are words used to qualify other words. Construction Rules Unlike English, however, adjectives in French are generally placed after the noun they qualify. Example: Un chat noir / A black cat There are, however, several exceptions.
French adjectives generally follow the same gender rules as French nouns (and they always agree with the gender of the noun they qualify). For normal cases, just add -e to the masculine form. Adjectives whose masculine form end in “er” change to “ère.” Adjectives whose masculine form end in “-eau” change to “-elle.” Adjectives whose masculine form end in “-l” change to “-lle.” Adjectives whose masculine form end in “-n” change to “-nne” : Adjectives whose masculine form end in “-f” change to “-ve.“ Adjectives whose masculine form end in “-x” change to “-se
Number Rules As in the case of nouns, the plural form of French adjectives is derived simply by adding the ending “-s” to the appropriate masculine singular form, or feminine singular form. Adjectives that already end in “-s” or “-x” do not vary their forms from the singular to the plural. Adjectives that end in “-eu” and “-au” in the singular end in “-x” in the plural (except bleu (blue) which end in “-s”).
41 Learning Due Date: ______
Adjectives often change their ending depending whether the thing you’re describing is masculine, feminine or plural.
Regular adjectives – most adjectives follow these patterns
Masculine Feminine Masculine Feminine Plural Plural petit petit petite petits petites timide timide timide timides timides fatigué fatigué fatiguée fatigués fatiguées
-x -se
Masculine Feminine Masculine Feminine Plural Plural sérieux sérieux sérieuse sérieux sérieuse IRREGULARS doux doux douce doux douces vieux vieux vieille vieux vieilles faux faux fausse faux fausses
-s, -n, -l -sse, -nne, -lle
Masculine Feminine Masculine Feminine Plural Plural gros gros grosse gros grosses bon bon bonne bons bonnes gentil gentil gentille gentils gentilles
-et , -er -ète, -ère
Masculine Feminine Masculine Feminine Plural Plural complet complet complète complets complètes cher cher chère chers chères
-c -che OR -c -que
Masculine Feminine Masculine Feminine Plural Plural blanc blanc blanche blancs blanches public public publique publics publiques
-f -ve Masculine Feminine Masculine Feminine Plural Plural actif actif active actifs actives 42 Learning Due Date: ______
Adjectives in French usually go AFTER the thing they’re describing
un chien noir (a black dog) une fille amusante (a funny girl)
The exceptions to this are adjectives for:
Beauty Age Goodness Size
Here is a list of adjectives that go before the thing they’re describing, with the masculine, feminine & plural forms.
Beauty Age - beau* - beautiful/handsome - jeune – young - joli – pretty - vieux* – old - vilain – ugly/nasty - nouveau* - new
Goodness Size - bon – good - grand – big/tall - gentil – nice - petit – small - mauvais – bad - gros – fat - méchant – nasty/naughty - meilleur – better - pire – worse
* A few of these adjectives have a different ending for describing a masculine word that starts with a vowel or silent h
Masculine Masculine Feminine Masculine Feminine before Plural Plural vowel beau beau bel belle beaux belles vieux vieux vieil vieille vieux vieilles nouveau nouveau nouvel nouvelle nouveaux nouvelles 43 Learning Due Date: ______
MAKING COMPARISONS
Comparatives and superlatives are adverbs that let you make comparisons between two or more things. Their names indicate the difference between them: comparatives compare two or more things, while superlatives express extremes.
Introduction to French Comparatives
Comparatives express relative superiority or inferiority; that is, that something is more or less than something else. In addition, comparatives can say that two things are equal. There are three types of comparatives, but four different French comparative adverbs:
1. Superiority: plus... (de or que) more... than, _____er than Laure est plus sportive (qu'Anne). Laure is more athletic (than Anne).
2. Inferiority: moins... (de or que) less.... than Rouen est moins cher (que Paris). Rouen is less expensive (than Paris).
3. Equality: a. aussi.... (de or que) as... as Tu es aussi sympathique que Chantal. You're as nice as Chantal. b. autant (de or que) as much/many as Je travaille autant qu'elle. I work as much as she does.
