Lexique 4

Question 1

Il faut vs. devoir vs. besoin de—
Expressing Need

FREDERIC PATENAUDE
JAN 21

On va commencer avec une question! La réponse à la fin.

Quelle phrase est la plus correcte pour dire “I have to leave”?
• Je dois partir
J’ai besoin de partir
• Il faut que je parte

To express need, there are many words you can use in French.

First, in general, it’s better not to use c’est nécessaire de to mean “it’s necessary to.”

We often just say C’est nécessaire to mean that something is (absolutely) necessary.

«Je n’achète que des vêtements de seconde main, et seulement si c’est nécessaire»
“I only buy used clothes, and only if that’s absolutely necessary.”
Then you can say il est nécessaire de but it means more that something is essential or required, and it’s used more in writing.

Il est nécessaire de rester en forme
Staying in shape is essential

To express “need,” you have three options

☑️ Il faut

Most of the time, you’ll use the verb falloir, when talking about something you need to do.

• I need to go the bank
Il faut que j’aille à la banque
••• Note that il faut que always calls for the subjunctive.

• I need to go
Il faut que je parte
• You need to do a better job
Il faut que tu fasses mieux ton travail

You might know how to use il faut, but do you know how to conjugate it in the past and in the future?

✔️ In the past

Il fallait / il a fallu

• I needed to go to Dallas
Il a fallu que j’aille à Dallas
• It was a difficult situation. You had to be alert
C’était une situation difficile. Il fallait être alerte

✔️ In the future

Il va falloir / il faudra

• I’ll have to change my vocabulary a bit
Il va falloir changer un peu mon vocabulaire
• We’ll need to go soon!
Il va falloir y aller bientôt!
• We will need years to measure the real effect of the Brexit
Il faudra des années pour mesurer l’effet réel du Brexit

☑️ Devoir

Il faut tends to mean “I need” but the verb devoir tends to be translated as “must,” or “have to.” It usually implies an obligation.

• Ils doivent déposer leur demande avant le 4 août
They need to send their application before August 4th (they must)
• Je dois aller travailler
I need to go to work (I must go to work)

☑️ Avoir besoin de

Avoir besoin de is often a synonym for il faut. It more common to use it when you “need something,” or when the need is emotional.

• J’ai besoin de te parler
I need to talk to you (more emotional)
• Il faut que je te parle
I need to talk to you (more urgent, more factual, less emotional)
• J’ai besoin de café
I need coffee. (Need something)
• Il faut que j’achète du café
I need to buy coffee
• Merci, mais je n’ai besoin de rien
Thank you, but I don’t need anything
• J’ai besoin de changer d’air
I need a change of scenery

Note

J’ai besoin de is followed by a noun or a verb
Il faut que is followed by a verb

La réponse à la question…

• On peut dire je dois partir ou bien il faut que je parte. On ne dit pas j’ai besoin de partir.
Je dois partir est une obligation.
Il faut que je parte est la phrase la plus courante! Et on dit aussi:
• Il faut que je m’en aille! Ou encore
• Je dois y aller ou
• Je vais devoir y aller!

Exercise

Add the missing word or words to make the sentence complete. Refer to the translation in case of doubt. Choose between devoir, avoir besoin de or falloir que.

He will devote his energies to his son, who will need rehabilitation.
1. Il consacrera ses énergies à son fils, qui aura _____ réadaptation.
2. I have to go to work.
Je _____ aller au travail.
3. I thought I was entitled to do it, but then I had to move.
Je croyais que j’étais en droit de le faire, mais après, il a _____ que je déménage.
4. “I think we need more vacation time, because we’re in the middle of a burn-out crisis”
«Je pense qu’on a _____ plus de vacances, parce qu’on est en pleine crise de burn-out »
5. “I need to go back home”
« _____ rentrer chez moi »
6. The work was not easy: all these materials and colors had to compose a harmonious whole.
Le travail n’était pas facile : il _____ toutes ces matières et couleurs composent un ensemble harmonieux.
7. After the flood, a family must find a new home.
Après l’inondation, une famille _____ se trouver un nouveau logement
8. “I know what I have to do!”
“Je sais ce que je _____ faire!”
9. Now, things have to change.
Maintenant, il va _____ que les choses bougent.
10. You have to learn from your mistakes.
Il _____ tu apprennes de tes erreurs.

Answers

Il consacrera ses énergies à son fils, qui aura besoin de réadaptation.
Je dois aller au travail.
Je croyais que j’étais en droit de le faire, mais après, il a fallu que je déménage.
«Je pense qu’on a besoin de plus de vacances, parce qu’on est en pleine crise de burn-out »
« J’ai dois rentrer chez moi, OR il faut que je rentre chez moi.
Le travail n’était pas facile : il fallait que toutes ces matières et couleurs composent un ensemble harmonieux.
Après l’inondation, une famille a dû se trouver un nouveau logement
“Je sais ce que je dois faire!”
Maintenant, il va falloir que les choses bougent.
Il faut que tu apprennes de tes erreurs.

Question 2

It makes me sick = ca me rend malade

Les chats ne mangent pas de chocolat parce qu’il les rendra malade.

Question 3

The Simple Guide to Informal French Grammar …

BY FREDERIC BIBARD
Last Updated: August 31, 2022
Are you already speaking French so well but still sound as if you just came out of a French grammar book?
Do you feel so formal and out-of-place when speaking with native French speakers?
Well, let me let you in on one practical tip: try to speak a little bit informally!
informal french grammar
When speaking in your own native language, you most likely use informal grammar structure at every other sentence (if not always) to better express your thoughts and emotions to your listeners. Certainly, every language has colloquial terms and French is no exemption.
To help you sound more natural when speaking French, here are some simple guidelines to keep in mind:

Table of Contents

1. ‘tu’ and ‘vous’
   Both of these words mean the same thing: you. But if you’re already familiar with the person you’re speaking to (such as friends and family), you can drop the highly formal vous and use tu instead.
   For example:
   Informal : Je te présente. I would like to introduce _____ to you.
   Formal: Je vous présente.
   Informal: Je t’en prie. You’re welcome.
   Formal: Je vous en prie.
2. Contracted ‘tu’
   In informal French, ‘tu’ when followed by a verb that begins with a vowel will be shortened to t’. The most common way to do this is with tu as and tu es which become t’as and t’es.
   tu aimes —> t’aimes
   tu ouvres —> t’ouvres
   tu arrives —> t’arrives
   tu écoutes —> t’écoutes
   Remember though that this is only spoken in casual conversations and written in very informal contexts (like SMS between friends), not in newspapers, research, and the like.
3. Drop ‘ne’ in negatives
   Usually, the French pair ne…pas is used to make a sentence negative. However, in a typical informal and familiar setting, the ne is often dropped in spoken French. Of course, proper French grammar would ‘negate’ this idea but since your goal is to sound more French then you can drop the ne. The meaning remaing the same.
   Tu ne comprends pas. —> Tu comprends pas. (You don’t understand.)
   Ne faites pas ça ! —> Faites pas ça! (Don’t do that!)
4. Informal interrogative sentences
   Inverting the subject and verb is a common way in asking a question in French. However, inversion is essentially found in formal French and not in informal conversations. Thus, if the word order is changed, then a formal and polite sentence quickly becomes informal, e.g. from “Où allez-vous?” (“Where are you going?”) to “Tu vas où?”
5. Informal use of pronouns
   For cela and ça which both mean “it” in English:
   ça is used in informal speech and it frequently follows an interrogative to add emphasis, such as in “qui ça”?.
   cela is used in formal speech
   For nous and on:
   Both pronouns mean the equivalent of ‘we’ and ‘us’ but in informal French, nous is often replaced by on, with some changes from plural verb and adjective (in nous) to singular verb and adjective (in on).
6. Unstressed e
   When it is lodged in between consonants or at the end of short words, or even in conditional and future tenses of verbs, the unstressed e is often dropped in French slang.
7. Reduced forms: il(s), elle(s), puis, parce que, quelque
   The pronouns il (“he”) and ils are reduced to y, while elle (“she”) and elles are reduced to è (when followed by a consonant). When followed by a vowel, il and elle are reduced to l’ whereas ils becomes y z’ or just z’ and elles becomes è’z’. The word puis is more commonly pronounced as pis, parce que is shortened to pasque, and quelque is pronounced as quèque.
8. Drop -re at end of words
   You usually do not pronounce -re at the end of a word. However, for verbs (mettre) we still pronounce the –re a bit and quite softly.
9. The impersonal ‘il’
   In French, the impersonal pronoun il (which corresponds to ‘it’ in English) is used in French when there is no person or agent responsible for doing the action described. When used in informal speech, however, the impersonal ‘il’ is usually omitted. For example. Il ne faut pas oublier becomes Faut pas oublier.
10. Don’t worry too much about grammatical rules
    The most important thing that you shouldn’t miss when learning how to speak informal French is that…(drum roll, please)…you DON’T need to worry so much on what the grammar book has to say! Why, native speakers (in any language for that matter) all started with baby babble, right? Nobody ever started with a grammar book in the womb, that’s for sure. So, relax! It’s okay to forget some of those rules once in a while…if you want to sound naturally informal.
    But remember that grammar is still very important for you to familiarize with, so you’ll know which rules are okay to break later on.

Answer 3

Talkinfrench.Com

Question 4

La Nourriture

Question 5

Les Légumes

Question 6

Amener, emmener,
apporter, emporter

Question 7

Brun vs marron :

NOTE: What is the French word for brown in Canada? As an interesting point, in France most brown things are usually referred to as « marron » but in Canada they apparently just say « brun » for almost everything brown.

Today I am sharing a common confusion between brun and marron.

Dans ma maison il y a une chaise marron.
In my house there is a brown chair.

In French we don’t use brun as the color for brown. We use the noun/adjective marron. I said “noun” as it is also used for the word “chestnut.”

We use the adjective brun mostly for your hair (similar to blonde/blond).

Answer 7

talkinfrench.com

Question 8

Des mauvais moments :

Today I am sharing a new and interesting confusing word in French that I found in an essay.

🚫 Si jamais tu n’apprends pas la langue française, tu aurais des difficilles temps quand tu partiras en vacances à Toulouse l’année prochaine.

However in French we do not say “des difficiles temps” but un/des mauvais moments.

The word temps is often used as a counting unit in French, while moment expresses the idea of duration.

Sachez que dans la vie il y a des bons et des mauvais moments.
Know that there are good times and bad times in life. (Reverso)

Answer 8

talkinfrench.com

Question 9

Avoir :

📌 Le verbe “avoir” possède plusieurs synonymes qui peuvent varier selon le contexte dans lequel il est utilisé.
Voici quelques exemples de synonymes pour le verbe “avoir” :

1️⃣ Posséder
2️⃣ Détenir
3️⃣ Compter
4️⃣ Disposer
5️⃣ Tenir
6️⃣ Obtenir

On parle français

Question 10

Master 11 Types of Negation

1. Ne…pas
   This is our all-purpose negation.
   Use a verb sandwich: ne + verb + pas
   Je ne comprends pas.
   I don’t understand.
2. Ne pas + infinitive
   When you’re negating a verb that’s already in the infinitive. This is the one instance where ne pas stay together.
   J’espère ne pas être en retard.
   I hope to not be late.
3. Ne…rien
   To indicate nothing or anything, use ne + verb + rien
   Je n’ai rien vu.
   I didn’t see anything.
4. ne…jamais
   To indicate never or not ever, use ne…jamais
   Tu ne fumes jamais.
   You never smoke.
5. ne…plus
   Not anymore; no longer; no more.
   • Keep in mind we do not pronounce the S for this meaning of plus.
   Il n’y a plus de bananes.
   There are no more bananas left.
6. ne…personne
   No one; anyone
   Il n’y a personne comme toi.
   There’s no one like you.
7. Personne ne
   When “no one” or “anyone” is the subject of the sentence.
   Personne ne m’a dit que tu serais ici.
   No one told me that you would be here.
8. ne…guère
   Hardly ever, not very, not much. This is a bit old-fashioned, but you will still see it in writing, especially novels you may be reading en français.
   Je ne le connais guère.
   I hardly know him.
9. ne…point
   Not at all; old-fashioned version of “ne…pas.” You will also see this used in literary contexts. It’s also used humorously in present day to put emphasis on the negation or add a playful tone.
   Il ne pleure point.
   He’s not crying (at all).
10. ne…aucun
    Any, none
    Like “ne…rien,” but used when we’re talking about a specific something that we do not have. Aucun.e must be followed by the noun that we don’t have, or refer to a specific noun previously mentioned.
    Il ne m’a donné aucun conseil.
    He didn’t give me any advice.
11. ne…que
    Only, just
    Je ne veux que du café.
    I only want coffee; I just want coffee.

Dr. Nat

Question 11

Aller vs. Voyager :

These words in French are not used like in English!

FREDERIC PATENAUDE
FEB 12

The verb to travel is not used the same way in French as it is in English, along with most verbs relating to movement.

Consider the following example:

I’m traveling to Paris next week
In French, you could say:

• Je vais à Paris la semaine prochaine
• Je me rends à Paris la semaine prochaine

Voyager

We don’t use the verb voyager to say that we are going somewhere
In French, voyager means “go on trips”

Voyager doesn’t mean going from point A to point B

For example, you could say

I’ve travelled a lot in Quebec
• J’ai beaucoup voyagé au Québec
This would emphasize the traveling you’ve done in Quebec.

