Lesson 6 Flashcards
This deck presents the basic past tense, called "le passé composé." It also covers days, months, and dates, as well as the passive voice and the causative usage of "faire."
1
Q
Translate to French:
What day is it?
A
Quel jour sommes-nous?
What day is it? - Quel jour sommes-nous? Literally, this means “What day are we?”
2
Q
Translate to French:
Monday is the worst day of the week
A
Le lundi est le pire jour de la semaine
Monday - lundi. Note that if you are not referring to a specific day (a specific Monday), but to the day in general, you must put le before the day.
3
Q
Translate to French:
I have a test on Tuesday
A
J’ai un examen mardi
Tuesday - mardi. When referring to a specific Tuesday, you do not need to use an article.
4
Q
Translate to French:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday
A
lundi, mardi, mercredi, jeudi, vendredi, samedi, dimanche
Note that days are not capitalized in French.
5
Q
Translate to French:
I am fifteen years old
A
J’ai quinze ans
a year - un an. Recall that when dealing with age, you must use the verb avoir instead of être.
6
Q
Translate to French:
We will play sports all year
A
Nous allons faire du sport pendant toute l’année
a year (duration) - une année. Année is used instead of an when emphasizing duration rather than a division or amount of time. This is similar to the difference between jour and journée.
7
Q
Translate to French:
I’ve been in Paris for two years
A
Voilà deux ans que je suis à Paris
When choosing between the basic time words an, jour, soir, matin and their feminine counterparts année, journée, soirée, matinée, note that the former should generally be used with numbers. One exception is when you are describing duration: pendant toute la journée.
8
Q
Translate to French:
The school (scholastic/academic) year is difficult
A
L’année scolaire est difficile
When choosing between the basic time words an, jour, soir, matin and their feminine counterparts année, journée, soirée, matinée, note that the latter should generally be used with adjectives.
9
Q
Translate to French:
When does he leave? He leaves in three months
A
Quand est-ce qu’il part? Il part dans trois mois
a month - un mois. Note how you can ask questions by placing any question word (quand in this case) in front of est-ce que.
10
Q
Translate to French:
It’s always cold in January
A
Il fait toujours froid en janvier
January - janvier. Note that months are never capitalized and are used with the preposition en. En is used with months, years, and seasons to describe when something takes place.
11
Q
Translate to French:
February is the shortest month of the year
A
Le mois de février est le mois le plus court de l’année
February - février. Note that you could also begin the sentence Février est le mois…
12
Q
Translate to French:
My uncle’s birthday is in March
A
L’anniversaire de mon oncle est en mars
March - mars
13
Q
Translate to French:
January, February, March, April, May, June, July, August, September, October, November, December
A
janvier, février, mars, avril, mai, juin, juillet, août, septembre, octobre, novembre, décembre
14
Q
Translate to French:
I have an appointment with Claude next week
A
J’ai un rendez-vous avec Claude la semaine prochaine
an appointment - un rendez-vous. Note that this can also mean “meeting place.”
15
Q
Translate to French:
Are they going to return today?
A
Vont-ils retourner aujourd’hui?
to return - retourner. Note that both revenir and rentrer could also work here. All three verbs essentially mean “to return,” although there are slight differences between them: retourner is best translated as “to go back,” revenir as “to come back,” and rentrer as “to come/go home.”
16
Q
How do you form the basic past tense in French?
A
(present tense of) auxiliary verb + past participle
The past tense (called the passé composé) is a compound tense. It’s created with the present tense of an auxiliary verb – either avoir or, less commonly, être. This verb is then followed by the past participle of the main verb. For instance: il a chanté – “he sang.”
17
Q
How do you form past participles in French?
A
For regular verbs, the past participle is formed by dropping the infinitive ending and replacing it with é, i, or u.
For instance, the past participle of chanter is chanté.
18
Q
Translate to French:
Today, I played basketball
A
Aujourd’hui, j’ai joué au basket
Note the past tense of jouer, which takes the auxiliary verb avoir. Avoir is first conjugated in the first-person singular of the present (to agree with the subject), then followed by the past participle of the main verb, jouer. The past participles of regular -ER verbs are formed by removing the infinitive ending and adding é.
19
Q
Translate to French:
Then, Maxine spoke
A
Ensuite, Maxine a parlé
20
Q
Translate to French:
This morning, Carl watched TV
A
Ce matin, Carl a regardé la télé
21
Q
Translate to French:
We finished our work
A
Nous avons fini notre travail
The past participles of regular -IR verbs are formed by removing the infinitive ending and adding i.
