Classes with Paul Flashcards
Phrase vs sentence
Phrase = clause = Subject + Verb
A sentence can have multiple phrases/clauses
Ex: I’ll sleep (when) you arrive
- 1 sentence
- 2 phrases/clauses
When asking a question, we put the preposition at the end of the clause (not always the sentence!)
Collant
Panthyhose (fins, transparents)
Tights (larges collants, leggins)
Things vs stuff
Things (only objects)
Stuff (abstract ideas + objects) -> less value
Difference between Clothing and Clothes
They are pure synonyms
But we say “a clothing store”
J’ai (américain)
I got
I’ve got is more British
Je viens juste de le faire
I’ve just done it -> proper English, what British people would use
I just did it -> American English
Paul would use the 1st in formal contexts and the 2nd in informal contexts
J’ai fait une grâce matinée
I slept in
Think about vs Think of
Think about = purely intellectual, considering something
Think of = could be romantic, “you’re occupying my mind”
The dogs vs dogs
In general we always use “dogs”.
“The dogs” can only be used when talking about specific dogs within a context.
Ex:
I walked Paul’s dogs.
Did you enjoy it?
Yes, I love the dogs!
Other example:
Highlight the verbs in the text
Here, we have a specific context (within the text), so we use can use the verbs.
Highlight all verbs in the text -> all = any
Highlight all the verbs in the text -> all the verbs (that are) in the text
Je suis déçu
(not disappointed)
I’m bummed
I’m bummed out
The Oxford comma
To my sister, dog and lover
- The dog could also be the lover
To my sister, dog, and lover
- No misunderstanding
Adverbs that can work both with and without an “s” at the end
Forward/Forwards
Toward/Towards
Upward/Upwards
Inward/Inwards
The first version is most used
Adverbs that can work both with and without “s” or “st” at the end
Among/AmongS
Amid/AmidS
While/Whilst
The first version is most used
Shop vs store
Stores are bigger than shops
Book shop (petite libraire)
Book store (Fnac)
Not to vs To not
Not to = formal writing
To not = informal writing, spoken English
Ex: She managed to not make any spelling mistakes in her essay.
Must vs Need vs Have to
Americans don’t use must, they use need instead
Have to -> external obligation
Must/Need -> internal obligation
2 éléments d’un verbe
4 features/categories of a verb
Temps : positionnement dans le temps
Aspect : point de vue
Tense: point of view
Aspect: completion
Mood: attitude
Voice: agent
Ex:
- Past
- Perfect simple
- Imperative
- Passive
I use a fork “to eat” vs “for eating”
To eat = Goal
The fork is the instrument for the goal (future plan)
For eating = Utility
Explanation of the utility (past experience)
I eat popcorn while/during movie?
While -> followed by a verb
I eat popcorn while I watch the movie
During -> followed by a noun
I eat popcorn during the movie
I am christian vs a christian
We always use a for shared behaviors: job, religion, politics, hobby.
I’m a mechanic
I’m a christian
I’m a democratic
I’m a tennisman
Probabilities of an event
100% Will
/ May
50%
/ Might
0% Won’t
When does an American use May and Might?
Only for probabilities
Might = Don’t expect me but I’ll try
May = It’s not sure but I want to come
A YouTube clip?
No that’s French, we say a music video
Do you like my dressing?
No, dressing is a French word!
We say walk-in closet
Full stop vs Period
Period = American
Full stop = British
Adjective vs Adverb
An adjective modifies a noun
An adverb modifies a verb
Je ne suis pas doué en dessin
I’m not good at drawing
America versions of “Have a try”
Try it out
Give it a try/go/shot
The door was locked so I tried to pull it very hard
The room was hot so I tried opening the window
Have you tried opening the window?
Tried to: when an action is difficult and requires effort
Tried + verb(-ing) : to do something in order to solve a problem
Don’t call Peter now, he must be eating
What else could we say instead of “must”?
Don’t call Peter now, he’ll be eating
To make deductions about activities happening in the present.
Barbie vs Action man
For girls: doll
For boys: action figure
When should we use “that” to connect 2 clauses?