Introduction to French Superlatives
Superlatives express ultimate superiority or inferiority, claiming that one thing is the most or least of all. There are two types of French superlatives:
1. Superiority: le plus the most, the _____est C'est le livre le plus intéressant du monde. It's the most interesting book in the world.
2. Inferiority: le moins the least Nous avons acheté la voiture la moins chère. We bought the least expensive car. 44 Learning Due Date: ______
45 Learning Due Date: ______These are to learn and use (a lot!) Expressions of Phrases de fréquence frequency always toujours every day tous les jours often souvent usually normalement sometimes quelquefois from time to time de temps en temps on Tuesdays le mardi at the weekend le week-end once a week une fois par semaine twice a month deux fois par semaine never jamais Linking words Connecteurs before avant though bien que afterwards, then après then puis first of all d’abord or ou but mais so donc nevertheless, however néanmoins/cependant also aussi and et 46 Learning Due Date: ______
Time expressions Phrases de temps now maintenant the next day le lendemain yesterday hier since depuis today aujourd’hui tomorrow demain morning le matin later plus tard midnight minuit At night la nuit the day after tomorrow après-demain at the start au début soon bientôt next prochain(e) a fortnight une quinzaine fortnight quinzaine week une semaine In the afternoon l’après-midi In the evening le soir on time, early à l’heure/tôt 47 Learning Due Date: ______
Intensifiers rather/quite assez almost presque too trop very très really vraiment Comparatives more (….than) plus (… que) less (…than) moins (que …) as (…as) aussi (…que) Adverbs quickly vite unfortunately malheureusement straight away tout de suite especially surtout Immediately immédiatement recently récemment especially particulièrement still (yet) encore already déjà perhaps peut-être Positions below (down) au-dessous over there là-bas there là / y here ici 48 Learning Due Date: ______The present tense Regular –er Verbs (e.g. parler = to speak) Je parle I speak tu parles You speak (Fam./sing.) Il/ elle / on parle He/She /we speaks Nous parlons We speak Vous parlez You speak (plural / polite) Ils/elles parlent They (m)/(f) speak
Regular –ir Verbs (e.g. finir = to finish) Je finis I finish Tu finis You finish (Fam./sing.) Il/elle finit He/She finishes Nous finissons We finish Vous finissez You finish (plural / polite) Ils/elles finissent They (m)/(f) finish
Regular –re Verbs (e.g. attendre= to wait for) J’attends I wait Tu attends You wait (Fam./sing.) Il /elle attend He/She waits Nous attendons We wait Vous attendez You wait (plural/polite) Ils/elles attendent They (m) (f) wait
49 Learning Due Date: ______être = to be je suis I am Tu es You are (Fam./sing.) Il /elle est He/she is Nous sommes We are Vous êtes You are (plural / polite) Ils /elles sont They (m) (f) are
avoir = to have
J’ai I have Tu as You have (Fam./sing.) Il /elle a He/She has Nous avons We have Vous avez You have (plural / polite) Ils / elles ont They (m) (f) have il y a= there is/there are il n’y a pas de= there isn’t/there aren’t
50 Learning Due Date: ______
Aller = to go je vais I go tu vas You go (Fam./sing.) il/ elle va He/She goes nous allons We go vous allez You go (plural /polite) ils/elles vont They (m) (f) go
Faire= to do
Je fais I do Tu fais You do (Fam./sing.) il/elle fait He/she does nous faisons We do vous faites You do (plural / polite) ils/elles font They (m) (f) do
51 Learning Due Date: ______French regular –ER verbs Acheter to buy * Compléter to complete * Admirer to admire Continuer To continue Adorer To love Corriger To correct Aider to help Couper To cut Aimer to like Crier To shout s’amuser to enjoy Danser To dance yourself Décider To decide Arrêter to stop Déjeuner To have lunch Arriver to arrive Bavarder to chat Dépêcher To hurry Blesser to hurt Dépenser To spend money Bouger to move Dessiner To draw Cacher to hide Détester To hate Casser to break Deviner To guess Célébrer to celebrate Dîner To have evening meal Cesser to cease/stop Discuter To discuss Changer to change Donner To give Chercher to look for Écouter To listen Chuchoter to whisper Embrasser To kiss Commander to order Enseigner To teach Commencer to start Étudier To study Comparer53 to compare Éviter To avoid 52 Learning Due Date: ______French regular –ER verbs (2) Fermer To close Skier To ski Fumer To smoke Tricher To cheat Gagner To win/earn Garder To keep Jouer To play Manger To eat Nager To swim
Noter To note down
Parler To talk Partager To share
Passer To spend time
Penser To think Porter To wear/carry