To say:

I’m traveling to Quebec (City) next week
You should say:

• Je m’en vais à Québec la semaine prochaine
• Je me rends à Québec…

We also say partir en voyager to mean “go on a trip.”

• Ils sont partis en voyage avant Noël
They went on a trip before Christmas
• Il est parti en voyage à Cuba
He went on a trip to Cuba

Answer 11

French with Frederic

Question 12

Quand on est malade …

✔️ Je ne me sens pas dans mon assiette. → I don’t feel like myself

✔️ Je suis cloué(e) au lit → I am bed-ridden

✔️ Je suis malade comme un chien → I am sick as a dog

All used in Québec per Amarie

Answer 12

Maude Your French Teacher

Question 13

Voyage à NOTL …

À la mi-octobre, je suis allé en Ontario rendre visite à mes chers amis Colleen et Rick. Colleen et moi, on est amies depuis l’âge de dix ans. On était ensemble à l’école primaire.

J’ai voyagé de Saskatoon à Toronto en avion. C’a m’a pris environs trois heures. Après ça j’ai pris un petit autobus de l’aéroport de Toronto à Niagara on the Lake. Ce bus m’a conduit directement à la maison de mes amis.

J’ai eu un vacances vraiment génial. Mes amis sont d’excellents hôtes et de grands cuisiniers. On avait des repas mémorables. Leur maison de ville est très belle et confortable.

On a mangé un repas grec à un bon restaurant à St Catharines, une ville voisine. Pendant que nous dînions, nous avons pu regarder les navires naviguer le long du canal Welland en direction de la voie maritime du Saint-Laurent, juste à côté du restaurant. C’était toute une expérience !

À Niagara on the Lake, nous avons fait toute sorte de choses. On a fait un tour des anciens cimetières où j’ai pris beaucoup de photos des églises, des stèles et des arbres aux couleurs d’automne.

Un autre point fort a été une visite guidée de trois établissements vinicoles locaux. C’était très amusant avec beaucoup de grands vins! Nous avons également fait les petits tours de la région, et visité un très beau parc.

Pendant les soirées, après notre souper, on a regardé beaucoup de films, des géniales et des terribles !

Dans l’ensemble, j’ai passé un vraiment agréable séjour en Ontario !

Answer 13

In mid-October, I went to Ontario to visit my dear friends Colleen and Rick. Colleen and I have been friends since the age of ten. We were in elementary school together.

I flew from Saskatoon to Toronto. It took me about three hours. After that I took a small bus from Toronto airport to Niagara on the Lake. This bus took me straight to my friends’ house.

I had a really great vacation. My friends are great hosts and great cooks. We had memorable meals. Their townhouse is very beautiful and comfortable.

We ate a Greek meal at a very good restaurant in St Catharines, a nearby town. While we were having dinner, we were able to watch the ships sail along the Welland Canal towards the St. Lawrence Seaway, right next to the restaurant. It was quite an experience!

In Niagara on the Lake, we did all kinds of things. We took a tour of old cemeteries where I took many photos of churches, gravestones and trees in autumn colors. Another highlight was a guided tour of three local wineries. It was great fun with lots of great wines! We also did small tours of the area, and visited a beautiful park.

During the evenings, after our supper, we watched a lot of movies, great and terrible!

All in all, I had a really nice time in Ontario!

Question 14

Duolingo : My Avatar

Answer 14

Question 15

Se laisser manger la laine sur le dos…

Meaning, to “let someone eat the wool off your back” means that you are letting someone make a fool out of you or swindle you. I personally think that this is one of the more creative expressions from the Québec French variety.

Québécois

Answer 15

talkinfrench.com

Question 16

J’ai la langue à terre…

Roughly translates to “my tongue is on the floor” which means either you are really hungry or tired. The downside to this expression is that you might need to elaborate further after each time you say it, which, all the more, delays the relief you are hoping to get from either hunger or exhaustion. This expression, just like the previous example, may have its roots from Classical French.

Québécois

Answer 16

talkinfrench.com

Question 17

Lâche pas la patate! …

Literally, this translates to “don’t let go of the potato.” Yet another interesting expression, if you hear this from a French Canadian, he could be giving you encouragement not to back out of a daunting task, which is touching. But, most of the time, he is more likely threatening you not to chicken out of a bet, a dare, or a promise.

Québécois

Answer 17

talkinfrench.com

Question 18

Gosses…

This, for sure, can be a very tricky word between Québec French and Metropolitan French. When in France, it will not be an issue if you say to someone “Ca va, les gosses?”in which you are just asking how their kids are doing. Gosses in Québec French however, has come to mean “testicles” for some reason. In short, the typical way of greeting someone’s kids in Metropolitan French may not elicit a pleasant response when spoken in Quebec.

Answer 18

talkinfrench.com

Question 19

Toujours au lieu de «tout le temps» …

Pour simplifier l’idée ici :

  ✔️Tout le temps = une répétition
  ✔️Toujours = une durée 

J’ai remarqué une erreur assez récente dans la rédaction d’une élève au niveau avancé qui utilisait « toujours » au lieu de « tout le temps ».

Par exemple:

Elle les perd toujours (les = les clefs) dans cette situation.

✔️Ce n’est pas forcément une erreur. Mais je pense qu’utiliser « tout le temps » serait préférable ici.
✔️Elle les perd tout le temps…

Essayons de voir la différence. Le contraire de toujours = jamais (never).

Est-ce que cette personne perd ces clefs à chaque instant / moment.
Je ne le pense pas (ou je ne l’espère pas).

Ici « tout le temps » réfère à l’idée de fréquence. Bien entendu « tout le temps » est très proche de toujours. Mais en français on va l’utiliser pour exprimer une fréquence importante mais pas forcément 100% du temps.

Dans « tout le temps » on fait référence à une habitude.

Answer 19

talkinfrench.com

Question 20

Préféré versus favori …

When people want to express their preferences they tend to say:

❌ Ce livre est mon favori or favorite.
(the second is incorrect since it’s the English spelling)

Actually in French it would sound more natural to say:

✔️ Ce livre est mon préféré. (prefered)

You can use favori mostly as an adjective.

For example:
✔️ C’est mon livre favori.

It is mostly used when a person is the most liked by someone else.

✔️ C’est le favori de la maitresse.
(He is the teacher’s favorite.)

It is also used with the contestant with the highest chances to win in a competition:

✔️ XX est le favori de la compétition.
(XX is the favorite of the competition.)

I hope those explanations are clear. Do not hesitate to ask for clarification.

Answer 20

talkinfrench.com

Question 21

Signing off Letters : Formal & Informal

Parmi les rédactions que je corrige j’ai noté une erreur d’un étudiant qui a utilisé la lettre « X » pour dire « bisous » en français.

X en français me semble aggressif ou très impersonnelle donc je partage ici des exemples de fin de lettre.

Dans un cadre professionnelle :
Veuillez agréer, Madame, Monsieur, l’expression de mon profond respect.
(Please accept, Madam, Sir, the expression of my deep respect.)
Veuillez agréer, Madame, Monsieur, l’expression de mes sentiments respectueux.
(Please accept, Madam, Sir, the expression of my respectful feelings.)
Veuillez croire, cher Monsieur, à mes sentiments cordiaux et respectueux.
(Please believe, dear sir, in my cordial and respectful feelings.)

Pour un ami :

  –    Amitiés  (friendships)
  –    Bisous  (Kiss) 
  –    Je t’embrasse (Je vous embrasse)  (Kisses)
  –    A bientôt  (see you soon)
  –    Avec toute mon amitié  (with all my friendship)
  –    Ton ami(e)  (your friend)

Answer 21

talkinfrench.com

Question 22

&

Esperluette
Perluète
E commercial

Question 23

Reflexive pronouns …

Some of the following are reflexive, some of them are not.

1. Il s’adapte facilement à de nouvelles situations.
2. Nous aimons nous promener le soir, quand il fait beau.
3. Le chat grimpe sur la clôture. 🚫
4. Avec elle, je ne m’ennuie jamais.
5. Il se fâche trop facilement.
6. Hier soir, elle est tombée malade🚫
7. Ils vont se marier la semaine prochaine.
8. Avant de critiquer les autres, tu devrais te regarder dans le miroir!
9. Je n’aime pas les gens qui profitent des autres. 🚫
10. Je n’aime pas trop me vanter (brag), mais je suis quelqu’un de vraiment bien.

Where they should be used:

Se faire des amis
🚫 Don’t say: faire des amis
La situation s’est améliorée.
🚫 Don’t say: La situation est devenue mieux
Je vais me marier
🚫 Don’t say: Je vais marier
Ils se sont embrassés
🚫 Don’t say : Ils sont embrassés
On s’est promenés
🚫 Don’t say : On est promenés
Je me spécialise dans ce domaine
🚫 Don’t say : Je spécialise dans ce domaine
Je me lave les mains
🚫 Don’t say: Je lave mes mains

Answer 23

French with Frederic

Reflective verbs with on …

If you say on to mean nous, make sure to use the proper reflexive pronoun, which is se and not nous.

Nous voulons nous marier
We want to get married
On veut se marier
We want to get married
🚫 Don’t say: On veut nous marier, which would mean: they want to marry us!

Question 24

1. L’adjectif « tous »

Answer 24

Prof Guillaume

Question 25

2. Le pronom « tous »

Answer 25

Prof Guillaume

Question 26

3. L’adverbe « tout »

Answer 26

Prof Guillaume

Question 27

3. C’est féminin et pluriel, c’est simple : toutes

Answer 27

Prof Guillaume

Question 28

4. Prononciation:
   Le pronom « tous »

Answer 28

Prof Guillaume

Question 29

5. Prononciation:
   L’adjectif « tous »

Answer 29

Prof Guillaume

Question 30

30 Useful French Phrases

à la fin
in the end
à mon avis / quant à moi / selon moi
in my opinion
alors que
whereas
autrement dit
in other words
avant de conclure
before concluding…
bien que je puisse comprendre que
although I can understand that
cela va sans dire que
it goes without saying that
cependant
nevertheless
considérons
let’s consider
d’après moi
according to me
d’une part, d’autre part
on one hand, on the other hand
en ce qui concerne…
as far as … is concerned
en outre
furthermore / moreover
enfin
finally, at last
grâce à
thanks to
il est donc question de
it is a matter of
il faut bien reconnaître que
it must be recognised that
il semble que les avantages l’emportent sur les inconvenients
it seems that the advantages outweigh the disadvantages
il serait absurde de dire que
it would be absurd to say that
il vaut mieux
it is better to
je crois que
i think/ believe that
je soutiens donc que
I maintain that
je suis contre
I am against
je voudrais souligner que
I’d like to underline that
la premiere constatation qui s’impose, c’est que
the first thing to be noted is that
ne… ni… ni
neither… nor
pas forcément la faute de
not necessarily the fault of
pour commencer
to start with
selon moi
according to me
tout bien considéré
all things considered

Answer 30

talkinfrench.com

Question 31

Le bazar = Junk

Answer 31

Question 32

French Birthday Greetings

Let’s start with French birthday greetings. Birthday traditions in France are same as elsewhere: a cake, gifts, as well as singing of birthday songs. The birthday song is similar in tune to the “happy birthday to you” song you’re quite familiar with—but translated into French, of course.

Here are some common ways to greet people a happy birthday in French.

Joyeux anniversaire !
Happy birthday!

Bon anniversaire !
Happy birthday!

Bonne fête !
Happy birthday!

Que tu profites encore de nombreuses années !
May you enjoy many more years!

Que tous tes désirs se réalisent !
May all your wishes come true!

Je te souhaite plein de bonheur en cette journée spéciale.
Wishing you every happiness on your special day.

Je te souhaite tout plein de bonheur en cette journée particulière. Passe une merveilleuse journée !
Wishing you every happiness this special day brings. Have a wonderful birthday!

Joyeux anniversaire [zhwy euz ahn ee vehr seyr] and bon anniversaire [bohn ahn ee vehr seyr] are commonly used in France, but in French-speaking parts of Canada, it’s usually bonne fête [bohn fet].

Answer 32

Talkinfrench.Com

Question 33

French Wedding Anniversary Greetings

Joyeux anniversaire !
Happy Anniversary!

Joyeux …(ème) anniversaire de mariage !
Happy __th Anniversary!

Félicitations pour vos noces….
Congratulations on your ______ wedding anniversary!
…de porcelaine
porcelain (20th)
…d’argent
silver (25th)
…de perle
pearl (30th)
…de rubis
coral (35th)
…d’émeraude
ruby (40th)
…d’or
golden (50th)
…de diamant
diamond (60th)

Answer 33

Talkinfrench.Com

Question 34

How to Offer Your Condolences in French

Here is a list of French words of sympathy that you may use to condole and share in the sorrow of a grieving French person. We have added some details below to guide you on when to properly use these condolences.

Je vous prie de bien vouloir accepter mes sincères condoléances.
Please accept my sincere condolences.
Very basic and common phrase to offer sympathy.

Nous vous prions d’accepter nos sincères condoléances.
Please accept our most sincere sympathy.
Highly formal. may be used to offer condolences to people you are not very familiar with.

Nous sommes sincèrement désolés d’apprendre la disparition de _____…
We are sincerely sorry to hear about the passing of____.
This is usually reserved for close friends.