Only when necessary (replacing who or which)
De peur que
Lest
Quelqu’un a volé le pc d’Amanda
Someone has stolen Amanda’s laptop from her
Ma vache s’est perdue
My cow got loose
(only for livestock)
Traveling or Travelling?
Does the vowel say its name?
No, the “e” of travel is not pronounced like an “e”.
It’s not a strong vowel, it’s a week one.
We need to add an extra “L” to protect the weak vowel.
Travelling and Travelled
How do we pronounce the vowel “u” in “tube” and in “tub”?
There is a silent “e” in “tube”, so the “u” is a strong vowel saying its name. So it’s pronounced like a “u”.
As there are no silent “e” in “tub”, the “u” is weak and isn’t pronounced like a “u”.
When do we pronounce a “t” like a “d” in American English?
When the “t” or doubles “t”s are surrounded by vowels.
Ex:
Water
Better
Travel vs trip
We usually use:
- Trip as a noun
- Travel as an adj or verb
I’ve been on a nice trip recently!
These are my travel shoes
Do you like to travel?
A person who feels a compulsion to take part in exciting, dangerous, or intense activities
Thrill junkie
Adrenaline junkie
Continue de parler
Keep talking or Talk on!
Keep verb(ing) = Verb on! (only in the imperative, not full sentences)
Running vs Runnin’
Running = Runnin’ (black American)
Can’t use runnin’ as a gerund though
Ex: Running is good for health.
Amusement park vs Theme Park
A theme park is an amusement park with a specific theme (Dysney, Spirou)
How do we pronounce “It”
We don’t pronounce the “t” and need to cut the sound
It /\ -> here the sound falls after the “I” sound
I / -> here we cut the vowel at the height of its production, there’s no falling sound
Posh in American
Bougie
Différence entre on, at, in
At (precise) : the restaurant / 5pm
On (specific) : the road / Monday
In (general) : Marseille / March
Ça te concerne
It concerns you
I’m concerned (préocuppé)
At school vs To school
At = position
To = movement
Used to vs Would
Interchangeables sauf :
- Would pour souvenir nostalgique
- Used to lorsque qu’il n’y a pas d’objet direct après le verbe
Objet direct :
- Il est directement affecté par le verbe (I throw the ball)
- On ne pourrait pas s’arrêter après juste le verbe (I used to sleep/spend…)
When I was a kid I would spend all afternoon with my friends
I used to live in Chicago
I used to/would play basketball (OD)
Prononciation de “a”
/ə/ indefinite article = a pen
/eɪ/ specific article = one
Used to
Be used to
Get used to
Used to verb = past habit
Be used to verb-ing = to have a habit
Get used to verb-ing = to take a habit
Pronunciation of the “t”: attain
Aspirated t
At the beginning of a stressed syllable
Pronunciation of the “t”: butter
Flapped t
Between 2 vowels + second vowel unstressed
Pronunciation of the “t”: cat
Glottal stop
At the end of a syllable
(if the t can be a Glottal stop or Flapped t -> Glottal stop prevails)
Pronunciation of the “t”: counter
Silent t
Following an “n” -> it doubles the length of the “n”
Pronunciation of the “t”: table
Aspirated t
At the beginning of a stressed syllable
Pronunciation of the “t”: rental
Silent t
Following an “n” -> it doubles the length of the “n”
Pronunciation of the “t”: city
Flapped t
Between 2 vowels + second vowel unstressed
Pronunciation of the “t”: enter
Silent t
Following an “n” -> it doubles the length of the “n”
Pronunciation of the “t”: important
Glottal stop
Before an “n” (with or without vowels in between)
Pronunciation of the “t”: tell
Aspirated t
At the beginning of a stressed syllable
Pronunciation of the “t”: kitten
Glottal stop
Before an “n” (with or without vowels in between)
Pronunciation of the “t”: portrait
Affricated t (tch)
Followed by an “r” or “ure”
Pronunciation of the “t”: star
Unaspirated t
After an “s”
Pronunciation of the “t”: writing
Flapped t
