Lesson 13

Question 1

Translate to French:

The ocean was very beautiful

Answer 1

L’océan était très beau

an ocean - un océan. Recall that “the sea” is la mer.

Question 2

Translate to French:

The sand seems whiter than usual

Answer 2

Le sable semble être plus blanc que d’habitude

sand - le sable. Note the construction plus… que d’habitude, which means “more… than usual.”

Question 3

Translate to French:

The Alps are the most beautiful mountains in the world

Answer 3

Les Alpes sont les plus belles montagnes du monde

a mountain - une montagne. Montagnes russes, or “Russian mountains,” is the French term for “roller coaster.”

Question 4

Translate to French:

Julie decided to climb the hill with her friends

Answer 4

Julie a décidé de monter la colline avec ses amis

a hill - une colline

Question 5

Translate to French:

The Latin Quarter is found on the Left Bank of the Seine

Answer 5

Le Quartier latin se trouve sur la Rive gauche de la Seine

a river bank - une rive

Question 6

Translate to French:

We’re going to the store. Do you want to go there?

Answer 6

Nous allons au magasin. Tu veux y aller?

The adverbial pronoun y is used to replace a location or prepositional phrase beginning with any preposition other than de. It should not, however, be used to replace a phrase that includes a person (e.g. à mon cousin). These phrases get replaced with indirect object pronouns.

Question 7

Translate to French:

Paul is reflecting on his new idea. He reflects on it often

Answer 7

Paul réfléchit à sa nouvelle idée. Il y réfléchit souvent

Note how the pronoun y replaces a phrase containing à plus a noun: à sa nouvelle idée.

Question 8

Translate to French:

Julie likes to go to the market. She goes there on Fridays

Answer 8

Julie aime aller au marché. Elle y va le vendredi

Note how the pronoun y replaces a prepositional phrase meaning “at/to a place”: au marché.

Question 9

Translate to French:

I am in the kitchen. I am there

Answer 9

Je suis dans la cuisine. J’y suis

Here, the pronoun y replaces a phrase beginning with the preposition dans. Recall that to use y, the object of the preposition must be a thing (places included).

Question 10

Translate to French:

They think about the soccer match. They think about it

Answer 10

Ils pensent au match de foot. Ils y pensent

Here, y replaces a thing following a verb that requires à: au match de foot.

Question 11

Translate to French:

You respond to your dad. You respond to him

Answer 11

Tu réponds à ton père. Tu lui réponds

Remember that when the object of the preposition is a person, you should use indirect object pronouns.

Question 12

Translate to French:

He thinks about the story. He thinks about it

Answer 12

Il pense à l’histoire. Il pense à cela/ Il y pense

Recall that penser à does not allow preceding indirect object pronouns. Also recall that when the indirect object is a thing, you can use à + an indefinite demonstrative pronoun (Il pense à cela). Another option is to replace the preposition and indirect object with y (Il y pense).

Question 13

Translate to French:

I don’t want this cake anymore. Do you want some?

Answer 13

Je ne veux plus ce gâteau. Tu en veux?

Note how en is used here not as a preposition, but as a pronoun. The adverbial pronoun en is similar to y, except that it replaces quantities and prepositional phrases beginning with de.

Question 14

Translate to French:

Did Jean speak about his book? Yes, he spoke about it

Answer 14

Est-ce que Jean a parlé de son livre? Oui, il en a parlé

Note how the pronoun en replaces the phrase de son livre.

Question 15

Translate to French:

You come from Grenoble. You come from there

Answer 15

Vous venez de Grenoble. Vous en venez

Note how the pronoun en replaces a noun after the preposition de.

Question 16

Translate to French:

She needs money. She needs it

Answer 16

Elle a besoin d’argent. Elle en a besoin

Note how en is used with an expression followed by de.

Question 17

Translate to French:

He has some sugar. He has some

Answer 17

Il a du sucre. Il en a

Note how en is used to replace a phrase containing a partitive or indefinite article.

Question 18

Translate to French:

I had five pencils. I had five of them

Answer 18

J’avais cinq crayons. J’en avais cinq

Note how en can replace phrases of quantity.

Question 19

Translate to French:

They have too many clothes. They have too many of them

Answer 19

Ils ont trop de vêtements. Ils en ont trop

Note how en replaces a phrase of quantity here.

Question 20

Translate to French:

I am thinking about Julie. Are you thinking about her?

Answer 20

Je pense à Julie. Penses-tu à elle?

Note that y cannot be used to replace à Julie because this phrase refers to a person. To avoid repetition, Julie can at least be replaced by the disjunctive pronoun elle.

Question 21

Translate to French:

I see clouds beyond the mountains

Answer 21

Je vois des nuages au-delà des montagnes

beyond - au-delà de. This word can apply both to physical distance and time.

