Talk In French A2 Flashcards
Don’t use “bien fait” except for revenge, ie you deserved it. C’est bien fait pour toi !
Use instead, Bravo ! Très bien !Félicitations !
(Speak Like a Parisian)
• Ça m’est égal (formal)
• Je m’en fiche
• Je m’en fous (casual)
• I don’t care
• Ça arrive
• C’est pas grave
• C’est comme ça
• Shit happens!
• Oublie
• Peu importe
• Laisse tomber
• Pas grâve
• N’inquiète pas
• Never Mind
Le subjonctif :
To express the time, we will use the subjunctive only for “avant que” (before) and “jusqu’à ce que” (until).
J’attendrai jusqu’à ce que le travail soit fini. - Subjunctive
Il rentrera avant que tu ne reviennes. - Subjunctive
Je partirai dès que tu auras terminé. - Indicative
Il ira quand elle sera arrivée. - Indicative
Le subjonctif :
To express the cause, use subjunctive when the cause is rejected or is being subjected to an alternative.
Il a réussi parce qu’il a travaillé.
He succeeded because he has worked.
→ indicative because the cause is confirmed
Il a réussi non qu’il ait travaillé mais il a eu de la chance.
(Il a réussi non pas parce qu’il a travaillé, mais parce qu’il a eu de la chance.)
He succeeded not because he has worked but because he was lucky.
→ subjunctive because the cause is rejected
Il a réussi soit qu’il soit chanceux soit qu’il ait travaillé.
He succeeded either because he was lucky or because he has worked.
→ subjunctive because there is an alternative
Pour moi, cela n’a pas beaucoup d’importance.
For me that is not very important.
L’argent, pour moi, cela n’a pas beaucoup d’importance.
Money, for me, is not very important.
Je suis d’accord
I agree
Je suis d’accord avec toi sur cette idée d’aller au Japon.
I agree with you on this idea to go to Japan.
Je ne suis pas entièrement d’accord
I don’t entirely agree
Je ne suis pas entièrement d’accord sur le plan, mais je suppose que nous devons partir maintenant.
I don’t entirely agree on the plan, but I suppose we need to leave now.
Je ne suis pas du tout d’accord
I don’t agree at all
À propos de son discours, je ne suis pas du tout d’accord.
About his speech, I don’t agree at all.
Quant à moi
As for me
Quant à moi, je n’ai pas d’autres questions.
As for me, I have no further questions.
Pour ma part
For my part
Pour ma part, j’aimerais apporter le déjeuner pour tout le monde.
For my part, I would like to bring lunch for everybody.
Il me semble que
It seems to me that
Il me semble que nous pouvons faire une grande différence dans notre société.
It seems to me that we can make a big difference in our society.
Sans doute
No doubt
Vous pouvez sans doute réaliser tout ce que vous voulez.
No doubt you can achieve anything you set your mind to.
Bien sûr
Of course
Bien sûr, je vous appellerai à mon arrivée à la maison.
Of course, I will call you when I arrive home.
En ce qui me concerne
As far as I am concerned
En ce qui me concerne, chacun de vous est responsable de ce qui s’est passé.
As far as I’m concerned, each one of you is responsible for what happened.
Je suis persuadé(e) que
I am persuaded that
Je suis persuadé que nous pouvons terminer le projet aujourd’hui.
I am persuaded that we can finish the project today.
•Il est dommage que—>subjonctif
It is a pity that
Il est dommage que vous ne PUISSIEZ pas voyager avec nous en Europe.
It is a pity that you cannot travel with us to Europe.
Il va sans dire que
It goes without saying that
Il va sans dire que nous sommes toujours un pays progressiste.
It goes without saying that we are still a progressive country.
Il est évident que
It is obvious that
Il est évident que le but de ce voyage est les affaires.
It is obvious that the purpose of this trip is business.
hélas
alas
C’est une procédure qui devrait être la norme, mais qui, hélas, reste très peu pratiquée.