En ces moments difficiles nous tenions à vous faire part de nos sincères condoléances.
Please accept our deepest and most heartfelt condolences at this most difficult time.
May be used for close/ familiar friends.

Je suis de tout cœur avec vous.
I’m with you with all my heart and soul.
An informal way to offer sympathy and may be used with close friends and family.

Nous partageons votre peine en ce moment de deuil. Nos sincères condoléances, à vous et à votre famille.
We share your difficulty in this time of grieving. Our sincere condolences to you and to your family.
This one is also a little less formal than the others and may be used between families and friends who are quite familiar with each other.

Answer 34

Talkinfrench.Com

Question 35

French Christmas and New Year Greetings

Joyeux Noël !
Merry Christmas!

Bonnes Fêtes !
Happy Holidays!

Joyeuses Fêtes !
Happy Holidays!

Meilleurs Voeux !
Best wishes!

Joyeux Noël et Bonne Année !
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Joyeux Noël et Bonne Année de la part de…
Season’s greetings from…

Bonne Année !
Happy New Year!

Bonnes fêtes de fin d’année !
Happy Holidays!

Answer 35

Talkinfrench.Com

Question 36

General Congratulations

Félicitations pour… -
Congratulations on…
standard congratulations

Nous voudrions te féliciter pour…
We would like to send you our congratulations on…

Bien joué.
Well done.

Nous savions que tu pouvais le faire.
We knew you could do it.
Usually used with family and friends

Je veux vous féliciter.
I want to congratulate you.

Félicitations !
Congrats!
Informal

Chapeau !
Hats off to you!
This is an informal idiomatic expression that works similarly as with its English counterpart but may seem a bit old-fashioned.

Bravo!
Well done!

Bon travail !
good work!

The word félicitations is quite flexible and can work for all types of scenarios, and so does the verb it is derived from: féliciter.

Answer 36

Talkinfrench.Com

Question 37

Congratulations: New baby
So, someone you know is having a baby or just delivered a bundle of joy into the world. Here’s how to congratulate them in French.
Félicitations pour la naissance de votre petit garçon / petite fille !
Congratulations on the arrival of your new beautiful baby boy/girl!
Félicitations pour la nouvelle arrivée dans votre famille !
Congratulations on the new arrival in your family!
Nous sommes ravis d’apprendre la naissance de votre petit garçon / petite fille. Félicitations.
We are delighted to hear of the birth of your new baby boy/girl. Congratulations.

Answer 37

Talkinfrench.Com

Question 38

Congratulations: academic-related

Félicitations pour ton diplôme !
Congratulations on your graduation!

Félicitations pour tes examens !
Congratulations on passing your exams!

Bien joué pour les examens.
Well done on your exams.

Félicitations pour l’obtention de ton Master !
Congratulations on getting your Masters!

Félicitations pour ton entrée à l’université.
Well done on getting into University.

Answer 38

Talkinfrench.Com

Question 39

Congratulations and work-related well-wishes

Félicitations pour avoir décroché ce poste !
Congratulations on getting the job!
Félicitations pour ton avancement !
Congratulations on the promotion!
Nous te souhaitons beaucoup de succès dans cette prochaine étape professionnelle.
We wish you every success on your latest career move.
Nous te souhaitons bonne chance dans ton nouveau travail chez…
We wish you the best of luck in your new job at…
Bonne chance pour ta première journée chez…
Good luck on your first day at…

Answer 39

Talkinfrench.Com

Question 40

How to say “get well soon” in French

Prompt rétablissement.
[Wish you a] speedy recovery.

Rétablis-toi vite.
Get well soon.

Nous vous souhaitons un prompt rétablissement
We wish you a quick recovery.

Se sentir mieux bientôt
Feel better soon.

Je pense à toi et espère que tu te sentiras mieux très bientôt.
Thinking of you and hope you feel better soon.

Nous espérons que tu seras sur pieds d’ici peu.
We hope that you will be up on your feet soon.

Answer 40

Talkinfrench.Com

Question 41

General thanks …

Merci
Thank you

Merci beaucoup pour…
Many thanks for…

mille mercis
Thanks a thousand times

Je ne sais pas comment te remercier pour…
I really don’t know how to thank you for…

Nous voudrions vraiment remercier… du fond du cœur pour…
We would like to extend our warmest thanks to…for…

Nous te sommes très reconnaissants pour…
We are very grateful to you for…

C’est vraiment gentil de ta part.
It is really nice of you.

Je vous remercie.
I thank you. (very formal)

Je vous remercie de tout cœur.
I thank you from the bottom of my heart. (also formal and with more emphasis than the previous)

Je vous adresse mes plus vifs remerciements.
I send you my most sincere/warmest thanks. (usually in written formal thank you letters)

Answer 41

Talkinfrench.Com

Question 42

French Greetings

Answer 42

Talkinfrench.Com

Question 43

How to say « I miss » in French

✅ This is one of the most common mistakes in French. To talk about something that you miss, the word order is inverted. The thing or the person is missing to you!

I miss spring in Vermont
Le printemps au Vermont me manque

I miss you
Tu me manques

I miss Montreal
Montréal me manque

Do you miss me?
Est-ce que je te manque?

Do you miss her?
Est-ce qu’elle te manque?

Do you miss running?
Est-ce que la course te manque?

✅ S’ennuyer de quelque chose

Je m’ennuie de Montréal

In Quebec French, there is a more common expression that uses a different word order, more like English, but with the verb s’ennuyer de – literally: being bored of something.

Je m’ennuie de + QUELQUE CHOSE

Je m’ennuie du printemps au Vermont

Literally, this would mean, “I am bored from the spring in Vermont” but the meaning is completely different. The presence of the preposition de changes the meaning to: “I miss spring in Vermont.”

Our previous examples, in Quebec French, would translate to:

I miss you
Je m’ennuie de toi

I miss Montreal
Je m’ennuie de Montréal

Do you miss me?
Est-ce que tu t’ennuies de moi

Do you miss her?
Est-ce que tu t’ennuies d’elle?

This expression is French but is less common in France
In Quebec, it’s the most common way to say I miss

✅ Finally, to miss can also mean lack something.

I’m missing a screw to finish this Ikea desk
Here, we would say:

Il me manque une vis pour terminer ce bureau Ikea
Or, you can miss the bus. Which is translated to:

J’ai raté l’autobus
J’ai manqué l’autobus

Answer 43

French with Frederic

1. Do you miss Spain?
   Standard French: Est-ce que l’Espagne te manque?
   Quebec French: Est-ce que tu t’ennuies de l’Espagne?
2. I don’t miss Spain too much.
   Standard French: L’Espagne (ne) me manque pas trop.
   Quebec French: Je (ne) m’ennuie pas trop de l’Espagne.
3. They miss Montreal.
   Standard French: Montreal leur manque.
   Quebec French: Ils s’ennuient de Montréal.
4. I will miss my friends.
   Standard French: Mes amis vont me manquer.
   Quebec French: Je vais m’ennuyer de mes amis.
5. Will you miss me?
   Standard French: (Est-ce que) Je vais te manquer?
   Quebec French: (Est-ce que) Tu vas t’ennuyer de moi?

Question 44

Weather and Seasons (La météo et les saisons)

Weather conditions
Conditions atmosphériques

The weather is bad.
Il fait mauvais.

The weather is cloudy.
C’est nuageux.

The weather is cold.
Il fait froid.

The weather is cool.
Il fait frais.

The weather is foggy.
Il y a du brouillard.

The weather is gray.
Il fait gris/maussade.

The weather is hot.
Il fait chaud.

The weather is humid.
Il fait humide/lourd.

The weather is mild.
Il fait doux.

The weather is nice.
Il fait beau/bon.

The weather is rainy.
Il fait pluvieux.

The weather is stormy.
Il fait orageux.

The weather is sunny.
C’est ensoleillé

The weather is windy.
Il y a du vent/ C’est venteux.

It is freezing.
Il gèle

It is snowing.
Il neige.

It is hailing.
Il grêle.

It is raining.
Il pleut.

It is raining in torrents.
Il pleut à torrents.
QC Il pleut à boire debout 🌧️
QC Il tombe des cordes 🌧️

break/clear up
s’éclaircir

break in the weather
l’éclaircie (f)

breeze
la brise

fog
le brouillard

frost
le gel/le givre

hail
la grêle

heat
la chaleur

black ice
le verglas

ice
la glace/le gel/le verglas

mist
la brume

overcast
couvert(e)

rain
la pluie

rainbow
l’arc-en-ciel (m) 🌈

shower, rain shower
l’averse (f )

snow
la neige

sun
le soleil

thaw
le dégel

torrential rain
une pluie diluvienne

wind
le vent

coolness
la fraîcheur

Answer 44

talkinfrench.com

Monique:

Merci pour le vocabulaire ☺️

En français (québécois) nous disons tout ce vocabulaire. Mais j’utilise moins cette phrase:
Il pleut à torrents. Lorsqu’il pleut beaucoup nous disons plutôt: «Il pleut à boire debout» ou «Il tombe des cordes» 🌧️

Question 45

🚫 Je veux un paquet de pommes et un kilo de fraises s’il vous plait.

Le mot paquet ici n’est pas le mieux adapté à cette situation. Le mot paquet est utilisé plus souvent pour l’envoi d’un colis (a parcel/package) et le mot sachet est plus souvent pour contenir des aliments dans un emballage fin en papier ou en plastique.

✅ Par un exemple un sachet pour les croissants ou des fruits.

Ici on peut utiliser le mot sachet.

Je veux un sachet de pommes (même si on parlera plus souvent en kg) et un kilo de fraises s’il vous plait.

Je vous partage une liste en plus:

backpack – le sac à dos
barrel – le baril
basin – le lavabo
basket – le panier
beaker – le gobelet
bottle – la bouteille
box – la boîte
briefcase – la mallette
bucket – le seau
cabinet – l’armoire
canister – la boîte
carton – le carton
chest – le coffre

Answer 45

talkinfrench.com

Question 46

Informal interrogative sentences :

Inverting the subject and verb is a common way in asking a question in French. However, inversion is essentially found in formal French and not in informal conversations. Thus, if the word order is changed, then a formal and polite sentence quickly becomes informal, e.g. from “Où allez-vous?” (“Where are you going?”) to “Tu vas où?”

Answer 46

talkinfrench.com

Question 47

The Simple Guide to Informal French Grammar

BY FREDERIC BIBARD
Last Updated: August 31, 2022

Are you already speaking French so well but still sound as if you just came out of a French grammar book?
Do you feel so formal and out-of-place when speaking with native French speakers?
Well, let me let you in on one practical tip: try to speak a little bit informally!

When speaking in your own native language, you most likely use informal grammar structure at every other sentence (if not always) to better express your thoughts and emotions to your listeners. Certainly, every language has colloquial terms and French is no exemption.

To help you sound more natural when speaking French, here are some simple guidelines to keep in mind:

1. ‘tu’ and ‘vous’

Both of these words mean the same thing: you. But if you’re already familiar with the person you’re speaking to (such as friends and family), you can drop the highly formal vous and use tu instead.
For example:
Informal : Je te présente. I would like to introduce _____ to you.
Formal: Je vous présente.

Informal: Je t’en prie. You’re welcome.
Formal: Je vous en prie.

2. Contracted ‘tu’
   In informal French, ‘tu’ when followed by a verb that begins with a vowel will be shortened to t’. The most common way to do this is with tu as and tu es which become t’as and t’es.
   tu aimes —> t’aimes
   tu ouvres —> t’ouvres
   tu arrives —> t’arrives
   tu écoutes —> t’écoutes
   Remember though that this is only spoken in casual conversations and written in very informal contexts (like SMS between friends), not in newspapers, research, and the like.

Master French pronunciation and sound like a native with our pronunciation course.
Receive personalized feedback and guidance from a dedicated French teacher.

3. Drop ‘ne’ in negatives
   Usually, the French pair ne…pas is used to make a sentence negative. However, in a typical informal and familiar setting, the ne is often dropped in spoken French. Of course, proper French grammar would ‘negate’ this idea but since your goal is to sound more French then you can drop the ne. The meaning remaing the same.
   Tu ne comprends pas. —> Tu comprends pas. (You don’t understand.)
   Ne faites pas ça ! —> Faites pas ça! (Don’t do that!)
4. Informal interrogative sentences

Inverting the subject and verb is a common way in asking a question in French. However, inversion is essentially found in formal French and not in informal conversations. Thus, if the word order is changed, then a formal and polite sentence quickly becomes informal, e.g. from “Où allez-vous?” (“Where are you going?”) to “Tu vas où?”

5. Informal use of pronouns

For cela and ça which both mean “it” in English:
ça is used in informal speech and it frequently follows an interrogative to add emphasis, such as in “qui ça”?.
cela is used in formal speech
For nous and on:
Both pronouns mean the equivalent of ‘we’ and ‘us’ but in informal French, nous is often replaced by on, with some changes from plural verb and adjective (in nous) to singular verb and adjective (in on).

6. Unstressed e

When it is lodged in between consonants or at the end of short words, or even in conditional and future tenses of verbs, the unstressed e is often dropped in French slang.

7. Reduced forms: il(s), elle(s), puis, parce que, quelque

The pronouns il (“he”) and ils are reduced to y, while elle (“she”) and elles are reduced to è (when followed by a consonant). When followed by a vowel, il and elle are reduced to l’ whereas ils becomes y z’ or just z’ and elles becomes è’z’. The word puis is more commonly pronounced as pis, parce que is shortened to pasque, and quelque is pronounced as quèque.

