Lesson 11

Question 1

Translate to French:

I am going to apologize to him later tonight

Answer 1

Je vais lui demander pardon plus tard ce soir

to apologize to - demander pardon à. You could also use the verb s’excuser or the expression présenter des excuses.

Question 2

Translate to French:

Are you going to feed the children?

Answer 2

Vas-tu nourrir les enfants?

to feed - nourrir, donner à manger

Question 3

Translate to French:

She has to feed the animals

Answer 3

Elle doit nourrir les animaux

an animal - un animal. Note the plural form.

Question 4

Translate to French:

What kind of pet do you have?

Answer 4

Quel type d’animal domestique avez-vous?

a pet - un animal domestique. Note that a more colloquial way of asking this would be Tu as quoi comme animal domestique?

Question 5

Translate to French:

The male is often larger and more muscular

Answer 5

Le mâle est souvent plus grand et plus musclé

a male - un mâle. Note that mâle is also an adjective. The term is normally used to talk about animals.

Question 6

Translate to French:

What is the difference between the male and the female?

Answer 6

Quelle est la différence entre le mâle et la femelle?

a female - une femelle. Like mâle, femelle can also be used as an adjective. This term is only used to talk about animals.

Question 7

Translate to French:

I have only two pets

Answer 7

Je n’ai que deux animaux domestiques

only - ne… que. If the sentence were “I only have pets” (without the specific number of pets), you would have to use the partitive: Je n’ai que des animaux domestiques. Another way of saying “only” is with the adverb seulement.

Question 8

Translate to French:

I have only two pets

Answer 8

J’ai seulement deux animaux domestiques

only - seulement. Recall that as an alternative, you can use the construction ne… que.

Question 9

Translate to French:

He only bought one thing today because he knows he will get Christmas presents. He bought one thing today only because he knows he will get Christmas presents

Answer 9

Il n’a acheté qu’une chose aujourd’hui parce qu’il sait qu’il va recevoir des cadeaux de Noël. Il a acheté une chose aujourd’hui seulement parce qu’il sait qu’il va recevoir des cadeaux de Noël

Note how the placement of que and/or seulement changes the meaning as far as what is qualified by “only.”

Question 10

Translate to French:

I do not only have three cars, I have two boats too

Answer 10

Je n’ai pas que trois voitures, j’ai deux bateaux aussi

not only - ne… pas que. There are other ways of saying “not only,” using seulement.

Question 11

Translate to French:

I do not only have three cars, I have two boats too

Answer 11

Je n’ai pas seulement trois voitures, j’ai deux bateaux aussi

not only - ne… pas seulement

Question 12

Translate to French:

Not only do I have two dogs, but I have three cats too

Answer 12

Non seulement j’ai deux chiens, mais aussi trois chats

not only - non seulement. This construction cannot stand alone and requires something to balance it; in this case, aussi serves that purpose.

Question 13

Translate to French:

I’m going to the pet store to buy some dog food

Answer 13

Je vais à l’animalerie pour acheter de la nourriture pour chien

a pet store - une animalerie

Question 14

Translate to French:

No one knows this person

Answer 14

Nul ne connait cette personne

no one… - nul ne… This is a formal alternative to personne ne…

Question 15

Translate to French:

She is not going anywhere

Answer 15

Elle ne va nulle part

nowhere, not anywhere - ne… nulle part

Question 16

Translate to French:

We are going to buy a Christmas tree next week

Answer 16

Nous allons acheter un arbre de Noël la semaine prochaine

a tree - un arbre

Question 17

Translate to French:

There are hundreds of trees in this small forest

Answer 17

Il y a des centaines d’arbres dans cette petite forêt

a forest - une forêt. Note that “jungle” is jungle, which is also feminine.

Question 18

Translate to French:

(formal) Do you want to go hiking in the countryside?

Answer 18

Voulez-vous faire de la randonnée dans la campagne?

the countryside - la campagne

Question 19

Translate to French:

In France, we eat a lot of duck

Answer 19

En France, on mange beaucoup de canard

a duck - un canard

Question 20

Translate to French:

My uncle has a farm in the countryside

Answer 20

Mon oncle a une ferme à la campagne

a farm - une ferme

Question 21

Translate to French:

I hope that we will see the farm

Answer 21

J’espère qu’on va voir la ferme

to hope - espérer. Note how “to hope that” is espérer que + a verb in the indicative mood. “To hope for” or “to count on” is translated by espérer en + a noun.

