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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

(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

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

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!

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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

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

a spoon - une cuillère