French Grammar rules Flashcards
Imparfait rule
Use to describe actions done in the past or scenes. Take nous form of the verb and add endings -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient
Imparfait vs. passe compose rule
longer/ongoing action is imparfait, shorter/single action is passé compose. *passe composse is used when amount of times is specified
Imperative rule
Used when ordering someone to do an action. Uses subjects tu, nous and vous. Subject pronoun is not used. e.g. mangeons!
Imperative exceptions/irregulars
Avoir: aie, ayons, ayez
être: sois, soyons, soyez
savoir: sache, sachons, sachez
vouloir: veuille, n/a, veuillez
Imperative rule (reflexive)
pronoun after the verb e.g. lave-toi ; when reflexive imperative in negative, pronoun back before the verb e.g. ne te lave pas (tu becomes te)
Futur proche rule
near future tense. Use present tense of aller + infinitive form of verb
Simple future tense rule
infinitive form of verb and endings : ai, as, a, ons, ez, ont e.g. parleront EXCEPTION: re verbs, shoot the e e.g. rendrAI.
Simple future tense exceptions/irregulars
être: ser- , avoir: aur- , aller: ir- , faire: fer- , pouvoir: pourr- , vouloir: voudr - , voire: verr- , venir: viendr- , savoir: saur- , devoir: devr- , envoyer: enverr-
Imparfait exception/irregular
être: ét-
What future tense is also known as ‘futur’ tense
simple future tense
Conditional tense rules
take stem of future tense + endings of imparfait (ais, ais, ait, ions, iez, aient)
future antérieur/perfect rule
futur form of auxiliary être or avoir + past participle of the verb
Futur vs. futur antérieur rule
futur antérieur action must be completed before ‘futur’ action interrupts.
Si Clause rule
si + present -> use futur tense
si + imparfait -> use conditionel tense
SI MEANS IF
Participe présent rule
-Ant ending equivalent is -ing. To form: verb in present tense ‘nous’ form -> drop off ons ending -> add -ant
Participe présent irregulars/exceptions
avoir: ayant, être: étant, savoir: sachant
Passe compose negative rule
go around auxiliary e.g. je n’ai pas mangé
reflexive: goes around pronoun and auxiliary e.g. je ne se sont pas habillés
DOPs rule (present + passé compose)
present tense: before the verb
passe compose: before auxiliary (past participle agrees)
IOPs rule (present + passé compose)
present tense: before the verb
passe compose: before auxiliary (past participle DOESN’T agree)
Pronouns in the negative
Stay with the verb e.g. je n’y vais pas
Futur proche with réflexive verbs rule
pronoun goes after verb e.g. je vais me rendre PRONOUNS STAY WITH THE VERB
Do pronouns always stay with the verb? Even in the negative
YES.
Pronoun y rule (present + futur proche) (when)
Replaces noun that has au or à in front
present: before verb
futur proche: y goes between aller and infinitive e.g. je vais y manger
Do pronoun y or pronoun en ever agree?
NO.
Pronoun en rule (present + futur proche) (when)
replaces things that start with de, du, de la and des.
present: before verb
futur proche: en goes between aller and infinitive e.g. je vais en boire
Demonstrative adjectives
ce: masc
cette: fem
ces: plural
cet: before a vowel
Adjectives order (BANGS, colours)
BANGS go before the noun, COLOURS go after
Comparison superlative rule for more…than, less..,than, as..as, as much as
more…than : plus…de/que
less…than: moins…de/que
as…as: aussi…de/que
as much as: autant de/que
Negations for never, not, only, neither, no one
never: ne…jamais
not: ne…pas
only: ne…rien
neither: ne…ni
no one: ne…personne