8. Drop -re at end of words

You usually do not pronounce -re at the end of a word. However, for verbs (mettre) we still pronounce the –re a bit and quite softly.

9. The impersonal ‘il’

In French, the impersonal pronoun il (which corresponds to ‘it’ in English) is used in French when there is no person or agent responsible for doing the action described. When used in informal speech, however, the impersonal ‘il’ is usually omitted. For example. Il ne faut pas oublier becomes Faut pas oublier.

10. Don’t worry too much about grammatical rules

The most important thing that you shouldn’t miss when learning how to speak informal French is that…(drum roll, please)…you DON’T need to worry so much on what the grammar book has to say! Why, native speakers (in any language for that matter) all started with baby babble, right? Nobody ever started with a grammar book in the womb, that’s for sure. So, relax! It’s okay to forget some of those rules once in a while…if you want to sound naturally informal.
But remember that grammar is still very important for you to familiarize with.

Answer 47

talkinfrench.com

Question 48

How to Say Goodbye in French: 11 Ways to Say It Like a Native

BY FREDERIC BIBARD
Last Updated: June 5, 2023

1. Goodbye in French: Au revoir
   This is the classic French goodbye that you probably know already. You can use this in most situations, whether formal or casual. It means “till we see each other again”.
   Quick tip
   When you’re in a French shop or cafe, always remember to say “bonjour” when you come in and “au revoir” when you leave. It’s the polite thing to do when in France!
   But if you’re looking for other—more interesting–ways to say goodbye, check out the rest of the list below!
2. Farewell in French: Adieu
   This goodbye is a bit grim. It literally means, “to God” and it sounds quite antiquated when you use it. Still, you can use this in cases when the goodbye is quite final or you’re sure you’re never going to see each other again. Like, such as when when one of you is in his or her deathbed (told you, it’s grim) or perhaps you’re breaking up and never want to see each other’s faces again. You bid them which is farewell in French.

You can also say it jokingly to a buddy who’s facing something potentially horrible (like being called to a manager’s office or called for “The Talk” with the wife or girlfriend). If the above mentioned scenarios aren’t present, then steer clear of this type of goodbye in French.

3. See you soon in French: À bientôt
   À bientôt can be used either formally or informally, when you know you’ll be seeing the other person again soon.
   Going to be separated for a few hours only? Say “À très bientôt”. See you very soon.
4. See you tomorrow in French: À demain
   If you’re planning to see the other person tomorrow, this is how to say goodbye.
5. Have a good day /afternoon/ evening in French: Bonne journée / Bon(ne) après-midi/ Bonne soirée
   These French greetings could also be used as a formal way to say goodbye when you’re about to part ways with someone depending on the time of the day.
   Say bonne journée when you’re saying goodbye during the day, bonne après-midi in the afternoon, and bonne soirée in the evening.

Casual ways to say goodbye in French
The greetings mentioned above are mostly used in formal settings. In a very polite society like France, be mindful of using formal goodbyes with people you are still in vous terms with.
Now when you’re with good friends, it’s a different story altogether. You don’t have to be too formal around them anymore. Loosen up! Here are some informal ways to say goodbye in French.

6. Bye in French: Salut !
   You already know that “salut” means hi. But here, we’re talking about how you can also use it to say bye in French. It’s very casual though, and is mostly used among very tight friends or teens.
7. See you next time in French: À la prochaine
   If you wanna say goodbye to someone but you’re not sure when when you’ll be seeing him or her again, say “À la prochaine”.
8. See you in a little while in French: À tout de suite
   This one is for when you’ll be seeing each other shortly. For example, you’re having lunch with someone but you need to step out quickly to buy something before you meet up again for coffee. Say “À tout de suite”. See you in a short while!
9. See you later today in French: À tout à l’heure
   If you’re sure you’ll be seeing someone later that day, let’s say, you’re planning to meet up for apéro, say “À tout à l’heure”. See you later today.
10. See you later in French: À plus tard
    Another way to say see you later in French, you’ll see this one often abbreviated by the French as A+ in text messages, emails, or chat.

You can also simply say “à plus”, the shorter version of see you later.

11. The Italian Bye: Ciao

Confused why this one’s included in the list? Don’t be! Ciao, the Italian way to say hi and goodbye, is also used often in France and Quebec. So feel free to say it in informal conversations!

Question 49

Douter versus se douter : Reflexive Verbs That Change Meaning

Bonjour Arline!

You think you’ve got reflexive verbs down pat until you see a verb like “se douter.” You’ve seen reflexive verbs before like se laver and s’habiller, so you assume se douter must mean “to doubt oneself.”

I know because I’ve been there! This verb appears in French novels all the time. It’s so embarrassing to admit that I didn’t look it up for the first 2 years of reading in French until finally I realized that it had to mean something different than “to doubt oneself.”

In this week’s lesson, let’s tackle French verbs that change meaning when they are reflexive!

1. S’en aller vs. Aller

Aller (to go): This one’s straightforward! Use “aller” for any kind of movement to a place.
S’en aller (to leave): This adds a nuance of departure, often with a sense of finality or goodbyes.
Je vais au marché. (I’m going to the market.)
Il s’en est allé sans rien dire. (He left without saying anything.)

2. S’attendre à vs. Attendre

Attendre (to wait): This simply means to wait for something or someone.
S’attendre à (to expect): This implies an anticipation of something, often based on a belief or assumption.
J’attends le bus. (I’m waiting for the bus.)
Pourquoi est-ce que tu t’attends au pire? (Why do you expect the worst?)

3. Se demander vs. Demander

Demander (to ask): This is for directly asking someone a question.
Se demander (to wonder): This is an internal question you ask yourself, essentially wondering about something.
Tu lui as demandé, mais il ne savait pas. (You asked him, but he didn’t know)
Je me demande s’il viendra. (I wonder if he will come.)

4. Se douter vs. Douter

Douter (to doubt): This is a general statement of uncertainty about something.
Se douter de (to suspect): This implies a specific suspicion about something or someone.
Je doute qu’il réussisse. (I doubt he will succeed.) Note we use our friend, le subjonctif, after “Je doute que”
Je me doutais qu’il mentait. (I suspected he was lying.) Note that we do not use the subjunctive here.

5. S’ennuyer vs. Ennuyer

Ennuyer (to bore): This means to make someone feel bored.
S’ennuyer (to be bored): This means you yourself are experiencing boredom.
Ce film m’ennuie. (This movie bores me.) Notice the m’ here is not reflexive. This movie bores me, which is a direct object here.
Je m’ennuie à la maison. (I’m bored at home.) The me here is reflexive.

6. S’installer vs. Installer

Installer (to install): This verb is used when you put something in place to be used, often referring to setting up something mechanical or technical.
S’installer (to settle in): This reflexive verb focuses on the act of making yourself comfortable in a new location.
J’installe une nouvelle étagère dans ma cuisine. (I’m installing a new shelf in my kitchen.)
Nous nous sommes installés dans notre nouvelle maison la semaine dernière. (We settled into our new house last week.)

7. Se rendre vs. Rendre

Rendre (to give back): This verb is used when you return something to someone or a place.
Se rendre (to go to a place; to get to a place): This reflexive verb emphasizes the act of traveling to a specific location, often with a purpose.
Veuillez rendre les livres à la bibliothèque. (Please return the books to the library.)
Elle doit se rendre à l’hôpital pour son rendez-vous. (She needs to go to the hospital for her appointment.)

Answer 49

Elevate français

Question 50

Je m’intéresse à …
Comment parler de ce qui nous passionne

FREDERIC PATENAUDE
APR 2

One of the most common topics in any language is talking about our interests. Yet, it’s easy to make mistake with this seemingly “beginner” talk.

Let’s start with being interested in something

⛔️ First, you cannot say je suis intéressé dans quelque chose
⛔️ It’s also incorrect to say je m’intéresse pour l’histoire

To say I’m interested in history you can say

1. Je m’intéresse à l’histoire
2. Je suis intéressé par l’histoire
3. L’histoire m’intéresse
4. L’histoire est quelque chose qui m’intéresse
5. L’histoire, je trouve ça intéressant

Note that in the third example, you say that history is “something that interests you.”

Answer 50

French with Frederic

Let’s take a look at a few real-life examples

1. « La jeune Simone a reçu de ses parents une éducation stricte basée sur le respect, le dialogue. Elle s’intéresse à tout ce qui est social, au service de l’autre. »
   The young Simone received from her parents a strict education based on respect and dialogue. She is interested in everything social, in helping others.
2. « Comme son confrère, Dominik est moins intéressé par l’individu que le système dont il est complice ou victime. »
   Like his colleague, Dominik is less interested in the individual than in the system of which he is an accomplice or victim.
3. « Ce qui m’intéresse dans les affaires criminelles, c’est ce qu’elles révèlent du monde dans lequel nous vivons. »
   What interests me in criminal cases is what they reveal about the world we live in.
4. « Je trouve ça intéressant que le film aborde ces questions. »
   I find it interesting that the film addresses these issues.

Translate into French. More than one answer is possible.

1. I’m interested in foreign languages.
2. She’s not interested in her job at all.
3. Are you interested?
4. What product are you interested in?
5. He was also interested in movies.

Je m’intéresse aux langues étrangères.
Elle n’est pas du tout intéressée par son travail.
Es-tu intéressé ?
Quel est le produit qui vous intéresse ?
Il s’intéressait aussi au cinéma.

Question 51

To be passionate about …
Comment parler de ce qui nous passionne

FREDERIC PATENAUDE
APR 2

Often with French, the word order is reversed. To say I’m passionate about languages you can say

1. Les langues me passionnent
2. Je suis passionné par les langues
3. Je suis passionné de langues

Note that in the first example, you say something like: languages are a passion to me.

Let’s look at some examples.

1. « Ce passionné de camions s’est construit son propre camping-car et c’est très impressionnant. »
   This truck enthusiast built his own motorhome, and it is very impressive.
2. « Ce qui me passionne, c’est d’apprendre des choses que j’ignore. »
   What excites me is to learn things I don’t know.
3. « Le jeune homme est passionné par le travail du fer depuis l’adolescence et est forgeron depuis trois ans. »
   The young man has been passionate about working with ironworking since he was a teenager and has been a blacksmith for three years.

Answer 51

French with Frederic

Translate into French, using some form of passionné.

1. I’m passionate about understanding how the world works.
2. I’m passionate about football.
3. She’s a CrossFit enthusiast.
4. Let me talk to you about what I love (what’s a passion to me).
5. I’m passionate about learning French.

Ce qui me passionne, c’est de comprendre comment le monde fonctionne.
Je suis passionné de football.
Elle est passionnée de CrossFit.
Laissez-moi vous parler de ce qui me passionne.
Je suis passionné par l’apprentissage du français.

Question 52

Tout, toute, tous et toutes …

Toute la journée (all day long)
Tous les jours (every day/each day)

⛔️ Ma mère et ma soeur vont tous les deux à Paris. My mother and my sister both go to Paris.

Here it should be “toutes les deux”. Both are women so “tout” (every/both) should agree in gender and in number when applicable.

Answer 52

talkinfrench.com

Question 53

Correct, c’est juste, tout à fait …

On peut dire « correct » ou bien « c’est juste ». Les deux mots ont le même sens MAIS la structure de la phrase est un peu différente.

Vous pouvez aussi dire dans des situations « tout à fait ». Je l’utilise assez souvent.

Malheureusement « c’est correct » n’est pas naturel.

⛔️ « C’est correct »

Answer 53

talkinfrench.com

Question 54

Mieux parler de la météo en français

FREDERIC PATENAUDE
APR 13

Est-ce qu’il fait beau aujourd’hui?
Il fait combien aujourd’hui?
La météo dit quoi pour aujourd’hui?
Quel temps magnifique!
C’est nuageux, il va peut-être pleuvoir
Il vente
Il y a du brouillard
Il fait 25 degrés
Il fait 25
Il fait moins 25
Il pleut
Il neige
Il fait soleil dehors, mais il y a une petite brise fraîche
Ce matin, il va faire un maximum de 5 degrés
Le soleil brille!
Il fait froid!
Il fait très chaud!
Il y a du soleil aujourd’hui

Answer 54

talkinfrench.com

Question 55

Conjugaison avec être (et, des fois, avec avoir) :

FREDERIC PATENAUDE
APR 28

As you know, in French, some verbs are conjugated in the past with être, while the majority are conjugated with avoir. But it’s a little trickier than it seems.

Don’t say
⛔️ J’ai resté longtemps.
Say
👍 Je suis resté longtemps.

Don’t say
⛔️ J’ai sorti de chez moi.
Say
👍 Je suis sorti de chez moi.

There are only a handful of verbs that are conjugated with être, so it’s worth memorizing them. They are:

Devenir, Revenir, Monter, Rester, Sortir, Venir, Aller, Naître, Descendre, Entrer, Rentrer, Tomber, Retourner, Arriver, Mourir, Partir, Passer

There is the idea of movement or transformation in all those verbs.

✅However, if those verbs are used transitively, meaning that there’s a direct object, or the action is done on someone or something, then we use the auxiliary avoir. That means that some of those verbs can be conjugated with both avoir and être, depending on the meaning.

