Twitter | Facebook | Pinterest | TUMBLR | Osu! | Crunchyroll | Ask.fm | my G+
Blogspot about Psychology | Anime Review, Pic, and Stuffs | Learn English Languageā BB pin: 2B2B9BEB | Whatsapp: +6289xxx | Email: [email protected] Collection of Vocaloid Songs & Collection of Anime Theme Songs A-H, Anime Theme Songs I-P, Anime Theme Songs Q-Z & Collection of J-Songs |
|
(a) 'Monsieur' and 'madame'
'Monsieur' is the equivalent of 'Mr' as in 'Monsieur Lebrun' (Mr Brown).
'Madame' is the equivalent of 'Mrs' as in 'Madame Lebrun' (Mrs Brown).
In addition, 'monsieur' and 'madame' are used where English uses 'sir' and 'madam'.
French also uses 'monsieur' and 'madame' at times when English has no form of address. For example, 'bonjour, monsieur'; 'bonjour, madame'. In English we would just say 'good morning'.
(b) Conversational extras
Ordinary conversation in any language is 'oiled' by certain little expressions and words which may not add much to the meaning but which are an important part of daily communication. For example, in English we use words such as 'well' and 'now'. French uses 'alors' rather like English 'well', or 'right'. 'Bien' or 'eh bien' is used in a similar way:
Alors, vous restez trois semaines? So, you're staying for three weeks?
Eh bien, vous êtes libres ce soir? Well then, are you free this evening?
'Bien' usually means 'well', but it may be used to emphasise or underline a statement:
C'est bien ça. That's quite right.
(c) Gender — masculine or feminine (grammar ref. 2.1)
All French nouns are either masculine or feminine. The best way to remember the gender of a word is to learn the word together with the correct French form for 'the' ('le', if masculine; 'la', if feminine; and 'I', whenever a word begins with a vowel).
Ex. for masculine: le jour, le passeport
Ex. for feminine: la femme; la semaine
Ex. using vowel: l'enfant
(d) Plurals (grammar ref. 2.2)
The great majority of French nouns form the plural, as do English nouns, by adding '-s'. In the plural, 'the' is always 'les', for both masculine and feminine words.
le jour ➾ les jours
la semaine ➾ les semaines
l'enfant ➾ les enfants
(e) Expressing possession (grammar ref. 3.5)
'Monsieur' is the equivalent of 'Mr' as in 'Monsieur Lebrun' (Mr Brown).
'Madame' is the equivalent of 'Mrs' as in 'Madame Lebrun' (Mrs Brown).
In addition, 'monsieur' and 'madame' are used where English uses 'sir' and 'madam'.
French also uses 'monsieur' and 'madame' at times when English has no form of address. For example, 'bonjour, monsieur'; 'bonjour, madame'. In English we would just say 'good morning'.
(b) Conversational extras
Ordinary conversation in any language is 'oiled' by certain little expressions and words which may not add much to the meaning but which are an important part of daily communication. For example, in English we use words such as 'well' and 'now'. French uses 'alors' rather like English 'well', or 'right'. 'Bien' or 'eh bien' is used in a similar way:
Alors, vous restez trois semaines? So, you're staying for three weeks?
Eh bien, vous êtes libres ce soir? Well then, are you free this evening?
'Bien' usually means 'well', but it may be used to emphasise or underline a statement:
C'est bien ça. That's quite right.
(c) Gender — masculine or feminine (grammar ref. 2.1)
All French nouns are either masculine or feminine. The best way to remember the gender of a word is to learn the word together with the correct French form for 'the' ('le', if masculine; 'la', if feminine; and 'I', whenever a word begins with a vowel).
Ex. for masculine: le jour, le passeport
Ex. for feminine: la femme; la semaine
Ex. using vowel: l'enfant
(d) Plurals (grammar ref. 2.2)
The great majority of French nouns form the plural, as do English nouns, by adding '-s'. In the plural, 'the' is always 'les', for both masculine and feminine words.
le jour ➾ les jours
la semaine ➾ les semaines
l'enfant ➾ les enfants
(e) Expressing possession (grammar ref. 3.5)
(f) Questions (grammar ref. 5.11)
You will note from the dialogues that there are two main ways of putting a question:
(i) Give a rising intonation to a sentence: (The intonation at the end of these two sentences are raising)
Vous êtes John (⤴)Smith?
Vous êtes libre (⤴)ce soir?
(ii) Put 'est-ce que' in front of a statement to turn it into a question:
Est-ce que vous êtes John Smith?
Est-ce que vous êtes libre ce soir?
(⤴) means the time when you raise your voice.
⇜ ⇝ ⇜ ⇝⇜ ⇝ ⇜ ⇝ ⇜ ⇝ ⇜ ⇝ ⇜ ⇝ ⇜ ⇝⇜ ⇝ ⇜ ⇝ ⇜ ⇝ ⇜ ⇝ ⇜ ⇝ ⇜ ⇝⇜ ⇝ ⇜ ⇝ ⇜ ⇝ ⇜ ⇝ ⇜ ⇝ ⇜
(a) Regular verbs
If you look up 'change' or 'prepare' in the dictionary, you will find the forms 'changer', 'préparer'. This part of the verb is called the infinitive:
The great majority of regular verbs have an infinitive with the ending '-er'. Note that there is only one form for the present tense in French, and this can translate the English simple present (I change) or continuous present (I am changing).
(b) Can I . . .? May I . . .?
je peux ➾ I can / I may
est-ce que je peux? ➾ can I? / may I?
Est-ce que je peux changer cinquante livres? Can I change £50?
Est-ce que je peux voir votre passeport? May I see your passport?
