Lesson 3 Flashcards by Julie Bismuth

Translate to French:

(formal) How old are you?

Quel âge avez-vous?

How old are you? - Quel âge avez-vous?. The literal translation here is “What age do you have?”

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(to a friend) How old are you?

T’as quel âge?

How old are you (informal)? - T’as quel âge? Note that this is an informal, shortened way of saying Tu as quel âge? Simply adding a question mark to an affirmative sentence is the informal way of asking a question.

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I am going to school today

Aujourd’hui je vais à l’école

today - aujourd’hui

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It’s a beautiful morning

C’est un beau matin

morning - le matin. Note that the more uncommon feminine alternative matinée also exists, but that it should be used in particular circumstances.

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Today is my birthday

Aujourd’hui c’est mon anniversaire

a birthday - un anniversaire. Note that anniversaire can also mean “anniversary,” though this usage is more uncommon.

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Happy birthday!

Joyeux anniversaire!

Happy birthday! - Joyeux anniversaire!

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Tomorrow is your birthday

Demain c’est ton anniversaire

tomorrow - demain

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What time is it?

Quelle heure est-il?

What time is it? - Quelle heure est-il?

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I am going to school in two days

Je vais à l’école dans deux jours

a day - un jour, une journée. When speaking of days as a division or length of time, use jour. When talking about the duration of a day, use journée. You will learn more about the different use cases of these words elsewhere.

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It is three o’clock

Il est trois heures

It is __ o’clock - Il est __ heures. Note that heure means “hour.” To say “It is one o’clock,” you would say Il est une heure.

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four hours

quatre heures

an hour - une heure

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I am on time

Je suis à l’heure

on time - à l’heure

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I am going back home at noon

Je rentre à la maison à midi

noon - midi

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It is midnight

Il est minuit

midnight - minuit

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ten, twenty, thirty, forty, fifty, sixty, seventy, eighty, ninety

dix, vingt, trente, quarante, cinquante, soixante, soixante-dix, quatre-vingts, quatre-vingt-dix

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forty-seven, fifty-one, eighty-one

quarante-sept, cinquante et un, quatre-vingt-un

Note that 21, 31, 41, 51, 61, and 71 use et, typically without a dash. However, 81, 91, and 101 don’t use et, with dashes used in 81 and 91.

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Translate to French:

dozens of students

des douzaines d’étudiants

a dozen - une douzaine. Note that in French, dizaines, or “tens,” are actually more commonly used than “dozens.”

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Translate to French:

The man is old

L’homme est vieux

old - vieux. Note that the feminine form is vieille, and that when vieux precedes a masculine noun starting with a vowel, it becomes vieil.

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The book is short

Le livre est court

short - court. Note that court is not used to describe a person’s physical height. To do that, use petit.

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It’s a fun day

C’est une journée amusante

fun - amusant

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My family is big

Ma famille est grande

a family - une famille

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My brother is tall

Mon frère est grand

a brother - un frère

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My sister is beautiful

Ma soeur est belle

a sister - une soeur

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His son is six years old

Son fils a six ans

a son - un fils

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Her daughter’s name is Anne

Sa fille s’appelle Anne

a daughter - une fille. Note that this is the same word for “girl.”

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My mother is intelligent

Ma mère est intelligente

a mother - une mère. Note that maman means “mom.”

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My father is forty-eight years old

Mon père a quarante-huit ans

a father - un père. Note that papa is used to say “dad.”

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My grandmother is old

Ma grand-mère est vieille

a grandmother - une grand-mère

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My grandfather is Italian

Mon grand-père est italien

a grandfather - un grand-père

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My grandfather is an octogenarian

Mon grand-père est octogénaire

an octogenarian - un octogénaire

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Today is my older brother’s birthday

Aujourd’hui c’est l’anniversaire de mon frère aîné

older - aîné. Aîné is a special adjective that applies only to the relative age of individuals. L’aîné can also be a noun, in which case it means “the oldest.”