Je suis monté au deuxième étage
I went up to the second floor

J’ai monté les valises au deuxième étage
I took the suitcases up to the second floor

Je suis sorti hier avec des amis
I went out yesterday with friends

J’ai sorti les ordures hier
I took out the trash yesterday

Je suis descendu au sous-sol
I went down to the basement

J’ai descendu les valises au sous-sol
I took the suitcases down to the basement

Je suis retourné chez moi
I went back to my house

J’ai retourné le colis
I returned the package

Je suis passé chez moi chercher mes clés
I stopped by my house to get my keys

J’ai passé l’aspirateur
I vacuumed the house

Answer 55

✅ Sortir avec quelqu’un

To go out with someone is sortir avec quelqu’un. Normally, sortir would be conjugated with être.

But in Quebec, when the meaning is a romantic relationship, we conjugate it with avoir.

J’ai sorti deux ans avec elle
Oui, j’ai sorti quelque temps avec lui

When the meaning is going out with friends, we conjugate it with avoir.

Je suis sorti hier avec des amis.
On est sortis dans un bar.

✅ Déménager

Another important note. Déménager is conjugated with avoir. But it can be conjugated with avoir to make the state of having moved.

Ils ont déménagé plusieurs fois au cours des dernières années
They’ve moved several times in recent years
Ils sont déménagés depuis peu
They moved recently

✅ Reflexive verbs

Reflexive verbs ou les verbes pronominaux are also conjugated with être in the passé composé. This means that they can often be conjugated with avoir when the same verbs exist in a non-reflexive form.

Je me suis rasé la barbe
I shaved my beard
J’ai rasé la barbe de mon père, car je suis barbier
I shaved my father’s beard because I am a barber

Je me suis trompé
I made a mistake
Il a trompé les électeurs
He deceived the voters

This all sounds very complicated, but, it just comes down to practice. The number of verbs that are only conjugated with être is limited. Otherwise, it’s just a question of meaning. Try the following exercise and pay more attention to reflexive verbs and how verbs are conjugated when you read in French.

✅ Exercise

Find mistakes in the following examples and correct them.

⛔️ J’ai souvent été en France.
Je suis né en 1988.
⛔️ Il a sorti pour avertir le voisin
Je me suis senti un peu mal.
⛔️ Il est senti les fleurs.
Elle a rentré les coussins, parce qu’il pleuvait.
Il a passé beaucoup de temps chez lui.
⛔️ J’ai resté longtemps sans réponse.
J’ai monté les valises.
Il est retourné la chercher.
Elle est restée chez elle.
⛔️ Je m’ai trompé.
Céline Dion a sorti un nouvel album.
Elle est arrivée à cinq heures.
C’est devenu invivable.
⛔️ Il a retourné chez lui.
⛔️ Je me suis déménagé à Montréal.
Ça a été une grande surprise.
Je me suis levé en retard ⏰.
⛔️On a sortis dans un bar.

Answers

(Corrected) mistakes are:

Je suis souvent allé en France.
Il est sorti pour avertir le voisin.
Il a senti les fleurs.
Je suis resté longtemps sans réponse.
Je me suis trompé.
Il est retourné chez lui.
J’ai déménagé à Montréal.
On est sortis dans un bar.

Question 56

Amener, apporter, emmener, emporter

Frederic Patenaude
May 12, 2024

• Amener is used to bring people somewhere
• Apporter is used to carry objects somewhere
• Emmener is used to bring a person from somewhere
• Emporter is used to carry objects from somewhere

Let’s break them down into two pairs

Amener / Emmener
Apporter / Emporter
When we look at the roots of the word, mener in French means “lead to” and porter means “to carry.” So, the first distinction is that amener and emmener is used for people (and animals). Apporter and emporter is used for items that are carried.

The following examples will tell us everything we need to know.

• Est-ce que tu veux que j’apporte quelque chose? Une bouteille de vin?
Do you want me to bring something? A bottle of wine?
• Repas pour emporter
Take-out meals
• Je vais amener mes enfants à l’école
I will bring my children to school
• Tu peux amener des amis!
You can bring friends!
• Ça m’a amené à prendre de meilleures décisions
It led me to take better decisions
• On va passer la journée à la plage. Apporte un livre!
We’ll spend the day at the beach. Bring a book!
• Je veux t’emmener au musée
I want to take you to the museum
• Je me suis laissé emporter!
I got carried away!
• N’oublie pas d’emporter ton parapluie
Don’t forget to bring (along) your umbrella

These word pairs are often misused by native speakers. It’s common to hear:
⛔️ Est-ce que tu veux que j’amène quelque chose?
It should be: ✔️ Est-ce que tu veux que j’apporte quelque chose?

So the “mistake” made by French speakers is to use amener instead of apporter. However, we never make the mistake of using apporter instead of amener.

Answer 56

French with Frederic

Here are some more examples of how these words are used in the real world

• Des salades gourmandes à emporter au bureau
Gourmet salads to take to the office
👉 Here, you take the salads from your home to the office, so emporter is used. Apporter could have also been used.
• L’équipe du CH veut l’emporter en trois manches
CH team wants to win in three sets
👉 Here, l’emporter means “to win”
• La Maison Blanche se dit prête à apporter son aide dans la crise de l’eau au Mississippi
White House says it’s ready to help with Mississippi water crisis
👉 To bring help to someone, is apporter son aide
• La liste des choses à apporter le premier jour à la maternelle
The list of things to bring on the first day of kindergarten
• Emmener ma famille à la plage me coûte trop cher
Taking my family to the beach is too expensive
👉 To take your family, so people, from your home to the beach: so emmener is used. Again, amener could have been used without causing a linguistic debate
• Le premier réflexe doit amener à contacter son médecin traitant
The first instinct should be to contact your primary care physician
👉 Here, amener means “lead to”

Exercise

Choose between emporter, apporter, emmener, amener.

1. Quand je vais à la plage, j’_____ toujours un livre.
2. Qu’est-ce qui t’_____ Montréal?
3. Qu’est-ce que tu veux que j’_____, une bouteille de vin peut-être?
4. Monte dans la voiture! Je t’_____.
5. J’_____ les enfants au musée.
6. Ce pays _____ aide à son allié.
7. Ce restaurant offre maintenant des repas pour _____.
8. J’_____ mon chien partout avec moi.
9. Quoi _____ lors d’un déménagement?
10. Ces Québécoises qui _____ leur chien au travail.

Answers

1. Quand je vais à la plage, j’emporte toujours un livre.
2. Qu’est-ce qui t’amène à Montréal?
3. Qu’est-ce que tu veux que j’apporte, une bouteille de vin peut-être?
4. Monte dans la voiture! Je t’emmène.
5. J’emmène les enfants au musée.
6. Ce pays apporte son aide à son allié.
7. Ce restaurant offre maintenant des repas pour emporter.
8. J’amène mon chien partout avec moi.
9. Quoi apporter lors d’un déménagement?
10. Ces Québécoises qui emmènent leur chien au travail.

Question 57

La voix active et passive

Answer 57

Oh la France

Question 58

… mais c’est sûr qu’elle va vous donner du fil à retordre pendant un moment :-)

Answer 58

… but [Reba] will certainly give you a hard time for a while :-)

Sabrina Berry

Question 59

Informal interrogative sentences …

Inverting the subject and verb is a common way in asking a question in French. However, inversion is essentially found in formal French and not in informal conversations. Thus, if the word order is changed, then a formal and polite sentence quickly becomes informal, e.g. from “Où allez-vous?” (“Where are you going?”) to “Tu vas où?”

[NOTE: Inversion is used much less in Québec. See French with Frederic article.]

Question 60

En même temps …

One issue I noticed recently is the misuse of the words “at the same time”. People tend to do a direct translation.

Several students would write ⛔️ à la même temps when actually we should say ✔️en même temps.

Answer 60

talkinfrench.com

Question 61

Présentement (Can.) = actuellement (Fr.) = currently

J’ai récemment vu dans une conversation d’un élève le mot PRÉSENTEMENT. Ce mot qu’on peut traduire par “currently” n’est pas utilisé en France mais ✔️ au Canada.

Les Français utiliseront plutôt le mot actuellement (qui ne veut pas dire “actually” en anglais).

Answer 61

talkinfrench.com

Question 62

Take care …

Prends soin de toi
Prenez bien soin de vous
Fais attention à toi
Faite attention à vous

Answer 62

talkinfrench.com

Question 63

Amener, emmener, apporter, emporter : DIAGRAMME TRÈS UTILE

J’amène (I bring someone), j’emmène (I take someone), j’apporte (I bring something), j’emporte (I take something)

Answer 63

A Cup of French (Amarie)

Question 64

✔️When writing down the French days of the week, the first letters are not capitalized.
✔️When talking about something that happens repeatedly on a particular day of the week, use the definite article le before the name of the day. Example: Je vois Alice le dimanche. I see Alice on Sundays.
✔️When you’re talking about a one-time event, don’t use an article with the name of the day of the week. Example: J’ai vu Philippe vendredi. I saw Philippe on Friday
✔️To say what day of the week today is, the French say “we are …..” Aujourd’hui, nous sommes mercredi. Today is Wednesday.

Answer 64

talkinfrench.com

Question 65

When talking about a year in French, you either use ‘an’ or ‘année’.
With years that end in 0, use ‘an’.

C’est l’an 2020. It’s the year 2020.
C’est l’an 2000. It’s the year 2000.
En l’an 1990. In the year 1990.
En 1990. In 1990.

With years that end in any other number that is not zero, use ‘année’.
C’est l’année 2018. It’s the year 2018. It’s 2018.
En 1983. In 1983
C’est 1999. It’s 1999

Answer 65

talkinfrench.com

Question 66

How to say the date in French …

Use the following format:
LE + NUMBER + MONTH + YEAR
Some examples:
Aujourd’hui, nous sommes le 9 janvier 2019. Today is January 9, 2019.
Mon anniversaire est le 6 mai 1990. My birthday is May 6, 1990.
J’ai un rendez-vous le 31 janvier 2019. I have an appointment on January 31, 2019.

Answer 66

talkinfrench.com

Question 67

Are «it’s pouring» and «it’s raining cats and dogs» mean the same thing?

«Il pleut des cordes»
«Il pleut à verse»
«Il pleut à boire debout»
«Il mouille à sciaux» (plus slang)

Ces phrases veulent toutes dire qu’il pleut fort, qu’il pleut beaucoup! Au Québec, elles sont toutes très souvent utilisées 🌧️

Answer 67

(Amarie)

Question 68

Nouveau vs Neuf …

✔️ There is a difference between neuf/neuve and nouveau/nouvelle.

Léo a reçu un vélo tout neuf pour son anniversaire
Leo received a brand new bike for his birthday
J’ai acheté un nouveau vélo.
I bought a new bike
C’est une voiture d’occasion?
- Non, elle est neuve
Is it a second-hand car?
- No, it’s new
Emilie a trouvé sa nouvelle table au marché aux puces
Emilie found her new table at the flea market

✔️ While both mean “new,” neuf implies that it’s never been used before, brand new (Note that it cannot apply to living things, e.g. pets), whereas nouveau just means “new” in a more general sense.

✔️ Neuf is placed AFTER the noun

✔️ Nouveau is placed BEFORE the noun

The meaning changes if you change the placement of the adjective

J’ai acheté une nouvelle auto
This car will replace my old car: It could be a few years old, but it’s new compared to the old car
J’ai acheté une auto neuve
This car is brand-new
J’ai une nouvelle chemise
This is a new shirt (new to me, but it could be vintage)
J’ai acheté une chemise neuve
It’s brand new, never worn before

Answer 68

talkinfrench.com

Nouveau vs. Neuf

1. Il a acheté un nouvel ordinateur.
2. C’est une maison neuve.
3. Voici mon nouveau téléphone.
4. Elle a reçu une voiture neuve pour Noël.
5. J’ai trouvé une nouvelle lampe au marché.
6. Son nouvel appartement est très moderne.
7. Ils ont une nouvelle cuisine équipée.
8. Mon nouveau vélo est en réparation.
9. Ce livre est neuf, personne ne l’a lu avant.
10. Il a besoin d’un nouveau costume pour le mariage.

Question 69

Pendant et Depuis …

✔️ Depuis marks time passed, and often translates to since, but sometimes for.
✔️ Durant = during
✔️ Pendant expresses a period of time, and often means for or during.
✔️ Pendant que = while

Examples

Il est à Montréal depuis un an
He’s been in Montréal for a year

Elle attend depuis 10 heures
She’s been waiting for 10 hours

Je ne l’ai pas vu depuis hier
I haven’t seen him since yesterday

Depuis qu’il est revenu chez lui, il agit bizarrement
Since he came back home, he’s been acting strange

L’hôtel est seulement ouvert durant l’été
The hotel is only open during the summer

Pendant que ma grand-mère était malade, je suis souvent allé à l’hôpital
While my mother was sick, I often went to the hospital

Answer 69

talkinfrench.com

Question 70

Ça fait / il y a / depuis …

To clarify the confusion between these different ways of expressing time, let’s take a look at these examples

Tu t’entraines depuis combien de temps?
You’ve been working out for how long?

Ça fait combien de temps que tu t’entraines?
It’s been how long since you started working out?