Promener To walk Quitter To leave Regarder To watch Rentrer To return home Rester To stay Rêver To dream
53 Learning Due Date: ______French regular –RE verbs & -IR verbs -RE -IR Apprendre To learn choisir To choose Attendre To wait for découvrir To discover Répondre To reply finir To finish Vendre To sell réfléchir To reflect
54 Learning Due Date: ______
REFLEXIVE VERBS – FORMATION
Reflexive verbs are verbs which either: 1. reflect the action back onto the subject (e.g. I wash myself: Je me lave), or 2. have the sense of "each other" (e.g. They love each other: Ils s'aiment)
Reflexive Verbs in the Present Tense Reflexive verbs only differ from ordinary verbs in that they have an additional Reflexive Pronoun. These are as follows, given here with the verb se laver, to wash:
je me lave nous nous lavons tu te laves vous vous lavez il se lave ils se lavent elle se lave elles se lavent on se lave
Reflexive Verbs in the Infinitive Another important difference is that when these verbs are used in the infinitive, although the verb itself is infinitive, the reflexive pronoun must still agree with its subject. e.g. Je dois me raser avant de sortir. Nous voulons nous réveiller à 6h30 demain.
55 Learning Due Date: ______The Perfect Tense – An Explanation Formation The Perfect Tense in French is formed of two parts: i) an AUXILIARY VERB ii) a PAST PARTICIPLE The auxiliary verb is always the present tense of either AVOIR or ETRE. The past participle is formed from the verb being used in the sentence, as explained below.
AVOIR verbs Auxiliary verb is the present tense of avoir: j'ai tu as il a nous avons vous avez ils ont
Regular Verbs form their past participle in the following ways:
ER Verbs RE Verbs IR Verbs jouer = joué vendre = vendu finir = fini
Thus, when we put it all together, we end up with sentences like:
J'ai joué au tennis. (I played tennis / have played tennis) Mon frère a vendu son vélo. (My brother sold his bike / has sold his bike) Elles ont fini les devoirs. (They finished / have finished the homework) Nous avons regardé un très bon film à la télé. Tu as attendu un autobus ou un train? Vous avez choisi, Madame?
Use of the Perfect Tense: The perfect tense is used to talk about things that you did in the past on one occasion which are completed, and no longer happening now. 56 Learning Due Date: ______
IRREGULAR VERBS: A number of verbs do not form their past participle following the rules above. These need to be learned separately, and the main ones as as follows:
avoir = eu être = été faire = fait boire = bu conduire = conduit connaître = connu courir = couru croire = cru devoir = dû dire = dit dormir = dormi écrire = écrit falloir = fallu lire = lu mettre = mis ouvrir = ouvert pleuvoir = plu prendre = pris comprendre = compris apprendre = appris pouvoir = pu recevoir = reçu rire = ri savoir = su tenir = tenu vivre = vécu voir = vu vouloir = voulu suivre = suivi e.g. J'ai ouvert mes cadeaux après le petit déjeuner. Nous avons fait de la natation au centre sportif. Pierre et Paul ont lu un bon livre. ETRE VERBS A number of verbs take ETRE as their auxiliary verb instead of AVOIR. The Auxiliary verb is therefore the present tense of ETRE: je suis tu es il est nous sommes vous êtes ils sont
The main verbs involved here are as follows. They often come in opposites, and there are a few irregulars to look out for: aller = allé venir = venu entrer = entré sortir = sorti arriver = arrivé partir = parti descendre = descendu monter = monté naître = né mourir = mort rester = resté retourner = retourné tomber = tombé rentrer = rentré revenir = revenu 57 Learning Due Date: ______
There is one further point to bear in mind here. Verbs taking être as an auxiliary verb need to agree with their subject. If the subject of the sentence is feminine, we add an "e", and if the subject is plural we add an "s". The verb aller can therefore have the following forms:
(m = masculine, f = feminine)
je suis allé (m) je suis allée (f) Tu es allé (m) Tu es allée (f) Il est allé Elle est allée Nous sommes allés (m or mixed) Nous sommes allées (f) Vous êtes allé (m singular) Vous êtes allée (f singular) Vous êtes allés (m or mixed plural) Vous êtes allées (f plural) Ils sont allés Elles sont allées
Or, summarised more simply, as follows, whereby we can add agreements as necessary:
je suis allé (e) Tu es allé (e) Il est allé Elle est allée Nous sommes allé (e) (s) Vous êtes allé (e)(s) Ils sont allés Elles sont allées
e.g. Je suis allé au cinéma hier soir. Nous sommes partis à 8h30. Vous êtes restés à la maison hier soir? Elle est venue chez nous le weekend dernier.