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She’s my younger sister

C’est ma petite soeur

younger (sibling) - petit(e) (frère/soeur). Note that you can also refer to a younger sibling as a frère/soeur cadet(te).

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His grandson is very rich because he is always working

Son petit-fils est très riche parce qu’il travaille toujours

a grandson - un petit-fils. Note that “granddaughter” is petite-fille, while “grandchildren” is petits-enfants.

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My grandmother is content when(ever) she is at the retirement home

Ma grand-mère est contente quand elle est à la maison de retraite

a retirement home - une maison de retraite. Note how quand is used here to essentially mean “whenever” rather than simply “when.”

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Paul is a resident of the retirement home

Paul est habitant de la maison de retraite

an inhabitant, a resident - un habitant

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His parents are American

Ses parents sont américains

a parent - un parent

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My aunt is short

Ma tante est petite

an aunt - une tante. Recall that a physically short person should be described with petit, not court.

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Is his uncle smart?

Son oncle est-il intelligent?

an uncle - un oncle

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My cousin is fourteen years old

Mon cousin a quatorze ans

a cousin - un cousin

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My nephew is the son of my sister

Mon neveu est le fils de ma soeur

a nephew - un neveu

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His niece is the daughter of his sister

Sa nièce est la fille de sa soeur

a niece - une nièce

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My niece has short hair

Ma nièce a des cheveux courts

hair - les cheveux. Note how this is a plural noun. Note also that the partitive article des must be used when describing someone’s hair. This sentence literally translates as “My niece has some short hairs.”

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Can I speak now?

Est-ce que je peux parler maintenant?

now - maintenant

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I am coming at noon

Je viens à midi

to come - venir. Note that venir is an irregular verb. It’s often used to express one’s origin. For example, Je viens de Paris means “I am from (I come from) Paris.”

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I am in the mood to cook

J’ai envie de cuisiner

to want, to be in the mood for - avoir envie de. Note that this literally translates as “to have desire to.”

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I need to eat

J’ai besoin de manger

to need - avoir besoin de

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Conjugate the verb venir in the present tense.

je viens
tu viens
il/elle/on vient
nous venons
vous venez
ils/elles viennent

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I am putting the money on the table

Je mets l’argent sur la table

to put - mettre. This is an irregular verb. Its conjugations in the present are: je mets, tu mets, il/elle/on met, nous mettons, vous mettez, ils/elles mettent.

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This middle school is gorgeous

Ce collège est magnifique

this/these - ce(tte)/ces. These are demonstrative adjectives. In the feminine form, ce becomes cette, but the plural form ces applies to both genders. The masculine singular ce becomes cet before a vowel sound: cet étudiant.

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This (here) is very important

Ceci est très important

this (here) - ceci

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I like that (over there)

J’aime cela

that (over there) - cela

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This is fantastic!

Ça, c’est fantastique!

this/that - ça. Note that ça can serve as an informal or abstract replacement for both ceci (“this”) and cela (“that”).

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What is that/it?

Qu’est-ce que c’est?

What is that/it? - Qu’est-ce que c’est? Another way of saying “What is that?” is C’est quoi, ça?

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Do you see this house?

Est-ce que tu vois cette maison?

to see - voir. Note the feminine demonstrative adjective cette, since maison is feminine.

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Conjugate the verb voir in the present tense.

je vois
tu vois
il/elle/on voit
nous voyons
vous voyez
ils/elles voient

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There are two high schools

Il y a deux lycées

there is, there are - il y a. Note that in French, there is no difference between “there is” and “there are.”

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There is a big dinner tonight

Il y a un grand dîner ce soir

tonight - ce soir. Note that this literally translates as “this evening.”

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What is happening?

Qu’est-ce qui se passe?

to happen, to take place - se passer. Note that this verb is reflexive and requires the se pronoun, which we will see a lot of elsewhere.

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What’s the matter?

Qu’est-ce qu’il y a?

What’s the matter? - Qu’est-ce qu’il y a? Note that this literally translates as “What is there?” You could also use Qu’est-ce qui se passe? – “What is going on/happening?”

