French Grammar Book

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Adjectives. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Adverbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Articles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Indefinite. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Definite . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Partitive. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Cest vs. Il est. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Comparative & Superlative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Adverbs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Equality. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Comparative. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Superlative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Adjectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Equality. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Comparative. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
Superlative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Nouns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Equality. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Comparative. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . 16
Conditional (Present) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Conditional (Past) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Demonstrative Adjectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Devoir. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Faire Causative Construction . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Future . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
Future Perfect . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
Idiomatic Expressions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Avoir. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . .25
Faire. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
Imperative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
Imperfect. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
Indirect Discourse. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Infinitives Pereceded by Prepositions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Interrogative Adjectives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Interrogative Pronouns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Qui/Que . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Lequel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
Jouer / Jouer de. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Jours de la Semaine . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .40
Language & Nationality . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Literary Tenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Pass Antrieur . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
Pass Simple . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42

Imperfect Subjunctive . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44
Pluperfect Subjunctive. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .44
Months of the Year . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Negative Expressions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Object Pronouns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47
Indirect Object Lui & Leur . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Disjunctive (stressed) Pronouns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Y & En. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Direct Object Pronouns Le, La, and Les. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Ordinal Numbers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Pass Compose. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Verbs conjugated with Avoir. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Verbs Conjugated with Etre. . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 53
Reflexive Verbs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54
Passive voice. . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57
Past infinitive. .. . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
Past Subjunctive. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 59
Pluperfect. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 60
Possessive Adjectives. . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61
Prepositions of Place. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62
Prepositions with Geographical Locations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. 62
Present Participle. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64
Present tense. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 65
Quantitative Expressions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
Question Formation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Reflexive / Reciprocal Verbs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Word order for Reflexive Verbs. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Relative Pronouns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Savoir & Connaitre. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Seasons. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Subject Pronouns. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80
Vous vs. Tu. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81
Subjunctive. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Formation. . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Usage. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Emotion / Opinion / Judgement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Doubt / Possibility / Uncertainty. .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .84
Wishes / Desires. . . . . . . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Necessity / Obligation. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Conjunctions . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86
Time . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Conversational Time. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Official Time. . . . .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Venir De + Infinitive: The Immediate past. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .89

ADJECTIVES
A.

Formation of Feminine Form- in most cases the feminine form of the

adjective is formed by adding -e. but there are exceptions.

Irregular Forms of Adjectives

ADJ. END INGS

MASCULINE

FEMININE

ENGLISH
EQUIV.

-C

-CHE

blanc

blanche

white

-C

-QUE

public

publique

public

-ER

RE

premier

premire

first

-ET

TE

inquiet

inquite

nervous

-EUR

EURE

suprieur

suprieure

superieur

-EUR

EUSE

menteur

menteuse

liar

-EUR

RICE

acteur

actrice

actor

-ET

ETTE

muet

muette

silent

-IF

-IVE

actif
naf
sportif

active
nave
sportive

active
naive
athletic

-N

-NNE

bon
mignon

bonne
maignonne

good
cute

-L

-LLE

gentil
intellectuel
personnel

gentille
intellectuelle
personnelle

nice
intellectual
personal

-EUX

-EUSE

gnreux
heureux
srieux

gnreuse
heureuse
srieuse

generous
happy
serious

1
SPECIAL CASES

MASCULINE
beau

*bel
doux
faux
favori
frais
long
nouveau

*nouvel
sec
vieux

*vieil

FEMININE

ENGLISH EQUIV.

belle

beautiful

douce
fausse
favorite
frache
longue
nouvelle

soft
faise
favorite
fresh
long
new

sche
vieille

dry
old

*NOTE: Special forms of these adjectives are used before a masculine singular
noun beginning with a vowel or mute h.

B.

un bel homme
un nouvel tudiant
un vieil ami
PLURAL FORMATION- Adjectives with a regular plural form also
add -s to the masculine of feminine singular.

REGULAR PLURAL of ADJECTIVES

GENDER

SINGULAR

PLURAL

Masculine

grand
intelligent
sympathique

grands
intelligents
sympathiques

Feminine

petite
blonde
agable

petites
blondes
agables

NOTE: An adjective that modifies both a masculine and a feminine

noun at the same time takes the masculine plural form
2

Nous cherchons une femmer et un homme intelligents.

1. Adjectives ending in s or x in the masculine singular show no
change in the masculine plural form. Feminine forms, however,
add s:
un garon franais
un homme heureux

des garcon franais

des hommes heureux

une jeune fille franais

une femme heureuse

de jeunes filles franaises

des femmes heureuses

2. Adjectives ending u in the masculine singular add x to form

plural
un beau garon
un nouveau tableau

des beaux garcon

des nouveaux hommes
BUT

une belle maison

une nouvelle voiture

de belle maisons
des nouvelles voitures

NOTE: The indefinite article des should change de when followed by a plural adjective +
plural noun
de bons amis
de jolies femmes
However, the above usage is current undergoing change, and des is used in current
conversational French.
Jai des bons amis.

EXCEPTIONS
3. Adjectives depicting qualified colors do NOT agree with the nouns they modify
des cheveux chtain fonc (dark brown)
des cheveux chtain clair (light brown)
4. Adjectives of color (orange, citron, crme, marron, etc) that are nouns do NOT
agree with the nouns they modify
des rideaux crme
C. POSITION OF ADJECTIVES
1. Adjectives usually follow the nouns they modify, which is the opposite of English
usuage.
a funny man
three nice friends
an elegant woman

un homme amusant
trios copains agrables
une femme lgante

2. There are a few adjectives that are exceptions to this rule as they precede the noun.
beau
handsome/beautiful
bon/mauvais
good/bad
grand/petit
big ,tall/small ,little,short
jeune/vieux
young/old
nouveau
new
joli
pretty
C. The following adjective change their meaning according to their pleasure:
ancien

mon ancient professeur

my former professor

un livre ancient
an ancient / old book

certain

un certain homme
a certain, particular man

une victoire certaine

a sure win

cher

mes chers collgues

me dear colleagues

des machines chres

expensive machines

dernier

la dernire anne
the final year (in a series)

l anne dernire
the last, preceding year

grand

un grand homme
a great man

un homme grand
a big /tall man

mme

la mme ide
the same idea

l ide meme
the very idea

pauvre

la pauvre famille
poor, unfortunate family

la famille pauvre
poor, penniless family

propre

ma propre chamber
my own room

une chamber propre

a clean room

prochain
seul

La prochaine fois
Next time (in a series)
Le seul homme
The only man

La semaine prochaine
Next week (one coming)
Un homme seul
a solitary man

Adverbs
A. FORMATION- Adverbs are generally formed by adding ment to the feminine
form of the adjective. The ment ending is equivalent to the ly adverb ending in
English.
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
TRANSLATION
Lent(e)
Lentement
Slowly
Sincere
Sincerement
Sincerely
Ouvert(e)
Ouvertement
Openly
Attentive(-ve)
Attentivement
Attentively
Heureux(-se)
Heureusement
fortunately
For the adjectives that end in ant or ent, drop the nt and add mment to creat the
adverb form
Independent independamment- independently
Intelligent intelligemment intelligently
The following are some common adverbs that do NOT have the ment ending.
Bien- well
Mal- badly
Tres- very
Bientot- soon
Souvent- often
Trop- too much/ many
Dj- already
Toujours- always
Vite- quickly
Encore- still, yet
B. POSITION- The normal position for adverbs in simple tenses is directly after the
conjugated verb.
Il etudie attentivement
He studies attentively.
Elles jouent bien au tennis
They play tennis well.

In compound tenses, such as the pass compose, the longer adverbs ending in
-ment normally follow the past participle. Short adverbs, suc has those above, follow
the conjugated auxiliary verb and precede the past participle.
Il a etudie attentivement.
Elle ont bien travaille.

He studied attentively.
They worked well.

Articles
A. INDEFINITE ARTICLES- All nouns in French are either masculine or
feminine are usually preceded by a marker that indicates the gender. One type
of gender marker is the indefinite article UN/ UNE which is equivalent to the
English a/ an. The indefinite article simply states the existence of a person,
thing, or concept; it does not specify any particular one. The plural of UN/
UNE is DES (=some)
Un homme
Un ami
Une soeur
Une jeune fille
Des hommes
Des amis
Des soeurs
Des jeunes filles
1. In most cases, UN/ UNE/ DES becomes DE (D before nouns beginning with
a vowel) after a verb used in the negative
-Tu cherches un camarade de chambre? Are you looking for a roommate?
-Non, je ne cherche pas de camarade de chambre. No, Im not looking for a
roommate.
NOTE: In negative sentences where the main verb is ETRE, the indefinite
articles UN/ UNE/ DES will not undergo any change.
Ce ne sont pas des livres.
These arent books.
Ce nest pas un bon livre.
This isnt a good book.
2. Nouns referring to males are generally masculine (un homme) and nouns
referring to females are generally feminine (une soeur)
-Some nouns have both masculine and feminine form: un ami/ une amie
- Other nouns, although they refer to both men & women have only one form:
un professeur.

