Lesson 8

Question 1

What is a direct object?

Answer 1

A direct object is the person or thing that receives the action of the verb in a sentence. For example, in the sentence “I ate a sandwich,” the sandwich is the direct object.

Question 2

What are the French direct object pronouns and why are they used?

Answer 2

In order to avoid repeating nouns in a sentence or subsequent sentences, direct object pronouns are used to replace the direct object, and are always placed before the corresponding verb.

The French direct object pronouns are me, te, le/la, nous, vous, les.

Question 3

Translate to French:

Do you like this song? I hate it

Answer 3

Aimes-tu cette chanson? Je la déteste

The direct object here is the feminine noun chanson. The direct object pronoun la is used to replace chanson in order to avoid repeating it in the second sentence. Recall that object pronouns should be placed before the conjugated verb.

Question 4

Translate to French:

Do you know Henri? I know him well

Answer 4

Est-ce que tu connais Henri? Je le connais bien

The direct object here is the masculine proper noun Henri. The direct object pronoun le is used to replace Henri in order to avoid its repetition in the second sentence.

Question 5

Translate to French:

Have you seen Marie? Yes, I see her now

Answer 5

As-tu vu Marie? Oui, je la vois maintenant

The direct object here is feminine – Marie. In the second sentence, her name is replaced by the direct object pronoun la, which comes before the conjugated verb.

Question 6

Translate to French:

Pierre, I saw you at the game

Answer 6

Pierre, je t‘ai vu au match

The direct object pronoun goes before the conjugated auxiliary verb in the past tense. Also note that the pronoun is really te (for either gender), but that it changes here to t’ in front of a vowel.

Question 7

Translate to French:

Here are the chairs that I took

Answer 7

Voilà les chaises que j’ai prises

Recall that when a verb is conjugated with the auxiliary verb avoir, its past participle usually does not change (to agree with the subject). However, when a verb conjugated in a compound tense (even an avoir verb) is preceded by its direct object, its participle agrees with the direct object.

Question 8

Translate to French:

The cars? I bought them

Answer 8

Les voitures? Je les ai achetées

The past participle of acheter agrees in number and gender with the preceding direct object, the feminine plural voitures, which is represented in the second sentence by a direct object pronoun, les. Note the placement of that pronoun before the auxiliary verb.

Question 9

Translate to French:

I am going to take my jacket to the dinner

Answer 9

Je vais emporter mon blouson au dîner

to take - emporter, emmener. The former should be applied to portable objects, while the latter should be applied to people or things you can’t carry.

Question 10

Translate to French:

He brought his cousin to Jean’s house

Answer 10

Il a amené son cousin chez Jean

to bring - apporter, amener. The former should be applied to portable objects, while the latter should be applied to people or things you can’t carry.

Question 11

Translate to French:

The sweaters? I brought them

Answer 11

Les pulls? Je les ai apportés

Note the agreement of the participle with the preceding direct object pronoun.

Question 12

Translate to French:

He did not pick them up

Answer 12

Il ne les a pas ramassés

to pick up, to collect - ramasser. In a negative sentence containing an object pronoun, the negative ne precedes the object pronoun, which precedes the conjugated verb. The negative pas comes in-between the conjugated verb (a) and the past participle.

Question 13

Translate to French:

She is going to pick up the kids

Answer 13

Elle va récupérer les enfants

to pick up, to collect, to recover - récupérer. This verb can mean the same thing as ramasser – “to collect” or “to pick up.” That said, it can also mean “to recover” or “to recuperate.”

Question 14

Translate to French:

You can bring your own wine

Answer 14

Tu peux apporter ton propre vin

own (adjective) - propre. Recall that this word can also mean “clean”; the determining factor is the placement around the noun. Used before the noun, propre takes on the possessive meaning; used after, it means “clean.”