58 Learning Due Date: ______
Reflexive Verbs in the Perfect Tense ALL reflexive verbs take ETRE as their auxiliary verb, and consequently their past participle also needs to agree. The reflexive pronoun goes before the auxiliary verb. The verb "se coucher" looks like this in all its forms with possible agreements where needed:
je me suis couché (e) Tu t'es couché (e) Il s'est couché Elle s'est couchée Nous nous sommes couché (e) (s) Vous vous êtes couché (e)(s) Ils se sont couchés Elles se sont couchées
A few examples: Lundi matin je me suis levé à six heures. Ma mère s'est dépêchée pour ne pas être en retard. Marie et Claire se sont coiffées avant de sortir.
BUT: If the reflexive verb has a direct object, as in the examples below, the reflexive pronoun is the indirect object and therefore the past participle does not need to agree: e.g. Marie s'est blessé la jambe. (la jambe is direct object) Mes frères se sont lavé les mains. (les mains is the direct object)
Other Tenses In other tenses reflexive verbs follow the same patterns as above i.e. As normal verbs in simple tenses, but with a reflexive pronoun. As être verbs in compound tenses, with a reflexive pronoun and agreement of the past participle.
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62 Learning Due Date: ______THE FUTURE TENSE - FORMATION
The future tense in French is formed in French in the following way:
Take the stem of the verb, as follows:
-ER Verbs: the infinitive, i.e. jouer = jouer -IR Verbs: the infinitive, i.e. finir = finir -RE verbs: the infinitive minus the "e", i.e. attendre = attendr
Easy way to remember these endings: Now add the endings below: They are the verb "avoir" in the present tense, minus the je ...... ai "av" in the nous and vous forms. i.e. tu ...... as j'ai il ...... a nous ...... ons tu as vous ...... ez ils ...... ont il a
nous (av)ons
EXCEPTIONS:
There are a number of verbs which have irregular stems. The most common are given below:
acheter achèter avoir aur être ser aller ir faire fer courir courr devoir devr envoyer enverr se lever se lèver pouvoir pourr recevoir recevr savoir saur venir viendr voir verr vouloir voudr 63 Learning Due Date: ______
64 Learning Due Date: ______
THE CONDITIONAL TENSE – FORMATION
The Conditional Tense in French is used in a largely similar way to that in which it is used in English. It expresses a condition, i.e. "would" in English. The conditional clause will often be dependent upon a "si clause" (which will be in the imperfect (See note below))
e.g. S'il faisait beau, j'irais à la plage avec ma famille. If the weather were good, I would go to the beach with my family. Si elle avait plus d'argent, elle sortirait plus souvent avec ses amis. If she had more money, she would go out with her friends more often. Mes parents viendraient avec nous, s'ils n'étaient pas obligés de travailler. My parents would come with us, if they didn't have to work.
It can also express a future-in-the-past:
e.g. Elle a dit qu'elle partirait vers neuf heures. She said she would leave around nine o'clock.