DEFiNITE ARTICLES
LE, LA, L, LES
SIngular Forms

Plural Form

[masculine]
[masculine/feminine nouns that being
with vowel sounds]

les [masculine/feminine plural]

[feminine]

Uses of Definite Articles

-designates a noun in a general/generic/collective sense
-designates a noun in a specific sense
-designates an abstract concept
1.

General/generic/collective sense- the broadest sense to the idea

of someone or something. Please note that in English, no article is
used in this context.

Anne aime le tennis.

Anne like tennis.

[This implies that Anne like tennis in general]

Michel naime pas la bire.

Michel doesnt like beer.

[This implies that dislikes all beer]

Le fromage franais cote cher

aux Etats-Unis.
French cheese costs a lot in the
USA.

[This implies all French cheese in general is

expensive]

NOTE: The definite article is used often after the verbs AIMER,
DETESTER, and PREFERER to express a generalized sense of like,
dislike, or preference.
-Aimez-vous le vin?
-Non, je naime pas le vin, mas jaime
la bire.

Do you like wine?

No, I dont like wine but I like beer.

2.

Specific Sense- Please note that in English, the article is also

used in this context.

Voici les cls.

Here are the keys

[This refers to specific keys that have

already been mentioned]

O est l'Htel Jean-Bart?

Where is the Jean Bart hotel?

[This refers to a specific hotel, the JeanBart Hotel]

3.

Abstract Sense: used to express abstract concept where the

article is normally omitted in English

La libert est importante.

Freedom is important.

[The concept of Freedom]

Elle tudie la psychologie.

She is studying psychology.

[psychology as science/its concepts]

1.

Other Uses of of the Definite Article

a) The definite article is used in conjunction with the preposition
de to indicate possession.

FORMATION

le/la/l/les + the possessee + de possessor

lami de Vincent
les livres dIsabelle

Vincents friend
Isabelles books

b) The definite article is used before the names of languages,

except after the preposition en and after the verb parler

Le franais est trs intressant.

Le film est en italien.

French is interesting.
The film is in Italian.

Suzanne parle franais mais elle Susan speaks French, but she doesnt
speak Spanish.
ne parle pas espagnol.

NOTE: When the verb PARLER is modified by adverb the definite

article is optional.

Sophie parle bien le franais.

Sophie speaks French well.

c) The definite article indicates the idea per when used before units
of measure.

Cest 5F...le kilo

le litre
la livre
la bouteille

(per kilo)
(per liter)
(per book)
(per bottle)

d) When the definite article is placed before the days of the week, it
indicated the idea of a repeated occurrence (ever____or on_____s). The days
of the week are all masculine and are not capitalized in French.

lundi
mardi
mecredi
jeudi

Elle tudie le dimanche.

Il ne travaille pas le samedi.
Je sors le samedi.

Monday
Tuesday
Wednesday
Thursday

vendredi
samedi
dimanche

Friday
Saurday
Sunday

She studies on Sundays.

He doesnt work on Saturdays.
I go out every Saturday.

NOTE: When no article is used with the days of the week, this indicates a one
time occurrence and does not indicate a habitual occurrence.

e)

What are you doing Saturady?

Quest-ce que vous faites

samedi?

The definite article is generally used with the parts of the body.
Whats the matter with you?
I have a headache.

-Quest-ce que tu as?

-Oh, jai mal la tte.

-Est-ce quil a les cheveux blonds? Does he have blond hair?

No, he has black hair.
- Non, il a les cheveux noirs.

-Le pauvre Paul: Il a mal au dos.

Poor Paul! His back hurts.

*NOTE: Unlike English, in French, the possessive adjectives (my, your,

his/her,our,their) are never used with parts of the body, but instead, the definite
articles are used because the nature of the sentences itself clearly indicates
possession.
**NOTE: When the part of the body is modified by an adjective that precedes the
noun, however, the indefinite article is used instead.
CONTRACTIONS WITH THE DEFINITE ARTICLE
1.

+ Definite Article

DEFINITE ARTICLE CONTRACTIONS with PREPOSITIONS

+ le

au

+ la

la

+ l

+ les

aux

Tu parle au pre de Paul.

Je vais la campagne.
Il parle loncle de Frdric.
Elle donne du vin aux parents.

2.

You are talking to Pauls father.

Im going to the country.
Hes talking to Frederics uncle.
Shes giving some wine to the parents.

DE + Definite Article
Definite Article Contractions with Prep. DE

de + le

du

de + la

de la

de +l

de l

de + les

des

Nous parlons du frre de Thomas.

Were talking about Thomass brother.

Tu parles de la belle-mre de Jean.

Are you talking about Jeans mother in law?

Vous parlex de lenfant de Phillippe.

Youre talking about Phillippes child.

Les amis des garons sont pnibles.

The boys friends are annoying.

C.

PARTITIVE
1. Distinctive Features
- The partitive is used to express the idea of a certain quantity or portions
of something , but not the whole thing
Equivalent to some or any (=a part of) in English that can be used
- Equivalent to some or any (=a part of) in English that can be used both
with concrete or abstract nouns
- In English, the partitive article10is often omitted, but in French it must
always be use before a noun whenever the idea of some or any is
implied
2. FORMATION

Masculine
Singular
du

Feminine
Singular

LE PARTITIVE
M or F before a
vowel or aspirate H

de la

de l

M/F plural
des

Est-ce que tu veux du vin?

Non, je vais acheter de la bire.
Elle a de largent?
Oui, et elle achte des petits pois.

Do you want wine?

No, Im going to buy some beer.
Does she have any money?
Yes, and shes buying some peace.

*NOTE: After a negative construction, the partitive articles du, de la, de l, and
des change to de or d regardless of the gender or number of the noun except
after the verb ETRE. The English equivalence to the partitive in the negative is
no or any.

10, cont

Il ny a pas de pain aujordhui.

There is no bread today.

There isnt any bread today.

Elle na pas achet de croissants.

She didnt buy any croissants.

Vous ne prenez pas de salade?

Youre not having any salad?

BUT

Ce nest pas du vin amricain.

This isnt american wine.

NOTE: Remember that un/une means a/an and is used before singular,
countable, nonspecified noun. Normally, is a/an is in the the English sentence,
that is you cue to use un/une in French. The partitives du, de la, de l, and des,
on the other hand, mean some/any (part of) a whole quantity or of a noun that is
not countable. Remember that both the indefinite and partitive articles change to
de after a negative construction.

-Paul, tu prends une bire ou du vin?

Paul, are you having a beer or some wine?

-Moi, je prends une bire, merci.

Im having a beer, thanks.

Je ne prends pas de vin.

Im not having any wine.

-Oui, je prends du vin. Je ne prends pas de bire.

Yes, Im having some wine. Im not having a beer.

Some nouns, however, can be modified by either the indefinite article: th,
caf, Coca, bire, Orangina, etc... In this case, the indefinite article un/une
means a whole measure of, while the partitive articles mean part of a whole
quantity.
-Quest-ce que tu prends comme
boisson, Georges?

What are you having to drink, Georges?

-Oh, je prends du Coca.

Oh, Im having (some) Coke.

(=a glass of Coke, ie: part of a bottle)

OR
-Oh, je prends un Coca.

Oh, Im having a bottle of Coke.

CEST VS. IL EST

11

Both Il (ils, elle, elles) and Ce can mean he, she, it, or that as the subject of the
verb ETRE, but these pronouns are not interchangeable. There are specific
grammatical rules that require choosing between Il (ils, elle, elles) and Ce.
- Generally, if the word following ETRE could itself function as the subject of
a verb, you use CE.
- If the word following the ETRE cannot be the subject of a verb, you must
use the appropriate personal pronoun il, elle, ils, elles.
A.

CE + ETRE

1. Proper Noun

Cest Jeanne.

2. Disjunctive Pronoun

Cest elle.
Ce sont elles.

3. Noun

Cest une calculatrice?

-Non, ce nest pas une calculatrice. Cest
un ordinateur.

4. Modified noun of
profession, nationality,
religion

Cest un bon profeseur.

5. Masculine adjective
referring to a complete idea

-Tu travailles dans un restaurant franais?

-Oui, cest intressant.

B. IL/ ELLE/ ILS/ ELLES + ETRE

1. Adjective referring to
specific people or things

Elle est belle.

2. Prepositional Phrase

Elle est dans un caf.

Ils sont Paris.

3. Unmodified noun of
profession, nationality, and
religion

Elle est professor.