Question 15

Translate to French:

Did you hear the song? Yes, I heard it

Answer 15

As-tu entendu la chanson? Oui, je l’ai entendue

Note how the past participle agrees with the preceding direct object pronoun. The pronoun is really la, but it’s changed to l’ because the auxiliary verb begins with a vowel.

Question 16

Translate to French:

My dad is watching me play piano

Answer 16

Mon père me regarde jouer du piano

Question 17

Translate to French:

He is not listening to me

Answer 17

Il ne m’écoute pas

In this negative sentence, the negative ne comes before the direct object pronoun, which precedes the verb, which is finally followed by the negative pas.

Question 18

Translate to French:

They are leaving us

Answer 18

Ils nous quittent

Question 19

Translate to French:

They did not leave us

Answer 19

Ils ne nous ont pas quittés

Note how the ne comes first in this negative sentence, preceding the direct object pronoun, nous. Pas follows the conjugated auxiliary verb. Finally, the participle agrees with its preceding object pronoun.

Question 20

Translate to French:

(formal) I hear you well

Answer 20

Je vous entends bien

Question 21

Translate to French:

(formal) I heard you well

Answer 21

Je vous ai bien entendu

Note the placement of the adverb in between the auxiliary verb and the participle. Recall that short adverbs should follow the conjugated verb.

Question 22

Translate to French:

He loves them a lot

Answer 22

Il les aime beaucoup

Question 23

Translate to French:

He is going to eat the pizza. He is going to eat it

Answer 23

Il va manger la pizza. Il va la manger

Note the use of a direct object pronoun before an infinitive here. Whenever an object pronoun is the object of an infinitive, it should precede that infinitive.

Question 24

Translate to French:

The professor collected the homework that Jean was able to finish

Answer 24

Le professeur a ramassé les devoirs que Jean a pu finir

This is an exceptional case in which the participle (pu) does not agree with the preceding (plural) direct object. This is because the complementary infinitive, finir, is what really applies to the direct object.

Question 25

# Translate to French: (female speaker) I am _pleased_ and they (women) are too

Answer 25

Je suis _contente_ et elles _le_ sont aussi ## Footnote Note the special use here of the pronoun *le*, which is used to replace an adjective. *Le* does not change to match the gender and number of the adjective it replaces. *Le* can also be used this way to replace a complete idea.

Question 26

# Translate to French: Jean _gives_ 20 euros to Paul each week

Answer 26

Jean _donne_ 20 euros à Paul chaque semaine ## Footnote to give - *donner*. This verb is conjugated in the present tense as follows: *je donne, tu donnes, il/elle/on donne, nous donnons, vous donnez, ils/elles donnent*.

Question 27

What is an indirect object?

Answer 27

An indirect object is the person/thing to or for whom the action of a verb occurs. In French, indirect objects are generally preceded by the prepositions *à* or *pour*.

Question 28

What are the French indirect object pronouns and why are they used?

Answer 28

Indirect object pronouns are used to replace the indirect objects in sentences to avoid repeating them. For the most part, indirect object pronouns are placed in front of the corresponding verb. The French indirect object pronouns are *me, te, lui, nous, vous, leur*.

Question 29

# Translate to French: I often speak to _Marie_. I often speak to _her_

Answer 29

Je parle souvent à _Marie_. Je _lui_ parle souvent ## Footnote The indirect object of the verb *parler* is *Marie*. She is the person/thing to or for whom the action of the verb occurs. Notice how in the first sentence, *Marie* is preceded by *à*, which is the sign of an indirect object. In the second sentence, *à Marie* is replaced by the indirect object pronoun *lui*, which goes before the verb instead of after it.

Question 30

# Translate to French: She is giving the book to _Jean_. She is giving _him_ the book

Answer 30

Elle donne le livre à _Jean_. Elle _lui_ donne le livre ## Footnote Jean is the indirect object in these sentences, as he is given the book, which is the direct object. One way to make this distinction is to ask "What?" and "To whom?" What is given? The book (direct object). To whom is the book given? Jean (indirect object). In the second sentence, *à Jean* is replaced by the indirect object pronoun *lui*, which goes before the verb.

