FIA Grammar Chapter 14

Question 1

What are three ways to ask what is happening, and what are the three corresponding negative forms?

1. This phrase asks for information about events, about what is happening.
2. This phrase focuses more on the underlying cause or reason.
3. This phrase also focuses more on the underlying cause or reason.

Answer 1

1. Qu’est-ce qui se passe? - Je ne sais pas ce qui se passe.
2. Qu’est-ce qu’il y a? - Je ne sais pas ce qu’il y a.
3. De quoi s’agit-il? - Je ne sais pas de quoi il s’agit.

Question 2

What expressions are used to either express agreement or disagreement, or to express approval or disapproval?

I’m right.

I’m wrong.

I’m not right.

I’m not wrong.

Answer 2

• avoir raison and avoir tort*
• J’ai raison.*
• J’ai tort.*
• Je n’ai pas raison.*
• Je n’ai pas tort.*

Question 3

Conjugate dire in the present indicative.

Answer 3

• je dis*
• tu dis*
• il dit*
• nous disons*
• vous dites*
• ils disent*

Question 4

What are the only three verbs in French that don’t utitlize -ez as the ending in the second person plural?

Answer 4

• dire - vous dites*
• faire - vous faites*

être - vous êtes

Question 5

1. What verb is used to designate the activity of talking, with an adverb (the how of talking), and with the names of adjectives?

She speaks well.

2. What verb is used to refer to the contents of speech, is used with direct object words that specificy what is being said?

She doesn’t say anything

Answer 5

1. parler + adverb
   * Elle parle bein.*
2. dire + object
   * Elle ne dit rien.*

Question 6

When do you use il est in expressions of time? When do you use c’est in expressions of time?

It is 10:00.

It is noon.

It is Monday.

It is the evening.

It is the 29th of May.

It is spring.

Answer 6

• Il est* is used with precise times of day.
• Il est 10h.*
• Il est midi.*
• C’est* is used to identify larger, more inclusive units of time.
• C’est lundi.*
• C’est le soir.*
• C’est le 29 Mai.*
• C’est le printemps.*

Question 7

What is the difference between le jour/la journée, le matin/la matinée, le soir/la soirée?

Ousmane is going to the library during the day.

vs.

Ousmand is spending the day at the library.

Answer 7

• Le jour, le matin, and le soir* indicate a moment in the day - when something is happening. La journée, la matinée, and la soirée indicate a duration - how long something is happening.
• Ousmane va à la bibli le jour.*

vs.

Ousmane passe la journée à la bibli.

Question 8

What expression do you use to refer to habitual or routine patterns of behavior?

She’s in the habit of working at the library.

Answer 8

• avoir l’habitude de +* verb in the infinitive.
• Elle a l’habitude de travailler à la bibli.*

Question 9

1. How do you find the stem form of the imparfait?
2. What do you add to the stem to form the imparfait?

Answer 9

1. Take the first person plural of the present, the nous form, and eliminate the -ons ending. This works for all verbs in French except for être (stem = et).
2. -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient