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French Sentence Builder > Lesson 6 > Flashcards

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."

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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?”

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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…

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12
Q

Translate to French:

My uncle’s birthday is in March

A

L’anniversaire de mon oncle est en mars

March - mars

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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

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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.”

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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.”

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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.”

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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.

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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.

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19
Q

Translate to French:

Then, Maxine spoke

A

Ensuite, Maxine a parlé

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20
Q

Translate to French:

This morning, Carl watched TV

A

Ce matin, Carl a regardé la télé

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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25
Q

Translate to French:

I saw nothing

A

Je n’ai rien vu

Note the use of rien here. It comes after the conjugated auxiliary verb and before the participle.

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26
Q

Translate to French:

Have you seen this new television series?

A

As-tu vu cette nouvelle série télé?

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.

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27
Q

Translate to French:

Julie is addicted to this new song

A

Julie est accro à cette nouvelle chanson

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.

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28
Q

What is the difference between transitive and intransitive verbs?

A

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)

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29
Q

How do you choose between the two French auxiliary verbs?

A

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.

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30
Q

What should you pay close attention to when using être as an auxiliary verb in compound tenses?

A

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).

For example, “she went” is elle est allée (with the extra “e”).

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31
Q

Translate to French:

Marie went to the concert on Friday night

A

Marie est allée au concert vendredi soir

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.

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32
Q

Translate to French:

I came home yesterday

A

Je suis revenu chez moi hier

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.

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33
Q

Translate to French:

I was born in June

A

Je suis né au mois de juin

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.

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34
Q

Translate to French:

There are four seasons

A

Il y a quatre saisons

a season - une saison

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35
Q

Translate to French:

He is learning to like the differences between the seasons

A

Il apprend à aimer les différences entre les saisons

between - entre. Note that différence is a feminine noun.

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36
Q

Translate to French:

Julia went back to school in the fall

A

Julia est rentrée à l’école en automne

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.

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37
Q

Translate to French:

When did you guys arrive in France?

A

Quand êtes-vous arrivés en France?

Arriver takes the auxiliary verb être in compound tenses. Also note how the past participle agrees in number with the subject.

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38
Q

Translate to French:

We entered the living room

A

Nous sommes entrés dans le salon

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.

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39
Q

Translate to French:

Yesterday I reflected a lot on my homework

A

Hier j’ai beaucoup réfléchi à mes devoirs

Note the placement of the adverb beaucoup here. In compound tenses, most short adverbs immediately follow the conjugated (auxiliary) verb but precede the participle.

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40
Q

Translate to French:

I already listened to the radio

A

J’ai déjà écouté la radio

already - déjà. Note the placement of this adverb between the auxiliary verb and the past participle.

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41
Q

Translate to French:

He already organized this meeting

A

Il a déjà organisé ce meeting

to organize - organiser. The masculine noun meeting obviously comes from English. An alternative would be the feminine noun réunion.

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42
Q

Translate to French:

He was able to finish his work

A

Il a pu finir son travail

Note the past participle of pouvoir, pu. Also note the use of the complementary infinitive right after the conjugated verb.

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43
Q

Translate to French:

Did you put the book in my room?

A

As-tu mis le livre dans ma chambre?

Note the past participle of mettre, mis.

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44
Q

Translate to French:

He is filling out the form now

A

Il remplit le formulaire maintenant

to fill (out) - remplir. Note that the word formulaire is masculine.

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45
Q

Translate to French:

I studied a lot last week

A

J’ai beaucoup étudié la semaine dernière

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.

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46
Q

Translate to French:

Albert is the man who I saw previously

A

Albert est l’homme que j’ai vu précédemment

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.”

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47
Q

Translate to French:

I reflected for a long time on this problem

A

J’ai longtemps réfléchi à ce problème

(for) a long time - longtemps. Note the use of réfléchir à, meaning “to reflect on” or “to think about.”

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48
Q

Translate to French:

I left the book at the café

A

J’ai laissé le livre au café

to leave (behind) - laisser

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49
Q

Translate to French:

I haven’t seen my sister yet today

A

Je n’ai pas encore vu ma soeur aujourd’hui

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.

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50
Q

Translate to French:

He has completely finished the book

A

Il a complètement fini le livre

completely - complètement. This adverb is formed from the adjective complet, meaning “full” or “complete.”

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51
Q

Translate to French:

His life is completely different now

A

Sa vie est tout à fait différente maintenant

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.

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52
Q

Translate to French:

The winter was very cold

A

L’hiver a été très froid

winter - l’hiver. Note the past tense of être, which takes avoir as its auxiliary verb.

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53
Q

Translate to French:

I love the summer!

A

J’adore l’été!

summer - l’été. Note that the seasons take the preposition en: en été – “in (the) summer.”

54
Q

Translate to French:

April is the first full month of spring

A

Avril est le premier mois complet du printemps

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
Q

Translate to French:

Isn’t Jean’s mom already very proud of her children?

A

La mère de Jean n’est-elle pas déjà très fière de ses enfants?

proud - fier. Note the feminine form of this adjective, as well as the construction fier de to mean “proud of.”

56
Q

Translate to French:

Christmas is in December

A

Noël est en décembre

Christmas - Noël. Note that there is no le before Noël.

57
Q

Translate to French:

They came home at 9 o’clock on Wednesday, February 27th, 2013

A

Ils sont revenus à neuf heures le mercredi vingt-sept février, deux mille treize

58
Q

Translate to French:

Today is December 16, 2013

A

Aujourd’hui, c’est le 16 décembre 2013

59
Q

Translate to French:

I was born 22 years ago

A

Je suis né il y a vingt-deux ans

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
Q

Translate to French:

Marie’s boyfriend is beautiful, isn’t he?

A

Le petit ami de Marie est beau, n’est-ce pas?

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
Q

Translate to French:

Sometimes, Julie plays with her nephew

A

Parfois, Julie joue avec son neveu

sometimes - parfois. Note that this adverb has several synonyms, including de temps en temps and quelquefois.

62
Q

Translate to French:

I got off the bus

A

Je suis descendu du bus

Note that descendre is typically followed by de + a noun. Note also that descendre takes the auxiliary verb être.

63
Q

Translate to French:

He went down the stairs

A

Il a descendu les escaliers

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
Q

Translate to French:

Pierre got on the train

A

Pierre est monté dans le train

Note that monter normally uses être as its auxiliary verb.

65
Q

Translate to French:

He climbed/went up the stairs

A

Il a monté l’escalier

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
Q

Translate to French:

They came back at 10 o’clock

A

Ils sont rentrés à dix heures

As an intransitive verb of movement, rentrer uses être as its auxiliary verb.

67
Q

Translate to French:

He brought the pencils back (inside)

A

Il a rentré les crayons

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
Q

Translate to French:

He entered the data

A

Il a entré les données

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
Q

Translate to French:

You came here from New York

A

Tu es venu ici de New York

Note that venir has an irregular past participle, and that revenir and devenir are conjugated the same way.

70
Q

Translate to French:

Julius Caesar died on March 15

A

Jules César est mort le quinze mars

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
Q

Translate to French:

Lucien passed by the window

A

Lucien est passé devant la fenêtre

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
Q

Translate to French:

We passed the park

A

Nous avons passé le parc

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
Q

Translate to French:

Marie and Christophe passed the house. Marie and Christophe passed by the house

A

Marie et Christophe ont (dé)passé la maison. Marie et Christophe sont passés par la maison

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
Q

Translate to French:

He spent six days trying to learn English

A

Il a passé six jours à essayer d’apprendre l’anglais

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
Q

Translate to French:

Did they go back to Rome?

A

Sont-ils retournés à Rome?

When used intransitively, retourner takes être as its auxiliary verb.

76
Q

Translate to French:

You guys sent back the books

A

Vous avez retourné les livres

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
Q

Translate to French:

The women went out

A

Les femmes sont sorties

When used intransitively, sortir takes être as its auxiliary verb.

78
Q

Translate to French:

Jean took his boat out

A

Jean a sorti son bateau

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
Q

Translate to French:

She left at 9

A

Elle est partie à neuf heures

Partir uses être as its auxiliary verb.