Question 31

# Translate to French: She is speaking to _me_

Answer 31

Elle _me_ parle ## Footnote Here, the speaker is the person at whom the action of the verb *parler* is directed. The indirect object pronoun *me* eliminates the need for the prepositional phrase *à moi*: essentially, the awkward *Elle parle à moi* is replaced with the more natural *Elle me parle*.

Question 32

# Translate to French: I speak to _her_ a lot

Answer 32

Je _lui_ parle beaucoup ## Footnote The indirect object pronoun *lui* applies to third-person singular indirect objects of both genders -- both to "him" and to "her." The French sentence would remain the same even if the English were, "I speak to him a lot."

Question 33

# Translate to French: I sang a song to _them_

Answer 33

Je _leur_ ai chanté une chanson ## Footnote Note how this sentence is in the past tense. In compound tenses, the indirect object pronoun comes before the (conjugated) auxiliary verb -- just like direct object pronouns do.

Question 34

# Translate to French: I'm going to give _you guys_ shirts

Answer 34

Je vais _vous_ donner des chemises ## Footnote Note how there are two verbs in this sentence. The indirect object pronoun *vous* is placed before the second verb, the infinitive *donner*, because that is the verb that applies to the indirect object.

Question 35

# Translate to French: You're thinking about the boys. You're thinking about _them_

Answer 35

Tu penses aux garçons. Tu penses à _eux_ ## Footnote There are some French verbs that do not allow preceding indirect object pronouns. *Penser à* is one of them: you cannot say *Tu leur penses*. Instead, *à* should be kept after the verb, followed by the appropriate disjunctive pronoun, which in this case is *eux*.

Question 36

# Translate to French: I'm paying attention to my dad. I'm paying attention to _him_

Answer 36

Je fais attention à mon père. Je fais attention à _lui_ ## Footnote The expression *faire attention à* does not allow preceding indirect object pronouns. You cannot say *Je lui fais attention*. Instead, *à* should be kept after the verb, followed by the appropriate disjunctive pronoun, *lui*.

Question 37

# Translate to French: He is thinking about the story. He is thinking about _it_

Answer 37

Il pense à l'histoire. Il pense à _cela_ ## Footnote Recall that *penser à* does not allow preceding indirect object pronouns. You cannot say *Il lui pense*. Instead of using *à* + a disjunctive pronoun, however, you should follow the verb with *à* + an indefinite demonstrative pronoun (like *cela*). This is because the indirect object is a thing, not a person.

Question 38

How can you distinguish between direct objects and indirect objects?

Answer 38

One way is to ask "What?" (direct) and "For whom?" (indirect). Another way is to look for prepositions preceding the person or thing in question. If there is no preposition before it, it is a direct object. A person preceded by *pour* or *à* is an indirect object, and can be replaced by an indirect object pronoun. ## Footnote (However, a person preceded by any other preposition, or a thing preceded by any preposition, cannot be replaced by an object pronoun.)

Question 39

Identify the direct object and the indirect object: *Il me raconte l'histoire*.

Answer 39

The preposition *à* is implied here, with respect to the verb *raconter*. What's being told, *l'histoire*, is the direct object, while the person being told the story, the speaker (*me*), is the indirect object.

Question 40

# Translate to French: She is going to give _them_ a gift

Answer 40

Elle va _leur_ donner un cadeau ## Footnote This sentence has both a direct object and an indirect object. The direct object *cadeau* receives the action of the verb *donner*. It's what is being given. *Leur* ("them") is the indirect object. The gift is being given **to** them -- the *à* is implied.