NOTEL: When starting a noun profession, nationality, or religion, both CEST and
IL EST can be used if the noun is unmodified. In such a case, when you use
CEST retain the article; after IL EST omit it. When the noun is modified by an
adjective, you must use CEST.

COMPARATIVE and SUPERLATIVE

A. ADVERBS
1. Equality

COMPARISONS OF EQUALITY w/ ADVERBS

AUSSI + adverb + QUE

12
12, cont

as....as

Il danse aussi bien que son frre.

He dances as well as his brother.
Sophie shabille aussi lgamment que sa mre.
Sophie dresses as elegantly as her mother.
2. COMPARATIVE
COMPARATIVE OF ADVERBS
PLUS + adverb+ QUE
morethan (-er)
MOINS +adverb+QUE
lessthan (-er)
MIEUX + QUE
better than
Il parle plus lentement que Marie.
(He speaks slower than Marie.)
Elles travaillent moins vite que leurs amis.
(They work less than their friends.)
**NOTE: The adverb BIEN (well) is irregular. The comparative form is
MIEUX (better). (Plus bien or plus mieux is NOT acceptable in French.)
Vous chantez bien
Vous chantez mieux que Jean

You sing well.

You sing better than Jean.

3. SUPERLATIVE
SUPERLATIVE OF ADVERBS
LE + PLUS + adverb + de the most in/of
LE + MOINS +adverb+ de the least in/of
LE MIEUX + de
the best of/in

(-er)
(-er)

Il parle le plus vite de la classe.

He speaks the fastest in the class.
Elles travaillent le moins attentivement de tous les tudiants.
They work the least attentively of all the students.
**NOTE: The adverb bien (well) is irregular: the superlative form is LE MIEUX
(the best). (le plus bien / le plus mieux is NOT acceptable in French.)
Vous chantez le mieux du groupe.
(You sing the best of the group.)

13

B. ADJECTIVES remember that the adjective must agree in gender & in number with the noun
it modifies.
1. EQUALITY
COMPARISONS OF EQUALITY WITH ADJECTIVES
AUSSI + adjective + QUE
asas
Ma maison est aussi grande que ton appartement.
apartment.

My house is as big as your

Ma mre est aussi ge que mon pre.

father.

My mother is as old as my

**NOTE : The adjective agrees in gender & in number with first noun & NOT the noun
that follows QUE.
2. COMPARATIVE
COMPARATIVE WITH ADJECTIVES
PLUS + adjective + QUE
morethan
(-er)
MOINS +adjective + QUE lessthan
(-er)
MEILLEUR(E)(S) +QUE
better than
Ma maison est plus grande que ton appartment.
than your apartment.

My house is bigger

Ma mre est moins ge que mon pre.

than my father.

My monther is younger

**NOTE: The adjective BON (good) is irregular: the comparative form is

MEILLEUR(E)(S). (plus bon/ plus meilleur(e)(s) is NOT acceptable in French.)
MEILLEUR(E)(S) + QUE = better than
Ma note en franais est meilleure que ta note.
My French grade is better than yours.

14

3. Superlatives will always precede the adjective whether the adjective precedes or
follows the noun
Superlatives With Adjectives
Le/La/L/Les + PLUS + Adjective + the most . in/of (.-est)
DE
Le/La/L/Les + MOINS +adjective
the least. in/of (-est)
+DE
Marie est la plus jolie fille de la famille.
Son frre est le moins grand de tous.

Marie is the prettiest girl in

the family.
Her brother is the shortest of all.

BUT
*Il a les cassettes les plus interessantes He has the most interesting cassettes of
du groupe.
the group.
*Voila ma cassette la plus chere.

Heres my most expensive cassette

*NOTE: To form the superlative of adjectives that follow the noun,

two markets are used. Place either a definite article or possessive
adjective before the noun. And then place PLUS or MOINS before
the adjective
**NOTE: The adjective bon is irregular: the superlative form is
le/la/l/les MEILLEUR(E)(S).(Le/la/les plusbon(ne)(s)/le/la/les
plus meilleur(e)(s) is NOT acceptable in French)
Voila les meilleurs disques de ma collection.
C.

Nouns
1.

Equality
Equality Of Nouns
AUTANT DE + noun + Que
as much / many.as
(w/o article)
Jai autant de disques que mon ami. I have as many records as my friend.

15
Comparative Of Nouns
PLUS DE + noun + QUE (w/o article) more than..
MOINS DE + noun + QUE (w/o
less/ fewer.than
article)

2. Comparative

A.

Philippe a moins de disques que Georges.

Phillipe has fewer records

than George.

Jai plus de disques que Georges.

I have more records than

George

CONDITIONAL (Present)
FORMATION- The is often equivalent to the English would + verb. For
most verbs, the stem of the conditional is the infinitive except for RE verbs
which drop the final E.
Infinite / Irregular stem + Imperfect Endings
1.

Stems
a. REGULAR
PARLER
ETUDIER
FINIR
SORTIR
ATTENDRE
DIRE
ECRIRE

PARLERETUDIERFINIRSORTIRATTENDRDIRECRIR-

b. SLIGHTLY IRREGULAR- spelling changes that occur in the present

tense of certain ER verbs appear throughout the conditional.
e
Acheter
Se lever

AcheterSe lever-

16

Ennuyer
Nettoyer
essayer
payer
employer

i
enneiernettoieressaierpaieremploier-

sappeler

ll

sappeller-

jeter

tt
jetter

c. IRREGULAR STEM CHANGES

aller

ir-

avoir
devenir
envoyer
tre
faire
pouvoir
recevoir
savoir
venir
voir
vouloir

aurdeviendrenverrserferpourrrecevr-saur-viendr-verrvoudr--

d. STEM ENDINGS
-ais

-ions

-ais

-iez

-ait

-aient

B. USES of the Conditional

1. POLITENESS when making requests or seeking information.
Je voudrais parler au patron,
sil vous plait.

Id like to speak with the

boss please

Pourriez-vous me dire o se
trouve le bureau de
placement?
Auriez-vous le temps pour
une interview aujordhui?

Could you tell me where the

employment agency is?
Would you have the times for
an interview today?

2. Indication of action at a future that is hypothetical; it may or may not

happen.

17

Il a dit quil irait chez le mdecin 3h

He said that he would go to the doctors

at 3oclock.

3. SI clause used in conjunction with the imperfect. Imperfect will ALWAYS follow SI &
the conditional will be in the other clause. Indicates what WOULD happen (conditional)
IF certain conditions were met.
Si j tais infirmire, je travaillerais
dans le cabinet dun mdecin.

If I were a nurse, I would work at a

doctors office.

17, cont

CONDITIONAL (PAST)

FORMATION- To form the past conditional in French, the auxiliary verb (AVOIR
or ETRE) in the present conditional is followed by the past participle of the main
verb.
Je serais arriv(e)...

Nous aurons fini...

Tu lui aurais parl...

Vous vous seriez fch...

USAGE- expressed what would have happened if another event had taken pace
or if certain conditions had been present. Thus, it is commonly used in
experiences of regret and reproach.

1. Ways of expressing regret and reproach in English are could have or

should have.

POUVOIR in past conditonal + infinitive = could have

DEVOIR in past conditonal + infinitive = should have

Tu aurais pu me tlphoner!
Tu as raison. Jaurais d te tlphoner.

You could have called me!

Youre right. I should have called you.

2. SI CLAUSES- the past conditional most often appears in sentences in

which the verb in the SI CLAUSES is in the PLUPERFECT
SI + PLUPERFECT, PASTCONDITIONAL

Si tu me lavais dit, jaurais pu appoter tous les outils ncessaires pour

rparer ta voiture.
Tu naurais pas eu faire venir un mcanicien si tu mavais parl de tes
difficults.
NOTE: Either the present or past conditional must be used following the
expression au cas o

Au cas o tu aurais encore des problmes, tu pourrais me donner un

coup de fils.
In case you have further problems, you could give me a call.
Au cas o le mcanicien naurait pas pu rparer ta voiture, donne-moi un
coup.
In case your mechanic isnt able to come repair your call, give me a call.
DEMONSTRATIVE ADJECTIVES
This/That/These

Masculine singular

Ce

Ce livre

This, that

Masculine singular (before a vowel)

Cet

cet homme

This, that

Feminine Singular

Cette Cette femme

This, that

M&F Plurel

Ces

These, those

Ces tentes

Ce garon va faire du Camping

This boy is going to go camping.

Cet homme va avec le garcon

This man is going to go with the boy.

Cette femme naime pas le camping This woman doesnt like camping
Ces sacs de couchage sont confortables

These sleeping bags are

comfortable.

Ces tentes ne sont pas grandes

These tents arent big.