This procedure should be standard but, alas, it is very little practiced.
À mon avis / D’après moi
In my opinion
À mon avis, cet événement est plein d’absurdités.
In my opinion, this event is full of nonsense.
Selon moi
In my opinion
Selon moi, il est plus confiance en lui que Mike.
In my opinion, he has more confidence than Mike.
Je crois que
I believe that
Je crois que l’âge pour conduire devrait être à 18 ans.
I believe the driving age should be 18.
Le subjonctif:
When to use the subjunctive in subordinating clauses:
To express the time, use the subjunctive only for “avant que” (before) and “jusqu’à ce que” (until).
To express the cause, use subjunctive when the cause is rejected or is being subjected to an alternative.
To express consequence, use subjunctive after the expression “pour que” and derivative expressions of “pour que,” and if the main clause is in negative or interrogative form.
To indicate a restriction or opposition.
Why is bien que followed by the subjunctive?
IMPERSONAL PHRASES - these are little phrases that one would use in specific situations, and they must be followed by a subjunctive. These include phrases like bien que (although) and afin que (so that).
Les phrases exclamative (Situation 1) :
Exactement comme dans d’autres langues - comme l’anglais, vous utiliserez une phrase exclamative pour donner un ordre ou pour exprimer un vif désir ou une émotion, ou encore pour traduire votre enthousiasme.
Situation 1: Pour donner un ordre à l’aide d’une phrase exclamative, vous avez deux options ; vous pouvez utiliser:
• Le mode impératif
Sophia : Sortez d’ici ! Je ne veux plus vous voir !
Jules : Venez me voir tout de suite !
Sophia : Rentrez à la maison maintenant !
Jules : Viens ici tout de suite !
Sophia : Allez au lit !
• Take note that you can also use the infinitive mood when giving orders or instructions in French. But the tone is more neutral and there is no exclamation mark, unlike the imperative mood.
• The structure “Que+ subjunctive”
This is used to give an order or strong wish in the third person.
Qu’il termine ses devoirs !
I really hope he finishes his homework!
Qu’elle sorte d’ici !
I really hope she gets out of here!
Qu’ils arrêtent de faire des bêtises !
I really hope they stop doing stupid things!
Qu’il finisse de faire du bruit !
I really hope he finishes making noise.
Qu’elle rentre avant 10 heures !
I really hope she is back before 10 o’clock.
Les phrases exclamative (Situation 2) :
Exactement comme dans d’autres langues - comme l’anglais, vous utiliserez une phrase exclamative pour donner un ordre ou pour exprimer un vif désir ou une émotion, ou encore pour traduire votre enthousiasme.
Scenario 2: to express a strong emotion/feeling using exclamatory sentences.
To express a strong emotion/feeling, there are several types of sentence structures you can use, so let’s go through the commonly used ones.
• Que + clause (indicative mood, do not confuse with the structure given earlier)
Qu’ils sont mignons !
How cute they are!
Qu’elle est intelligente !
How intelligent she is!
Qu’il est sympathique !
How nice he is!
Qu’elle est jolie !
How pretty she is!
Que la vie est belle !
How beautiful life is!
• Quelle (quel ; quels ; quelles) + noun
Quelle personne formidable !
What a wonderful person!
Quelle histoire incroyable !
What an incredible story!
Quel problème insoluble !
What an unsolvable problem!
Quelle idée géniale !
What a brilliant idea!
Quel mec !
What a guy!
• Comme + la proposition (à l’indicatif)
Comme c’est drôle !
It is funny!
Comme c’est magnifique !
It is beautiful!
Comme c’est délicieux !
It is delicious!
Comme c’est super !
It is really cool!
• Mais + noun, clause… The conjunction « mais » (which means but) is used for emphasis.
Tu seras présent ? - Mais certainement !
You’ll be here? —But certainly!
C’est la bonne réponse ? - Mais c’est évident !
This is the right answer? — But it’s obvious!