Question 41

# Translate to French: Can you _show_ me your classroom?

Answer 41

Pouvez-vous me _montrer_ votre salle de classe? ## Footnote to show - *montrer*. The implied, more complete meaning here is *montrer quelque chose à quelqu'un*. *Quelque chose* is the classroom (the direct object), while *quelqu'un* is the speaker to whom the room is shown (the indirect object). The speaker is represented by the indirect object pronoun *me*.

Question 42

# Translate to French: Do you want to _eat out_?

Answer 42

Veux-tu _aller au restaurant_? ## Footnote to eat out - *aller au restaurant*. Note that the expressions *sortir dîner* or *manger dehors* would also work.

Question 43

# Translate to French: I'm going to bring the _food_

Answer 43

Je vais apporter la _nourriture_ ## Footnote food - *la nourriture*

Question 44

# Translate to French: Do you want to _order_ something to eat?

Answer 44

Veux-tu _commander_ quelque chose à manger? ## Footnote to order - *commander*

Question 45

# Translate to French: I _especially_ like French food

Answer 45

J'aime _surtout_ la nourriture française ## Footnote especially, particularly - *surtout*. This adverb can also mean "above all." Note its placement after the conjugated verb.

Question 46

# Translate to French: _I would like_ a coffee

Answer 46

_Je voudrais_ un café ## Footnote I would like... - *Je voudrais...* Note that this expression employs the conditional, which you will learn about elsewhere.

Question 47

# Translate to French: I am giving him _(a piece of) advice_

Answer 47

Je lui donne un _conseil_ ## Footnote (a piece of) advice - *un conseil*. Unlike the English word "advice," *conseil* can be easily used in the singular. This sentence literally translates as "I give him an advice."

Question 48

# Translate to French: _I will have_ a sandwich

Answer 48

_Je vais prendre_ un sandwich ## Footnote I will have... - *Je vais prendre...* This construction is mostly used for ordering food, although it also applies to buying things at a counter (e.g. a pack of cigarettes) or on the phone.

Question 49

# Translate to French: I'm going to order a _drink_ and a salad

Answer 49

Je vais commander une _boisson_ et une salade ## Footnote a drink - *une boisson*. Another way of saying "to have a drink" is *prendre un verre*, which literally means "to have a glass." Also note that *salade* is a feminine noun.

Question 50

# Translate to French: This salad has a good _taste_

Answer 50

Cette salade a un bon _goût_ ## Footnote taste - *le goût, la saveur*. Another way of translating the English here is simply *Cette salade est très bonne*.

Question 51

# Translate to French: Do you want _to taste_ my pasta? I _taste_ a lot of garlic in the pasta

Answer 51

Est-ce que tu veux _goûter_ mes pâtes? Je _sens_ beaucoup d'ail dans les pâtes ## Footnote to taste - *goûter, sentir*. The former means "to taste" as in "to sample," while the latter means "to taste" as in "to detect the flavor of." *L'ail* ("garlic") is masculine, while *les pâtes* ("pasta") is feminine plural.

Question 52

# Translate to French: Where is the _waiter_?

Answer 52

Où est le _serveur_? ## Footnote a waiter - *un serveur*. Note that a female server would be *une serveuse*.

Question 53

# Translate to French: I need a _menu_

Answer 53

J'ai besoin d'une _carte_ ## Footnote a menu - *une carte*. The masculine noun *menu* could also work but is less common.

Question 54

# Translate to French: I'm thirsty

Answer 54

J'ai soif ## Footnote to be thirsty - *avoir soif*. Note that *j'ai soif* literally translates to "I have thirst."

Question 55

# Translate to French: What did you leave as a _tip_?

Answer 55

Tu as laissé quoi comme _pourboire_? ## Footnote a tip - *un pourboire*. Note the informal phrasing of the question.

Question 56

# Translate to French: Do you need a _napkin_?

Answer 56

As-tu besoin d'une _serviette_? ## Footnote a napkin - *une serviette*. Note that this word also means "towel."