Question 22

What is the imperfect tense in French?

Answer 22

The imperfect tense (l’imparfait) is a descriptive form of the past tense. It denotes incomplete and/or repeated actions, or an ongoing state of being. It is used for past habits, descriptions, and actions of unspecified duration. The imperfect is most often translated in English as “was” or “was ___-ing.”

Question 23

How do you conjugate the imperfect tense?

Answer 23

Take the present tense nous form of the verb in question and drop the original ending. Then add the imperfect endings: ais, ais, ait, ions, iez, aient.

For example, the je form of arriver in the imperfect is j’arrivais.

Question 24

Translate to French:

In 2006, I was going to school every day

Answer 24

En 2006, j’allais à l’école tous les jours

Note the first-person singular in the imperfect tense of the verb aller. This is formed by taking the stem of the present tense nous form (all-) and adding the appropriate imperfect ending.

Question 25

# Translate to French: * I _was going_ * you _were going_ * he/she/it _was going_ * we _were going_ * you (plural) _were going_ * they _were going_

Answer 25

* j'all*_ais_* * tu all*_ais_* * il/elle/on all*_ait_* * nous all*_ions_* * vous all*_iez_* * ils/elles all*_aient_*

Question 26

# Translate to French: He _was studying_. We _were studying_ too

Answer 26

Il _étudiait_. Nous _étudiions_ aussi ## Footnote The imperfect root for this verb is *étudi-*, which results in a double "i" in both the *nous* and *vous* forms.

Question 27

# Translate to French: When he _was_ nine, he studied very little

Answer 27

Quand il _avait_ neuf ans, il étudiait très peu ## Footnote Note the imperfect of the verb *avoir*. The imperfect is used here to describe a past habit.

Question 28

# Translate to French: She _used to eat_ a lot

Answer 28

Elle _mangeait_ beaucoup ## Footnote The imperfect is used for past habits or states of being, so the imperfect of *manger* can convey that the subject "used to eat." The imperfect root of *manger* is *mange-*, except for the *nous* and *vous* forms, which don't need the "e": *nous mangions, vous mangiez*.

Question 29

# Translate to French: It _was nice out_ yesterday

Answer 29

Il _faisait_ beau hier ## Footnote Note the imperfect of the verb *faire*, which takes the stem *fais-*. Also note how the imperfect is used to describe weather in the past. The imperfect is generally used for any physical and emotional descriptions in the past.

Question 30

# Translate to French: It _was raining_ on my birthday

Answer 30

Il _pleuvait_ le jour de mon anniversaire ## Footnote Note that the imperfect stem of *pleuvoir* is *pleuv-*.

Question 31

# Translate to French: (formal) Were you _lying_ to your mother?

Answer 31

Est-ce que vous _mentiez_ à votre mère?

Question 32

# Translate to French: She _believed_ in me

Answer 32

Elle _croyait_ en moi

Question 33

# Translate to French: I _was going_ to sit on the sofa, but it's no longer in the living room

Answer 33

J'_allais_ m'asseoir sur le canapé, mais il n'est plus dans le salon

Question 34

# Translate to French: * I _was_ * you _were_ * he/she/it _was_ * we _were_ * you (plural) _were_ * they _were_

Answer 34

* j'ét*_ais_* * tu ét*_ais_* * il/elle/on ét*_ait_* * nous ét*_ions_* * vous ét*_iez_* * ils/elles ét*_aient_* ## Footnote *Être* is irregular in the imperfect in that it doesn't use its present tense *nous* form as the stem.

Question 35

# Translate to French: When I _was_ young, I often went to the supermarket near my house

Answer 35

Quand j'_étais_ petit, j'allais souvent au supermarché près de chez moi ## Footnote Note the imperfect of *être*. It is common to say *quand j'étais petit* to mean "when I was young" (rather than *quand j'étais jeune*).

Question 36

# Translate to French: We _had just eaten_

Answer 36

On _venait de manger_ ## Footnote In the past, the construction *venir de* + infinitive is conjugated in the imperfect.