Tu as gagné ? - Mais bien sûr !
You won? — But of course!
Tu vas venir ? – Mais bien sûr !
Will you come? — But of course!
Mais c’est sûr que c’est vrai !
But certainly it’s true!
• And, of course, you can turn any stand-alone French word into an exclamation as an interjection:
Silence ! Quiet!
Au secours ! Help! SOS!
Take note that you can use quoi and comment as interjections to express shock, surprise, or disbelief. It would be similar to saying “What!”
À plus ! Later!
À un de ces quatre ! Catch you later!
Mort de rire LOL
On s’embrasse ? Should we hug?
Quoi de neuf ? What’s up?
T’es en forme ? You doin’ good today?
Ça fait longtemps, dis donc ! Long time, no see!
Qu’est-ce que tu me racontes ? Watcha up to?
Pas grand chose. Nothing much.
Alors, qu’est-ce que tu deviens ? How have you been?
Ça baigne ! Awesome!
Ça roule ! Good!
Ça gaze ! Great!
Ben, toujours pareil. Same as always, man.
Comme ci, comme ça. So-so.
On s’appelle. Call me.
Je me casse. I’m out of here.
Balance-moi un mail ; un SMS / un texto. Send me an e-mail/an IM.
Viens voir une minute. C’mere for a sec.
J’ai un truc à te dire. I gotta tell you
Exclamatory sentences are used to give an order or express a strong desire or emotion
.
To give an order using exclamatory sentences, you use:
• The imperative mood
• Que+ subjunctive
To express a strong feeling or desire, you use:
• Que + clause (indicative mood)
• Quelle + noun • Comme + clause (indicative)
• “Mais” + noun, clause
• You can also use any French word as an interjection
Je ne m’attendais pas à ce qu’il fasse beau —> subjonctif
I wasn’t expecting it to be nice out.
C’est bien ce qu’il me semblait !
That’s what I thought!
Moods :
Je suis de bonne humeur.
Je me suis levée du bon pied.
Je suis de mauvaise humeur.
Je me suis levée du pied gauche (du mauvais pied). I got up on the wrong side of the bed.
Il est vraiment de mauvais poil, lui !
Il est encore mal à lune. He’s in such a bad mood.
Mais, qu’est-ce qu’il a? What’s up with him?
Je n’en ai jamais entendu parler
I’ve never heard of it
Ah ouais, bien joué ! Bravo !
Ah ouais, t’as raison.
T’as bien raison.
Non, mais c’est clair.
Trop vrai quoi. Ain’t that the truth?
Non, mais c’est trop vrai.
C’est pas faux. You have a point!
Oui, je té le concède. Okay, I’ll give it to you
T’as pas tort.
C’est trop ça.
On va voir un film ce soir? —> pas regarder
On regarde une série ce soir? —> pas voir
Je suis en train de regarder le dernièr épisode de Braque.
Regarder la télévision
Masculine Anomalies
Un épisode
Un arbre
Le crépuscule (dusk, twilight)
Un verbe
Le monde
Un livre
Le stade
le silence
l’incendie
le musée, le lycée, le trophée, l’apogée, le mausolée
le comité, le côté, l’été, le pâté
Féminin Anomalies :
Une erreur
La Tour Eiffel
La nuit
L’humeur
La mer
La mort
la boisson, la façon, la liaison, la maison, la raison, la rançon, la saison, la chanson, la leçon
la cage, l’image, la nage, la page, la plage, la rage
l’eau, la peau
Se rappeler ou se souvenir
Se rappeler quelque chose
Se souvenir de quelque chose
Rappeler quelque chose (à quelqu’un)
• Tu peux me rappeler d’acheter du pain?
• Il me rappelle son père
French Filler Words (Québec / France)
(Elevate French)
Most common filler words au Québec:
Tsé (tu sais pronounced quickly)…you know?
