Lesson 10

Question 1

Translate to French:

He’s listening to his professor because he doesn’t know what to do

Answer 1

Il écoute son prof car il ne sait pas quoi faire

what to do - quoi faire

Question 2

Translate to French:

I am bringing many bags on this trip

Answer 2

J’apporte beaucoup de valises sur ce voyage

a bag, a suitcase - une valise. Note that “luggage” is translated by the masculine bagage(s).

Question 3

Translate to French:

Have you guys packed (your bags) yet?

Answer 3

Avez-vous déjà fait vos valises?

to pack (one’s bags) - faire ses valises

Question 4

Translate to French:

I am looking for a hotel in Paris

Answer 4

Je cherche un hôtel à Paris

a hotel - un hôtel

Question 5

Translate to French:

You are going to take the TGV to Marseille tomorrow

Answer 5

Tu vas prendre le TGV pour Marseille demain

high-speed train - le TGV. This word stands for Train à Grande Vitesse, which means “high-speed train.”

Question 6

Translate to French:

The train is now at the platform

Answer 6

Le train est maintenant sur le quai

a (train/subway) platform - un quai. Recall that “the train station” is la gare.

Question 7

Translate to French:

A round-trip ticket from Chicago to Paris costs 900 euros

Answer 7

Un aller-retour de Chicago à Paris coûte 900 euros

a round-trip (ticket) - un aller-retour. This noun can describe both the round-trip ticket and the round-trip itself.

Question 8

Translate to French:

I bought a one-way ticket to New York because I am not going to return to Paris

Answer 8

J’ai acheté un aller simple pour New York parce que je ne vais pas revenir à Paris

a one-way ticket - un aller simple. Note that “a one-way street” would be une rue à sens unique.

Question 9

Translate to French:

The fare to take the subway is 2 euros

Answer 9

Le tarif pour prendre le métro est 2 euros

a price, a fare - un tarif

Question 10

Translate to French:

She reserved a room at this hotel

Answer 10

Elle a réservé une chambre à cet hôtel

to reserve - réserver. Recall that ce becomes cet when it precedes a vowel sound. Also note that chambre should be used to refer to hotel rooms.

Question 11

Translate to French:

Jean just gave his passport to the police officer

Answer 11

Jean vient de donner son passeport au policier

a passport - un passeport

Question 12

Translate to French:

Everyone here is French except you

Answer 12

Tout le monde est français ici sauf toi

except (for) - sauf

Question 13

Translate to French:

Normally, we travel to Europe during the summer vacation

Answer 13

Normalement, nous voyageons en Europe pendant les vacances d’été

normally - normalement, d’habitude. Note the -geons ending in the verb, since voyager is irregular in the first-person plural.

Question 14

Translate to French:

As usual, my friend Michel arrived early

Answer 14

Comme d’habitude, mon ami Michel est arrivé en avance

as usual - comme d’habitude

Question 15

Translate to French:

Is France a beautiful country?

Answer 15

La France est-elle un beau pays?

a country - un pays

Question 16

Translate to French:

You have to go through customs before leaving the airport

Answer 16

Il faut passer par la douane avant de quitter l’aéroport

customs - la douane. Recall the use of the impersonal il faut to say “you have to” or “one must.”

Question 17

Translate to French:

I am going to put your passport in my backpack

Answer 17

Je vais mettre ton passeport dans mon sac à dos

a backpack - un sac à dos. Dos is the masculine noun for “back.”

Question 18

Translate to French:

They are looking at the map because they are lost

Answer 18

Ils regardent la carte parce qu’ils sont perdus

a map - une carte. This word can also mean “card” or “menu.”

Question 19

Translate to French:

Where is the currency exchange? I want to trade my dollars for euros

Answer 19

Où se trouve le bureau de change? Je veux échanger mes dollars contre des euros

a currency exchange (counter) - un bureau de change. Note the verb échanger, “to trade” or “to exchange,” as well as the construction échanger quelque chose contre quelque chose d’autre. In a swap, contre means “for.”

Question 20

Translate to French:

I’m going to ask the stewardess if we can order some food

Answer 20

Je vais demander à l’hôtesse de l’air si nous pouvons commander de la nourriture

a stewardess, a flight attendant - une hôtesse (de l’air). Note that a male flight attendant is un steward.

Question 21

Translate to French:

Many passengers are going to get off at the next stop

Answer 21

Beaucoup de passagers vont descendre au prochain arrêt

a passenger - un passager. The feminine form would be passagère. Also note that voyageur (“traveler”) is a commonly used synonym.