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Translate to French:

Nothing works

Rien ne marche

nothing… - rien ne… Note how in this construction, rien serves as the subject. The negative ne must still be used before the verb, however.

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This is a boring situation

Ça c’est une situation ennuyeuse

boring - ennuyeux. Note that situation is a feminine noun.

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There is a problem

Il y a un problème

a problem - un problème

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This side of the car is ugly

Ce côté de la voiture est moche

a side - un côté

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It’s my turn to cook

C’est à mon tour de cuisiner

a turn - un tour. Note that this only applies to one’s turn in a game or sequence of events. A turn while driving, as in “a change of direction,” is un virage.

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This pizza costs three euros

Cette pizza coûte trois euros

to cost - coûter

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How much does it cost?

Ça coûte combien?

How much does it cost? - Ça coûte combien? Note that you could also go with the inverse: Combien ça coûte?

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This guitar is very expensive

Cette guitare coûte très cher

expensive - cher. Note that cher also means “dear.” To say that something is expensive, you literally say “to cost dear” – coûter cher. The feminine form of cher is chère, but the masculine form is used here because the word is used as an adverb, not as an adjective.

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Who is he? A dear friend

Qui est-il? Un cher ami

dear - cher. Note how cher takes on this meaning when placed before a noun. Placed after a noun, it means “expensive”: une table chère means “an expensive table.”

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The book costs six dollars

Le livre coûte six dollars

a dollar - un dollar. Note that “a euro” is also masculine: un euro.

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My uncle is buying this boat

Mon oncle achète ce bateau

to buy - acheter. This verb is conjugated in the present as follows: j’achète, tu achètes, il/elle/on achète, nous achetons, vous achetez, ils/elles achètent.

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The boat costs more than the car

Le bateau coûte plus que la voiture

more than - plus que

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Julien is shorter than Marc

Julien est moins grand que Marc

less than - moins que. Note that there is no word for “shorter” in French. The construction moins que is used to denote inferiority in a comparative relationship. Most comparatives are constructed this way, with few exceptions.

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He is becoming (getting) big

Il devient grand

to become - devenir

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This book is written by my mother

Ce livre est écrit par ma mère

by - par. Here, the past participle of écrire is used as an adjective.

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These pizzas cost 10 euros each

Ces pizzas coûtent 10 euros chacune

each (one), every (one), all of the - chacun (de/des). Note the use here of the feminine form of chacun to agree with the feminine noun pizza. This pronoun can also mean “each person,” or chaque personne.

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The boys each eat in turn

Les garçons mangent chacun à leur tour

Note how the plural subject is modified by chacun here. The possessive adjective (leur) agrees with the subject.

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They each have their book

Ils ont chacun leur livre

Note the agreement between the possessive adjective and the subject.

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This ship is the largest

Ce bateau est le plus grand

superlative - le/la/les plus ___. Note the struture of superlatives in French: le/la/les plus + adjective.

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There are approximately 200 students inside the school

Il y a environ 200 élèves dans l’école

approximately - environ. The expression à peu près can work as an alternative to this adverb.

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It is a quarter past four

Il est quatre heures et quart

a quarter past - et quart. Note that to say “a quarter to four,” you would say Il est quatre heures moins le quart.

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It is ten to four

Il est quatre heures moins dix

___ to an hour (time) - moins ___. Note that you could also say Il est trois heures cinquante.

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Pierre is as intelligent as Paul

Pierre est aussi intelligent que Paul

as ___ as (comparison) - aussi ___ que. The construction aussi que is used to denote equality between things or people.

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Marie studies as much as Claire does

Marie étudie autant que Claire

as much/many as - autant que

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I am the best student in school

Je suis le meilleur élève de l’école

the best (adj.) - le meilleur. Le meilleur is the irregular superlative form of the adjective bon. Its spelling can change depending on the number and gender of the noun. Note that you could also say Je suis l’élève le plus intelligent de l’école.

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I am better than Alice

Je suis meilleur qu’Alice

better (than) (adj.) - meilleur (que). This is the irregular comparative form of the adjective bon.