The distinction between this and that or these and those is not made as frequently
in French as in English. When the need arises to make this distinction for clarity,
emphasis, or comparison. -ci (=this) is added immediately after one noun and -la (=that)
after the other.
-Quel maillot vas-Lu acheter?
Which bathing suit are you going to buy?
-Je vais acheter ce maillot.
l'm going to buy this / that bathing suit.
-Moi, je vais acheter ce maillot-ci, pas ce maillot-l.
I'm going to buy this bathing suit, not that bathing suit.
DEVOIR

18

The present and the pass compos of DEVOIR have several meanings, depending on the
context of the sentence. The following illustrate the four basic meanings of DEVOIR:
1. [present tense / DEVOIR + Direct object]

to owe (money & objects)

2. [present tense / DEVOIR + infinitive]

have to, must

3. (pass compos]

had to, must have

4. [imparfait]

was supposed to

5 [conditional]

should
19
DEVOIR

je

Tu

dois (P)

Nous

devons (P)

ai du (PC)

avons du (PC)

devais (I)

devions (I)

devrais (C)

devrions (C)

dois (P)

Vous

devez (P)

as du (PC)

avez du (PC)

devais (I)

deviez (I)

devrais (C)

devriez (C)

il / elle / on

ils/ elles
doit (P)

doivent (P)

a du (PC)

ont du (PC)

devait (I)

devaient (I)

devrait (C)

devraient (C)

Past Participle: du

Auxiliary in P.C. - Avoir

Tu dois vingt francs ta soeur.

You owe twenty francs to your sister

Nous devons rentrer ce soir.

We have to go home tonight.

lls ont d aller en ville.

They had to go into town.

Il doit tre malade ou il a d oublier.

He must be sick or he must have forgotten.

Il devait venir hier soir.

He was supposed to come last night.

Vous devriez faire vos devoirs.

You should do your homework.

FAIRE CAUSATIVE CONSTRUCTION

The causative FAIRE construction is used to express the idea of having something done,
making someone do something, or causing something to be done
A. FORMULATION
SUBJECT + FAIRE(Conjugated)+ INFINITIVE+ DIRECTOBJECT(Subject of Inf.)
20
J'ai fait venir le pre la runion.
Il fait construire une maison.
Nous faisons manger le chat.
B) When there are two objects of the infinitive, the indirect object always refers
to the person or thing that is completing the action (subject of the infinitive) and
the direct object refers to the object that receives the action of the infinitive.
SUBJ + FAIRE (conjugated) + INFINITVE + DO +

+ IO

Il fera boire un peu de vin son enfant.

He will make his child drink a little wine.
Son dernier bouquin a fait gagner beaucoup d'argent Jean-Jaques.
His last book earned Jean-Jaques a lot of money.
Elle a fait visiter la ferme ses parents.
She had her parents visit the farm.
Tu vas faire perdre son poste ton copain.
You are going to make your friend lose his job.
C) When the direct & indirect objects are in the form of object pronouns, they
precede the verb FAIRE and NOT the infinitive.
SUBJECT

OBJECT
PRONOUN

FAIRE
(conjugated)

Il la fait construire.
He is having it built.
Il lui en fera boire un peu.
He will make him/her drink a little of it.

INFINITVE

Elle la leur a fait visiter.

She had them visit it.
Tu vas le lui faire prendre.
You are going to make him lose it.
B. SE FAIRE + INFINITIVE means to have I get something done to oneself.
Thus, the subject is not performing the action, but is having the action
done by
someone or something else.
21
Je me fais couper les cheveux.
I'm getting a haircut.
Elle se fait bronzer la plage.
She is getting a tan at the beach.

21, cont
FUTURE
A. IMMEDIATE FUTURE It is possible to express a future idea by using the
Immediate future (used to express a future idea that is in the not-too
distant
future.)

1. equivalent in English: to be going + 2nd verb in the

infinitive
I'm going to go to the concert.
2. formed by: conjugated form of ALLER + 2nd verb in the

infinitive

3.

Je vais aller au cinma

Im going to the movies.

NOUS ALLONS FAIRE UN TOUR EN

VOITURE.

WE'RE GOING TO GO FOR A RIDE.

QU'EST-QUE VOUS ALLEZ FAIRE CE WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO

SOIR?
TONIGHT?
IN THE NEGATIVE, NE...PAS IS PLACED AROUND THE CONJUGATED
FORM OF ALLER.

MATHIDE NE VA PAS QUITTER

LA MAISON.

MATHIDLE ISN'T GOING TO

LEAVE THE HOUSE.

B.

REGULAR FUTURE
A. FORMATION THE IS OFTEN EQUIVALENT TO THE ENGLISH WILL +
VERB. FOR MOST VERBS, THE STEM OF THE REGULAR FUTURE IS THE
INFINITIVE EXCEPT FOR THE -RE VERBS WHICH DROP THE FINAL -E.
INFINITIVE / IRREGULAR STEM + FUTURE ENDINGS
A.
STEMS

REGULAR
PARLER

PARLER

ETUDIER

ETUDIER

FINIR

FINIR

22
SORTIR

SORTIR

ATTENDRE

ATTENDR

DIRE

DIR

ECRIRE

ECRIR

22, cont
SLIGHTLY IRREGULAR- spelling changes that occur in the present tense of certain
-ER verbs appear throughout the future.

yi

e
acheter
se lever

ennuyer
nettoyer
essayer
payer
employer

ach terse l ver-

l ll
sappeler

t tt
sappeller-

IRREGULAR STEM CHANGES

aller
avoir
devenir
envoyer
tre
faire
pouvoir
pouvois
recevoir
savoir
venir
voir
vouloir

d. STEM ENDINGS

ennuiernettoieressaierpaieremploier-

jeter

jetter-

iraurdeviendrenverrserferferpourrrecevr-saur-viendr-verrvoudr--

-ai

-ons

-as

-ez

-a

-ont

The future tense is used:

1. to express an action, event, or state that will occur in the future.

23
Il aura dix ans le mois prochain.

He will be ten years old next month.

2. after quand (when), lorsque (when), aussitt que (as soon as), ds que (as soon as), and
aprs que (after) when expressing a future action

23, cont
Ds quelle aura son diploma,
As soon as she has her diploma,
Monique fera un aux Etais-Unis pour Monique will travel to the United
perfectionner son anglais.
States to perfect her English
Quand elle nous rendra visite en juillet,
nous lemmnerons Chicago avec
nous.

When she visits us in July, we will take

her to Chicago with us. .

3. States the results of a SI clause in the present tense.

Si elle russit cet examen
comptitif, elle sera professeur
danglais et son employ sera
garanti.

If she passes this competitive

exam, she will be an English
professor and her job will be
guaranteed

Monique acceptera un poste

Strasbourg si son mari y trouve
du travail.

Monique will accept a job in

Strasbourg if her husband finds a
job there. .

FUTURE PERFECT
A. FORMATION- The future perfect (futur antrieur) is formed with the future tense of
the auxiliary AVOIR or ETRE and the past participle of the main verb. Agreement rules,
word order, and negative/interrogative patterns are the same as for the pass compose.
Arriver

tudier
jaurai tudi

je serai arrive(e)

Se Coucher
je me suis couch(e)

tu auras tudi

tu seras arrive(e)

tu te seras couch(s)

il/elle/on aura tudi

il/elle/on on
arriv
arrive

il/elle/on
couch
couche

arriv

couch

nous aurons tudi

nous serons arriv(e)(s)

nous nous couch(e)(s)

vous aurez tudi

vous serez arriv(e)(s)

vous vous serez couch(e)(s)

ils/elles auront tudi

ils/elles seront
arrivs
arrives

ils/elles se sont
couches
couches

B. USAGE- the future perfect is used to express an action that will have taken place
before another action in the future. It expresses the English will have + past particle
En lan 2010, tout aura change.
By the year 2010, everything will have changed.
1. Use the future perfect with quand, lorsque, aussitt que, ds que, and aprs que if that
action will have taken place before another future action.
24
Ex. 1 Ds quil auro trouv un emploi,
il achtera une voiture.
(As soon as he has found (will have found) a job, he will buy a car.)
Ex.2 Partons aussitt quil aura appel.
(Lets leave as soon as he has called (will have called).)
2. At times, it is up to the speaker to decide whether to use the simple future or the future
perfect after one of the above conjuctions. When both clauses are in the simple future, it
is implied that both action took place at the same time.
Ex.1 Aussitt quil achtera sa nouvelle voiture, il nous emmnera fair un tour.
(As soon as he buys his new car, he will take us for a ride.)
Ex.2 Aussitt quil aura achet sa nouvelle voiture, il nous emmnera fair un
tour.
(As soon as he has bought (will have bought) his new car, he will take us for a ride.)
3. After the conjuction aprs que, the future perfect is used when that action takes place
in the future.
Ex.1 Aprs que nous serons revenus, je te raconterai toutes nos aventures.
(After we (will) have returned, I will tell you about all our adventures.)
Si
Quand
Lorsque
Ds que