80
Q

Translate to French:

Jean-Marc eats. At the same time, he listens to the radio

A

Jean-Marc mange. En même temps, il écoute la radio

at the same time - en même temps. Note that two alternatives are au même moment and à la fois.

81
Q

Translate to French:

The play is funny and serious at the same time

A

La pièce de théâtre est drôle et sérieuse à la fois

at the same time - à la fois. Note that this expression is less common than en même temps.

82
Q

Translate to French:

The pizza is eaten by the boy

A

La pizza est mangée par le garçon

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
Q

Translate to French:

The teacher is liked by his students

A

L’enseignant est aimé de ses élèves

When a verb in the passive voice indicates condition or emotion, de is used to introduce the agent of the action.

84
Q

Translate to French:

The novels were written by my professor

A

Les romans ont été écrits par mon professeur

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
Q

Rewrite the sentence in the passive voice: La femme a pris une douche (“The woman took a shower”)

A

Une douche a été prise par la femme

Note how in the passive form of the sentence, the object and subject have switched.

86
Q

Rewrite the sentence in the active voice: L’encas a été mangé (“The snack was eaten”)

A

On a mangé l’encas

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
Q

Translate to French:

He is going to Paris without his girlfriend!

A

Il va à Paris sans sa petite amie!

without - sans

88
Q

Translate to French:

That car regularly passes by our middle school

A

Cette voiture passe régulièrement devant notre collège

regularly - régulièrement. This adverb is formed from the (feminine form of the) adjective régulier, which means “regular.”

89
Q

Translate to French:

Did you guys open the box?

A

Avez-vous ouvert la boîte?

a box - une boîte. Note the past participle of ouvrir, ouvert, which can also serve as the adjective “open.”

90
Q

Translate to French:

Is the door open?

A

La porte est-elle ouverte?

open - ouvert

91
Q

Translate to French:

I can’t (manage to) do my homework

A

Je n’arrive pas à faire mes devoirs

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
Q

Translate to French:

He managed to drink all the wine

A

Il a réussi à boire tout le vin

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
Q

Translate to French:

She’s the only girl in the school who speaks French

A

C’est la seule fille de l’école qui parle français

only - seul. Note how the definite article is used with (the feminine form of) seul here: la seule, meaning “the only.”

94
Q

Translate to French:

Marc is often alone

A

Marc est souvent seul

alone - seul. Remember that this word can also mean “only.”

95
Q

Translate to French:

After the dispute, they left

A

Après la dispute, ils sont partis

a quarrel, a dispute - une dispute

96
Q

Translate to French:

His idea caused a dispute between Marie and Claude

A

Son idée a entraîné une dispute entre Marie et Claude

to bring about, to cause - entraîner. Note that this verb uses avoir as its auxiliary verb.

97
Q

Translate to French:

There is a strong link between these two novels

A

Il y a un lien fort entre ces deux romans

a link - un lien

98
Q

Translate to French:

She had a truly ridiculous idea

A

Elle a eu une idée vraiment ridicule

ridiculous - ridicule. Note the past tense of avoir here. It uses itself as its auxiliary verb.

99
Q

Translate to French:

My father always appears crazy

A

Mon père a toujours l’air fou

crazy - fou. Note that the feminine form of this adjective is folle.

100
Q

Translate to French:

New York is never quiet

A

New York n’est jamais tranquille

quiet, calm - tranquille. Note that Laisse-moi tranquille! is a common French expression meaning “Leave me alone!”

101
Q

Translate to French:

He is a very mature child

A

C’est un enfant très mûr

mature - mûr. Note that mûr can also be used in reference to fruits and vegetables, in which case it means “ripe.”

102
Q

Translate to French:

That film is rubbish

A

Ce film est nul

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
Q

Translate to French:

The songs of Edith Piaf are legendary!

A

Les chansons d’Édith Piaf sont légendaires!

legendary - légendaire

104
Q

Translate to French:

I stayed home yesterday evening

A

Je suis resté à la maison hier soir

to stay, to remain - rester. Note that this verb uses être as its auxiliary verb.