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I play basketball better than Marc

Je joue au basket mieux que Marc

better (than) (adv.) - mieux (que). Mieux is the irregular comparative form of the adverb bien. Its spelling is invariable. Also recall that à le must be replaced with au.

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I write the best

J’écris le mieux

the best (adv.) - le mieux. This is the irregular superlative form of the adverb bien.

Explain the differences between meilleur and mieux.

They are irregular comparative/superlative forms. Meilleur applies to the adjective bon, while mieux applies to the adverb bien. When comparing nouns, use meilleur; when modifying verbs, use mieux.

In the comparative, both words are used by themselves, while in the superlative, they are preceded by the appropriate definite article.

The spelling of meilleur can change depending on the number and gender of the noun, while mieux is invariable.

Provide the comparative and superlative forms of the following: C’est une bonne pizza (It’s a good pizza)

Comparative: C’est une meilleure pizza (It’s a better pizza)

Superlative: C’est la meilleure pizza (It’s the best pizza)

Provide the comparative and superlative forms of the following: Tu chantes bien (You sing well)

Comparative: Tu chantes mieux (You sing better)

Superlative: Tu chantes le mieux (You sing the best)

Translate to French:

This book is worse than my book

Ce livre est pire que mon livre

worse (than) (adj.) - pire (que). This is the irregular comparative form of the adjective mauvais. You can also use the regular form plus mauvais (que).

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It’s the worst airplane

C’est le pire avion

the worst (adj.) - le pire. This is the irregular superlative form of the adjective mauvais. You can also use the regular form le plus mauvais.

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Jean-Luc sings worse than Anne

Jean-Luc chante plus mal qu’Anne

worse (than) (adv.) - plus mal (que), pis (que). These are the comparative forms of the adverb mal, the first of which is regular and the second of which is irregular.

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Jean-Luc sings the worst

Jean-Luc chante le plus mal

the worst (adv.) - le plus mal, le pis. These are the superlative forms of the adverb mal. Le plus mal is regular. Le pis, which is irregular, can only be used as a noun.

“pis” is old French for “pire”

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She is like my mother

Elle est comme ma mère

like, as - comme

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Like father, like son

Tel père, tel fils

such, like, such as - tel. Tel is frequently used to form similes in French. It must agree with the noun that it modifies. Its feminine singular form is telle.

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Any person can gain weight

Telle personne peut grossir

any, anyone, someone - tel (de). When followed by the preposition de, tel means “any of.”

As an indefinite adjective, tel indicates undesignated people or things. In this sense, tel is more or less equivalent to n’importe.

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Do you prefer pizza or ice cream?

Préférez-vous la pizza ou la glace?

to prefer - préférer. Note that you can also use the expression aimer mieux, which translates to “like better.”

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Basketball is my favorite sport

Le basket c’est mon sport préféré

preferred, favorite - préféré. It is possible to say favori as well as préféré, but the latter is much more common.

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I have several friends at school

J’ai plusieurs amis à l’école

several - plusieurs

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We have a few teachers at school

Nous avons quelques enseignants à l’école

some, a few - quelques

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There are many things in this house

Il y a beaucoup de choses dans cette maison

a thing - une chose. Note that an informal alternative is un truc.

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You want something?

Tu veux quelque chose?

something - quelque chose. Note that, as in English, quelque chose literally translates as “some thing.”

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You see something. Now you see nothing

Tu vois quelque chose. Maintenant tu ne vois rien

Note how ne… rien serves as the negative replacement for quelque chose.

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I have a few friends but not a lot

J’ai quelques amis mais pas beaucoup

not many, not a lot - pas beaucoup. Note that pas beaucoup can also be used with a verb, as in the sentence “He does not eat a lot.” Here, pas beaucoup would need to be used with ne in order to create a negative sentence – Il ne mange pas beaucoup.

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There are no books

Il n’y a pas de livres

Note the negative form of il y a, il n’y a pas.