Question 22

Translate to French:

One second, I am going to ask for help

Answer 22

Une seconde, je vais demander de l’aide

to ask for help - demander de l’aide. The noun for “help,” aide, is feminine. The verb “to help” is translated by aider.

Question 23

Translate to French:

In general, kids need to sleep for at least 8 hours

Answer 23

En général, les enfants ont besoin de dormir au moins 8 heures

in general - en général

Question 24

Translate to French:

This car does not turn very well

Answer 24

Cette voiture ne tourne pas très bien

to (make a) turn - tourner. Note that the noun “a turn” is translated by un virage.

Question 25

# Translate to French: Marcel _continues_ to work

Answer 25

Marcel _continue_ à travailler ## Footnote to continue - *continuer*. This verb can be followed by both the prepositions *à* and *de*.

Question 26

# Translate to French: To arrive at the Champs-Élysées, you must continue _straight ahead_

Answer 26

Pour arriver aux Champs-Élysées, il faut continuer _tout droit_ ## Footnote straight ahead - *tout droit*. Remember that while "straight" is *droit*, "right" is the similar *droite*.

Question 27

# Translate to French: _According to_ the map, the post office is close to here

Answer 27

_Selon_ la carte, la poste est près d'ici ## Footnote according to - *selon*. Note that *d'après* and (to a lesser extent) *suivant* can work as synonyms.

Question 28

# Translate to French: He expressed his last _wishes_

Answer 28

Il a exprimé ses derniers _voeux_ ## Footnote a wish - *un souhait, un voeu*. Notice how *voeu* takes an "x" in the plural. Note also that "to wish" is *souhaiter* or *désirer*.

Question 29

# Translate to French: _Despite_ my brother's wishes, I closed the door

Answer 29

_Malgré_ les voeux de mon frère, j'ai fermé la porte ## Footnote despite - *malgré, en dépit de*

Question 30

# Translate to French: _Thanks to_ him, I arrived at the airport on time

Answer 30

_Grâce à_ lui, je suis arrivé à l'aéroport à l'heure ## Footnote thanks to - *grâce à*

Question 31

# Translate to French: There are many parks _around_ Paris

Answer 31

Il y a beaucoup de parcs _autour de_ Paris ## Footnote around - *autour de*

Question 32

# Translate to French: England is to the _north_ of France

Answer 32

L'Angleterre est au _nord_ de la France ## Footnote north - *nord*. When used as a noun, this word is masculine, as are the nouns for all the directions.

Question 33

# Translate to French: I am going to the _south_ of France this summer

Answer 33

Je vais dans le _sud_ de la France cet été ## Footnote south - *sud*

Question 34

# Translate to French: We have to drive _east_ to reach our destination

Answer 34

Il faut conduire vers _l'est_ pour arriver à notre destination ## Footnote east - *est*. Notice how the "t" is pronounced. Both *vers* and *à* could be used before *l'est*. Finally, note that *destination* is feminine.

Question 35

# Translate to French: The sun sets in the _west_

Answer 35

Le soleil se couche à _l'ouest_ ## Footnote west - *ouest*. Note how *se coucher* means "to set" when applied to the sun. Note also that compound directions are constructed with hyphens: *le nord-ouest*.

Question 36

# Translate to French: _I miss_ Julie

Answer 36

Julie _me manque_ ## Footnote to miss (someone, something) - *manquer à*. The word order in French is inversed because the verb *manquer* takes the preposition *à*. *Julie me manque* literally translates as "Julie is missing to me." Also note that *manquer de* means "to lack (something)."

Question 37

# Translate to French: I _miss you_

Answer 37

Tu _me manques_ ## Footnote Notice the inverted, often confusing construction here. In French, the thing being missed ("you") serves as the subject of the verb, which is conjugated in the second-person singular. The speaker (the person doing the missing) is the object, and is represented by the object pronoun *me*.

Question 38

# Translate to French: Do you think Julie _misses me_?

Answer 38

Est-ce que tu penses que _je manque à_ Julie? ## Footnote Another option is *Est-ce que tu penses que je lui manque?* This translates more directly to "Do you think she misses me?"

Question 39

# Translate to French: Jean decided _to move_ to Marseille

Answer 39

Jean a décidé de _déménager_ à Marseille ## Footnote to move (to change residences) - *déménager*

Question 40

# Translate to French: Do you want to travel to a _foreign_ country with me?

Answer 40

Veux-tu voyager dans un pays _étranger_ avec moi? ## Footnote foreign - *étranger*. Note that this is also a noun: *un étranger* means "a foreigner."