Là. Peppered throughout a sentence in Québec. In the middle of the sentence, can mean like or um. At the end of the sentence, can serve to say you’re done speaking, kind of like the “so…” or “there you have it…” or “that’s it…” in English. Double it up to là là at the end of the sentence.
Donc… so
Ben… well
Pis… next, so
Fait que… so. This is informal. It’s often seen in text messages spelled as “fek”.
Dans le fond… Quebec’s version of du coup. Basically, anyway.
Genre… like
Like…yup, the English word gets used sometimes, especially in Montréal due to the influence of English.
Comme… like
Tsé veux dire… (tu sais ce que je veux dire).. you know what I mean?
Most common filler words in France:
Alors… So…
Donc… So…
Euh… Uh…
Du coup…actually, by the way
Quoi… you know, like (when estimating a number or time). This is pretty informal.
Genre…like, uh. Also informal.
Bon…well…
En fait…actually
Hein…huh, eh, right. Used at the end of a sentence usually.
Bref…basically, long story short
Voilà…often used at the end of a sentence to say: That’s it; there you have it
Fait que, what purpose do French filler words serve?
Fun fact: I did my Master’s thesis on filler words in Québec and how Spanish-speaking immigrants acquired them. Alors, why should you use filler words in your French conversations?
Build a friendship. Filler words help you build solidarity with the person you’re speaking with. While you probably won’t use them while ordering a coffee or at a restaurant, they’ll get used all the time once you start chatting with your French or Québécois friends.
Stop sounding like a robot. Learning a language can make you sound like a robot or a textbook if you don’t incorporate some of these filler words into your conversation. I can tell you for a fact that once I mastered filler words back in around 2013, I started getting mistaken for Québécoise all the time.
Make connections for your audience. Filler words help our brains connect one idea to another, and it also helps whoever you’re talking with to follow along!
Speak a more fluid French. Conversational French wouldn’t be complete without some filler words!
Je ne veux pas qu’il pleuve—> subjonctif
I don’t want it to rain
Ça me rend heureux
Ca me fait plaisir
It makes me happy
« Magnifique » can be used with a landscape, not with a person or most other things. Never say « très magnifique » as it is implied.
He is really great : Il est formidable, extraordinaire, sensationnel, remarquable.
It’s extremely beautiful : C’est sublime, incroyable, dingue (informel).
(Speak like a Parisian)
Je me débrouillerai
I’ll manage
Ne t’inquiète pas
Don’t worry
Visiter la Tour Eiffel, c’est vaut la peine ? …c’est vaut le coup ?
Is it worth it?
Tu veux grignoter quelque choses ? … un truc (anything, something) ?
Would you like to eat something? (casual)
Une femme d’un certain âge
A middle aged woman
C’est dingue = It’s crazy (informal) : Expresses surprise, admiration, frustration
• C’est dingue comment elles se ressemblent !
• Tu as vu ce qu’il fait, c’est dingue !
• C’est dingue, il faut toujours qu’il soit en retard !
(Speak Like a Parisian)
Je suis rentrée de l’Ontario bien que je voulusse rester une autre semaine.—> subjonctif imparfait
(I’m not sure about this one! No that’s good !)
Frédéric
French subjunctive: Expressions of will - orders, advice, desires
Verbs and expressions which express someone’s will, an order, a need, a piece of advice, or a desire require the subjunctive.
aimer mieux que: to like better / to prefer that
commander que: to order that
demander que: to ask (someone to do something
désirer que: to desire that
donner l’ordre que: to order that
empêcher que*: to prevent (someone from doing something)
éviter que*: to avoid
exiger que: to demand that
il est à souhaiter que: it is to be hoped that
il est essentiel que: it is essential that
il est important que: it is important that
il est naturel que: it is natural that
il est nécessaire que: it is necessary that
il est normal que: it is normal that
il est temps que: it is time that
il est urgent que: it is urgent that
il faut que: it is necessary that
il vaut mieux que: it is better that
interdire que: to forbid that
s’opposer que: to oppose that
ordonner que: to order that
permettre que: to permit that
préférer que: to prefer that
proposer que: to propose that
recommander que: to recommend
souhaiter que: to wish that
suggérer que: to suggest that
tenir à ce que: to insist that
vouloir que: to want that
*These verbs are followed by the ne explétif:
Évitez qu’il ne parte.