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There aren’t enough snacks

Il n’y a pas assez d’encas

enough - assez. Note that suffisamment is an alternative for “enough.” Also note that if an adverb of quantity is followed by a noun, the preposition de must be placed between the adverb and the noun: assez + de + noun.

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His nephew is rather/quite cool

Son neveu est assez sympa

rather, quite - assez. On top of meaning “enough,” assez can also be used to mean “rather” or “quite,” or even “very” and “particularly.”

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I just want to succeed!

Je veux juste réussir!

just - juste. An alternative is seulement, meaning “only.” As in English, juste can be an adjective meaning “fair” or “equitable.” In this case, its opposite is injuste, “unfair” or “unjust.”

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That’s a large pen

Ça c’est un grand stylo

a pen - un stylo

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The student has a pencil

L’élève a un crayon

a pencil - un crayon

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He needs some glue

Il a besoin de la colle

glue - la colle

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Can you see the chalkboard?

Est-ce que tu peux voir le tableau?

a (chalk)board - un tableau. This noun can also mean “table” or “chart.”

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Where is the ugly armchair?

Où est le fauteuil moche?

an armchair - un fauteuil

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Do we have a stapler?

Avons-nous une agrafeuse?

a stapler - une agrafeuse

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The classroom is big

La salle est grande

a classroom - une salle (de classe)

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My favorite subject at school is history

Mon sujet préféré à l’école est l’histoire

history - l’histoire. This is a feminine word. Sujet, “subject,” is a masculine noun. French tends to add a definite article (le/la) before broad and generalized concepts, such as history, languages, virtues, and forms of government.

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English is easy!

L’anglais est facile!

English - l’anglais

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That’s a good story

C’est une bonne histoire

a story - une histoire. Recall that this word also means “history.” The verb “to tell,” as in “to tell a story,” is raconter: raconter une histoire.

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The story is complicated

L’histoire est compliquée

complicated - compliqué. Note the use of the feminine form here.

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Which pencil do you want? The one that is big

Quel crayon veux-tu? Celui qui est grand

the one(s) who/that - celui/celle/ceux/celles qui. Celui, celle, ceux, and celles are demonstrative pronouns.

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This one (here) is the most expensive

Celui-ci est le plus cher

this one (here) - celui-ci/celle-ci. Note that celui-là/celle-là can be used to say “that one (there).”

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Which of these books is his book?

Lequel de ces livres est son livre?

which (one/ones) - lequel/laquelle/lesquels. These are generally used to mean “which (of these)” when placed at the start of a question. Note that these are compound words that combine the definite articles with quel. Both parts of the compound word must agree with the gender and number of the noun being modified.

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The house in which I sleep is beautiful

La maison dans laquelle je dors est belle

which - lequel/laquelle/lesquels. These words are used whenever “which” follows a preposition in English. For example, the phrase “for which” would be translated as pour lequel.

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He is thinking about me

Il pense à moi

me - moi. Moi is a stressed (or disjunctive) pronoun. We will learn more about these elsewhere. Recall that penser à means “to think about.”

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Everyone wants to eat

Tout le monde veut manger

everyone, everybody - tout le monde. Note that this would literally translate as “all the world.”

Translate to French:

one hundred, two hundred, three hundred, four hundred, five hundred, etc.

cent, deux-cents, trois-cents, quatre-cents, cinq-cents, etc.

The use of dashes in hundreds is optional, but has recently become more common. When cent and vingt are multiplied, they become plural: 200 = deux cents. However, when followed by another number, they are singular: 213 = deux cent treize.

Translate to French:

That costs several hundred euros

Ça coûte plusieurs centaines d’euros

hundred(s) - centaine(s). This is a feminine term. The French here translates more directly to “That costs several hundreds of euros.”

Translate to French:

one thousand, two thousand, three thousand, four thousand, etc.

mille, deux mille, trois mille, quatre mille, etc.

Note that mille is always singular. To express “(many) thousands of” something, you would typically use des milliers de.

Translate to French:

This car costs five hundred thousand dollars!

Cette voiture coûte cinq cent mille dollars!