Question 22

Translate to French:

The book is up there

Answer 22

Le livre est là-haut

up there - là-haut. The prefix là- can be added to adverbs of place. It means “that” or “there.” Its opposite is the prefix ci-, which has more uses.

Question 23

Translate to French:

It was on top of that

Answer 23

C’était là-dessus

on top of that - là-dessus. Note that the opposite of this phrase is là-dessous, “under that.”

Question 24

Translate to French:

He is going to look inside that

Answer 24

Il va regarder là-dedans

inside - dedans. Note how this adverb is used here with the prefix là-. Also note that the opposite of dedans is dehors, “outside.”

Question 25

# Translate to French: You will find the explanation _below_

Answer 25

Vous trouverez l'explication *_ci-_*dessous ## Footnote The prefix *ci-* is usually used in the context of written documents. It can be added to adverbs (as in the example), but also to prepositions, past participles, and adjectives. (*Ci-joint*, for example, means "attached here.") Its opposite is the prefix *là-*.

Question 26

# Translate to French: We are going to jump _over_ the barrier. We are going to jump _over it_

Answer 26

Nous allons sauter _par-dessus_ la barrière. Nous allons sauter _par-dessus_ ## Footnote over (it) - *par-dessus*. This construction denotes movement. Note how it does not have to be followed by a noun. Its opposite is *par-dessous*, "under (it)."

Question 27

# Translate to French: She always behaved normally _with regard to_ her teachers

Answer 27

Elle se comportait toujours normalement _envers_ ses enseignants ## Footnote toward, with regard to - *envers, à l'égard de*. *Envers* is both a preposition and a noun: as a noun, it means "back(side)" or "other side."

Question 28

# Translate to French: He was wearing his shirt _inside out_

Answer 28

Il portait sa chemise _à l'envers_ ## Footnote inside out, upside down - *à l'envers*

Question 29

# Translate to French: I am walking _through_ the forest

Answer 29

Je marche _à travers_ la forêt ## Footnote through, across - *à travers*

Question 30

# Translate to French: My sister is going _to France_ next summer. She comes _from China_

Answer 30

Ma soeur va _en France_ l'été prochain. Elle vient _de Chine_ ## Footnote The use of prepositions with geographical names is dependent on the gender and type of the given location. For feminine countries or continents, use *en* ("to/in") and *de/d'* ("from"). Most countries that end in "e" are feminine. All the continents are feminine.

Question 31

# Translate to French: He is going _to Brazil_

Answer 31

Il va _au Brésil_ ## Footnote For masculine countries that start with a consonant, use the preposition *au* ("to/in").

Question 32

# Translate to French: Are you _in Ecuador_?

Answer 32

Es-tu _en Équateur_? ## Footnote For masculine countries that start with a vowel, use the preposition *en* ("to/in").

Question 33

# Translate to French: My mom is coming back _to the United States_

Answer 33

Ma mère revient _aux États-Unis_ ## Footnote For countries with plural names, use the preposition *aux* ("to/in").

Question 34

# Translate to French: Mexico, Japan, Canada, Brazil, Lebanon, Morocco, Luxembourg, Denmark, Portugal, Senegal, Vietnam

Answer 34

le Mexique, le Japon, le Canada, le Brésil, le Liban, le Maroc, le Luxembourg, le Danemark, le Portugal, le Sénégal, le Viêt Nam ## Footnote These are masculine countries. They take the prepositions *au* ("to/in") and *du* ("from").

Question 35

# Translate to French: Spain, Italy, Germany, China, Russia, Libya, Algeria, Israel, Greece, Turkey, Austria, Egypt, India

Answer 35

l'Espagne, l'Italie, l'Allemagne, la Chine, la Russie, la Lybie, l'Algérie, l'Israël, la Grèce, la Turquie, l'Autriche, l'Égypte, l'Inde ## Footnote These are feminine countries. They use the prepositions *en* ("to/in") and *de/d'* ("from").

Question 36

# Translate to French: the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, the United States, Fiji, the Maldives, the Philippines

Answer 36

les Pays-Bas, les Émirats arabes unis, les États-Unis, les Fidji, les Maldives, les Philippines ## Footnote These are countries with plural names. They use the prepositions *aux* ("to/in") and *des* ("from").

Question 37

# Translate to French: Claire just returned _from Mexico_. She went _there_ with her family

Answer 37

Claire vient de revenir _du Mexique_. Elle _y_ est allée avec sa famille ## Footnote Note how *le Mexique* is an irregular country name in that it ends with an "e" but is masculine.