Question 41

# Translate to French: The Rio Grande is the _border_ between the two countries

Answer 41

Le fleuve Rio Grande est la _frontière_ entre les deux pays ## Footnote a border - *une frontière*

Question 42

# Translate to French: Paul is running to the _boarding gate_ because he is late

Answer 42

Paul court à la _porte d'embarquement_ parce qu'il est en retard ## Footnote a boarding gate - *une porte d'embarquement*

Question 43

# Translate to French: We've missed our _flight_

Answer 43

Nous avons raté notre _vol_ ## Footnote a flight - *un vol*

Question 44

# Translate to French: Welcome _aboard_!

Answer 44

Bienvenue _à bord_! ## Footnote on board, aboard - *à bord*

Question 45

# Translate to French: There are several restaurants in this _terminal_

Answer 45

Il y a plusieurs restaurants dans ce _terminal_ ## Footnote an airport terminal - *un terminal*. The plural form is *terminaux*. Also note that a bus or train terminal is *un terminus*.

Question 46

# Translate to French: _Fortunately_, we are hungry too

Answer 46

_Heureusement_, nous avons aussi faim ## Footnote fortunately - *heureusement*

Question 47

# Translate to French: _Unfortunately_, this flight has already left

Answer 47

_Malheureusement_, ce vol est déjà parti ## Footnote unfortunately - *malheureusement*

Question 48

What are the French relative pronouns?

Answer 48

qui, que, dont, lequel, où ## Footnote Relative pronouns connect relative (dependent) clauses to main clauses. For example, in the sentence *Le pull que je veux coûte cher*, *Le pull... coûte cher* is the main clause while *que je veux* is the dependent clause.

Question 49

# Translate to French: The child _that_ I saw is big

Answer 49

L'enfant _que_ j'ai vu est grand ## Footnote The relative pronoun *que* replaces the direct object in a dependent clause.

Question 50

# Translate to French: We are looking for the dog _that_ is hungry

Answer 50

Nous cherchons le chien _qui_ a faim ## Footnote Here, the relative pronoun *qui* replaces the subject in the dependent clause. Also notice how *qui* does not always translate to "who"; in this case, it is best translated as "that."

Question 51

# Translate to French: The boy _to whom_ we gave the present is very pleased

Answer 51

Le garçon _à qui_ nous avons donné le cadeau est très content ## Footnote Note how *à qui* replaces the indirect object in the dependent clause. If an indirect object refers to a person and comes after a preposition (*à* in this case), it can be replaced by *qui*.

Question 52

# Translate to French: The house _in which_ we're sleeping is huge

Answer 52

La maison _dans laquelle_ nous dormons est immense ## Footnote To replace an indirect object that is a thing (not a person) and that comes after a preposition, use *lequel* or one of its variations. Recall that if the indirect object were a person, it would be replaced by *qui*.

Question 53

# Translate to French: The _reason_ (for which) she left is complicated

Answer 53

La _raison_ pour laquelle elle est partie est compliquée ## Footnote a reason - *une raison*. Note the common construction *pour laquelle*, in which the feminine variant of *lequel* agrees with *raison*.

Question 54

# Translate to French: The cities _about which_ you guys are thinking are strange

Answer 54

Les villes _auxquelles_ vous pensez sont étranges ## Footnote When preceded by the preposition *à*, *lequel* and its variants change to *auquel/auxquels/auxquelles*. *À* and *laquelle*, however, do not contract: they're simply paired together -- *la ville à laquelle...*

Question 55

# Translate to French: The professor _about whom_ you are speaking lived in England

Answer 55

Le professeur _dont_ tu parles a vécu en Angleterre ## Footnote The relative pronoun *dont* replaces any person or object that comes after the preposition *de*. Depending on context, it can take several meanings, including "of/about which," "of/about whom," and "whose."

Question 56

# Translate to French: The middle school _next to which_ you played sports is closed

Answer 56

Le collège _à côté duquel_ tu as fait du sport est fermé ## Footnote *Dont* is not used if it doesn't immediately follow the noun to which it refers. If the noun is followed by a prepositional phrase (like *à côté de*), you must use *duquel* or one of its variants.

Question 57

# Translate to French: The city _where_ she lives is interesting

Answer 57

La ville _où_ elle habite est intéressante ## Footnote As a relative pronoun, *où* introduces a relative clause referring to a place or time. It can thus mean both "where" and "when."

