Common Phrases Flashcards
of course
bien sûr
more particularly
plus particulièrement
about what we call
de ce qu’on appelle
Note: de ce que translates to:
of what
that
because
or else
as well as
even
alternatively
and/or
ou encore
What is
What it is
What is this
Qu’est-ce que c’est
who
which
that
qui
Starting with qui, this relative pronoun comes into play when replacing a subject – the thing that is carrying out the action of a verb. Qui can mean “who”, “which” or “that”.
For example, consider the following sentences.
Je parle à mon frère. Mon frère habite à Toulouse.
I am speaking to my brother. My brother lives in Toulouse.
By combining them, you get:
Je parle à mon frère qui habite à Toulouse.
I’m speaking to my brother who lives in Toulouse.
If the relative pronoun is followed immediately by a verb or a pronoun (for example, habiter, être or me, lui, y) then it is most likely to be qui. If the relative pronoun is followed immediately by a subject (for example, Jean, mon frère, nos frais (our costs) je) then it has to be que.
whom
which
that
que
Now, let’s turn our attention to que, which replaces a direct object – the thing that is receiving the action of a verb. Que can mean “which”, “that” or “whom”.
Le manteau que j’ai acheté est blanc.
If the relative pronoun is followed immediately by a verb or a pronoun (for example, habiter, être or me, lui, y) then it is most likely to be qui. If the relative pronoun is followed immediately by a subject (for example, Jean, mon frère, nos frais (our costs) je) then it has to be que.
in all countries
dans tous les pays
So I’m going to present the concept to you now.
Je vais donc déjà vous présenter le concept.
Note: donc déjà is:
therefore already
thus already
so already
this
that
(demonstrative pronoun, pointing out which one you’re talking about)
ce
“Ce” means “this/that” as in “this boy “ or
“this/that month”. You would say “ce garçon” or “ce mois.” This is a demonstrative pronoun, pointing out which one you’re talking about – that one.
The “this” or “that” represented by “ça” is more of a standalone “this/that.”
I know that: “Je sais ça.” I’m using that!
“J’utilise ça!”
this
that
(demonstrative pronoun, which is more of a standalone, e.g. I know that: “Je sais ça.”)
ça
“Ce” means “this/that” as in “this boy “ or “this/that month”. You would say “ce garçon” or “ce mois.” This is a demonstrative pronoun, pointing out which one you’re talking about – that one.
The “this” or “that” represented by “ça” is more of a standalone “this/that.”
I know that: “Je sais ça.” I’m using that!
“J’utilise ça!”
To ask questions that ask for information like “who,” “what,” “where,” “when,” “why” and “how,” place an interrogative pronoun, adverb or adjective before _____________. For example:
Qui ____________ vous avez vu? > Whom did you see?
Quand ___________ tu vas partir? > When are you going to leave?
Quel livre ___________‘il veut? > Which book does he want?
To ask questions that ask for information like “who,” “what,” “where,” “when,” “why” and “how,” place an interrogative pronoun, adverb or adjective before est-ce que. For example:
Qui est-ce que vous avez vu? > Whom did you see?
Quand est-ce que tu vas partir? > When are you going to leave?
Quel livre est-ce qu’il veut? > Which book does he want?
Remember that est-ce que is the inversion of c’est que, meaning literally, “It is that.” That’s why a hyphen is required between est and ce: c’est = ce + est which are inverted to est-ce.
Depending on their place in the sentence, the variations qu’est-ce qui and qui est-ce qui are also useful, but understanding them requires further discussion of interrogative pronouns. For now, here’s a summary.
goods
des biens
driving
le fait de conduire
le fait translates to:
- act
- doing
de conduire translates to:
- driving
- to drive
somewhere
quelque part