Note that the formation of higher numbers is largely intuitive. As another example, 1500 would be mille cinq cents.

Translate to French:

one million, two million, three million, etc.

un million, deux millions, trois millions, etc.

Note that un million must take de before a noun: “one million cars” – un million de voitures. However: “two million cars” – deux millions voitures.

Translate to French:

one billion, two billion, three billion, etc.

un milliard, deux milliards, trois milliards, etc.

Note that un milliard must take de before a noun: “one billion houses” – un milliard de maisons. However: “two billion houses” – deux milliards maisons.

Translate to French:

Marc is a millionaire

Marc est millionnaire

a millionaire - un millionnaire. This is an invariable noun.

Translate to French:

Lucy is a billionaire

Lucy est milliardaire

a billionaire - un milliardaire. This is an invariable noun in that its spelling does not change, but it is feminine here because of Lucy’s gender.

Translate to French:

Some houses cost a million dollars

Certaines maisons coûtent un million de dollars

certain, some - certain(s). Note that certain can also mean “certain,” as in “inevitable” or “confident.”

Translate to French:

I am at Jordan’s house

Je suis chez Jordan

house (of someone) - chez. To refer to a specific person’s house or place of business, chez is used to indicate possession. Chez can also be used figuratively to mean “in someone’s work.” For instance, chez cet auteur means “in this author’s work.”

Translate to French:

Is she at Jean-Marc’s? Maybe

Est-elle chez Jean-Marc? Peut-être

maybe, perhaps - peut-être

Translate to French:

Is there someone at Paul’s house?

Est-ce qu’il y a quelqu’un chez Paul?

someone - quelqu’un. Note that quelqu’un can also be used to say “anyone.”

Translate to French:

First, I go to school

D’abord, je vais à l’école

(at) first - d’abord. D’abord is used to indicate the first in a series of events.

Translate to French:

Then, I go to history class

Ensuite, je vais en classe d’histoire

next, then - ensuite, puis. Both of these words are interchangeable, with the exception that ensuite can sometimes also mean “later.”

Translate to French:

They are taking a class

Ils suivent un cours

to take a class - suivre un cours. Note that suivre means “to follow.” To specify the kind of class, add de: Tu suis un cours d’anglais means “You’re taking an English class.”

Translate to French:

I want your pencil. I also want ten dollars

Je veux ton crayon. Je veux également dix dollars

also, equally - également

Translate to French:

Is this woman really bright?

Cette femme est-elle vraiment brillante?

really, truly - vraiment. Note that vraiment is formed from the adjective vrai, meaning “true.”

Translate to French:

Is it expensive? Probably

Ça coûte cher? Probablement

probably - probablement

Translate to French:

Her nephew is surely coming

Son neveu vient sûrement

surely - sûrement. Note that sûrement is a stronger synonym of probablement.

Translate to French:

My brother is possibly at Marie’s house

Mon frère est possiblement chez Marie

possibly - possiblement

Translate to French:

The professor is potentially coming

Le professeur vient éventuellement

potentially - éventuellement. Note that éventuellement is a false cognate and does not actually mean “eventually.” It is a synonym of possiblement and is used to suggest that something might happen depending on the circumstances.

Translate to French:

I think, therefore I am

Je pense, donc je suis

therefore, thus, so - donc. Keep in mind that donc can also mean “then” or “in that case.”

Translate to French:

I have money, so I can buy a snack

J’ai de l’argent, ainsi je peux acheter un encas

so, therefore, thus - ainsi. Note that you could use donc here. Note also that ainsi can be used to mean “like that” or “this way.” For example, c’est ainsi essentially translates to “that’s the way it is.”

Translate to French:

His classmates are mean, so he’s sad

Ses camarades de classe sont méchants, alors il est triste

so, then, in that case - alors

Translate to French:

Well, what’s happening?

Alors, qu’est-ce qui se passe?

so, well - alors. Alors is commonly used this way in spoken French, usually to begin sentences.