Question 57

# Translate to French: Maurice's son hates _vegetables_

Answer 57

Le fils de Maurice déteste les _légumes_ ## Footnote a vegetable - *un légume*

Question 58

# Translate to French: These fries are _delicious_

Answer 58

Ces frites sont _délicieuses_ ## Footnote delicious - *délicieux*. Note that *frites* is a feminine plural noun.

Question 59

# Translate to French: I would like fries _on the side_

Answer 59

Je voudrais des frites _en accompagnement_ ## Footnote on the side - *en accompagnement*

Question 60

# Translate to French: (May I have) the _check_, please?

Answer 60

_L'addition_, s'il vous plaît? ## Footnote the check - *l'addition*. This is a feminine noun.

Question 61

# Translate to French: Is the service included?

Answer 61

Le service est compris? ## Footnote Is the service included? - *Le service est compris?*

Question 62

# Translate to French: Have you eaten a _meal_ yet?

Answer 62

Avez-vous déjà mangé un _repas_? ## Footnote a meal - *un repas*. Note how "yet" can sometimes be expressed with *déjà*, which also means "already."

Question 63

# Translate to French: I'm _allergic_ to potatoes

Answer 63

Je suis _allergique_ aux pommes de terre ## Footnote allergic - *allergique*. Note the construction *allergique à*. Also note the feminine noun for "potato," *pomme de terre*.

Question 64

# Translate to French: I ate a lot of _seafood_ on my vacation

Answer 64

Pendant mes vacances, j'ai mangé beaucoup de _fruits de mer_ ## Footnote seafood - *fruits de mer*. This is a masculine plural noun that literally means "fruits of the sea."

Question 65

# Translate to French: Serena doesn't eat _meat_

Answer 65

Séréna ne mange pas de _viande_ ## Footnote meat - *la viande*

Question 66

# Translate to French: _Cheese_ is well-liked in France

Answer 66

Le _fromage_ est bien aimé en France ## Footnote cheese - *le fromage*

Question 67

# Translate to French: _Bread_ and cheese go well together

Answer 67

Le _pain_ et le fromage vont bien ensemble ## Footnote bread - *le pain*

Question 68

# Translate to French: I ate _eggs_ for breakfast

Answer 68

J'ai mangé des _oeufs_ au petit déjeuner ## Footnote an egg - *un oeuf*. The "f" is only pronounced when this noun is singular.

Question 69

# Translate to French: I'm going to cook _fish_ tomorrow

Answer 69

Je vais cuisiner du _poisson_ demain ## Footnote fish - *le poisson*

Question 70

# Translate to French: Do you want to order an _appetizer_?

Answer 70

Voulez-vous commander une _entrée_? ## Footnote an appetizer - *une entrée*. Note that in English, an entrée usually refers to a main course.

Question 71

# Translate to French: I _prefer_ ice cream _over_ cake

Answer 71

Je _préfère_ la glace _au_ gâteau ## Footnote to prefer over - *préférer à*. Note how *à* becomes *au* because the second noun is masculine.

Question 72

# Translate to French: He is studying a lot _because_ his exam is going to be very hard

Answer 72

Il étudie beaucoup _car_ son examen va être très difficile ## Footnote for, as, because - *car*. You cannot begin a sentence with *car*. In this way, it is different from alternatives like *puisque*, *parce que*, and *comme* (which can begin sentences).

Question 73

# Translate to French: _Because_ my mom isn't home, I am making dinner

Answer 73

_Puisque_ ma mère n'est pas chez moi, je prépare le dîner ## Footnote because, as, since - *puisque*. Unlike *car*, *puisque* can come at the start of a sentence. It can therefore be translated as "seeing that/as..."

Question 74

# Translate to French: I preferred the _main course_ to the appetizer

Answer 74

J'ai préféré le _plat principal_ à l'entrée ## Footnote the main course - *le plat principal*. Note that *plat* means "dish," "course," or "plate." Used as an adjective, it means "flat."