Between 2 vowels + second vowel unstressed
Pronunciation of the “t”: internet
Silent t
Following an “n” -> it doubles the length of the “n”
Pronunciation of the “t”: train
Affricated t (tch)
Followed by an “r” or “ure”
Pronunciation of the “t”: stop
Unaspirated t
After an “s”
Pronunciation of the “t”: steel
Unaspirated t
After an “s”
Pronunciation of the “t”: winter
Silent t
Following an “n” -> it doubles the length of the “n”
Pronunciation of the “t”: steam
Unaspirated t
After an “s”
Pronunciation of the “t”: store
Unaspirated t
After an “s”
Pronunciation of the “t”: printer
Silent t
Following an “n” -> it doubles the length of the “n”
Pronunciation of the “t”: electric
Affricated t (tch)
Followed by an “r” or “ure”
Pronunciation of the “t”: entrance
Affricated t (tch)
Followed by an “r” or “ure”
Pronunciation of the “t”: attempt
Aspirated t
At the beginning of a stressed syllable
Pronunciation of the “t”: truck
Affricated t (tch)
Followed by an “r” or “ure”
Pronunciation of the “t”: ten
Aspirated t
At the beginning of a stressed syllable
Pronunciation of the “t”: top
Aspirated t
At the beginning of a stressed syllable
Pronunciation of the “t”: adventure
Affricated t (tch)
Followed by an “r” or “ure”
Pronunciation of the “t”: mountain
Glottal stop
Before an “n” (with or without vowels in between)
(if the t can be a Glottal stop or something else -> Glottal stop prevails)
Pronunciation of the “t”: apartment
Glottal stop
At the end of a syllable
Pronunciation of the “t”: at
Glottal stop
At the end of a syllable
Different temperatures
Hot = très chaud
Warm = chaud
Lukewarm = tiède
Cool = frais
Chilly = très frais
Cold = froid
Freezing = gelé
Diff between Watch and Look after
Watch = occasionnal
Look after = regular
Toilets, restroom or bathroom?
Restroom for businesses (more formal, multiple toilets)
Bathroom for friends’ house
Pronunciation of the t: Mentor
Unaspirated t because it’s a foreign word
Strong or weak vowel?
Hat
It’s a closed syllable (vowel closed between consonants)
So it’s a weak vowel
Strong or weak vowel?
Heat
It’s not a closed syllable (vowel closed between consonants)
So “e” is a strong vowel with the help of the “a”
Strong or weak vowel?
Hate
It’s not considered as a closed syllable (vowel closed between consonants), because the “e”.
So the “a” is a strong vowel.
How to use hurt?
I hurt = Je souffre (émotionel)
I hurt = general situation which lasts for a long period of time. Ex: when a relative dies
I’m hurting = the feeling we have right now
Des courbatures
Être courbaturé
stiffness / sore muscles
I’m stiff / I’m sore
Sore = douleur interne
How to use the verb commit?
Commit to noun
If it’s a verb -> commit to verb(-ing)
e.g. Commit to doing
Simple way to check if we should use Present perfect or Past simple
Ask the question:
Can the fact evolve?
Est-ce que la situation peut changer ?
Simple way to check if we should use Present perfect or Past simple
Ask the question:
Can the fact evolve?
Est-ce que la situation peut changer ?
T pronounced D with two-word combination
Yes it is
Let’s eat out
Let’s go to the store
Let’s go tomorrow
Parler des voyages :
1. Trajet
2. Sur place
- Way
- Trip
Travel s’utilise essentiellement comme verbe
Client vs Customer
Customer buy goods
Clients buy services (advice, solutions)
Madame
Madam (prostitutes’ boss)
Ma’am = mam (s’addresser à une dame)
Pronunciation of Law
lˈɔː
Ao like awww
Question to know what to use, Gerund or infinitive
Is the action realised?
No -> Infinitive
Can I confirm that the action is realised?
Yes -> Gerund
No -> Infinitive
News are vs the news is
“The news is” is the correct option
J’ai une nouvelle
I have some news
NOT a piece of news
J’ai profité de ça pour ça
Formal: I took advantage of
Informal: I made use of