The question may also be asked using 'Je peux ...?' and raising your voice at the end of the sentence to give it a questioning intonation:
Je peux avoir la clef de la ch(⤴)ambre? Can I have the key to the bedroom?
(⤴) means the time when you raise your voice.
Note that 'je peux' and 'est-ce que je peux?' are always followed by an infinitive:
je peux changer
est-ce que je peux préparer?
(c) You can... Can you...?
Vous pouvez changer un chèque. You can change a cheque.
Vous pouvez dîner ce soir? Can you have dinner this evening?
Est-ce que vous pouvez diner ce soir? Can you have dinner this evening?
(d) Giving commands & Instructions
Payez à la caisse. Pay at the cash-desk.
Apportez deux glaces. Bring two ice-creams.
To give an instruction, use the 'vous' form of the verb, but omit the word 'vous'.
So that this does not sound too abrupt and impolite, add 's'il vous plaît' (please).
Passez à la caisse, s'il vous plaît. Please pass along to the cash-desk.
(e) Negatives
The great majority of regular verbs have an infinitive with the ending '-er'. Note that there is only one form for the present tense in French, and this can translate the English simple present (I change) or continuous present (I am changing).
(b) Can I . . .? May I . . .?
je peux ➾ I can / I may
est-ce que je peux? ➾ can I? / may I?
Est-ce que je peux changer cinquante livres? Can I change £50?
Est-ce que je peux voir votre passeport? May I see your passport?
The question may also be asked using 'Je peux ...?' and raising your voice at the end of the sentence to give it a questioning intonation:
Je peux avoir la clef de la ch(⤴)ambre? Can I have the key to the bedroom?
(⤴) means the time when you raise your voice.
Note that 'je peux' and 'est-ce que je peux?' are always followed by an infinitive:
je peux changer
est-ce que je peux préparer?
(c) You can... Can you...?
Vous pouvez changer un chèque. You can change a cheque.
Vous pouvez dîner ce soir? Can you have dinner this evening?
Est-ce que vous pouvez diner ce soir? Can you have dinner this evening?
(d) Giving commands & Instructions
Payez à la caisse. Pay at the cash-desk.
Apportez deux glaces. Bring two ice-creams.
To give an instruction, use the 'vous' form of the verb, but omit the word 'vous'.
So that this does not sound too abrupt and impolite, add 's'il vous plaît' (please).
Passez à la caisse, s'il vous plaît. Please pass along to the cash-desk.
(e) Negatives
Placing 'ne...pas' before and after the verb to form negative sentence. If the verb begins with a vowel, 'ne' is shortened to 'n''.
(f) The indefinite article (un, une, des)
In the plural, English may say 'banks' or 'some banks', 'cheques' or 'some cheques'. In French, it is not normally possible for a noun to stand alone.
masc.: un chèque (a cheque), un employé (an employee)
fem.: une serveuse (a waitress), une banque (a bank)
Plural: des chèques, des employés, des serveuses, des banques
(g) What...?
qu'est-ce que...? what...?
Qu'est-ce que vous prenez? What are you having?
Qu'est-ce que vous pouvez voir? What can you see?
Qu'est-ce vous preférez, un café crème, un thé ou un chocolat chaud?
(h) Why? Because...
pouquoi? ➾ why?
parce que... ➾ because...
Il y a un petit problème. Pourquoi? There is a small problem. Why?
Parce que votre chambre n'est pas prête. Because your room isn't ready.
Pourquoi est-ce que vous allez au restaurant?
Parce que je voudrais déjeuner.
If the following word begins with a vowel, 'que' is shortened to 'qu''.
Parce qu'il y a un problème. Because there is a problem.
⇜ ⇝ ⇜ ⇝⇜ ⇝ ⇜ ⇝ ⇜ ⇝ ⇜ ⇝ ⇜ ⇝ ⇜ ⇝⇜ ⇝ ⇜ ⇝ ⇜ ⇝ ⇜ ⇝ ⇜ ⇝ ⇜ ⇝⇜ ⇝ ⇜ ⇝ ⇜ ⇝ ⇜ ⇝ ⇜ ⇝ ⇜
(a)
(b)
(c)
x
x
(f) The indefinite article (un, une, des)
In the plural, English may say 'banks' or 'some banks', 'cheques' or 'some cheques'. In French, it is not normally possible for a noun to stand alone.
masc.: un chèque (a cheque), un employé (an employee)
fem.: une serveuse (a waitress), une banque (a bank)
Plural: des chèques, des employés, des serveuses, des banques
(g) What...?
qu'est-ce que...? what...?
Qu'est-ce que vous prenez? What are you having?
Qu'est-ce que vous pouvez voir? What can you see?
Qu'est-ce vous preférez, un café crème, un thé ou un chocolat chaud?
(h) Why? Because...
pouquoi? ➾ why?
parce que... ➾ because...
Il y a un petit problème. Pourquoi? There is a small problem. Why?
Parce que votre chambre n'est pas prête. Because your room isn't ready.
Pourquoi est-ce que vous allez au restaurant?
Parce que je voudrais déjeuner.
If the following word begins with a vowel, 'que' is shortened to 'qu''.
Parce qu'il y a un problème. Because there is a problem.
⇜ ⇝ ⇜ ⇝⇜ ⇝ ⇜ ⇝ ⇜ ⇝ ⇜ ⇝ ⇜ ⇝ ⇜ ⇝⇜ ⇝ ⇜ ⇝ ⇜ ⇝ ⇜ ⇝ ⇜ ⇝ ⇜ ⇝⇜ ⇝ ⇜ ⇝ ⇜ ⇝ ⇜ ⇝ ⇜ ⇝ ⇜
(a)
(b)
(c)
x
x
x
x
x