Je ne suis pas allé à Montréal depuis dix ans
I haven’t been to Montreal in ten years

Ça fait dix ans que je ne suis pas allé à Montréal
It’s been ten years since I’ve (not) been to Montreal

Je suis arrivé à Montréal il y a dix ans
I came to Montreal ten years ago

Ça fait 10 ans que j’habite à Montréal
I’ve been living in Montreal for 10 years

Note that I’m not always translating those examples in the same way, because French and English have a slightly different ways of expressing time.

Ago

When you want to say ago, you can generally say il y a.

But, resist the temptation of ending the sentence with a word that you think might replace ago.

Don’t say
🚫 10 ans passé, j’étais en bien meilleure forme.

Say instead
👍 Il y a dix ans, j’étais en bien meilleure forme

Ça fait… que

This expression is easier to use and more casual.

Ça fait dix ans qu’on est ensemble
We’ve been together for 10 years

Answer 70

talkinfrench.com

Question 71

Toujours vs. encore …

Consider the following examples

Elle n’a toujours pas été retrouvée
She has still not been found

Elle n’a pas encore été retrouvée
She has not yet been found

Je ne suis pas encore marié
I’m not married yet

Je ne suis toujours pas marié
I’m still not married

How would you translate the following into English?

Il n’y a toujours pas de touristes à Montréal
Il n’y a pas encore de touristes
J’ai toujours faim.
J’ai encore faim.
Je suis toujours au bureau.
Je suis encore au bureau.

Possible answers

(There are) Still no tourists in Montreal
No tourists yet
I’m always hungry. (Or: I’m still hungry)
I’m still hungry.
I’m always at the office (Or: I’m still at the office)
I’m still in the office.

✔️ As you can see, sometimes the meaning of encore and toujours can overlap.

✔️ Encore can mean “again”

J’ai encore perdu mes clés!
I’ve lost my keys again

✔️ Toujours can mean “always”

Je perds toujours mes clés!
I always lose my keys

✔️ Both toujours and encore can mean “still”

Je suis toujours au bureau
I’m always at work
OR: I’m still at work
Je suis encore au bureau.
I’m still at work (Or: I’m at the office again!)
Here, it can mean “again”

✔️ In the negative, to mean we either say pas encore or toujours pas.

I still haven’t finished my novel
Je n’ai toujours pas terminé mon roman
Je n’ai pas encore terminé mon roman
Pas encore, means “not yet” or “not again”

Est-ce que tu as soupé?
Non, pas encore
J’ai perdu mes clés
Ah non, pas encore!

So, let’s go back to our original examples.

Il n’y a toujours pas de touristes à Montréal
There are still no tourists in Montréal
Il n’y a pas encore de touristes
There are no tourists yet
J’ai toujours faim
I’m always hungry
J’ai encore faim
I’m hungry again
Je suis toujours au bureau
I’m still at work. (OR: I’m always at work)
Je suis encore au bureau
I’m still at work

Answer 71

talkinfrench.com

Question 72

Sentir, ressentir, se sentir …

Let’s talk feelings en français
Bonjour Arline!

In today’s lesson, let’s untangle three tricky French verbs that cause a lot of confusion for learners: sentir, ressentir, & se sentir!

1. Sentir (to feel):
   Focus: Perceiving something external through the senses (touch, taste, smell)
   Examples:
   Je sens une odeur délicieuse. I smell a delicious odor.
   Je sens le soleil sur ma peau. I feel the sun on my skin.
   Est-ce que tu sens quelque chose de brûlé ? Do you smell something burning?
   Ça sent bon, la pizza! The pizza smells good!
2. Ressentir (to feel deeply):
   Focus: Internal emotions and strong feelings
   Examples:
   Je ressens de la joie pour ta réussite. I feel joy for your success.
   Il ressent une profonde tristesse. He feels deep sadness.
   Elle ressent de la colère contre cette injustice. She feels anger towards this injustice.
3. Se sentir (to feel a general, everyday emotion):
   Focus: One’s own general state or well-being
   Examples:
   Comment tu te sens aujourd’hui ? How are you feeling today?
   Je me sens fatigué. I feel tired.
   Elle se sent prête à partir. She feels ready to leave.

Key Takeaways:
✔️ Sentir deals with the senses.
✔️ Ressentir emphasizes strong emotions.
✔️ Se sentir describes your everyday feelings and emotions.

Bonus Tip:
“Se ressentir de” (to feel the effects of) expresses a lasting consequence of an event on your well-being.
Example: Je me ressens encore de la grippe. I still feel the effects of the flu.

Ça y est! You’re ready to talk about your feelings en français.

Answer 72

Dr Nat—Elevate French

Question 73

J’ai fini vs je suis fini …

Le mois dernier une élève qui a un excellent niveau de français a écrit.

Je suis fini

Au lieu de « J’ai fini ».

Je comprends l’erreur puisqu’en anglais on dit « I am done » mais en français

Je suis fini = Je suis mort

Ici on ne parle pas d’une mort physique mais plus de l’idée que j’ai ratée quelque chose et que je risque une réprimande ou une sanction.

Par exemple :

J’ai envoyé un million de dollars à tous les employés. Mon patron va me punir. Je suis fini.

Ou bien
Mince ! J’ai cassé la voiture de mon père. Je suis fini.

Answer 73

talkinfrench.com

Question 74

French Relative Pronouns: All You Need to Know About Pronoms Relatifs … EXCELLENT ARTICLE

BY FREDERIC BIBARD
Last Updated: June 1, 2023

When it comes to French, relative pronouns work the same way as in English. These are the words qui, que, lequel, auquel, duquel, dont and où.

1. qui and que
   Qui and que can both be used to refer to persons or things. The main difference is, qui is used for the subject (or indirect object for persons) while que is for the direct object. Qui is also being used after a preposition (à, de or pour)

✔️ Qui (subject) could mean who, which, or that.
✔️ Que (direct object) could mean who, whom, which, or that.

A few examples:
Mon frère, qui a vingt ans, est à l’université. (My brother, who’s twenty, is at university.)
*Est-ce qu’il y a un bus qui va au centre-ville? (ls there a bus that goes to the town centre?)
Les amis que je vois le plus sont Léa et Mehdi. (The friends that I see most are Lea and Mehdi.)
Voilà la maison que nous voulons acheter. (That’s the house which we want to buy.)
la personne à qui il parle (the person he is speaking to)
les enfants pour qui j’ai acheté des bonbons (the children I bought sweets for)
*Kindly note that que is shortened to qu’ if it precedes a word that starts with a vowel or most words that begin with a letter h.
Quick reminder

✅ Here’s a major difference between English and French relative pronouns: in English, who, which and that are often being interchanged in daily use. In French, however, this in not the case. Qui and que strictly have separate uses for each.

2. lequel
   Lequel is the French relative pronoun counterpart for “which” and it is used for indirect objects. It follows the prepositions à, de or pour and only used when referring to things (never about people). In addition, it has to agree with the noun’s gender (masculine or feminine) and number (singular or plural).

✔️Masculine singular : lequel
✔️Feminine singular : laquelle
✔️Masculine plural : lesquels
✔️Feminine plural : lesquelles
All four means “which”

Some examples:
le livre pour lequel elle est connue (the book she is famous for)
la table sur laquelle j’ai mis mon sac (the table I put my bag on)

Aside from having to agree with the noun’s gender and count, you also need to consider the combinations of words which, in turn, creates an altogether new word.

For example:
à + the definite article le becomes au.
de + the definite article le becomes du.
à + the definite article les becomes aux.
de + the definite article les becomes des.

Similarly, lequel changes into different words when combined with the preposition à and de.

à + lequel
auquel
à + laquelle
à laquelle (remains the same)
à + lesquels
auxquels
à + lesquelles
auxquelles
de + lequel
duquel
de + laquelle
de laquelle (remains the same)
de + lesquels
desquels
de + lesquelles
desquelles

3. dont
   Another French relative pronoun is dont. When translated in English, it means whose, of whom, of which. It may be used to refer to persons or things. The good news is, it does not change its form, nor does it have to agree with anything!

Let’s see some examples:
Plural noun: les films dont tu parles (the films you are talking about)
Singular noun: la femme dont la voiture est en panne (the woman whose car has broken down)

4. où
   This French relative pronoun is used for places and times. Its English counterpart could either be where, when or even which and that, depending on how it is used.
   Où is also used as the question word where (see article on ASKING QUESTIONS IN FRENCH) and the way it is used as an interrogative pronoun is basically the same as its use as a relative pronoun. There is an added function however, and that is to refer to a time something occurred.
   In short, it covers both place and time in its relative pronoun function and takes the job of “when” as well, aside from “where”. (Note: the interrogative pronoun “quand” is not as multifunctional as où and cannot be used as a relative pronoun.)

Some examples:
Paris est la ville où on peut manger les meilleurs escargots. (Paris is the city where we can eat the best snails.)
C’est l’année où ils ont gagné la coupe du monde. (That’s the year they won the world cup.)

In addition, où can also be used after prepositions.
La ville d’où elle vient… The city (where) she’s from…

✅ Quick Recap on French Relative Pronouns
Relative pronouns in English are the words who, which, that, whom and where. In French, we have qui, que, lequel, auquel, duquel, dont and où.

✔️Qui is used for the subject while que is for direct objects and after a preposition. Both can refer to persons or things.
✔️Lequel is used to refer to a thing and has to agree with the noun it refers to. It is used for indirect objects.
✔️Dont suggests possession and it can refer to both persons or things. It never changes in form.
✔️Où indicates the place and time and can mean where, when, which or that, depending on how it is used.

Answer 74

talkinfrench.com

Question 75

Légumes (Monique) …

J’adore ton dessin des légumes. Je préfères des betteraves au beurre, des carottes crues et des tomates en sandwich !

Answer 75

Brocoli (broccoli) m.
Carottes (carrots) f.
Tomates (tomatoes) f.
Poivron (pepper) m.
Aubergine (eggplant) f.
Avocat (avocado) m.
Asperge (asparagus) f.
Courge (squash) f.
Haricots (beans) m.
Poireau (leak, scallion) m.
Betteraves (beets) f.
Chou (cabbage) m.

Question 76

Décoller et atterrir :
To take off and land

Answer 76

Le décollage et l’atterrissage :
Take-off and landing

Question 77

Objects

Answer 77

Duolingo

Question 78

French Conditional Mood (Le Conditionnel): How does it work?

BY FREDERIC BIBARD
Last Updated: October 27, 2021

The conditional is a form of verb being used when talking about things that could happen under certain conditions, or those that are not guaranteed to happen but may occur given a certain set of circumstances. In English we simply use the modal verb “would” or its shortened form ‘d, and then we add the main verb after it.

Here are a couple of examples:

I would help him with his homework if he asked.
You’d be shocked if you knew.

In French however, it is a lot more than that. There is a whole set of different rules for different kinds of verbs. BUT – if you are already familiar with how to form the FUTURE TENSE, it will be so much easier to follow.

Uses of the conditional

Aside from its function as mentioned in the definition given above, the conditional form is used (both in English and French) in the following instances:

✔️In asking politely or formally, especially in public settings. (Example: I would like a cup of coffee, please.)
✔️In saying what you would like or need. (Example: I would like to take a tour of the place.)
✔️In making a suggestion. (Example: I could come over and cheer you up.)
✔️In giving advice to someone. (Example: You should tell him you’re sorry.)
✔️In playing roles, imaginary or not. (Example: I would be the doctor and you would be the nurse.)
✔️In soft nagging or complaining. (Example: You could clean your room instead of sleeping all day.)
✔️In “even if” or “in case of” clauses. (Examples: (1) Even if he would sleep all day, he’d still get good grades. (2) In case of any problem, you would call me, right?)

Talkinfrench.Com

Answer 78

How to Form the Conditional

Most verbs in the French conditional tense follow this format: the infinitive (used as the stem) + an ending similar to that of the endings for the imperfect tense: -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, and -aient.

It is formed with a stem (which is basically similar to the one being used as a future stem in FUTURE TENSES) combined with an ending that is dependent on the subject (whether it is about je, tu, elle, on, nous, vous, ils, or elles.)

To put it simply, FUTURE STEM + IMPERFECT TENSE ENDING equals a conditional form.

There is no direct counterpart in French to the word would. Instead, the verb ending is changed to turn it into a one-word version of the English conditional phrase.

1. Rules for regular verbs with -er and -ir endings in the conditional

The rule in conjugating regular verbs to form the French conditional tense is similar to that of the rules for the future tense.
Basically, you use the same stem for future tense and just add the appropriate endings.

Some examples: donner (to give) and finir (to finish)—see screen prints.

Some changes in spelling for the conditional stem of regular -er verbs:
• The consonants ‘l’ and ‘t’ in those verbs which end in -eler and -eter gets doubled. The pronunciation of
the first letter e also changes from ‘uhr’ to ‘eh’. Exceptions are the words geler (to freeze), peler (to peel)
and acheter (to buy).

Examples:
appeler (to call) becomes appellerais, appellerais, appellerait, appellerions, appelleriez,
appelleraient
Jeter (to throw) becomes jetterais, jetterais, jetterait, jetterions, jetteriez, jetteraient

• For verbs that end in -yer, the y often becomes i when used in the future tense
For example:
nettoyer (to clean) becomes nettoierais, nettoierais, nettoierait, nettoierions, nettoieriez,
nettoieraient

2. Rules for irregular verbs in the French conditional tense
   The verbs with irregular stems in the future tense are the very same irregular verbs in conditional. So if you are already familiar with that topic, this is way too easy for you already.