Formation of the Conditional Tense:
This is easy in French. The Conditional Tense is formed by taking the FUTURE STEM of the verb, and adding the IMPERFECT ENDINGS.
e.g. VENIR = VIENDR + je ____ ais je viendrais tu ____ ais tu viendrais il ____ ait il viendrait nous ____ ions nous viendrions vous ____ iez vous viendriez ils ____ aient ils viendraient
Tenses in Conditional Sentences:
As noted above, the IMPERFECT and CONDITIONAL are used together in "si clauses" in the same way as they are used in English. e.g. If I won the lottery, I would buy a larger house. Si je gagnais à la loterie, j'achèterais une plus grande maison. If my friend was not on holiday, we would go to the cinema together. Si mon ami n'était pas en vacances, nous irions ensemble au cinéma.
This tense rule should be NOTED WELL as English learner of French tend to want to use the conditional in both parts of the sentence, even though this is not the case in English! 65 Learning Due Date: ______The Imperfect Tense: Grammar Explanation
The Imperfect tense is an easy tense to learn. To form the Imperfect we take the NOUS form of the PRESENT TENSE, and take off the –ONS to get the Imperfect stem.
To this stem we add the endings as follows:
je ...... ais tu ...... ais il ...... ait nous ...... ions vous ...... iez ils ...... aient
EXCEPTION: There are very few exceptions to this rule. The main one in ETRE, whose stem is ét. In addition, verbs like manger and ranger, which have an extra "e" in the nous form of the present tense, retain this in the imperfect to make the "g" sound soft (Mon frère mangeait). Similarly verbs like commencer, which have a "ç" in the nous form, retain this to make the "c" sound soft (Je commençais). All very easy – as long as you have a good working knowledge of the present tense!!
USES OF THE IMPERFECT TENSE
The Imperfect tense is used in the following cases:
Description in the past: La maison était énorme et avait trois fenêtres.
Describing the weather at a time in the past: Il faisait très beau.
Giving an opinion in the past, c'était + adjective: C'était magnifique.
Talking about something that used to happen regularly in the past: Nous allions en France chaque année. On faisait du ski dans les Alpes.
Talking about how things used to be over a period of time in the past: Mon père avait une voiture rouge et ma mère travaillait à l'hôpital.
Making excuses: Ce n'était pas de ma faute. Je voulais aider!
Saying what was happening, when something else happened; (one action (in the perfect tense) cuts across another on-going one (in the imperfect) Je lisais le journal quand mon père est entré dans le salon. Ma mère travaillait dans le jardin, quand le téléphone a sonné. 66 Learning Due Date: ______DIRECT OBJECT PRONOUNS
Direct object pronouns are the words that replace the direct object, so that we don't say things like "Marie was at the bank today. When I saw Marie I smiled." It's much more natural to say "Marie was at the bank today. When I saw her I smiled." The French direct object pronouns are:
me / m' me te / t' you le / l' him, it la / l' her, it nous us vous you les them
Me and te change to m' and t', respectively, in front of a vowel or mute H. Le and la both change to l'.
Like indirect object pronouns, French direct object pronouns are placed in front of the verb
I'm eating it. Je le mange.
He sees her. Il la voit.
I love you. Je t'aime.
You love me. Tu m'aimes.
Notes 1. When a direct object precedes a verb conjugated into a compound tense such as the passé composé, the past participle has to agree with the direct object. 2. If you're having trouble deciding between direct and indirect objects, the general rule is that if the person or thing is preceded by a preposition, that person is an indirect object. If it's not preceded by a preposition, it is a direct object. 67 Learning Due Date: ______Subject pronouns tu Je
Je I tu you (singular familiar) il il he elle she elle on we informal nous we vous you (plural / polite) ils they (masculine) elles they (feminine)
vous nous ils / elles
on 68 Websites
www.tmac.uk.com (VLE) Turton school website/VLE
This is an excellent site – you can type any text with French http://french.typeit.org accents in here and then copy/paste to word. Very easy to use!!!! http://www.frenchrevision.co.uk/ks This site is excellent for revision 3 – it has listening material too!
http://zut.languageskills.co.uk This site is free after 4pm
http://verbix.com This is an online verb conjugator
This site is called Languages Online – it has lots of language http://www.languagesonline.org.uk learning activities for Spanish, French, German & Italian.
The BBC website has a lot of http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/fr different resources–including ench/ some slang and holiday phrases to learn.
Click on French (there are lots of other languages too) and http://www.digitaldialects.com/Fre follow the links to different nch.htm activities.
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