22
Q
Translate to French:
We did not finish our work
A
Nous n’avons pas fini notre travail
Note the use of negation here: the ne… pas construction is used with the auxiliary verb, before the past participle.
23
Q
Translate to French:
The boys heard their aunt
A
Les garçons ont entendu leur tante
The past participles of regular -RE verbs are formed by removing the infinitive ending and adding u.
24
Q
Translate to French:
I saw something weird
A
J’ai vu quelque chose d’étrange
Recall that voir is an irregular French verb, and thus also has an irregular past participle, vu.
25
# Translate to French:
I saw _nothing_
Je *_n'_*ai _rien_ vu
## Footnote
Note the use of *rien* here. It comes after the conjugated auxiliary verb and before the participle.
26
# Translate to French:
_Have you seen_ this new television series?
_As-tu vu_ cette nouvelle série télé?
## Footnote
Note that the subject and the auxiliary verb are inverted when asking a question in the *passé composé*. Also note that there is no distinction between "did you see" and "have you seen" in French.
27
# Translate to French:
Julie is _addicted to_ this new song
Julie est _accro à_ cette nouvelle chanson
## Footnote
addicted to - *accro à*. *Accro* is an informal, shortened form of the adjective *accroché*, formed from the past participle of *accrocher*, "to hang (up)." *Chanson* is a feminine noun.
28
What is the difference between transitive and intransitive verbs?
Transitive verbs are action verbs that have a direct object, whereas intransitive verbs don't have objects. "I ate cake" (transitive) vs. "I arrived" (intransitive)
29
How do you choose between the two French auxiliary verbs?
Most verbs use *avoir* as their auxiliary verb. Verbs that use *être* are typically intransitive verbs that denote movement -- *aller, venir, partir, sortir, arriver, etc.*
30
What should you pay close attention to when using *être* as an auxiliary verb in compound tenses?
When used with *être*, the participle has to agree in gender and number with the subject. This is not true for verbs conjugated with the auxiliary verb *avoir* (with the exception of some rare cases that you will learn about elsewhere).
## Footnote
For example, "she went" is *elle est allée* (with the extra "e").
31
# Translate to French:
Marie _went_ to the concert on Friday night
Marie _est allée_ au concert vendredi soir
## Footnote
*Aller* takes the auxiliary verb *être* instead of *avoir*. The past participle always agrees in gender and number with the subject when *être* is the auxiliary verb. In this case, the past participle *allé* takes an extra "e" because Marie is a girl.
32
# Translate to French:
I came home _yesterday_
Je suis revenu chez moi _hier_
## Footnote
yesterday - *hier*. Note that *revenir* has an irregular past participle, and that it takes *être* as its auxiliary verb. Alternatively, you could say *Je suis rentré hier*.
33
# Translate to French:
I _was born_ in June
Je _suis né_ au mois de juin
## Footnote
to be born - *naître*. Note that *naître* has an irregular past participle and takes *être* as its auxiliary verb. When referring to a specific month, it is common to say *au mois de...* However, *en juin* would also work fine here.
34
# Translate to French:
There are four _seasons_
Il y a quatre _saisons_
## Footnote
a season - *une saison*
35
# Translate to French:
He is learning to like the differences _between_ the seasons
Il apprend à aimer les différences _entre_ les saisons
## Footnote
between - *entre*. Note that *différence* is a feminine noun.
36
# Translate to French:
Julia went back to school in the _fall_
Julia est rentrée à l'école en _automne_
## Footnote
fall, autumn - *l'automne*. Note the use of *être* as the auxiliary verb for *rentrer*. Also note how the past participle takes an extra "e" because of the subject's gender.
37
# Translate to French:
When _did you guys arrive_ in France?
Quand _êtes-vous arrivés_ en France?
## Footnote
*Arriver* takes the auxiliary verb *être* in compound tenses. Also note how the past participle agrees in number with the subject.
38
# Translate to French:
We _entered_ the living room
Nous _sommes entrés_ dans le salon
## Footnote
As a verb of movement with a direct object, *entrer* takes *être* as its auxiliary verb. As a result, the past participle agrees with the subject.