✅ Some examples of the irregular verbs that have irregular stems in both future and conditional are the following:
avoir, être, faire, aller, devoir, pouvoir, savoir, tenir, venir, voir, vouloir.

✔️The verb AVOIR becomes aurais, aurais, aurait, aurions, auriez, auraient
✔️The verb ÊTRE becomes serais, serais, serait, serions, seriez, seraient
✔️The verb FAIRE becomes ferais, ferais, ferait, ferions, feriez, feraient
✔️The verb ALLAIS becomes irais, irais, irait, irions, iriez, iraient

To say it simply, even if these verbs are irregular, they still conform to the pattern by using the same endings as the regular verbs.

Quick Recap
1. The conditional endings are: -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, and -aient. These endings are similar to the IMPERFECT TENSE endings.
2. The stem used to form the conditional is the same as the stem used in FUTURE TENSE.
3. The endings to be used vary depending on the subject which could either be je, tu, elle, on, nous, vous, ils, or elles.
4. The main rule for regular verbs with -er and -ir endings is simply to add the appropriate ending to the stem.
5. The list of irregular verbs for conditional is the same as the irregular verbs for future tense.
6. For verbs that have -eler and -eter endings, the l and t get doubled when changing to conditional

If you are having difficulty trying to catch up with this topic, feel free to visit the article on FUTURE TENSE, also in this site. Just remember to keep coming back to review the lessons until you have thoroughly familiarized yourself.

Question 79

French Future Tense (Le Futur): Everything You Need to Know

BY FREDERIC BIBARD
Last Updated: August 23, 2021

Quick Recap

✔️In informal speech and simple statements, the present tense can be used to talk about a future event.
✔️The verb aller (which means to go) can be used in sentences that talk about what will happen in the immediate future. This is similar to the English use of “going to” (e.g. I’m going to clean the room.)
✔️For regular verbs ending in -er, -ir and, -re, the future stem is the same as the infinitive but the last -e in -re endings are removed.
✔️The future tense endings are -ai, -as, -a, ons, ez, -ont and it is dependent on the subject.

The future tense is a verb tense that we use to talk about something that will happen in the future, or something that will be true.

French future tenses do not use an equivalent of the English word ‘will’ or ‘shall’ to indicate a future event. Instead, the ending of the verb is changed to make it into a one-word form of the future tense. Just like in English, the present tense can also be used to tell something that hasn’t happened yet.

Example:
✔️Je prends le train de neuf heures. (I’m taking the nine o’clock train.)

French also uses an equivalent of the English ‘going to’ to talk about something that will happen in the near future. For this, the verb aller (which means ‘to go’) followed by a verb is used.

Example:
✔️Tu vas tomber si tu continues. (You’re going to fall if you carry on.)
✔️Il va manquer le train. (He’s going to miss the train.)

USING THE FUTURE TENSE IN FRENCH
Here are some things to remember about the future tense when speaking in French:

In simple statements or informal speech, French often uses the present tense to tell something that’s going to happen in the close future. This happens by using the commonly used verb aller. (example: je vais revenir (I’m going to come back.)
In formal language such as in journalism or in narration of factual events, the future tense is often used.
It can also be used in making polite requests.

The French future tense is often used with these words:

• demain (tomorrow)
• ce soir (tonight)
• la semaine prochaine (next week)
• le mois prochain (next month)
• le week-end prochain (next weekend)
• l’année prochaine (next year)
• plus tard (later)
• bientôt (soon)

Answer 79

How to Form the Future Tense

Most verbs in the future tense consist of this format: the infinitive (or the regular form of the verb) + an ending similar to that of the present tense of avoir (have) – -ai,-as,-a,-ons,-ez,-ont.
It is formed with a “future stem” which is basically similar to the infinitive, combined with an ending that is dependent on the subject.

Some examples: donner (to give), finir (to finish), and attendre (to wait)—see screen prints.

To make our discussion easier, we will further divide the rules into 3:
• Rules for regular verbs with -er and -ir endings
• Rules for regular verbs with -re endings
• Rules for irregular verbs

✔️Rules for regular verbs with -er and -ir endings
The simplest of the verbs, all you have to do is use the infinitive form and add the correct ending. Examples are such as the ones used above for donner and finir.

Some changes in spelling for the future stem of regular -er verbs:
The consonants ‘l’ and ‘t’ in those verbs which end in -eler and -eter get doubled. For example: appeler becomes appeller, while jeter becomes jetter. The pronunciation of the first letter e also changes from ‘uhr’ to ‘eh’. Exceptions are the words geler (to freeze), peler (to peel) and acheter (to buy).

For verbs that end in -yer, the y often becomes i when used in the future tense. For example: nettoyer (to clean) becomes nettoier.

✔️Rules for regular verbs with -re endings

For these kinds of verbs, the formula is simple: remove the last letter e, and add the appropriate ending. An example is the word attendre used in the examples on the table above.

✔️Rules for irregular verbs
Just like always, there are sets of words which simply refuse to follow the rules. These irregular verbs are, of course, also present in the French future tense.

There are more than twenty verbs with irregular future stems. But don’t worry because no matter how irregular these verbs are, they still make use of the same endings.

Here are some examples:
• The verb avoir becomes aurai, auras, aura, aurons, aurez, auront
• The verb être becomes serai, seras, sera, serons, serez, seront
• The verb faire becomes ferai, feras, fera, ferons, ferez, feront
• The verb aller becomes irai, iras, ira, irons, irez, iront

Question 80

Imperfect Tense 1: -er Verbs

BY FREDERIC BIBARD
Last Updated: December 9, 2021

In English, we use the past progressive to denote continuous action while the simple past is used to express a previous state.

In French, the imperfect or imparfait is the verb tense used to talk about past events, especially as descriptions. This is why it is often called a “descriptive past tense” since it is commonly used in giving a description for something that happened.

Unlike the perfect tense which is used in events that were fully completed, the imperfect tense does not imply a beginning or ending of an action. The duration of the event being talked about is unspecified, hence, it is imperfect. The imperfect is called such based on the Latin word imperfectus which means ‘unfinished’.

Its English counterpart would be: was ____ , was ____- ing or used to____.

When and How to Use the Imperfect Tense
Here are the common uses of the imperfect tense:

1. To give a physical or emotional description of a past event.

◦ She was depressed when her boyfriend left.
◦ It was raining so hard.

2. To talk about a past habitual occurrence or state of being.

◦ We used to run together everyday.
◦ I used to like her a lot.

3. To indicate an action that was ongoing when something else took place.

◦ I was looking at the photos when I remembered our old house.
◦ We were walking our dog when we saw the fire.

Answer 80

How to Form the Imperfect Tense

To conjugate a verb into the imperfect, you need only change the ending of the verb.

The Imperfect Tense for -er Verbs
Use the same verb stem as the one being used for the perfect tense. This is simply the infinitive, but with the -er chopped off. Add the correct ending to the stem. The ending would depend on the pronoun used in the sentence.

Let’s take for example the verb donner. Chop off the -er, and add the following endings based on the pronoun (see screen prints).

Question 81

Imperfect Tense II: -ir Verbs

BY FREDERIC BIBARD
Last Updated: December 9, 2021

Use the same verb stem as the one being used for the perfect tense. This is just the infinitive minus the -ir ending. Add the correct ending to the stem. The ending is also dependent on the pronoun being used in the sentence.

As an example, let’s use the verb finir. Remove the -ir and add the appropriate endings (see screen prints).

Answer 81

Question 82

Imperfect Tense III: -re Verbs

BY FREDERIC BIBARD
Last Updated: December 9, 2021

Use the same verb stem as the one being used for the perfect tense. To get this, use the infinitive and remove the -re ending. Add the correct ending to the stem. The ending depends on the pronoun being used in the sentence.

We’ll use attendre as an example. Take out the -re and add the correct endings (see screen shots).

Answer 82

Verbs with Spelling Changes

Like in other tenses, verbs that have a -cer or -ger ending have slight changes in their spelling when conjugated to the Imperfect Tense. Take note of the 1,2,3,6 pattern in the changes. Meaning, the changes occur in the first, second, and third person singular, and in the third person plural.

Some examples:

lancer which means to throw – the c becomes ç when placed before a or o.
Je lançais
tu lançais
il/ elle/on lançait
nous lancions
vous lanciez
ils/elles lançaient

manger which means to eat –the letter g is changed to ge when placed before a or o.
Je mangeais
tu mangeais
il/ elle/on mangeait
nous mangions
vous mangiez
ils/elles mangeaient

Imperfect Tense for Irregular Verbs

Fortunately, there is only one irregular verb for the imperfect tense, and this is the verb être. More good news, it even follows the pattern to which makes our lives super simple this time.

J’étais
tu étais
il/elle/on était
nous étions
vous étiez
ils/elles étaient

Example: J’étais heureux. (I was happy)

Question 83

The French Imperative (Imperatif)

BY FREDERIC BIBARD
Last Updated: June 1, 2023

To issue commands or give instructions, we use the imperative form of the verb. We use the imperative day in and day out, and these words are quite often inescapable – from the moment you wake up until the day ends.

“wake up!”
“go to work!”
“hurry up!”
“shut the door!”
“work on this project”
“sit down”
“meet me at 8”
“turn off the lights”
“go to bed now”
… and so many things in between.

Other uses of the imperative are:
to express a desire (which is still basically a form of issuing a command only said a lot nicer),
to make a request (a very very polite kind of command), to give advice (still a form of command if we come to think of it), to recommend something (yup, still a command).

THINGS TO REMEMBER WHEN USING THE IMPERATIVE IN FRENCH

There are two often-used forms of the French imperative, and these correspond to tu and vous. The third form nous is only being used sometimes, and it works the same way we say “let’s” in English.
Unlike the other verb forms and grammatical moods, the imperative does not use subject pronouns. Instead, object pronouns are being used.

To form the present tense imperative, you simply use the present indicative forms for tu, nous, and vous, but these pronouns are no longer being mentioned.

Example for -er verbs: donner
tu —–> donne
nous —–> donnons
vous —–> donnez
Donne-moi ça! (Give me that!)

✅ Note: In the tu form of -er verbs, the last -s is dropped (i.e. donne instead of donnes). But when tu is followed by en or y, the -s remains to make it easier to pronounce. (example: Vas-y! Which means “Go on!” or Donnes-en à ton frère which means “Give some to your brother.”)

Example for -ir verbs: finir
tu —–> finis
nous —–>finissons
vous —–>finissez
Finissez vos devoirs. (Finish your homework.)

Example for -re verbs: attendre
tu —–>attends
nous —–>attendons
vous —–>attendez
Attendons le bus. (Let’s wait for the bus.)

Answer 83

Talkinfrench.Com

✅ There are two kinds of commands where the imperative is being used. These are the affirmative commands and the negative commands.

In English, the affirmative command would be like “do this!” while the negative command is the opposite “don’t do that!”

✅ In French, the object pronoun which accompanies the imperative changes its position depending on the kind of command being issued.

Quick tip!
Object pronouns are words such as la (her/it), me or moi (me), and leur (them). These often appear in the object part of the sentence, but in the case of the imperative, these are the pronouns being used.

✅ FOR AFFIRMATIVE COMMANDS, THE OBJECT PRONOUNS COME AFTER THE VERB.
The verb and the pronoun are then linked together with a hyphen.
Examples:
Excusez-moi. (Excuse me.)
Aide-nous. (Help us.)
So, remember:
affirmative - after

✅ FOR NEGATIVE COMMANDS, THE OBJECT PRONOUNS COME BEFORE THE VERB.
Ne… pas is used in this case.
Examples:
Ne leur parlons pas. (Don’t speak to them.)
Ne le regardez pas. (Don’t look at him/it.)
Again, remember:
negative-before

✅ pThere are cases when both direct and indirect object pronouns are present. During these scenarios, the DIRECT OBJECT PRONOUNS always come BEFORE the INDIRECT OBJECT PRONOUNS.

Direct object pronouns are: le, la, les
Indirect object pronouns are: moi, toi, lui, nous, vous, leur.
Examples:
Donnez-la-nous! (Give it to us!)
Prête-les-moi! (Lend them to me!)
Remember:
direct before indirect

✅ The irregular verbs avoir, être, savoir and vouloir have their own imperative forms. These are the following:

tu
nous
vous

Avoir (to have)
aie
ayons
ayez

Être (to be)
sois
soyons
soyez

Savoir (to know)
sache
sachons
sachez

Vouloir (to want)
veuille
veuillons
veuillez

Quick Recap

✔️The three forms for the French imperative are: tu, nous, and vous.
✔️The conjugation is same as the present tense except that for -er verbs, the last -s is dropped in the tu form.
✔️Object pronouns are used in the imperative.
✔️For affirmative commands, the object pronoun comes after the verb and both are joined by a hyphen.
✔️For negative commands, the object pronoun comes before the verb.
✔️In cases where both direct and indirect object pronouns are present, direct object pronouns come first before the indirect.

Question 84

• sans peur de te ridiculiser
• sans crainte de ridicule

Answer 84

• without fear of embarrassing yourself
• without fear of ridicule

Question 85

Éclabousser

Answer 85

To splash

(Duolingo)

Question 86

S’agir :

This is a verb that people come across when reading French, which is often confusing because it can translate to “to be.”

Let’s look at a few examples before explaining how it works and how you should use it

De quoi s’agit-il?
What is it about?