Si/ Conjunction clause

Present
Future

Main Clause
Present
Future
Imperative
Future
Imperative
Future perfect

Aussitt que

Future Perfect

Aprs que

Future Perfect

Future
Imperative
Future
Imperative

IDIOMATIC EXPRESSIONS
A. AVOIR The verb AVOIR is used in many common idiomatic expression. An
idiom is an expression that cannot be translated literally. Note that in many
AVOIR idioms, AVOIR has the meaning of the English verb TO BE rather than
TO HAVE
Avoirans
____besoin de

to beyears old
to need

____bon/mauvais caractre25
to have a good/bad personality
____chaud
to be hot
____envie de
to feel like
____faim
to be hungry
____froid
to be cold
____lintention de
to intend to
____mal
to have a(n) ache
____peur (de)
to be afraid (of)
____raison
to be right
____soif
to be thirsty
____sommeil
to be sleepy
____tort
to be wrong
EXAMPLES:
-Cest un beau garon. Quel ge a-t-il?
Hes a handsome boy. How old is he?
-Il a onze ans.
Hes eleven years old.
-Quest-ce tu prends quand tu as soif?
thirsty?
-Dhabitude, je prends un grand verre deau.

What do you have when youre

-Jai envie daller la boum, mais jai mal

aux pieds.

I feel like going to the party, but my

feet hurt.

-Tu as besoin de nouvelles chaussures!

You need new shoes!

B.

Usually I have a big glass of water.

FAIRE
1.

SPORTS- Faire is used in conjunction with sports activities

FAIRE + de + definite article + sport
Faire

de laththisme
de larobic
du baseball
de basket-ball
de la bicyclette
du cyclisme
du foot
du football amricain
du hockey
du jogging

de la natation
de la planche voile
de la plonge sous-marine
du rugy
du ski (nautique)
du surf
du tennis
du volleyball
du golf

EXAMPLES
-Fais-tu du sport?
-Oui, mon amie et moi, nous
And
du tennis. Et toi?
26
-Moi, je fais de la planche voile.

Do you play sports?

Yes, my friend and I play tennis.
you?
I windsurf.

26, cont

2. WEATHER EXPRESSIONS
a. Il fait/ Il fait/ Il va faire
. . . . beau
It was nice out.

It was nice out

. . . . du vent

It was windy.

It was windy

. . . . du soleil

It was sunny.

Its sunny

. . . . mauvais

It was bad outside.

Its bad outside

. . . . chaud

It was hot outside.

Its hot outside

. . . . froid

It was cold outside.

Its cold outside

. . . . frais

It was cool outside.

Its cool outside

Its going to be nice

out.
Its going to be
windy
Its going to be
sunny
Its going to be bad
outside
Its going to be hot
outside
Its going to be cold
outside
Its going to be cool
outside

b. OTHER WEATHER EXPRESSIONS

Il a plu/ Il pleut/ Il va pleuvoir
Il a neig/ Il neige/ Il va neiger

It rained
It snowed

Le ciel a t couvert (nuageux)

Le ciel est couvert (nuageux)
Il va y avoir des nauges

It was cloudy.
Its cloudy.
Its going to be
cloudy.

Il y a eu un orage
Il y a un orage
Il va y avoir un orage

There was a
thunderstorm.
Theres a
thunderstorm.
Theres going to
be a thunderstorm

Its raining
Its snowed

Its going to rain

Its going to snow

IMPERATIVE
Imperative forms of a verb are used to give orders or commands or to make requests
A.FORMATION- only exists in the TU/NOUS/VOUS forms
1. Drop the subject pronoun from the present tense of the verb
2. for all regular er verbs and aller. With the TU form of the imperative the final
s is dropped
3. The negative is formed by placing NE before the verb & PAS after the verb
PARLER
tu parles
Parle!
Speak!
Ne parle pas!
Dont speak!
vouz parlez
Parlez!
Speak!
Ne parlez pas!
Dont speak!
nous parlons
Parlons!
Lets speak!
Ne parlons pas! Lets not speak!

27

FINIR
tu finis
vouz finissez
nous finissons

Finis!
Finissez!
Finissons!

Finish!
Finish!
Lets finish!

Ne finis pas!
Ne finissez pas!
Ne finissons pas!

Dont finish!
Dont finish!
Lets not finish!

Rpondre
tu rponds

Rponds!

Answer!

Ne rponds pas!

Dont answer!

vouz rpondez
nous rpondons

Rpondez!
rpondons!

Answer!
Lets answer!

Ne rpondez pas! Dont answer!

Ne rpond pas!
Lets not answer!

B. Imperatives Followed by Object Pronouns

When a command form is accompanied by an object pronoun, the object pronoun
follows the affirmative command and is attached to it by a hyphen. In a negative
command, the object pronoun precedes the verb.
Regardez cette emission.
Regarze-la!
Ne la regardez pas!

Look at this program.

Look at it!
Dont look at it!

Rponds au professeur.
Ronds-lui!
Ne lui rponds pas!

Answer the teacher.

Answer him/her!
Dont answer him/her!

Nous le regardons souvent.

Regardons-le!
Ne le regardons pas!

We watch it often.
Lets watch it!
Lets not watch it!

NOTE When the object pronoun ME follows the affirmative command, the stressed
form MOI must be used.
Donnez-moi du caf sil vous plait.
Ne me donnez pas de caf,
donnez moi du th.

Give me some coffee, please.

Dont give me any coffee, give me some
tea

28

C. Imperatives of the Reflexive Verbs

To form the imperatice of reflexive verbs, you also begin with the appropriate
person (tu ,nous,or vous) of the present tense and remove the subject pronoun. In the
case of the reflexive verbs, however, the reflexive pronoun , like other object
pronouns, is placed AFTER the verb and is attached to it by the hyphen in affirmative
commands.
Vous vous amusez bien.
Amusez-bien vous!

You have a good time.

Have a goodtime!

Nous nous reposons.

Reposons-nous!

We are resting.
Lets rest!

1. When TE follows the affirmative command form, the stressed form TOI is used.
Tu te lves.
Lve-toi vite!

You get up.

Get up quickly!

2. In a negative command, the reflexive pronoun precedes the verb

Ne vous amusez pas trop!
Ne te lve pas!
Ne nous reposons pas maintenant!

-le
-la
-les

Dont have too much fun!

Dont get up!
Dont rest now!

-me (moi)
-te (toi)
-lui
-leur
-nous
-vous

-y

-en

Object pronoun in AFFIRMATIVE Imperatives

IMPERFECT
A. FORMATION of the imperfect- To form the imperfect tense of a verb, remove the
-ONS ending of the first person plural (NOUS form) of the present tense and add the
following endings.
-ais
-ions
-ais
-ait

-iez
-aient

29

VENDRE- tp sell

PARLER- to speak

je parlais
tu parlais
il/elle/on parlait
nous parlions
vous parliez
ils/elles parlaient

je vendais
tu vendais
il/elle/on vendait
nous vendions
vous vendiez
ils/elles vendaient

All verbs, even those that are irregular, form the imperfect tense in the regular fashion,
except for ETRE.
ETRE- to be
FINIR- to finish
je finissais
tu finissais
il/elle/on finissait
nous finissions
vous finissiez
ils/elles finissaient

j tais
tu tais
il/elle/on tait
nous tions
vous tiez
ils/elles taient

B. USES of the imperfect- When the imperfect tense is used, you mentally move back to
a specific point of reference in the PAST (generally) indicated by a verb in the pass
compos, as in a flashback. The imperfect is used to describe what was going on or how
things were at that given point in time. The verb in the pass compos is the primary
incident you are telling about; the imperfect helps establish the context in which this
incident occurred. You are not concerned with when the action of the verb in the
imperfect began or when it ended or even with its duration. It expresses simply how
things were at that time.
1. Habitual Actions that occurred an unspecified number of times often used with the
following adverbs:
dhabitude
souvent
frquemment
toujours
habituellement
tous les jours
_____________________ ______ __________________

imparfait

prsent

Jallais toujours au cours de maths le vendredi.

I always went to math class on Fridays.

Dhabitude jarrivais lheure.

Je faisais mes devoirs tous les jours.
Quand j tais jeune jallais au cimena souvent.

Normally, I would arrive on time.

I used to do my homework everyday.
When I was young, I used to go to the movies often

2. Description, background, &circumstances where the reference point is in the past

(going back into time to describe)
_________________________________________________________
imperfect
prsent
30
Vendredi dernier, il faisait chaud et beau.
Il y avait beaucoup d tudiants dans la salle.

Last Friday. It was hot and nice.