39
# Translate to French:
Yesterday I _reflected a lot_ on my homework
Hier j'_ai beaucoup réfléchi_ à mes devoirs
## Footnote
Note the placement of the adverb *beaucoup* here. In compound tenses, most short adverbs immediately follow the conjugated (auxiliary) verb but precede the participle.
40
# Translate to French:
I _already_ listened to the radio
J'ai _déjà_ écouté la radio
## Footnote
already - *déjà*. Note the placement of this adverb between the auxiliary verb and the past participle.
41
# Translate to French:
He already _organized_ this meeting
Il _a_ déjà _organisé_ ce meeting
## Footnote
to organize - *organiser*. The masculine noun *meeting* obviously comes from English. An alternative would be the feminine noun *réunion*.
42
# Translate to French:
He _was able to finish_ his work
Il _a pu finir_ son travail
## Footnote
Note the past participle of *pouvoir*, *pu*. Also note the use of the complementary infinitive right after the conjugated verb.
43
# Translate to French:
Did you _put_ the book in my room?
_As-tu mis_ le livre dans ma chambre?
## Footnote
Note the past participle of *mettre*, *mis*.
44
# Translate to French:
He is _filling out_ the form now
Il _remplit_ le formulaire maintenant
## Footnote
to fill (out) - *remplir*. Note that the word *formulaire* is masculine.
45
# Translate to French:
I studied a lot _last week_
J'ai beaucoup étudié _la semaine dernière_
## Footnote
last week - *la semaine dernière*. In compound tenses, longer phrases like *la semaine dernière* get placed after the main verb, as opposed to shorter adverbs like *déjà* or *beaucoup*, which get placed between the auxiliary verb and the main verb.
46
# Translate to French:
Albert is the man who I saw _previously_
Albert est l'homme que j'ai vu _précédemment_
## Footnote
previously - *précédemment*. An alternative would be *auparavant*. Also note how *que* is used (not *qui*) since you're really saying "the man that I saw."
47
# Translate to French:
I reflected _for a long time_ on this problem
J'ai _longtemps_ réfléchi à ce problème
## Footnote
(for) a long time - *longtemps*. Note the use of *réfléchir à*, meaning "to reflect on" or "to think about."
48
# Translate to French:
I _left_ the book at the café
J'_ai laissé_ le livre au café
## Footnote
to leave (behind) - *laisser*
49
# Translate to French:
I haven't seen my sister _yet_ today
Je n'ai pas _encore_ vu ma soeur aujourd'hui
## Footnote
yet - *encore*. As with other short adverbs, *encore* is placed between the auxiliary verb and the main verb in the past tense. The negative *ne... pas* construction is used with the auxiliary verb, not with the past participle.
50
# Translate to French:
He has _completely_ finished the book
Il a _complètement_ fini le livre
## Footnote
completely - *complètement*. This adverb is formed from the adjective *complet*, meaning "full" or "complete."
51
# Translate to French:
His life is _completely_ different now
Sa vie est _tout à fait_ différente maintenant
## Footnote
altogether, completely, quite - *tout à fait*. Used here as an adverbial phrase, the expression *tout à fait* can also be used as an interjection to indicate strong agreement.
52
# Translate to French:
_The winter_ was very cold
_L'hiver_ a été très froid
## Footnote
winter - *l'hiver*. Note the past tense of *être*, which takes *avoir* as its auxiliary verb.
53
# Translate to French:
I love the _summer_!
J'adore _l'été_!
## Footnote
summer - *l'été*. Note that the seasons take the preposition *en*: *en été* -- "in (the) summer."
54
# Translate to French:
April is the first full month of _spring_
Avril est le premier mois complet du _printemps_
## Footnote
spring - *le printemps*. Note that you could use *entier* instead of *complet*. Also note that *printemps* is the only season that takes *au* instead of *en*: *au printemps* -- "in (the) spring."
55
# Translate to French:
Isn't Jean's mom already very _proud_ of her children?
La mère de Jean n'est-elle pas déjà très _fière_ de ses enfants?
## Footnote
proud - *fier*. Note the feminine form of this adjective, as well as the construction *fier de* to mean "proud of."
56
# Translate to French:
_Christmas_ is in December
_Noël_ est en décembre
## Footnote
Christmas - *Noël*. Note that there is no *le* before *Noël*.