Question 58

# Translate to French: _The century_ in which we live is becoming more and more strange

Answer 58

_Le siècle_ où nous vivons devient de plus en plus étrange ## Footnote a century - *un siècle*. Here, the relative pronoun *où* refers to time. You cannot use *quand* as a relative pronoun. As an alternative, you could say *Le siècle pendant/dans lequel nous vivons...*

Question 59

What are the French indefinite relative pronouns?

Answer 59

ce que, ce qui, ce dont, quoi, quiconque ## Footnote Unlike normal relative pronouns, indefinite relative pronouns do not have a specific antecedent. Most of the indefinite relative pronouns roughly mean "which" or "what."

Question 60

# Translate to French: _The film that_ Paul saw is very funny. _What_ Paul saw is very funny

Answer 60

_Le film que_ Paul a vu est très drôle. _Ce que_ Paul a vu est très drôle ## Footnote In the first sentence, the antecedent (the film) is defined. In the second sentence, it is indefinite, as "what Paul saw" is not specifically expressed. When this is the case, the indefinite relative pronoun *ce que* is used as the direct object in the dependent clause.

Question 61

# Translate to French: _What_ is happening is difficult to understand

Answer 61

_Ce qui_ se passe est difficile à comprendre ## Footnote Here, the indefinite relative pronoun *ce qui* serves as the (indefinite) subject of the dependent clause.

Question 62

# Translate to French: I don't know _what_ you need

Answer 62

Je ne sais pas _ce dont_ tu as besoin ## Footnote The indefinite relative pronoun *ce dont* is used before expressions that contain the preposition *de*.

Question 63

# Translate to French: He knows _what_ I thought about

Answer 63

Il sait _à quoi_ j'ai pensé ## Footnote The indefinite relative pronoun *quoi* is used after a preposition.

Question 64

# Translate to French: _What_ I'm thinking about is very stupid

Answer 64

_Ce à quoi_ je pense est très stupide ## Footnote When *à quoi* comes at the beginning of a clause, *ce* is placed in front of it. This also applies to when *à quoi* comes after *c'est*: *C'est ce à quoi je pense* -- "That's what I'm thinking about."

Question 65

# Translate to French: _Anyone who_ (has) left is a bad person!

Answer 65

_Quiconque_ est parti est une mauvaise personne! ## Footnote *Quiconque* is a rare indefinite relative pronoun that is similar to *celui qui*, which means "the one who/that." *Quiconque*, however, typically means "anyone who/that" or "whoever that."

Question 66

# Translate to French: _Anyone_ can take this class

Answer 66

_Quiconque_ peut suivre ce cours ## Footnote *Quiconque* does not function here as an indefinite relative pronoun, as it does not introduce a dependent clause. Instead, it is used as an indefinite pronoun. Used this way, it simply means "anyone." A common alternative is *n'importe qui*.

Question 67

What are the French relative pronouns?

Answer 67

Relative pronouns introduce a dependent clause that modifies a noun. *Que, qui, lequel, dont, où* are the basic relative pronouns. The indefinite relative pronouns are *ce que, ce qui, ce dont, quoi, quiconque*.

Question 68

# Translate to French: This house _belongs to_ me

Answer 68

Cette maison m'_appartient_ ## Footnote to belong to - *appartenir à*. Because this verb takes the preposition *à*, an indirect object pronoun (*m'*) is used.

Question 69

# Translate to French: I _dreamt_ about him yesterday

Answer 69

J'_ai rêvé_ de lui hier ## Footnote to dream - *rêver*. Both *à* and *de* are commonly used after this verb; the difference between the two is minimal, like it is for "to dream of" versus "to dream about." Note, however, that *rêver à* does not allow preceding indirect object pronouns.

Question 70

# Translate to French: Elaine cannot _do without_ him

Answer 70

Elaine ne peut pas _se passer de_ lui ## Footnote to do without - *se passer de*

Question 71

# Translate to French: I _advised_ him to take the train

Answer 71

Je lui _ai conseillé_ de prendre le train ## Footnote to advise - *conseiller à*. Note that "to advise someone to do something" is *conseiller à quelqu'un de faire quelque chose*.

Question 72

# Translate to French: Jean _resembles_ his father

Answer 72

Jean _ressemble à_ son père ## Footnote to resemble, to look like - *ressembler à*

Question 73

# Translate to French: He is _giving_ him a gift

Answer 73

Il lui _offre_ un cadeau ## Footnote to give, to offer - *offrir*. This verb denotes giving a gift or offering something. The verb *donner* denotes the physical handing over of an object.