Question 37

# Translate to French: He _was in the process of_ making a meal

Answer 37

Il _était en train de_ faire à manger ## Footnote In the past, the construction *être en train de* + infinitive is used in the imperfect.

Question 38

# Translate to French: _There was_ a student in the classroom

Answer 38

_Il y avait_ un étudiant dans la salle ## Footnote Note that the expression *il y a* can be used in tenses other than the present; simply conjugate *avoir* in the intended tense.

Question 39

# Translate to French: She was writing in her office. _Meanwhile_, I was taking a shower

Answer 39

Elle écrivait dans son bureau. _Pendant ce temps_, je prenais une douche ## Footnote meanwhile - *pendant ce temps*. Note the imperfect tense of the verbs *écrire* and *prendre*.

Question 40

# Translate to French: He is in the _middle_ of the street

Answer 40

Il est au _milieu_ de la rue ## Footnote the middle, the center - *le milieu, le centre*. Note that *milieu* can also mean "environment."

Question 41

# Translate to French: They _played_ sports because they _had_ free time

Answer 41

Ils _faisaient_ du sport parce qu'ils _avaient_ du temps libre ## Footnote The imperfect is used here to describe an unspecified duration of time: the beginning and end of the past actions/conditions are not indicated. So even though the first verb's English translation is "played" instead of "were playing," the imperfect is appropriate.

Question 42

# Translate to French: _In the past_, people believed that the earth was (at) the center of the universe

Answer 42

_Autrefois_, on croyait que la terre était au centre de l'univers ## Footnote in the past, formerly - *autrefois, auparavant*

Question 43

# Translate to French: I _was going up_ the stairs when I _fell_

Answer 43

Je _montais_ les escaliers quand je _suis tombé_ ## Footnote Both the *imparfait* and *passé composé* are used here. The imperfect is used to set the background of the scenario, which is then interrupted by the action in the *passé composé*.

Question 44

# Translate to French: The dog _was_ hungry when we _found_ it

Answer 44

Le chien _avait_ faim quand nous l'_avons trouvé_ ## Footnote Note the use of both the imperfect and the *passé composé* here.

Question 45

# Translate to French: They _were coming home_ when they _decided_ to stop at the store

Answer 45

Elles _rentraient_ à la maison quand elles _ont décidé_ de s'arrêter au magasin ## Footnote Note the use of both the imperfect and the *passé composé*.

Question 46

# Translate to French: They _were skiing_ when I _arrived_

Answer 46

Ils _faisaient du ski_ quand je _suis arrivé_

Question 47

# Translate to French: He was a professor _at the time_

Answer 47

Il était _alors_ professeur ## Footnote at the time, at that time - *alors*. Recall that this word most often means "so" or "then." Used like this, however, it takes on this different, time-related meaning.

Question 48

# Translate to French: You arrived _as_ I was leaving

Answer 48

Tu es arrivé _alors que_ je partais ## Footnote while, as, at that time - *alors que*. Note that *alors que* can sometimes also mean "even though."

Question 49

# Translate to French: Marcel wanted to start _even though_ Jules wasn't with us

Answer 49

Marcel voulait commencer _alors que_ Jules n'était pas avec nous ## Footnote even though - *alors que*. You can infer this meaning of *alors que* largely based on context. You can also say "even though" with the expression *bien que*.

Question 50

# Translate to French: You can do your homework _while_ I watch the movie

Answer 50

Tu peux faire tes devoirs _pendant que_ je regarde le film ## Footnote while - *pendant que, tandis que*. An alternative is *tout en*: *Je nettoie le salon tout en regardant un film* -- "I clean the living room while watching a film."

Question 51

# Translate to French: She likes that song _whereas_ I hate it

Answer 51

Elle aime cette chanson _tandis que_ je la déteste ## Footnote whereas, while (contradiction) - *tandis que*. Two alternatives with which to present opposition and/or contradiction are *alors que* and *lorsque*.

Question 52

# Translate to French: _When_ I was young, I used to be afraid of dogs

Answer 52

_Lorsque_ j'étais petit, j'avais peur des chiens ## Footnote when, as soon as - *lorsque*. Used like this, *lorsque* means "when" and is thus a synonym of *quand*. Note, however, that it can also mean "as soon as" and is not always interchangeable with *quand*.