57
# Translate to French:
They came home at 9 o'clock on _Wednesday, February 27th, 2013_
Ils sont revenus à neuf heures _le mercredi vingt-sept février, deux mille treize_
58
# Translate to French:
Today is December 16, 2013
Aujourd'hui, c'est le 16 décembre 2013
59
# Translate to French:
I was born 22 years _ago_
Je suis né _il y a_ vingt-deux ans
## Footnote
ago - *il y a*. Recall that *il y a* can mean "there is" or "there are." When followed by a period of time, however, it means "ago."
60
# Translate to French:
Marie's boyfriend is beautiful, _isn't he_?
Le petit ami de Marie est beau, _n'est-ce pas_?
## Footnote
isn't it/aren't you? - *n'est-ce pas?* This expression is added to the ends of statements to make them yes or no questions. Its equivalents in English would be "no?" or "right?" An informal French alternative is *non?*
61
# Translate to French:
_Sometimes_, Julie plays with her nephew
_Parfois_, Julie joue avec son neveu
## Footnote
sometimes - *parfois*. Note that this adverb has several synonyms, including *de temps en temps* and *quelquefois*.
62
# Translate to French:
I _got off_ the bus
Je _suis descendu_ du bus
## Footnote
Note that *descendre* is typically followed by *de* + a noun. Note also that *descendre* takes the auxiliary verb *être*.
63
# Translate to French:
He _went down_ the stairs
Il _a descendu_ les escaliers
## Footnote
*Descendre* normally uses *être* as its auxiliary verb. However, if it takes a direct object, *avoir* becomes its auxiliary verb. Used like this, it means "to take something down" or "to go down something."
64
# Translate to French:
Pierre _got on_ the train
Pierre _est monté_ dans le train
## Footnote
Note that *monter* normally uses *être* as its auxiliary verb.
65
# Translate to French:
He _climbed/went up_ the stairs
Il _a monté_ l'escalier
## Footnote
*Monter* normally uses *être* as its auxiliary verb, but when it takes a direct object, it uses *avoir* instead. Used this way, it means "to go up something" or "to take something up."
66
# Translate to French:
They _came back_ at 10 o'clock
Ils _sont rentrés_ à dix heures
## Footnote
As an intransitive verb of movement, *rentrer* uses *être* as its auxiliary verb.
67
# Translate to French:
He _brought_ the pencils _back (inside)_
Il _a rentré_ les crayons
## Footnote
*Rentrer* usually takes *être* as its auxiliary verb, but if it has a direct object, it uses *avoir* instead. Used this way, it means "to return something." So here you are essentially saying "He returned the pencils."
68
# Translate to French:
He _entered_ the data
Il _a entré_ les données
## Footnote
*Entrer* usually takes *être* as its auxiliary verb, but if it has a direct object, it uses *avoir* instead. Also note the plural feminine noun for "data," *données*.
69
# Translate to French:
You _came_ here from New York
Tu _es venu_ ici de New York
## Footnote
Note that *venir* has an irregular past participle, and that *revenir* and *devenir* are conjugated the same way.
70
# Translate to French:
Julius Caesar _died_ on March 15
Jules César _est mort_ le quinze mars
## Footnote
Note the irregular past participle of *mourir*, as well as its use with the auxiliary verb *être*. *La mort* is also the feminine noun for "death."
71
# Translate to French:
Lucien _passed_ by the window
Lucien _est passé_ devant la fenêtre
## Footnote
to pass - *passer*. When used intransitively -- that is, when there is no object or when a preposition sits between the subject and object -- this verb uses *être* as its auxiliary verb.
72
# Translate to French:
We _passed_ the park
Nous _avons passé_ le parc
## Footnote
*Passer* normally takes *être* as its auxiliary verb. However, when used transitively, it takes *avoir* instead. Used this way, it can mean either "to pass" (like in the example) or "to spend" (when applied to an amount of time).
73
# Translate to French:
Marie and Christophe _passed_ the house. Marie and Christophe _passed_ by the house
Marie et Christophe _ont (dé)passé_ la maison. Marie et Christophe _sont passés_ par la maison
## Footnote
*Passer* is used transitively (with a direct object) in the first sentence, so it takes *avoir*. In the second sentence, it is used intransitively, so it takes *être*. When a verb is used intransitively, it is usually followed by a preposition.
74
# Translate to French:
He _spent_ six days trying to learn English
Il _a passé_ six jours à essayer d'apprendre l'anglais
## Footnote
to spend (time) - *passer*. When used transitively with an amount of time in the past tense, *passer* takes the auxiliary verb *avoir* and means "to spend" rather than "to pass."