There were a lot of students in the room.

Le prof parlait.
Il tait dj trios heures.
Je ncoutais pas le prof.
Mon ami faisait attention et prenait des notes.

The teacher was talking.

It was already three oclock.
I wasnt listening to the teacher.
My friend was paying attention and
taking notes
3. Conditions, sate of being, and feelings where the focus is on the condition, state, or
feeling itself with NO regards to the beginning or end. The following verbs often are used
to describe a physical or emotional state.
avoir
penser
tre

desirer
prfrer

Javais mal la tte.

J tais trs fatigue.
Je ne comprenais plus le prof.

detester
aimer

croire
vouloir

I had a headache.
I was very tired.
I couldnt understand the teacher anymore.

Javais envie de partir.

I wanted to leave.
Les tudiants attendaient la
The students were waiting impatiently
fin de la leon avec impatience.
for the lesson to be over.
______________________________________________________
imperfect

prsent

4. With SI when expressing a wish or desire that would happen in the present or
future. (Note that it is a wish or desire that is not probable to come true)
Si javais de largent!
Sil avait le temps!

If I has some money!

If he only had the time!

31
5. An ongoing action for which no beginning or end can be visualized in the past that
is interrupted by another in the past.
______________________________________________________
imperfect

prsent

pass compose
Je regardais le film quand tout coup jai eu faim.
I was watching a movie when all of a sudden I got hungry.

INDIRECT DISCOURSE
Indirect discourse is used to report both statements and questions. The following are
examples of the kinds of verbs that may introduce reported speech:
affirmer
annoncer
declarer
dire
expliquer
jurer
promettre
A. QUE/QU links the introductory verbs such as DIRE with a reported statement
whether it is affirmative or negative. Note that the original subject pronoun in the quoted
statement will change when it is reported to the introductory verb.
Elle dit: Je ne vient pas ce soir.

Elle dit QUelle ne vient pas ce soir.

Ils disent: Nous venons ce soir.

Ils disent QUils viennent ce soir.

B. If the introductory verb is in the present tense, the tense of the verb(s) In the
reported statements doe NOT change.

32

Elles dissent: Nous venons la manif.

Elles disent quelles viennent la manif.

present tense
Il dit: Je nai pas promis de venire.

Il dit quil na pas promis de venire.

pass compos

32, cont

C. If the introductory verb is in a past tense, the tense of the verb(s) in the reported
statement changes as follows.
Ella a dit: Je viens ce soir.

Elle a dit quelle venait ce soir.

imperfect

present
Ella a dit: Je vais venire ce soir.

Elle a dit quelle venait ce soir.

immediate future

imperfect

Il a dit: Je nai pas promis de venire.

pass compos

Il a dit quil navait pas promis de venire.

pluperfect

Jai dit: Javais trop de travail.

Jai dit que javais trop de travail.

imperfect

imperfect (no change)

D. When reporting yes/no questions, si/s in place of que/qu

Elles demandent: Vous venez se soir?
Il voulait savoir: Elle arrive lheure?

Elles demandent si vous venez ce soir.

Il voulait savoir s elle arrivait lheure.

E. When reporting informational questions, retain only the interrogative pronouns. Do

not use est-ce que or inversion/
Il ma demand: Quand est-ce que le roi est mort?

Elle ma demand quand le roi tait mort.

a. QUI-EST-CE QUI and QUI EST-CE QUE become QUI

Elle ma demand: Qui est-ce qui est denvenu roi?
Elle ma demand qui tait devenu roi.

33

b. QUEST-CE QUI becomes CE QUI

Ils ont demand: Quest-ce qui sest pass ensuite?
Ils ont demand ce qui stait pass ensuite.
c. QUEST-CE QUE becomes CE QUE
Il a demand: Quest-ce que tu as dit?
Il a demand ce que javais dit.

33, cont

INFINITIVES PRECEDED BY PREOPPOSITIONS

+ INFINITVE
aider
samuser
apprendre
sattendre
autoriser
avoir (to have to)

commener
consenter
continuer
encourager
enseigner
shabituer

hesiter
s intresser
inviter
se mettre
russir
tenir

DE + INFINTIVE
sagir de
sarrrer de
avoir besoin de
avoir envie de
avoir lintention de
avoir peur de
choisir

dcider de
se dpcher de (to hurry)
empcher de (to prevent)
essayer de
finir de
oublier de
regretter de

+ PERSON

parler de
refuser de
remercier de
rver de
se souvenir de
tcher de (to try)
venir de (to have just)
DE + INFINTIVE

commander quelquun de
conseiller quelquun de
dfendre quelquun de
demander quelquun de
reprocher quelquun de

dire quelquun de
crire quelquun de
permettre quelquun de
promettre quelquun de
suggrer quelquun de

NO PREPOSITION
aimer
aller
compter
croire
desirer
detester
devoir
couter

esprer
faire
falloir
penser
pouvoir
prfrer
savoir

sembler
souhaiter
venir
voir
vouloir

34

SUBJECT + ETRE + ADJECTIVE + PREPOSITON + INFINITIVE

Most all subjects that precede ETRE will take DE
Je suis content de te voir
Il est difficile de comprendre le franais.
BUT:
Cest is followed by
Cest facile comprendre.

INTERROGATIVE ADJECTIVES
A. agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies
masculine singular
quel

QUEL (what, which)

feminine singular
masculine plural
quelle
quels

feminine plural
quelles

B. It occurs in the following positions:

1. Immediately before the noun modifies: QUEL + NOUN
Quelle glise?
Quel livre est-ce que tu as?
Quels sports est-il aime?
Quelles bires prfrez-vous?

What (which) church?

What (which) book do you have?
What (which) sports does he like?
What (which) beers do you prefer?

NOTE: When QUEL and the noun are followed by the pass compose. The past
participle must agree in gender and number with the noun.
Quels disques as-tu achets?
Quelles jeunes filles est-ce que tu as invites
2. Between the noun it modifies and the verb tre when asking for identification in (3rd
person singular & plural ONLY)
QUEL+ ETRE + NOUN
Quelle est votre adresse?
Quels sont tes vins prfres?

What is your address?

What are your favorite wines?

35

INTERROGATIVE PRONOUNS
A. QUI/ QUE
Person
SUBJECT
DIRECT OBJECT
OBJECT OF
PREPOSITION

Qui
Qui est-ce qui
Qui
Qui est-ce que
prep. + qui

1. SUBJECT
a. PERSON
Qui va au cinma?
Qui est-ce qui va au cinma?
Eric va au cinma.

Thing
Quest-ce qui
Que (inversion)
Quest-ce que
prep. + quoi

Whos going to the movies?

Erics going to the movies.

b. THING
Quest-ce qui se passe?
2. DIRECT OBJECT
a. PERSON
Qui a-t-elle vu?
Qui est-ce quelle a vu?
Elle a vu son prof.

Whats happening?

Who did she see?

She saw her professor.

b. THING
Que fais-tu?
Quest-ce que tu fais?

What are you doing?

Je joue au tennis.

Im playing tennis.

36

3. OBJECT OF PREPOSITION
a. PERSON
De qui parles-tu?
qui pensez-vous?
Chez qui reste-t-il?

Who are you talking about?

Who are you thinking about?
Whose house is he staying at?

b. THING
De quoi a-t-elle besoin?
A quoi pensez-vous?
Avec quoi repares-tu la vioture?

What does she need?

What are you thinking about?
What are you repairing the car with?

B. LEQUEL- the pronoun form of quel (lequel, laquelle, lesquels, lesquelles) agree in
gender and number with the noun they replace and are the French equivalents of which
one/which ones. LEQUEL contrats with and de in the same manner as the definite
article.
MASCULINE

FEMININE

lequel
auquel
duquel
lesquels
auxquels
desquels

laquelle
laquelle
de laquelle
lesquelles
auxquelles
desquelles

SINGULAR
PLURAL

Regarde le garon! Lequelle

Watch the boy! Which one?
Lesquelles de ces patisseries est-ce que tu prfres?
Which ones of these pasteries do you prefer?
Je mintresse plusieurs clubs sociaux de luniversit.
Moi, aussi! Auxquels est-ce que tu tintersses?
Jtais en train de parler dun film que jai vu rcemment.
Ah, oui? Duquel parlais-tu?

C. OTHER INTERROGATIVE PRONOUNS

37

A quelle heure
(when, at what time)

A quelle heure +
Inversion/ est-ce que

A quelle heure est-ce que ton train arrive?

(What time does your train arrive?)
A quelle heure arrive-t-il ce soir?
(What time is he arriving this evening)

Combien
(how much/ many)

Combien + inversion

Combien de + sing.
Noun = how much
Combine de + pl.
Noun = how many

Combien de + noun +
Est-ce que/ inversion

*A quelle heure arrive son avion?