Translate to French:

Finally, I’m going home

Finalement, je rentre à la maison

finally - finalement. Recall that enfin could also work here.

Translate to French:

He is currently richer than Marie

Il est actuellement plus riche que Marie

currently - actuellement. Note that this word does not translate into English as “actually.” Actuellement is one of the most common false cognates that you will encounter in French.

Translate to French:

You think that he’s wrong, but actually, he’s right

Tu penses qu’il a tort, mais en fait il a raison

actually, in fact - en fait. You could also say en réalité.

Translate to French:

Today’s lesson is great!

La leçon d’aujourd’hui est géniale!

a lesson - une leçon

Translate to French:

I have a math exam today

J’ai un examen de mathématiques aujourd’hui

an exam - un examen

Translate to French:

Why does she not want to pass her exam?

Pourquoi ne veut-elle pas réussir son examen?

to pass an exam - réussir un examen. Note that it would be wrong to say passer un examen.

Translate to French:

This history quiz is easy

Cette interro d’histoire est facile

a quiz - une interro(gation). The abbreviated form interro is used more frequently than interrogation.

Translate to French:

I am trying to learn the lesson

J’essaie d’apprendre la leçon

to try - essayer. Note that this verb should be followed by the preposition de.

Conjugate the verb essayer in the present tense.

j’essaie
tu essaies
il/elle/on essaie
nous essayons
vous essayez
ils/elles essaient

This verb can also be conjugated this way: j’essaye, tu essayes, il/elle/on essaye, nous essayons, vous essayez, ils/elles essayent. Both are correct.

Translate to French:

The professor ends the lesson

Le professeur termine la leçon

to end - terminer. Note that terminer is a synonym of finir and can mean both “to finish” or “to reach the end of” something.

Translate to French:

Jean stops his studies

Jean arrête ses études

to stop - arrêter. This verb applies to the cessation of an activity. Another form, the reflexive s’arrêter, applies to movement. Also note the feminine word for “studies,” études.

Translate to French:

I know that lunch is at noon

Je sais que le déjeuner est à midi

to know - savoir. Note that savoir is used to denote knowing how to do things as well as knowing facts. It can easily be confused with another French verb, connaître, which has a slightly different meaning.

Conjugate the verb savoir (to know) in the present tense.

je sais
tu sais
il/elle/on sait
nous savons
vous savez
ils/elles savent

Note the very useful phrase je ne sais pas – “I don’t know.”

Translate to French:

Her aunt knows Jean

Sa tante connaît Jean

to know, to meet - connaître. Connaître is used to indicate that you know someone, or that you know or are familiar with something. Another example: je connais ce livre – “I know this book (I am familiar with it).”

Conjugate the verb connaître (to know, to meet) in the present tense.

je connais
tu connais
il/elle/on connaît
nous connaissons
vous connaissez
ils/elles connaissent

Translate to French:

I know how to play basketball

Je sais jouer au basket

Note the construction savoir + infinitive: “to know how to ___.” Comment, “how,” is not needed.

Translate to French:

She has the best idea

Elle a la meilleure idée

an idea - une idée. Note the added “e” at the end of meilleure, since idée is a feminine noun.

Translate to French:

Marie’s children are adorable

Les enfants de Marie sont adorables

adorable - adorable

Translate to French:

I’m always tired when I come home from school

Je suis toujours fatigué quand je rentre de l’école

tired - fatigué. Recall that adjectives must agree in number and gender with the nouns they modify, so if a girl said this sentence, it would be fatiguée.

Translate to French:

Your grandpa is angry

Ton grand-père est fâché

angry - fâché. This adjective is formed from the past participle of the verb fâcher, “to anger.”

Translate to French:

I have a gift for my niece

J’ai un cadeau pour ma nièce

a gift, a present - un cadeau

Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Lesson 3 Flashcards

This deck covers demonstrative adjectives and pronouns, as well as school and family words. You will also learn about telling time, comparatives and superlatives, the construction "il y a," and the expressions "avoir besoin de" and "avoir envie de."

Brainscape's Knowledge Genome^TM