75
# Translate to French:
_Did_ they _go back_ to Rome?
_Sont-ils retournés_ à Rome?
## Footnote
When used intransitively, *retourner* takes *être* as its auxiliary verb.
76
# Translate to French:
You guys _sent back_ the books
Vous _avez retourné_ les livres
## Footnote
*Retourner* usually takes *être* as its auxiliary verb, but if it has a direct object, it uses *avoir* instead. Used this way, it means "to send something back."
77
# Translate to French:
The women _went out_
Les femmes _sont sorties_
## Footnote
When used intransitively, *sortir* takes *être* as its auxiliary verb.
78
# Translate to French:
Jean _took_ his boat _out_
Jean _a sorti_ son bateau
## Footnote
*Sortir* usually takes *être* as its auxiliary verb, but if it is used transitively with a direct object, it takes *avoir* instead. Used this way, it means "to take something out."
79
# Translate to French:
She _left_ at 9
Elle _est partie_ à neuf heures
## Footnote
*Partir* uses *être* as its auxiliary verb.
80
# Translate to French:
Jean-Marc eats. _At the same time_, he listens to the radio
Jean-Marc mange. _En même temps_, il écoute la radio
## Footnote
at the same time - *en même temps*. Note that two alternatives are *au même moment* and *à la fois*.
81
# Translate to French:
The play is funny and serious _at the same time_
La pièce de théâtre est drôle et sérieuse _à la fois_
## Footnote
at the same time - *à la fois*. Note that this expression is less common than *en même temps*.
82
# Translate to French:
The pizza _is eaten_ by the boy
La pizza _est mangée_ par le garçon
## Footnote
The passive voice is formed by pairing *être* with the past participle of the main verb. The participle must agree with the subject. *Par* is often used to introduce the person or agent that performed the main action. The active form would be "The boy eats the pizza": *Le garçon mange la pizza*.
83
# Translate to French:
The teacher _is liked_ by his students
L'enseignant _est aimé_ de ses élèves
## Footnote
When a verb in the passive voice indicates condition or emotion, *de* is used to introduce the agent of the action.
84
# Translate to French:
The novels _were written_ by my professor
Les romans _ont été écrits_ par mon professeur
## Footnote
Here the passive voice is used in the *passé composé*: the past tense of *être* is paired with the past participle of the verb *écrire*. The participle is plural to match the subject. The active form would be "My professor wrote the novels": *Mon professeur a écrit les romans*.
85
Rewrite the sentence in the passive voice: *La femme a pris une douche* ("The woman took a shower")
Une douche _a été prise_ par la femme
## Footnote
Note how in the passive form of the sentence, the object and subject have switched.
86
Rewrite the sentence in the active voice: *L'encas a été mangé* ("The snack was eaten")
*On a mangé l'encas*
## Footnote
If the agent in the passive phrase is not expressed, the active form of the phrase uses the generalized, impersonal *on* with the active form of the verb.
87
# Translate to French:
He is going to Paris _without_ his girlfriend!
Il va à Paris _sans_ sa petite amie!
## Footnote
without - *sans*
88
# Translate to French:
That car _regularly_ passes by our middle school
Cette voiture passe _régulièrement_ devant notre collège
## Footnote
regularly - *régulièrement*. This adverb is formed from the (feminine form of the) adjective *régulier*, which means "regular."
89
# Translate to French:
Did you guys open the _box_?
Avez-vous ouvert la _boîte_?
## Footnote
a box - *une boîte*. Note the past participle of *ouvrir*, *ouvert*, which can also serve as the adjective "open."
90
# Translate to French:
Is the door _open_?
La porte est-elle _ouverte_?
## Footnote
open - *ouvert*
91
# Translate to French:
I _can't (manage to)_ do my homework
Je n'_arrive_ pas _à_ faire mes devoirs
## Footnote
to manage to - *arriver à*. *Arriver* takes this meaning whenever it's followed by *à* and an infinitive. A common alternative is the construction *réussir à*.
92
# Translate to French:
He _managed to_ drink all the wine
Il _a réussi à_ boire tout le vin
## Footnote
to manage to - *réussir à*. This construction must be followed by an infinitive. Note that two alternatives are *arriver à* (more informal) and *parvenir à* (more formal).