Prevent him from leaving.
(ThoughtCo.)
French subjunctive: Emotions and feelings
Verbs and expressions of emotion or feeling - fear, happiness, anger, regret, surprise, or any other sentiments - require the subjunctive.
adorer que: to love that
aimer que: to like that
apprécier que: to appreciate that
avoir honte que: to be ashamed that
avoir peur que: to be afraid that
craindre que: to fear that
déplorer que: to deplore that
détester que: to hate that
être content que: to be happy that
être désolé que: to be sorry that
être étonné que: to be amazed that
être heureux que: to be happy that
être surpris que: to be surprised that
être triste que: to be sad that
il est bizarre que: it is odd that
il est bon que: it is good that
il est dommage que: it is too bad that
il est étonnant que: it is amazing that
il est étrange que: it is strange that
il est heureux que: it is fortunate that
il est honteux que: it is shameful that
il est inutile que: it is useless that
il est rare que: it is rare that
il est regrettable que: it is regrettable that
il est surprenant que: it is surprising that
il est utile que: it is useful that
redouter que*: to dread that
regretter que: to regret that
se réjouir que: to be delighted that
*These verbs are followed by the ne explétif:
Je crains qu’il ne parte.
I’m afraid he’ll leave.
(ThoughtCo.)
French subjunctive: Opinion, possibility, doubt
Verbs and expressions of doubt, possibility, supposition, and opinion
accepter que: to accept
s’attendre à ce que: to expect
chercher … qui: to look for
détester que: to hate
douter que: to doubt that
il est convenable que: it is proper/fitting that
il est douteux que: it is doubtful that
il est faux que: it is false that
il est impossible que: it is impossible that
il est improbable que: it is improbable that
il est juste que: it is right/fair that
il est possible que: it is possible that
il est peu probable que: it is improbable that
il n’est pas certain que: it is not certain that
il n’est pas clair que: it is not clear that
il n’est pas évident que: it is not obvious that
il n’est pas exact que: it is not correct that
il n’est pas probable que: it is improbable that
il n’est pas sûr que: it is not certain that
il n’est pas vrai que: it is not true that
il semble que: it seems that
il se peut que: it may be that
le fait que: the fact that
nier que**: to deny that
refuser que: to refuse
supposer que: to suppose, hypothesize
*When you are looking for someone who may not exist, that indicates doubt and therefore requires the subjunctive:
Je cherche un homme qui sache la vérité.
I’m looking for a man who knows the truth.
**These do not take the subjunctive when they are used negatively:
Je doute qu’il vienne, Je ne doute pas qu’il vient.
I doubt he’s coming, I don’t doubt he’s coming.
***When nier is in the negative, it’s followed by the ne explétif:
Il n’a pas nié qu’elle ne soit partie.
He didn’t deny that she left.
(ThoughtCo.)
French subjunctive: Affirmative vs negative statements
The following verbs and expressions do not take the subjunctive when they are used in the affirmative, because they express facts which are considered certain - at least in the speaker’s mind.
When negative or interrogatory, they require the subjunctive:
c’est que: it’s that/because
connaître (quelqu’un) qui: to know (someone) that
croire que: to believe that
dire que: to say that
espérer que: to hope that
être certain que: to be certain that
être sûr que: to be sure that
il est certain que: it is certain that
il est clair que: it is clear/obvious that
il est évident que: it is obvious that
il est probable que: it is probable that
il est exact que: it is correct/true that
il est sûr que: it is certain that
il est vrai que: it is true that
il me (te, lui…) semble que: it seems to me (you, him…) that
il paraît que: it appears that
penser que: to think that
savoir que: to know that
trouver que: to find/think that
vouloir dire que: to mean that
Penses-tu qu’il soit sympa ? Oui, je pense qu’il est sympa, Non, je ne pense pas qu’il soit sympa.