Question 53

# Translate to French: He has not seen you in _a while_

Answer 53

Il ne t'a pas vu depuis _quelque temps_ ## Footnote awhile, a while - *quelque temps, un moment*. Note that *quelque temps* is an adverb ("awhile"), whereas *un moment* is a noun ("a while").

Question 54

# Translate to French: There's a river _somewhere_ in this jungle

Answer 54

Il y a une rivière _quelque part_ dans cette jungle ## Footnote somewhere - *quelque part*

Question 55

# Translate to French: How long had they been arguing when you went to bed?

Answer 55

_Depuis_ combien de temps se disputaient-ils quand tu es allé te coucher? ## Footnote Note how *depuis* is used here to show that something was happening in the past when something else occurred. When a past action interrupts another past action, both the imperfect and *passé composé* are used.

Question 56

# Translate to French: _From_ the age of nine on, he was scared of animals

Answer 56

_Dès_ l'âge de neuf ans, il avait peur des animaux ## Footnote from, as soon as - *dès, dès que*. *Dès que*, "as soon as," is often employed with the future tense. Note also that *dès lors* means "henceforth" or "from then on."

Question 57

# Translate to French: The supermarket is open _from_ 8 am on

Answer 57

Le supermarché est ouvert _à partir de_ 8 heures ## Footnote from - *à partir de*. This expression is used with dates, time, or places. It forms the basis of several other expressions, like *à partir de maintenant* ("from now on") and *à partir de ce moment-là* ("from then on").

Question 58

# Translate to French: I have _no_ idea

Answer 58

Je *_n'_*ai _aucune_ idée ## Footnote no, none (of), not any (of) - *ne... aucun*. Note the agreement of *aucun* with the feminine noun that it's modifying.

Question 59

# Translate to French: I see _some_ ducks. Now I see _no_ ducks

Answer 59

Je vois _quelques_ canards. Maintenant je _ne_ vois _aucun_ canard ## Footnote Note how *ne... aucun* serves as the negative replacement for *quelque(s)*.

Question 60

# Translate to French: I _no longer_ have _any_ pants

Answer 60

Je *_n'_*ai _plus aucun_ pantalon ## Footnote no longer any - *ne... plus aucun*. In this construction, *aucun* must agree with the noun being modified.

Question 61

# Translate to French: _None of_ these houses is yellow

Answer 61

_Aucune de_ ces maisons *_n'_*est jaune ## Footnote none (of) - *aucun (de)... ne*. An "e" has been added to *aucun* since *maisons* is feminine. However, the verb is conjugated in the third-person singular because the singular *aucune* is the subject. Finally, note the negative *ne* before the verb.

Question 62

# Translate to French: They are _not_ bright _at all_

Answer 62

Ils _ne_ sont _pas du tout_ brillants ## Footnote not at all - *ne... pas du tout*

Question 63

# Translate to French: She _did not_ buy _a single_ shirt

Answer 63

Elle *_n'_*a acheté _aucune_ chemise ## Footnote Negative words (*ne* + *pas/rien/etc.*) usually surround the conjugated auxiliary verb in compound tenses. *Personne*, *aucun*, and *nulle part* are exceptions to this rule, and come after both the auxiliary verb and the participle. For instance, you cannot say *Elle n'a aucune acheté chemise*.

Question 64

# Translate to French: It is _hardly_ possible

Answer 64

Il *_n'_*est _guère_ possible ## Footnote hardly - *ne... guère*. This construction is used formally.

Question 65

# Translate to French: I _(simply) can**not**_ do it

Answer 65

Je _ne_ peux _point_ le faire ## Footnote not (for emphasis) - *ne... point*. This construction is used formally and for emphasis.

Question 66

# Translate to French: I'm going to _call_ my mother later

Answer 66

Je vais _téléphoner_ à ma mere plus tard ## Footnote to call (someone) - *téléphoner (à quelqu'un), appeler (quelqu'un)*. *Téléphoner* takes the preposition *à*; therefore, the verb takes an indirect object, whereas its English equivalent takes a direct object. *Appeler*, however, is like English in that it takes a direct object.