93
# Translate to French:
She's the _only_ girl in the school who speaks French
C'est la _seule_ fille de l'école qui parle français
## Footnote
only - *seul*. Note how the definite article is used with (the feminine form of) *seul* here: *la seule*, meaning "the only."
94
# Translate to French:
Marc is often _alone_
Marc est souvent _seul_
## Footnote
alone - *seul*. Remember that this word can also mean "only."
95
# Translate to French:
After the _dispute_, they left
Après la _dispute_, ils sont partis
## Footnote
a quarrel, a dispute - *une dispute*
96
# Translate to French:
His idea _caused_ a dispute between Marie and Claude
Son idée _a entraîné_ une dispute entre Marie et Claude
## Footnote
to bring about, to cause - *entraîner*. Note that this verb uses *avoir* as its auxiliary verb.
97
# Translate to French:
There is a strong _link_ between these two novels
Il y a un _lien_ fort entre ces deux romans
## Footnote
a link - *un lien*
98
# Translate to French:
She had a truly _ridiculous_ idea
Elle a eu une idée vraiment _ridicule_
## Footnote
ridiculous - *ridicule*. Note the past tense of *avoir* here. It uses itself as its auxiliary verb.
99
# Translate to French:
My father always appears _crazy_
Mon père a toujours l'air _fou_
## Footnote
crazy - *fou*. Note that the feminine form of this adjective is *folle*.
100
# Translate to French:
New York is never _quiet_
New York n'est jamais _tranquille_
## Footnote
quiet, calm - *tranquille*. Note that *Laisse-moi tranquille!* is a common French expression meaning "Leave me alone!"
101
# Translate to French:
He is a very _mature_ child
C'est un enfant très _mûr_
## Footnote
mature - *mûr*. Note that *mûr* can also be used in reference to fruits and vegetables, in which case it means "ripe."
102
# Translate to French:
That film is _rubbish_
Ce film est _nul_
## Footnote
bad, rubbish, lame - *nul*. The feminine form is *nulle*. The usage of *nul* here is informal. *Nul* can also be used as a negative pronoun (meaning "no one") or adjective (meaning "zero").
103
# Translate to French:
The songs of Edith Piaf are _legendary_!
Les chansons d'Édith Piaf sont _légendaires_!
## Footnote
legendary - *légendaire*
104
# Translate to French:
I _stayed_ home yesterday evening
Je _suis resté_ à la maison hier soir
## Footnote
to stay, to remain - *rester*. Note that this verb uses *être* as its auxiliary verb.
105
# Translate to French:
He _changed_ a lot
Il _a_ beaucoup _changé_
## Footnote
to change - *changer*. Note that this verb uses *avoir* as its auxiliary verb.
106
# Translate to French:
They are staying here _until_ the 13th
Ils restent ici _jusqu'au_ treize
## Footnote
until, up to - *jusqu'à*. Note how *à* becomes *au* before the day of the month, which is normally preceded by *le*.
107
# Translate to French:
I don't want _to fall_!
Je ne veux pas _tomber_!
## Footnote
to fall - *tomber*. Note that this verb uses *être* as its auxiliary verb.
108
# Translate to French:
I (a girl) _fell_ during the basketball game
Je _suis tombée_ pendant le match de basket
## Footnote
Since *tomber* uses *être* as its auxiliary verb and since the speaker is female, an extra "e" is added at the end of the past participle.
109
# Translate to French:
The two athletes _fought_ during the match
Les deux athlètes _se sont battus_ pendant le match
## Footnote
to fight - *se battre*. This is a reflexive verb. We will learn more about these verbs elsewhere, but for now, note that they use the auxiliary verb *être* in compound tenses like the *passé composé*.
110
# Translate to French:
His _body_ is very muscular
Son _corps_ est très musclé
## Footnote
the body - *le corps*
111
# Translate to French:
While growing old, the _hips_ often become weaker
En vieillissant, les _hanches_ deviennent souvent plus faibles
## Footnote
the hip - *la hanche*
112
# Translate to French:
Her _soul_ is stronger than her body
Son _âme_ est plus forte que son corps
## Footnote
the soul - *l'âme*. This is a feminine noun.
113
# Translate to French:
She must be _operated on_ immediately!
Elle doit être _opérée_ tout de suite!