Question 38

# Translate to French: They live _in_ New York. They are from Haiti

Answer 38

Ils habitent _à_ New York. Ils sont d'Haïti ## Footnote To say "to" or "in" a city or island, use *à*. Some islands have plural names, in which case you should use *aux*.

Question 39

# Translate to French: We are _in_ California

Answer 39

On est _en_ Californie ## Footnote Feminine states and provinces are rare. They take the preposition *en* ("to/in").

Question 40

# Translate to French: He is from Quebec. He's going _to_ Vermont

Answer 40

Il est du Québec. Il va _dans le_ Vermont ## Footnote To say "to" or "in" a masculine state or province, use either *au* or *dans le*.

Question 41

# Translate to French: Last week we were _in_ Indiana

Answer 41

La semaine dernière nous étions _en_ Indiana ## Footnote To say "to" or "in" a masculine state/province beginning with a vowel, use either *en* or *dans l'*.

Question 42

# Translate to French: Marie decided to sit _close to_ me

Answer 42

Marie a décidé de s'asseoir _auprès de_ moi ## Footnote next to, close to/near - *auprès de*. You could use *près de* as well. *Auprès de* can also be used figuratively to say "in the eyes of."

Question 43

# Translate to French: Jean's dog is _outside_ at the moment

Answer 43

Le chien de Jean est _dehors_ en ce moment ## Footnote outside - *dehors, au-dehors*. As an alternative you could say *à l'extérieur*. Also note the common expression *en ce moment*, "at the moment."

Question 44

# Translate to French: _Apart from_ him, nobody liked the show

Answer 44

_En dehors de_ lui, personne n'a aimé l'émission ## Footnote apart from - *en dehors de, à part*. Note that *en dehors de* can also take a literal meaning -- "outside of."

Question 45

# Translate to French: It's so cold! I'm going to stay _inside_

Answer 45

Il fait si froid! Je vais rester _dedans_ ## Footnote inside - *dedans, au-dedans*. Another alternative would be *à l'intérieur*.

Question 46

# Translate to French: _Among_ European countries, France is my favorite

Answer 46

_Parmi_ les pays européens, la France est mon pays préféré ## Footnote among - *parmi*

Question 47

# Translate to French: The people _among whom_ you lived were funny

Answer 47

Les gens _parmi lesquels_ vous viviez étaient drôles ## Footnote Recall that the relative pronoun *lequel* and its variants usually apply to things. After *entre* and *parmi*, however, the forms of *lequel* must be used to refer to people. *Qui* cannot be used.

Question 48

# Translate to French: _As for_ my work, I'll do it tomorrow

Answer 48

_Quant à_ mon travail, je le ferai demain ## Footnote as for, as far as - *quant à*

Question 49

# Translate to French: _As far as I'm concerned_, it's the year's best novel

Answer 49

_En ce qui me concerne_, c'est le meilleur roman de l'année ## Footnote as far as I'm concerned, as for me - *en ce qui me concerne, à mon avis*. The latter literally means "in my opinion." Other suitable alternatives include *pour ma part* and *d'après/selon moi*.

Question 50

# Translate to French: The French are happier _compared to_ Americans

Answer 50

Les Français sont plus heureux _par rapport aux_ Américains ## Footnote compared to, in relation to - *par rapport à*. Note that you could also say *Les Français sont plus heureux que les Américains*.

Question 51

# Translate to French: I started running _at a rate of_ six hours per week

Answer 51

J'ai commencé à courir _à raison de_ six heures par semaine ## Footnote at a/the rate of - *à raison de*. Note that the expression *en raison de* also exists, meaning "on account of" or "because of."

Question 52

# Translate to French: They already told me something _about_ you

Answer 52

Ils m'ont déjà raconté quelque chose _à propos de_ toi ## Footnote with regard to, about, speaking of - *à propos de*. Note that a more formal alternative would be *Ils m'ont raconté quelque chose à ton propos*.

Question 53

# Translate to French: Are you _informed (aware)_ of what happened at the college?

Answer 53

Es-tu _au courant_ de ce qu'il s'est passé à l'université? ## Footnote (to be/to keep) informed - *(être/tenir) au courant*. Note that you could also say *Es-tu au courant à propos de l'université?*

Question 54

# Translate to French: The film's main character is great, especially _in terms of_ his personality

Answer 54

Le personnage principal du film est génial, surtout _en ce qui concerne_ sa personnalité ## Footnote in terms of - *en termes de, en matière de, en ce qui concerne*. While it normally has a comparative meaning ("compared to"), the expression *par rapport à* is used with increasing frequency as a synonym of expressions like *en ce qui concerne* and *à propos de* ("in terms of" and "with regard to").

Question 55

# Translate to French: I arrived _just a second ago_

Answer 55

Je viens d'arriver _tout à l'heure_ ## Footnote just a second ago; in just a second - *tout à l'heure*. This expression is used to express that something either has just happened or is about to happen.