Question 67

# Translate to French: I'm going to _send_ my mother a gift for her birthday

Answer 67

Je vais _envoyer_ un cadeau à ma mère pour son anniversaire ## Footnote to send - *envoyer*. Note that "to send something to someone" is *envoyer quelque chose à quelqu'un*.

Question 68

# Translate to French: He likes this play's characters _as well as_ the fact that it takes place in Paris

Answer 68

Il aime les personnages de cette pièce _ainsi que_ le fait qu'elle a lieu à Paris ## Footnote as well as, like, just as - *ainsi que*

Question 69

# Translate to French: His company _supports_ the poor

Answer 69

Son entreprise _soutient_ les pauvres ## Footnote to support - *soutenir*. This verb is the most appropriate translation of "to support"; one alternative is *supporter*, but that is an informal Anglicism that many consider incorrect. Note how the word *pauvre* can function as both an adjective and a noun.

Question 70

# Translate to French: I _can't stand_ this kind of behavior!

Answer 70

Je _ne supporte pas_ ce type de comportement! ## Footnote to stand, to put up/deal with - *supporter*. This is a common use of this verb, which can also mean "to accept" or "to bear."

Question 71

# Translate to French: I was athletic but my brother was _even more so_

Answer 71

J'étais athlétique mais mon frère l'était _davantage_ ## Footnote more - *davantage*. This is a comparative word both signifying and emphasizing superiority. It is roughly translated by "more" and is usually placed at the end of sentences. Note the object pronoun *l'*, representing the act of being athletic.

Question 72

# Translate to French: Our house is much _smaller than_ theirs

Answer 72

Notre maison est beaucoup _plus petite que_ la leur ## Footnote smaller, the smallest - *plus petit, le plus petit*. These are the regular comparative and superlative forms of the adjective *petit*.

Question 73

# Translate to French: You guys don't have _the slightest_ idea

Answer 73

Vous n'avez pas _la moindre_ idée ## Footnote the least, the slightest - *le moindre*

Question 74

# Translate to French: We prepared a meal that is _superior to_ the one from last week

Answer 74

Nous avons préparé un repas qui est _supérieur à_ celui de la semaine dernière ## Footnote superior to - *supérieur à*. Note that the opposite structure also exists: "inferior to" -- *inférieur à*.

Question 75

# Translate to French: _The more_ I go to school, _the more_ I feel like learning

Answer 75

_Plus_ je vais à l'école, _plus_ j'ai envie d'apprendre ## Footnote the more... the more - *plus... plus*. Note that the opposite construction also exists: "the less... the less" -- *moins... moins*.

Question 76

# Translate to French: There were _so many_ people here that we couldn't find Christophe

Answer 76

Il y avait _tant de_ personnes ici que nous n'arrivions pas à trouver Christophe ## Footnote so many - *tant de, tellement de*

Question 77

# Translate to French: The _flowers_ that Denis brought are beautiful

Answer 77

Les _fleurs_ que Denis a apportées sont belles ## Footnote a flower - *une fleur*

Question 78

# Translate to French: The flowers _were growing_ very quickly

Answer 78

Les fleurs _poussaient_ très vite ## Footnote to grow - *pousser*. This verb is used with plants, while *grandir* is used with people. Growing animals are often described with the verb *se développer*.

Question 79

# Translate to French: _Butterflies_ seem to love flowers

Answer 79

Les _papillons_ semblent adorer les fleurs ## Footnote a butterfly - *un papillon*

Question 80

# Translate to French: I was listening to the _birds_

Answer 80

J'écoutais les _oiseaux_ ## Footnote a bird - *un oiseau*. Note how the plural form takes an "x."

Question 81

# Translate to French: The _horse_ crossed the river

Answer 81

Le _cheval_ a traversé la rivière ## Footnote a horse - *un cheval*. Note that the plural is *chevaux*, while "by horse" is translated by *à cheval*.

Question 82

# Translate to French: They _were riding_ horses

Answer 82

Ils _montaient à_ cheval ## Footnote to ride (an animal) - *monter à*. Note how in French the kind of animal is shown in the singular.

Question 83

# Translate to French: I was running _along_ the river when I fell

Answer 83

Je courais _le long de_ la rivière quand je suis tombé ## Footnote along - *le long de*. Note that this literally translates to "the length of."