Do you think he’s nice? Yes, I think he’s nice. No, I don’t think he’s nice.
(ThoughtCo.)
French subjunctive with conjunctions
A number of French conjunctive
phrases require the subjunctive:
à condition que: provided that
à moins que: unless
à supposer que: assuming that
afin que: so that
avant que: before
bien que: although
de crainte que: for fear that
de façon que: so that, in order that, in such a way that
de manière que: so that
de peur que: for fear that
de sorte que: so that
en admettant que: assuming that
en attendant que: while, until
encore que: even though
jusqu’à ce que: until
pour que: so that
pourvu que: provided that
quoique: even though
quoi que: whatever, no matter what
sans que*: without
*These conjunctions are followed by the ne explétif:
Mangeons avant que nous ne partions.
Let’s eat before we leave.
(ThoughtCo.)
On the other hand, the following conjunctions do not take the subjunctive, because they express facts which are considered certain:
ainsi que: just as, so as
alors que: while, whereas
après que: after, when
aussitôt que: as soon as
car since, because
en même temps que: at the same time that
depuis que: since
dès que: as soon as, immediately
lorsque: when
parce que: because
pendant que: while
plutôt que: instead of, rather than
puisque: since, as
quand: when
tandis que: while, whereas
une fois que: once
**These conjunctions are followed by the future tense in French, even though in English we use the present tense.
Mangeons quand il arrivera.
Let’s eat when he arrives.
French Subjunctive with Superlatives
After main clauses which contain adjectives like principal, seul, unique, premier, dernier, or any superlative, the subjunctive is optional - it depends on how concrete the speaker feels about what is being said.
Hélène est la seule personne qui puisse nous aider.
Hélène is the only person who can help us.
(Hélène may be the only person I think can help us, but there may be others.)
Hélène est la seule personne que je vois.
Hélène is the only person I see.
(No subjunctive, because I know this for a fact - I only see Hélène.)
C’est le meilleur livre que j’aie pu trouver.
That’s the best book I could find.
(But it’s not necessarily the best that exists.)
C’est le meilleur livre que j’ai écrit.
That’s the best book I’ve written.
(I wrote three, and I know for a fact that this is the best one.)
(ThoughtCo.)
French subjunctive with negative and indefinite pronouns
In a subordinate clause with the negative pronouns ne … personne or ne … rien, or the indefinite pronouns quelqu’un or quelque chose.
Je ne connais personne qui veuille m’aider.
I don’t know anyone who wants to help me.
Il n’y a rien que nous puissions faire.
There’s nothing that we can do.
Y a-t-il quelqu’un qui puisse m’aider ?
Is there someone who can help me?
J’aimerais inventer quelque chose qui fasse une différence.
I’d like to invent something that will make a difference.
Voilà—there are a lot of rules about when to use the French Subjunctive!
Updated by Camille Chevalier Karfis
(ThoughtCo.)
Au fait ET en fait—>on prononce le T
Au fait, qu’est-ce qu’on fait demain ?
En fait, il était déjà arrivé.
By the way, what are we doing tomorrow?
In fact, he had already arrived.
Qu’est que tu me saoules ! : You really get on my nerves!
J’en ai ras-le-bol ! : I’ve had it up to here, I’m so over this!
(Alex Teaches French)
Il nous a fait goûter le meilleur vin qu’il ait dans sa cave —>subjonctif (because of the superlative).
Le subjonctif
Décoller : To take off
Atterrir: To land
Le subjonctif vs l’indicatif
L’humour (m) c’est pour faire rire.
Il a le sens de l’humour.
Ton humeur (f) peut être bonne ou mauvaise.
(Professeur français Guillaume)
Irregular Subjunctive Verbs