Question 75

# Translate to French: _Most_ people like fruit

Answer 75

_La plupart_ des gens aiment les fruits ## Footnote the majority of, most - *la plupart de, la majorité de*. *Fruit* is a masculine noun. Notice how the verb is conjugated in the third-person plural.

Question 76

# Translate to French: Units of length: kilometer, meter, centimeter, millimeter

Answer 76

Les unités de longueur: kilomètre, mètre, centimètre, millimètre ## Footnote These are all masculine nouns. "A measurement" is *une mesure*.

Question 77

# Translate to French: Units of weight: kilogram, gram

Answer 77

Les unités de poids: kilo(gramme), gramme ## Footnote These are masculine nouns.

Question 78

# Translate to French: Manhattan is 21.6 kilometers _in length_

Answer 78

Manhattan fait 21,6 kilomètres _de longueur_ ## Footnote long, in length - *de longueur*. *Faire* is used in expressions of measurement. Alternatively, you can use *avoir* like so: *Manhattan a une longueur de 21,6 kilomètres*. Also notice how the French use a comma instead of a decimal point.

Question 79

# Translate to French: The snow is ten centimeters _deep_

Answer 79

La neige fait dix centimètres _de profondeur_ ## Footnote deep, in depth - *de profondeur*. You could also say *La neige est profonde de dix centimètres*, or *La neige a une profondeur de dix centimètres*.

Question 80

# Translate to French: The photo is eight centimeters _wide_

Answer 80

La photo fait huit centimètres _de large_ ## Footnote wide, of width - *de large*. You could also say *La photo est large de huit centimètres*. "Width" is *la largeur*, while *photo* is a feminine noun.

Question 81

# Translate to French: I'm _driving_ from Paris to Nice

Answer 81

Je _conduis_ de Paris à Nice ## Footnote to drive - *conduire*. This irregular verb is conjugated as follows in the present: *je conduis, tu conduis, il/elle/on conduit, nous conduisons, vous conduisez, ils/elles conduisent*.

Question 82

# Translate to French: two _plus_ two _equals_ four

Answer 82

deux _plus_ deux _égale_ quatre ## Footnote \_\_\_ plus \_\_\_ equals - \_\_\_ *plus* \_\_\_ *égale*. For a less formal way of doing addition, you can say *2 et 2 font 4*.

Question 83

# Translate to French: five _minus_ three equals two

Answer 83

cinq _moins_ trois égale deux ## Footnote minus - *moins*. For a less formal way of doing subtraction, you can say *5 moins 3 font 2*.

Question 84

# Translate to French: two _times_ three equals six

Answer 84

deux _multiplié par_ trois égale six ## Footnote multiplied, times - *multiplié par*. For a less formal way of doing multiplication, you can say *2 fois 3 font 6*.

Question 85

# Translate to French: eight _divided by_ two equals four

Answer 85

huit _divisé par_ deux égale quatre ## Footnote divided by - *divisé par*. For a less formal way of doing division, you can say *8 divisé par 2 fait 4*. Notice how *faire* is singular rather than plural in division.

Question 86

# Translate to French: Sixty _percent_ of the students are taking the same history course

Answer 86

Soixante _pour cent_ des étudiants suivent le même cours d'histoire ## Footnote percent - *pour cent*

Question 87

# Translate to French: That's enough!

Answer 87

Ça _suffit_! ## Footnote to be enough, to suffice - *suffire*. Note that *Ça suffit!* is a common expression.

Question 88

# Translate to French: He _is waiting_ for me

Answer 88

Il m'_attend_ ## Footnote to wait - *attendre*

Question 89

# Translate to French: She sees _you and me (us)_

Answer 89

Elle nous voit, _toi et moi_ ## Footnote Note the use of disjunctive pronouns when there is more than one object in a sentence. They are added at the end here to specify exactly who makes up the *nous*.