Question 84

# Translate to French: He is not French. He comes from _somewhere else_

Answer 84

Il n'est pas français. Il vient d'_ailleurs_ ## Footnote elsewhere, somewhere else - *ailleurs, autre part*. Note that the expression *par ailleurs* means "otherwise" or "besides."

Question 85

# Translate to French: I have never liked _cow's_ milk

Answer 85

Je n'ai jamais aimé le lait de _vache_ ## Footnote a cow - *une vache*. Note the word for "milk," *lait*, which is masculine.

Question 86

# Translate to French: Did you eat the rest of the _chicken_?

Answer 86

Avez-vous mangé le reste du _poulet_? ## Footnote chicken - *le poulet*. Like in English, this word applies both to the bird and to the food. Note the noun *reste*, which of course refers to the "remainder" or "rest" of something.

Question 87

# Translate to French: When I was five years old, I wanted a _rabbit_

Answer 87

Quand j'avais cinq ans, je voulais un _lapin_ ## Footnote a rabbit - *un lapin*

Question 88

# Translate to French: It was a very fat _pig_

Answer 88

C'était un très gros _cochon_ ## Footnote a pig - *un cochon, un porc*. Only *porc* applies to the food, "pork."

Question 89

# Translate to French: _Goat's_ milk is delicious

Answer 89

Le lait de _chèvre_ est délicieux ## Footnote a goat - *une chèvre*

Question 90

# Translate to French: We were going to the _circus_ to see the animals

Answer 90

Nous allions au _cirque_ pour voir les animaux ## Footnote a circus - *un cirque*

Question 91

# Translate to French: They're going to go on a _safari_ to hunt animals

Answer 91

Ils vont faire un _safari_ pour chasser des animaux ## Footnote a safari - *un safari*. Note the construction *faire un safari*. The literal translation of the English, *aller sur un safari*, is incorrect.

Question 92

# Translate to French: My daughter rode an _elephant_ at the circus

Answer 92

Ma fille est montée sur le dos d'un _éléphant_ au cirque ## Footnote an elephant - *un éléphant*. Note the use of *monter sur le dos d'un éléphant*, "to ride on the back of an elephant," instead of *monter à éléphant*. As an alternative, some French speakers say *monter un éléphant* to avoid the awkward use of *à éléphant*.

Question 93

# Translate to French: The lion is often _regarded_ as the king of the jungle

Answer 93

Le lion est souvent _considéré_ comme le roi de la jungle ## Footnote regarded/considered (as) - *considéré (comme)*. Note that *lion* is a masculine noun.

Question 94

# Translate to French: You were always scared of _tigers_

Answer 94

Tu avais toujours peur des _tigres_ ## Footnote a tiger - *un tigre*

Question 95

# Translate to French: Is there a _monkey_ in the tree?

Answer 95

Est-ce qu'il y a un _singe_ dans l'arbre? ## Footnote a monkey - *un singe*

Question 96

# Translate to French: The _giraffe_ is the tallest animal in the world

Answer 96

La _girafe_ est l'animal le plus grand du monde (entier) ## Footnote a giraffe - *une girafe*. Note the use of *du monde (entier)* to mean "in the world."

Question 97

# Translate to French: The children _obey_ their parents

Answer 97

Les enfants _obéissent à_ leurs parents ## Footnote to obey - *obéir à*. Note that in French this verb takes an indirect object.

Question 98

# Translate to French: By playing with her son, she forgot about her _anxiety_

Answer 98

En jouant avec son fils, elle a oublié son _angoisse_ ## Footnote anxiety, fear - *l'angoisse*. This is a feminine noun.

Question 99

# Translate to French: He is _relieved_ to learn that he did not lose his ticket

Answer 99

Il est _soulagé_ d'apprendre qu'il n'a pas perdu son billet ## Footnote relieved - *soulagé*. This adjective is the past participle of the verb *soulager*, meaning "to relieve."

Question 100

# Translate to French: The _bear_ was big and mean

Answer 100

L'_ours_ était grand et méchant ## Footnote a bear - *un ours*

Question 101

# Translate to French: Sheep's _fur_ is used to make wool

Answer 101

La _fourrure_ des moutons est utilisée pour (faire de) la laine ## Footnote fur - *la fourrure*. Note the masculine noun for "sheep," *mouton*.