Mais il s’agit de ton bonheur!
But where talking about your happiness here! (It’s about your happiness)

On connaît maintenant les gagnants du gros lot de 70 millions. Il s’agit d’un couple de Montréal
We now know the winners of the jackpot of 70 million. It’s a couple from Montreal

D’après les experts, il s’agirait d’une explosion criminelle
According to the experts, it would appear to be a criminal explosion

Il s’agit de faire vite!
We must act quickly!

Nous ne savons pas s’il s’agit d’un crime ou d’un accident
We don’t know if it is a crime or an accident

Ce n’est pas juste une nouvelle recette. Il s’agit en fait d’une nouvelle façon complètement différente de faire une tarte aux pommes
It’s not just a new recipe. It’s in fact a completely new way of making an apple pie

As you can see, all those examples can translate differently, but they usually trace back to a meaning of “turns out to be” or “appears to be.” It refers to something where one needs to know what is going on. In English, it’s often easier to just say “it is.”

How should you use s’agir?

The best way to use this verb is to save it for your writing. In most cases, it sounds too formal for casual conversation.

Answer 86

French with Frederic
7 juillet 2024

Exercise :

Translate into French using the verb s’agir.

1. It could be a whale, according to specialists.
2. For people in the film industry, this is a tragedy.
3. When it comes to money, he’s always right.
4. This is the largest real estate project in Montreal.
5. It’s a matter of getting back to work.

Answers :

1) Il pourrait s’agir d’une baleine, d’après les spécialistes.

2) Quand il s’agit d’argent il a toujours raison.

3) Pour les gens de l’industrie du cinéma, il s’agit d’un drame.

4) Il s’agit du plus grand projet immobilier de Montréal.

5) Il s’agit de retourner au travail.

Question 87

Censer :

To translate “being supposed to do something,” I would like to encourage you to use a very common verb in French, that is often forgotten by French learners: censer.

The structure is

Être censé + infinitif
Par exemple

On était censés partir hier
We were supposed to leave yesterday

Ce week-end, je suis censé aller à la fête d’anniversaire de mon amie
This weekend I’m supposed to go to my friend’s birthday party

Answer 87

French with Frederic
7 juillet 2024

Exercise :

Translate the following using the verb censer.

1. Many people complain that it’s too hot in trains that are supposed to be air-conditioned.
2. It’s not supposed to happen here.
3. Where are we supposed to go?
4. I’m supposed to leave tomorrow morning.
5. We were supposed to arrive yesterday (use « on »).

Answers :

1. Plusieurs personnes se plaignent qu’il fait trop chaud dans les trains censés être climatisés.
2. Ce n’est pas censé se passer ici.
3. Où sommes-nous censés aller ?
4. Je suis censé partir demain matin.
5. On était censés arriver hier.

Question 88

Juste et justement …

Justement is a very common word in French that doesn’t translate very well into English. However, if you learn to use it properly, you will sound more fluent!

Consider the following examples

Je viens juste de lui parler
I just talked to her/him

Je veux juste te parler
I only want to talk to you

Je veux qu’elle soit juste avec moi
I want her to be fair with me

Je viens justement de lui parler
Oh, by the way, I just talked to her/him

Juste can mean “just” meaning “only.” Juste can also mean “fair”

Justement doesn’t translate very well. It combined the element of timeliness, coincidence and surprise.

Justement can have slightly different meanings, so let’s break down different examples to better understand.

Timeliness and/or surprise

When you say justement, it’s almost like you say “by the way” and “what a surprise” at the same time.

Justement, j’étais en train de penser à toi
What a surprise, I was just thinking about you!

Cet artiste était justement de passage dans la région
In fact, this artist was just passing through the region

Timeliness

But justement can just highlight an element of timeliness or coincidence. You are bringing new information that is linked to what you said before, and it just happens to be the right information. It can often translate as “happens to be.”

Être payé pour se prélasser tout l’été au bord de la piscine, ça vous tente ? Notre site recherche justement des paresseux professionnels pour écrire des articles sur les meilleures piscines au Québec
Are you interested in getting paid to lounge by the pool all summer? Our site happens to be looking for lazy professionals to write articles on the best pools in Quebec

C’est drôle que tu me parles de ça, j’allais justement t’en parler
It’s funny you should mention that, I was just about to tell you

J’adore les fraises! Justement, je viens d’en acheter
I love strawberries! And I’ve just bought some

Precisely, Exactly

Justement can mean precisely or exactly, by again linking to what was said before, and adding emphasis to the new piece of information.

C’est justement ce qu’il ne fallait pas dire
It was exactly what you shouldn’t have said

Je me sens motivé, justement parce que le défi intellectuel d’écrire un premier roman est très intéressant
I feel motivated precisely because the intellectual challenge of writing a first novel is very interesting

Les festivals rendent une ville vivante… Et c’est justement ce qui fait le succès de certaines destinations, dont Montréal
Festivals make a city come alive… and that’s exactly what makes some destinations, like Montreal, so successful

Answer 88

FREDERIC PATENAUDE
JUN 30, 2024

Exercise: use either juste or justement.

1. Un investisseur a réussi à récupérer son argent ____ avant que l’action ne plonge en Bourse.
2. Je suis contente que tu sois venu me voir. ____, je voulais te dire quelque chose d’important.
3. Ce n’est pas ____ la faute des citoyens, mais aussi celle des gouvernements.
4. La police est intervenue ____ avant que les criminels ne prennent la fuite.
5. Beaucoup conservateurs ont des valeurs que je ne partage pas. Mais ____ , ils ont des valeurs.
6. Le plus grand chef de Paris prend sa retraite. « C’est ____ parce que tout va bien aujourd’hui que je peux me permettre d’arrêter »
7. Parfois, on a ____ besoin d’un peu d’amour.
8. Le gouvernement veut que la multinationale paie sa ____ part d’impôts.

Answers :

1. Un investisseur a réussi à récupérer son argent juste avant que l’action ne plonge en Bourse.
2. Je suis contente que tu sois venu me voir. Justement, je voulais te dire quelque chose d’important.
3. Ce n’est pas juste la faute des citoyens, mais aussi celle des gouvernements.
4. La police est intervenue juste avant que les criminels ne prennent la fuite.
5. Beaucoup conservateurs ont des valeurs que je ne partage pas. Mais justement, ils ont des valeurs.
6. Le plus grand chef de Paris prend sa retraite. « C’est justement parce que tout va bien aujourd’hui que je peux me permettre d’arrêter »
7. Parfois, on a juste besoin d’un peu d’amour.
8. Le gouvernement veut que la multinationale paie sa juste part d’impôts.

Question 89

Comment parler du corps humain en français

The French language has a strange way to talk about the body!

Consider the following examples

Je me suis fait mal au dos
I hurt myself in the back

J’ai mal à la tête
I have pain in the head (meaning: I have a headache)

J’ai eu une opération au genou droit
I had surgery on the left knee

But, the following is also possible

Mon dos va mieux, ma jambe me fait moins mal
My back is better, my leg doesn’t hurt as much

Je me suis rétabli de ma blessure au dos.
I have recovered from my back injury (my injury to the back)

Comment ça fonctionne

I have a feeling that if we try to explain the workings of this in detail, you’ll be thinking about it during a conversation and fail to come up with the right answer.

✅ French speakers don’t know these rules. We simply use them because they sound right. The goal is for you to do the same, through enough exposure to these expressions in different contexts.

We can nonetheless look at different examples to try to understand.

✅ When the verb is reflexive — so the person is doing the action on their own body (to them) — we use a definite article (le, la, les)

Je me suis lavé les cheveux
I washed my hair
Il s’est cassé la jambe
He broke his leg
Ils se sont brossé les dents
They brushed their teeth
Je lui ai serré la main
I shook his hand
Je l’ai embrassée sur la joue
I kissed her on the cheek
Elle lui a serré la main
She shook his hand
Tu m’as lavé les cheveux
You washed my hair

✅ If you start with mon/ma – then you don’t need another article

Ma main me fait mal
My hand hurts
Mon dos va mieux
My back is better

Answer 89

FREDERIC PATENAUDE
JUNE 20, 2024

Exercise: Add the missing words or words. Refer to the English translation.

Paul broke his leg.
Paul s’est cassé ____ jambe.
She kissed him on his forehead.
Elle l’a embrassé sur ____ front.
I took him by the arm.
Je l’ai pris par ____ bras.
My left eye hurts.
J’ai mal à ____ gauche.
I have a headache.
J’ai mal ____.
My stomach hurts.
J’ai mal ____ ventre.
She sprained her ankle.
Elle s’est foulé ____ cheville.
I have bad knees (I have problems…)
J’ai des problèmes ____ genoux
My teeth hurt.
J’ai mal ____ dents.
My back hurts.
J’ai mal ____ dos.

Answers:

1. Paul s’est cassé la jambe.
2. Elle l’a embrassé sur le front.
3. Je l’ai pris par le bras.
4. J’ai mal à l’œil gauche.
5. J’ai mal à la tête.
6. J’ai mal au ventre.
7. Elle s’est foulé la cheville. = She sprained her ankle.
8. J’ai des problèmes aux genoux.
9. J’ai mal aux dents.
10. J’ai mal au dos.

Question 90

Morning Routine

Answer 90

Talkinfrench.Com

Question 91

J’en suis ravi(e) …

Mais franchement, j’en suis ravie (glad).
Du coup j’ai été productive et j’en suis ravie (thrilled)!

Answer 91

But the truth is, I’m glad.
So I was productive and I’m thrilled!

• I’m delighted, I’m thrilled, I’m so glad, I’m so happy about it

Question 92

Dans l’hypothèse où …

★ In the event that, assuming that, in case

Aujourd’hui une recette de cocktail, dans l’hypothèse où il vous reste un peu de rhum blanc.

Answer 92

Today a cocktail recipe, in the event that you have a little white rum left over.

Question 93

Sécheresse (disette) …

Trois années de sécheresse ont détérioré les vignobles et les vergers.

D’autres années, c’était la disette.

Answer 93

Three years of drought have severely challenged the vineyards and orchards.

Other years, there was a drought.

• Sécheresse = drought, dryness, dry
• Disette = famine, drought, food shortage, scarcity, want, dearth, hunger

Question 94

À moitié endormi(e)(s) OU dans un demi sommeil = half asleep

Ils sont tous bordés et à moitié endormis.

Le réveil de mon téléphone portable a sonné, j’ai mis mes chaussures dans un demi-sommeil et suis sorti dans le matin.

Answer 94

They’re all tucked in and half asleep.

The alarm of my mobile phone rang, still half asleep I pulled on my shoes and got out into the morning.

Question 95

Sleepy …

In this sleepy indigenous town we’ll spend the night.
This medicine may make your child feel sleepy.
I am just sleepy all day long.

Answer 95

Nous passons la nuit dans ce village indigène endormi.
Ce médicament peut rendre votre enfant somnolent.
Je suis juste fatigué toute la journée.

• Endormi, somnolent, fatigué, paisible, tranquille, assoupi

Question 96

Partial(e) = biased

★ Je suis partial, je suis biaisé, je ne suis pas objective, je suis decentré

Je vous dirais de lui donner une chance, mais je suis partiale.
J’avoue que je suis biaisé négativement sur le sujet.
Je vous accorde que je ne suis pas objective mais bon quand même !
Je suis décentré, mais j’aime des emplacements comme ceci.

Answer 96

I’d give him a shot, but I’m biased, so…
I admit I am negatively biased on the subject.
I grant you that I am biased but good nonetheless!
I am biased, but I love sites like this.

Question 97

Redoubler = redouble, intensify, step-up, strengthen, increase

Il faut redoubler nos efforts communs pour surmonter ces problèmes.
Les efforts de lutte contre le changement climatique devront redoubler à l’avenir
Il faut en réalité redoubler nos efforts.

Answer 97

We should redouble our common efforts to overcome these problems.
Efforts to fight climate change will intensify
In reality, we have to step up our efforts.

Question 98

Ca sera génial = that would be great

★ Génial = great, awesome, amazing

Okay, je veux dire… ça serait génial.
Okay, bien, ça serait génial.
Donc si vous deux pouviez avoir cette conversation ailleurs, ça serait génial.

Answer 98

Okay, I mean - that would be great.
Okay, well, that would be great.
So if you two could take this conversation somewhere else, that’d be great.

Question 99

I’m finished! … in French

• J’en ai assez ! I’ve had enough !
• J’en ai marre ! I’m fed up !
• Ça suffit ! That’s enough !
• C’est fini ! It’s over !
• Ça me fatigue ! It tired me !

Answer 99

Talkinfrench.Com

Question 100

Soupe DE tomates vs soupe À l’oignon

Récemment un étudiant a écrit « je mange un gâteau du chocolat » mais il y a une petite erreur ici. On doit dire un « gâteau au chocolat ».

La différence entre « du / de » et « à / au / à la » est l’importance de cet ingrédient dans le plat ou la recette.

Par exemple « une soupe à l’oignon » on peut enlever l’oignon et le plat est toujours mangeable. Cela devient une soupe de pain et de fromage.

Mais si on dit une soupe de tomates, vous enlevez un ingrédient qui représente plus de la moitié du plat et le plat ne ressemble pas à grand-chose.

Deux autres exemples : Un jus d’orange et une tarte aux pommes.

Answer 100

Talkinfrench.Com