(What time does his plane arrive?)
Combien coute-t-il?
(How much does it cost?)
*Combien coute ta robe?
(How much does your dress cost?)
Combien de billets est-ce que Paul
achete?
(How much money do you have?)
Combien dargent as-tu?
(How much money do you have?)
Combien de billets a Paul?
(How many tickets does Paul have?)

Comment
(how)

Comment +
Est-ce que/ inversion

**Combien de personnes voyagent a

Paris?
(How many people are traveling to Paris?)
Comment est-ce que tu sais la reponse?
(How do you know the answer?)
Comment trouvez-vous la France?
(What do you think of France?)

Ou
(where)

Ou +
Est-ce que/ inversion

*Comment est le voyage?)

(How is the trip?)
Ou est-ce quil voyage?
(Where are you traveling?)
Ou allez-vous aprs Paris?
(Where are you going after Paris?)
*Ou est le guichet?
(Where is the ticket window?)

38
Pourquoi

Pour quoi +

Pourquoi est-ce quil va en France?

(why)

Est-ce que/ inversion

(Why is he going to France?)

Pourquoi va-t-elle en France?
(Why is she going to france?)
Pourquoi Paul va-t-il en France?
(Why is Paul going to France?)

Quand
(when)

Quand +
Est-ce que/ inversion

Quand est-ce que vous renevez de Paris?

(When do you come back from Paris?)
Quand reviens-tu de Paris?
(When do you come back from Paris?)

*Quand reviens ton frere?

(When is your brother coming back?)
*NOTE With all of the interrogative expression except pourquoi, a noun subject may be
inverted after the verb to form the question IF THE NOUN IS THE LAST
WORD IN THE SENTENCE. Please notice that with inversion with nouns,
no hyphen is inserted.
**NOTE When Combien de + noun is itself the subject of the sentence, est-ce que nor
inversion can be used because est-ce que is followed by the subject &
inversion inverts the subject.
JOUER A / JOUER DE
A. JOUER A is used to express the idea of playing SPORTS & GAMES
JOUER + a + definite article + Game or sport
Jouer: To play
(games)
(sports)
Au bridge
Aux cartes (f. pl)
Aux dames (f. pl)
Aux echecs (m. pl)
Au poker

bridge
cards
checkers
chess
poker

Veux-tu jouer au tennis avec moi?

Non merci. Je ne joue pas bien au tennis
Mais Joues-tu aux cartes avec moi?

a lathletisme
au basket-ball
au cyclisme
au foot
au tennis

Do you want to play tennis with me?

No thanks. I dont play tennis wel
But do you want to play cards with me?

B. JOUER DE is used to express the idea of playing MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS

FAIRE + de + definite article + musical instrument
De la clarinette
du saxophone
De la guitare
du trombone
Du piano
de la trompette
39

Est-ce qu elle joue dun instrument de musique?

instrument?
Oui, elle joue de la clarinette.

Does she play a musical

Yes, she plays the clarinet.

JOURS DE LA SEMAINE
lundi (Monday)
mardi (Tuesday)
mercredi
(Wednesday)
jeudi (Thursday

vendredi (Friday)
samedi (Saturday)
dimanche (Sunday)

A. The French consider the days of the week to begin on Monday and end of Sunday.
B. The names of the week are all masculine and never capitalized except if at the
beginning of the sentence.
C. They are never accompanied by a preposition
1. vendredi- Friday/ on Friday
2. Vendredi je suis sorti en boite.
On Friday, I went out to a
nightclub
D. The definite article le is only used with the days of the week when it indicates a
repeated
occurrence
1. le dimanche every Sunday/ on Sundays
2. Le dimanche nous allons a leglise.
On Sundays, we go to church
LANGUAGE & NATIONALITY
Feminine Countries
Allemagne
France
Angleterre
Grece
Belgique
Inde
Chine
Italie
Espagne
Pologne
Russie

Masculine Countries
Bresil
Japon
Canada
Luxembourg
Danemark
Maroc
Etats-Unis
Portugal
Viet-nam

A. The following languages are the same in French as the masculine name of the
nationality
Un(e) Allemand(e) parle allemand
Un(e) Anglais(e) parle anglais
Un(e) Chinois(e) parle chinois
Un(e) Espagnol(e) parle espagnol
Un(e) Francais(e) parle francais
Un(e) Grec(que) parle grec
Un(e) Italien(ne) parle italien
Un(e) Russe parle russe
Un(e) Danois(e) parle danois
Un(e) Japonais(e) parle japonais
40

Un(e) Polonais(e) parle polonais

Un(e) Portugais(e) parle portugais
Un(e) Vietnamien(ne) parle vietnamien
NOTE: The name of the nationality (the person) is capitalized, but the
name of the language is not.
B. The following languages are different from the names of their nationality
Une(e) Australien(ne) parle anglais
Un(e) Belge parle francais ou flammand
Un(e) Indien(ne) parle hindi ou anglais
Un(e) Israelien(ne) parle hebreu
Un(e) Bresilien(ne) parle portugais
Un(e) Iranien(ne) parle persan
Un(e) Canandien(ne) parle francais ou anglais
Un(e) Luxembourgeois(e) parle francais
Un(e) Marocain(e) parle arabe ou francais
Un(e) Mexicain(e) parle espagnol
Un(e) Americain(e) parle anglais
LITERARY TENSES
A. Passe Anterieur
1. FORMATION the pass anterieur is a compound tense, formed by
combining the pass simple of the auziliary verb AVOIR or ETRE with the
pas participle of the main verb.
AVOIR + past
participle
Jeus parle

Nous eumes parle

ETRE + past
participle
Je fus alle(e)

Nous fumes alle(e)s

Tu eus parle

Vous eutes parle

Tu fus alle(e)

Vous futes alle(e)(s)

Il
Elle eut parle
on

Ils
Elles eurent parle

Il
Ellie fut alle(e)
on

Ils
Elles furent alle(e)s

2. USAGE the pass anterieur is a literary tense used to designate a past

action / event that occurred prior to another past action / even that is
usually expressed in the pass simple. It often appears the the
conjunctions QUAND, LORSQUE,
DES QUE, AUSSITOT QUE, and APRES QUE. There fore, the pass
anterieur is the literary equivalent to the pluperfect.
Des quun des souliers eut glisse, un nostalgique de lancien regime le sauva.

41

As soon as one of the shoes slipped out, a nostalgic adherent to the Old
Regime saved.
B. PASSE SIMPLE the pass simple is used to narrate past events, replacing the
pass compose in formal, historical, or literary texts. Since it is not likely that
you will need to actively use this tense, you only need to learn to recognize and
understand the forms.
1. REGULAR VERBS use the infinitive minus the ER, -IR, or RE as the
stem, and add the following endings:
Regular ER verbs (including ALLER)
Je parlai
Tu parlas
Il/elle/on parla
Nous parlames
Vous parlates
Ile/elles parlerent
Regular IR verbs
Je finis
Tu finis
Il/elle/on finit
Nous finimes
Vous finites
Ils/elles finirent
Regular RE verbs
Je dendis
Tu rendis
Il/elle/on rendit
Nous rendimes
Vous rendites
Ils/elles rendirent
2. IRREGULAR VERBS
42

a. Add the following endings ( the circumflex in the NOUS & VOUS forms are
placed above the last vowel of the stem).
je
-s
nous
-mes
tu
-s
vous
-tes
il/elle/on
-t
ils/elles
-rent
b. The following are stems to IRREGULAR verbs :
INFININTIVE
apercevoir
asseoir
atteindre
avoir
boire
conduire
convaincre
connatre
courir
craindre
croire
devenir
devoir
dire
crire
tre
faillir
faire
falloir
fuir
lire

STEM
aperuassiatteigneubuconduisiconvainquiconnucourucraignicrudevindudicrivifufaillifiil faillut
fuilu-

INFININTIVE
mettre
mourir
natre
offrir
ouvrir
paratre
plaire
pleuvoir
pouvoir
prendre
recevoir
rsoudre
rire
savoir
suivre
taire
valoir
venir
virvre
voir
voulour

43

STEM
mimourunaquioffriouvriparupluil plut
puprireursolurisusuivituvaluvinvcuvivoulu-

C. IMPREFECT SUBJUNCTIVE
1. FORMATION- The imprefect subjunctive is formed by dropping the final letter
of the JE form of the pass simple and adding the following endings
je
tu
il/ elle/on

-sse
-sses
-t

nous
vous
ils

-ssions
-ssiez
-ssent

2. USAGE- the imperfect subjunctive may be used in subordinate clauses when

the verb in the main clause is in the past tense or in the condtional. It corresponds in
meaning ro to the present subjunctive.
Je ne corvais pas quil vint.
I didnt think he would come.
D. PLUPERFECT SUBJUNCTIVE
1. FORMATION- The pluperfect subjunctive is formed by combining the
imperfect subjunctive of the auxiliary AVOIR or ETRE with the same the past participle
of the main verb.
que jeusse
que tu eusses
quil
quelle et
quon

que nous eussions

+ past
participle

que je fusse
que tu fusses

que vous eussiez

quils
quelles eussent

+ past
participle

que nous fussions

+ past
participle

quil
quelle ft
quon

que vous fussiez

quils
quelles fussents

44

+ past
participle

2. USAGE- the pluperfect may replace the pluperfect or the past

conditonal. It maybe used in subordinate clauses for events that occurred proir ro
rime of the verb in the main clause. Like the imperfect subjunctif, it is used when
the main-clause verb is in a past tense or in the conditional. Therefore, the
pluperfect subjunctive corresponds in meaning to the past subjunctive.
Je ne crovais pas quil ft venu.