105
Q

Translate to French:

He changed a lot

A

Il a beaucoup changé

to change - changer. Note that this verb uses avoir as its auxiliary verb.

106
Q

Translate to French:

They are staying here until the 13th

A

Ils restent ici jusqu’au treize

until, up to - jusqu’à. Note how à becomes au before the day of the month, which is normally preceded by le.

107
Q

Translate to French:

I don’t want to fall!

A

Je ne veux pas tomber!

to fall - tomber. Note that this verb uses être as its auxiliary verb.

108
Q

Translate to French:

I (a girl) fell during the basketball game

A

Je suis tombée pendant le match de basket

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
Q

Translate to French:

The two athletes fought during the match

A

Les deux athlètes se sont battus pendant le match

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
Q

Translate to French:

His body is very muscular

A

Son corps est très musclé

the body - le corps

111
Q

Translate to French:

While growing old, the hips often become weaker

A

En vieillissant, les hanches deviennent souvent plus faibles

the hip - la hanche

112
Q

Translate to French:

Her soul is stronger than her body

A

Son âme est plus forte que son corps

the soul - l’âme. This is a feminine noun.

113
Q

Translate to French:

She must be operated on immediately!

A

Elle doit être opérée tout de suite!

to operate (on) - opérer

114
Q

Translate to French:

It’s true that Claude made a mistake

A

C’est vrai que Claude a commis une faute

to make a mistake - commettre une faute/erreur. An informal alternative is faire une bêtise. Also note the adjective vrai, “true.”

115
Q

Translate to French:

I’m having the kitchen cleaned

A

Je fais nettoyer la cuisine

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
Q

Translate to French:

I’m paying attention to the lesson

A

Je fais attention à la leçon

to pay attention - faire attention. Note that “to pay attention to” is faire attention à.

117
Q

Translate to French:

It’s been three months since I’ve been in New York

A

Ça fait trois mois que je suis à New York

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
Q

Translate to French:

Since she isn’t here, I will not start eating yet

A

Comme elle n’est pas là, je ne vais pas encore manger

since, as - comme. Comme usually takes this meaning (instead of meaning “like”) when it begins a sentence. Another option would be puisque.

119
Q

Translate to French:

That is a part of our work

A

Ça fait partie de notre travail

to be a part of - faire partie de. This expression can also mean “to be involved with.”

120
Q

Translate to French:

He is pretending to work

A

Il fait semblant de travailler

to pretend to (do something) - faire semblant de (faire quelque chose)

121
Q

Translate to French:

This seat here is available

A

Ce siège-ci est disponible

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
Q

Translate to French:

At that moment, I left

A

À ce moment-là, je suis parti

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
Q

Translate to French:

They went to the United States the day before yesterday

A

Ils sont allés aux États-Unis avant-hier

the day before yesterday - avant-hier

124
Q

Translate to French:

That day, I took an exam

A

Ce jour-là, j’ai passé un examen

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
Q

Translate to French:

She played against Marc, but she lost

A

Elle a joué contre Marc, mais elle a perdu

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
Q

Translate to French:

She is angry with her brother

A

Elle est en colère contre son frère

to be angry with (someone) - être en colère contre (quelqu’un)

127
Q

Translate to French:

He is going to break something

A

Il va casser quelque chose

to break - casser

128
Q

Translate to French:

He has the face of a small child

A

Il a le visage d’un gosse

a face - un visage. Note that the feminine noun figure is an informal alternative.

129
Q

Translate to French:

I’m preparing the food

A

Je prépare à manger

to prepare - préparer

130
Q

Translate to French:

Have you ever been to New York?

A

Es-tu jamais allé à New York?

ever - jamais. Note how jamais without the negative ne means “ever.” It is used this way in questions or in the conditional.

131
Q

Translate to French:

They heard a sound

A

Ils ont entendu un bruit

a noise, a sound - un bruit. Another word for “sound” is the masculine noun son.

132
Q

Translate to French:

I did not find out the truth

A

Je n’ai pas su la vérité

Note how in the passé composé, savoir means “to find out” rather than “to know.” Also note the feminine noun vérité, “truth.”

French Sentence Builder (20 decks)

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