## Footnote
to operate (on) - *opérer*
114
# Translate to French:
It's true that Claude _made a mistake_
C'est vrai que Claude _a commis une faute_
## Footnote
to make a mistake - *commettre une faute/erreur*. An informal alternative is *faire une bêtise*. Also note the adjective *vrai*, "true."
115
# Translate to French:
I'm _having_ the kitchen _cleaned_
Je _fais nettoyer_ la cuisine
## Footnote
Note the use of the causative *faire* here. This is formed by pairing *faire* with an infinitive, and helps express that someone is having something done.
116
# Translate to French:
I'm _paying attention_ to the lesson
Je _fais attention_ à la leçon
## Footnote
to pay attention - *faire attention*. Note that "to pay attention to" is *faire attention à*.
117
# Translate to French:
_It's been_ three months _since_ I've been in New York
_Ça fait_ trois mois _que_ je suis à New York
## Footnote
it's been... since - *ça fait... que*. A more natural translation of the French here would of course be "I've been in New York for three months."
118
# Translate to French:
_Since_ she isn't here, I will not start eating yet
_Comme_ elle n'est pas là, je ne vais pas encore manger
## Footnote
since, as - *comme*. *Comme* usually takes this meaning (instead of meaning "like") when it begins a sentence. Another option would be *puisque*.
119
# Translate to French:
That _is a part of_ our work
Ça _fait partie de_ notre travail
## Footnote
to be a part of - *faire partie de*. This expression can also mean "to be involved with."
120
# Translate to French:
He _is pretending to_ work
Il _fait semblant de_ travailler
## Footnote
to pretend to (do something) - *faire semblant de (faire quelque chose)*
121
# Translate to French:
This seat _here_ is available
Ce siège*_-ci_* est disponible
## Footnote
Note the use of the suffix *-ci*. This suffix is added to demonstrative pronouns (*celui-ci*) and nouns (*ce mardi-ci*) to refer to something that is closer than something else. It translates roughly as "here." Its opposite is the suffix *-là*, "there."
122
# Translate to French:
_At that moment_, I left
_À ce moment-là_, je suis parti
## Footnote
at that moment - *à ce moment-là*. Note the use of the suffix *-là*. This suffix is added to demonstrative pronouns (*celui-là*) and nouns (*ce stylo-là*) to refer to something that is farther away than something else. It translates roughly as "there." Its opposite is the suffix *-ci*, "here."
123
# Translate to French:
They went to the United States _the day before yesterday_
Ils sont allés aux États-Unis _avant-hier_
## Footnote
the day before yesterday - *avant-hier*
124
# Translate to French:
_That day_, I took an exam
_Ce jour-là_, j'ai passé un examen
## Footnote
that day - *ce jour-là*. Note that *passer un examen* means "to take an exam," not "to pass an exam." The latter is expressed by *réussir un examen*. Finally, note that *passer* is used transitively here, so it takes the auxiliary verb *avoir*.
125
# Translate to French:
She played _against_ Marc, but she lost
Elle a joué _contre_ Marc, mais elle a perdu
## Footnote
against - *contre*. This preposition usually means "against," but it can take other meanings as well, depending on context. It generally signifies some kind of contrast or opposition.
126
# Translate to French:
She _is angry with_ her brother
Elle _est en colère contre_ son frère
## Footnote
to be angry with (someone) - *être en colère contre (quelqu'un)*
127
# Translate to French:
He is going to _break_ something
Il va _casser_ quelque chose
## Footnote
to break - *casser*
128
# Translate to French:
He has the _face_ of a small child
Il a le _visage_ d'un gosse
## Footnote
a face - *un visage*. Note that the feminine noun *figure* is an informal alternative.
129
# Translate to French:
I'm _preparing_ the food
Je _prépare_ à manger
## Footnote
to prepare - *préparer*
130
# Translate to French:
Have you _ever_ been to New York?
Es-tu _jamais_ allé à New York?
## Footnote
ever - *jamais*. Note how *jamais* without the negative *ne* means "ever." It is used this way in questions or in the conditional.
131
# Translate to French:
They heard a _sound_
Ils ont entendu un _bruit_
## Footnote
a noise, a sound - *un bruit*. Another word for "sound" is the masculine noun *son*.
132
# Translate to French:
I did not _find out_ the truth
Je n'_ai_ pas _su_ la vérité
## Footnote
Note how in the *passé composé*, *savoir* means "to find out" rather than "to know." Also note the feminine noun *vérité*, "truth."