Question 56

# Translate to French: See you soon!

Answer 56

À tout à l'heure! ## Footnote See you soon! - *À tout à l'heure!*

Question 57

# Translate to French: _All of a sudden_, they left

Answer 57

_Tout à coup_, ils sont partis ## Footnote all of a sudden, suddenly - *tout à coup*. As an alternative, French speakers often use the expression *tout d'un coup*, which technically means "all at once" or "in one go."

Question 58

# Translate to French: We _were lined up_ in front of the store

Answer 58

On _faisait la queue_ devant le magasin ## Footnote to line up, to stand in line - *faire la queue*

Question 59

# Translate to French: I woke up before _sunrise_ this morning

Answer 59

Je me suis réveillé ce matin avant le _lever de soleil_ ## Footnote sunrise - *le lever de soleil*. This noun is formed from the verb "to rise," *lever*. The feminine noun *aube* is another word for "sunrise."

Question 60

# Translate to French: I love being outside during _sunset_

Answer 60

J'adore être dehors pendant le _coucher du soleil_ ## Footnote sunset - *le coucher du soleil*. An alternative is the masculine noun *crépuscule*.

Question 61

# Translate to French: I have gone for my _daily_ walk

Answer 61

Je suis parti faire ma promenade _quotidienne_ ## Footnote daily, everyday - *quotidien*. This word is also a masculine noun meaning "daily newspaper."

Question 62

# Translate to French: The bread is in the _oven_

Answer 62

Le pain est dans le _four_ ## Footnote an oven - *un four*. Note that "a microwave (oven)" is *un four à micro-ondes*, or simply *un micro-ondes*.

Question 63

# Translate to French: The soup is on the _stove_

Answer 63

La soupe est sur la _cuisinière_ ## Footnote a stove - *une cuisinière*

Question 64

# Translate to French: The _dishwasher_ is next to the oven

Answer 64

Le _lave-vaisselle_ est à côté du four ## Footnote a dishwasher - *un lave-vaisselle*

Question 65

# Translate to French: You must _cook_ the fish before eating it

Answer 65

Il faut _cuire_ le poisson avant de le manger ## Footnote to cook - *cuire*. This verb refers to the act of heating food, whereas *cuisiner* refers to the general preparation of food. Also note how *de le* does not change to *du* here. This is because *le* is a direct object pronoun (referring to the fish).

Question 66

# Translate to French: Claire _stirred_ the soup

Answer 66

Claire _a remué_ la soupe ## Footnote to stir - *remuer*. Note that you could also use *mélanger*, which technically means "to mix."

Question 67

# Translate to French: Marc _burned_ the milk by forgetting to stir it

Answer 67

Marc _a brûlé_ le lait en oubliant de le remuer ## Footnote to burn - *brûler*

Question 68

# Translate to French: You must _boil_ the water in order to cook the eggs

Answer 68

Il faut _faire bouillir_ l'eau pour cuire les oeufs ## Footnote to boil - *(faire) bouillir*. *Faire bouillir quelque chose* is "to boil something," while *bouillir* by itself is an intransitive verb: *l'eau bout* -- "the water boils."

Question 69

# Translate to French: Jean is cooking the eggs in a _frying pan_

Answer 69

Jean cuit les oeufs dans une _poêle_ ## Footnote a frying pan - *une poêle*

Question 70

# Translate to French: You can put the duck into the _pot_

Answer 70

Tu peux mettre le canard dans la _casserole_ ## Footnote a pot - *une casserole*. This term can also be used to mean "pan."

Question 71

# Translate to French: According to the _recipe_, we do not have enough milk

Answer 71

Selon la _recette_, on n'a pas assez de lait ## Footnote a recipe - *une recette*

Question 72

# Translate to French: Which _flavor_ of ice cream would you like?

Answer 72

Quel _parfum_ de glace aimeriez-vous? ## Footnote a scent, a flavor - *un parfum*. Note that *parfum* also means "perfume."

Question 73

# Translate to French: I just ordered a cheese _plate_

Answer 73

Je viens de commander une _assiette_ de fromage ## Footnote a plate - *une assiette*

Question 74

# Translate to French: Paul put the soup into this _bowl_

Answer 74

Paul a mis la soupe dans ce _bol_ ## Footnote a bowl - *un bol*

Question 75

# Translate to French: I prefer to eat fries with a _fork_

Answer 75

Je préfère manger les frites avec une _fourchette_ ## Footnote a fork - *une fourchette*

Question 76

# Translate to French: He stirred his coffee with a _spoon_

Answer 76

Il a remué son café avec une _cuillère_ ## Footnote a spoon - *une cuillère*