I didnt believe he had come.

MONTHS OF THE YEAR

Definite articles are not used with the months of the year. To say in + the name of the
month, use either en or au mois de + the month. The months are not capitaliezed in
French.
janvier
fvrier
mars
avril
mai
juin

January
February
March
April
May
June

Je pars en vancances au mois d aot.

Les cours recommecent en septembre.

juillet
aot
septembre
octobre
novembre
dcembre

July
August
September
October
November
December

Im leaving on vacation in August.

Classes begin in September.

45

NEGATIVE EXPRESSIONS
ne...aucun(e)

no, not any, not a single (stronger than ne...pas)

*ne... gure

hardly

*ne...jamais

never

ne...ni...ni

neither...nor

ne...nulle part

nowhere

*ne...pas du tout

not at all

*ne...pas encore

not yet

*ne...pas non plus

not either

ne...personne

no noe, not anyone, nobody

*ne...plus

no longer, not any longer, no more

*ne...que

only

*ne...rien

nothing

A. PERSONNE, RIEN, and AUCUN(E) can be used as subjects, in which case they are
placed in the normal subject psotion followed by NE. (PAS is never used with these
expressions).
Le weekend pass, personne ne ma tlphon.
Rien ne sest pass.
Mes Amis ? Aucun ne ma rendu visite.
B. PERSONNE & AUCUN follow the past participle rather than auxiliary verb when
acting as the object of the verb. The negative adverb NULLE PART also follows that past
participle in the past tense.
Je nai vu personne.
Mes amis. Tu nas vu aucun ?
Il nest all nulle part.

46

C. AUCUN(E) frequently acts as an adjective & can modify subjects or objects and thus
is placed before the noun it modifies with no articles.
Aucune letter ne mest arrive.
Je nai eu aucun visiteur.

46, cont

D. With NE...NI...NI, the partitive articles are dropped altogether. As with most negative
expressions, the definite article is retained.
Je nai vu ni ami ni trangers.
Je nai parl ni avec le factuer ni avec la concierge.
E. NE...QUE synonymous with seulement, is a restrictive expression rather than a true
negative. Thus all articles are retained after it. QUE is placed directly after word groups it
modifies.
Je navais que le chat pour me tenir compagnie et il ne fait que dormir.
F. In sentences with multiple negative expressions, NE is used just once, and the second
part of each negative expression is places in its normal position.
Personne na jamais rien fait.
Quand mon appartement a t propre., je navais plus rien faire.
G. RIEN & PRESONNE can be further quantified by combining them with de plus a
masculine singulair adjective.
Il ny avait rien de spcial la tl.
Personne dintressant na particip mon mission prfre du soir.

OBJECT PRONOUN
a. Indirect Pronoun LUI & LUER- are used to replace nouns referring to people whne
those nouns are preceded by the preposition . There is no distinction in gender, thus it is
understood by context. Indirect objects are placed before the conjugated verb or when
there is more than one verb before the verb of which it is the indirect object.
+ person (singular) = LUI
LUI= to him/her

+ person (plural)=LEUR
LEUR= to them

-Parlez-vous votre prof?

-Oui, je lui parle souvent.

Do you talk to your teacher?

Yes, I talk to him/her often.

- A-t-elle envoy une carte postale son amie?

Did she send a postcard to her friend?

-Quest-ce quil a donn ses copines?

-Il leur a donn des disques.

What did he give to his friends?

He gave them some records.

Est-ce que vous sperez parler vos amis?

Oui, j spre leur parle.

Do you hope to talk toy your friends?

Yes, I hope to talk to them.

47

B. Disjunctive (stressed) Pronouns- are used whenever a pronoun is needed in a stressed

positionanywhere other than directly before a verb.
MOI
TOI
LUI
ELLE

me
you
him (masc)
her

NOUS
VOUS
EUX
ELLES

us
you
them
them (fem)

1. When referring to a person as the object of any preposition EXCEPT . Use the
disjunctive pronoun.
-Est-ce que vous parlez de Marie ?
-Oui, nous parlons delle.

Are you talking about Mary ?

Yes, were talking about her.

-Avez-vous voyag avec les Smith ?

-Oui, jai voyag avec eux.

Did you travel with the Smiths ?

Yes, I traveled with them.

-Tu vas chez Marc ?

-Non, je ne vais pas chez lui.

Are you going to Maries house ?

No, Im going to his house.

2. after QUE in a comparison

-Tu as plus de cassettes que Paul ?
-Non, il a plus de cassettes que moi.

Do you have more cassesttes than Paul ?

Yes, he has more cassettes than me.

-Est-ce que vous avez les mme

albums que nous ?

Do you have the same albums as us ?

-Oui, nous avons les mme albums

que vous.

Yes, we have the same albums as you.

3. As a pronoun stadning alone.

-Qui a achet ce disque ?
-Lui

Who bought this record ?

Him.

-Alors, qui la choisi ?

-Moi

Well, who chose it ?

Me

4. For emphasizing the subject

-Et toi, comment as-tu trouv le concert ?
-Moi, je lai beaucoup aim, mais lui, il
la dtest.

48

And how did you like the concert ?

I really liked it, but he hated it.

C. Pronouns Y & EN
Y replaces
1. preposition of location (, en, sur, chez, dans, sous, devant, etc) + object
2. + noun referring to things (NOT people)
3. + verbs in infinitives referring to ideas
Je vais chez des amis.
Le livre se trouve sur la table.
Je mintresse aux sports.
Il a rpondu la question.
Nous nous intressons partir.

Jy vais.
Le livre sy trouve.
Je my intresse.
Il y a rpondu.
Nous nous y intrssons.

EN replaces
1. de + noun
2. de + verb
Jai besoin dun livre.
Il mange de la viande.
Tu as peur de chanter.
*Il as deux livres.
*Elle n pas beaucoup dargent.

Jen ai besoin.
Il en mange.
Tu en as peur.
Il en a deux.
Elle nen a pas beaucoup.

*nouns preceded by numbers or expression are replaced BUT NOT the

number or the expression of quanitity.
D. Direct object pronouns LE, LA, LES
The direct object pronouns le, la and les replaces a noun objec that directly
follows the verb without being preceded by a preposition. The pronoun agrees in gender
and number with the noun it replaces. The object pronoun is placed directly before the
CONJUGATED verb. However, when the verb in the present or past is followed by an
infinitive, the object pronoun must directly precede the infinitive.
-Aimez-vous le football ?
-Oui, je laime bien.

Do you like soccer ?

Yes, I really like it.

-Regardez-vous les matches de foot

ta tl ?
-Oui, je les regarde souvent.

Do you watch the soccer matches on TV ?

49

Yes, I watch them often.

-Avez-vous vu le match dhier ?

-Non, je ne lai pas vu.

Did you see yesterday s match>

No, I didnt see it.

-Aimez-vous faire la lessive ?

-Non, je naime pas la faire.

Do you like to do the wash ?

No, I dont like to do it.

When the object pronouns le, la and les precede the auxiliary verb AVOIR in the pass
compos, the past participle agrees in gender and in number with this preceding direct
object.
-Avez-vous vu la femme dans l quipe de foot ?
Did you see the women on the soccer team ?
-Oui, je lai vue.
Yes, I saw her
-Vous avez regard les matches la tl ?
-Oui, je les ai regards et je les ai beaucoup aims.

Did you watch the games on TV ?

Yes, I watched them & I really liked them.

-Avez-vous vu Sophie & Anne au Match de tennis ? Did you see Sophie or Anne at the tennis
-Oui, je les ai viues.
game ?
Yes, I saw them.
Subject

Reflexive

Direct Object

Indirect Object

Disjunctive
(stressed)

je

me

me

me

moi

tu

te

te

te

toi

il
elle
on

se
se
se

le
la
le

lui
lui
lui

lui
elle
soi

nous

nous

nous

nous

nous

vous

vous

vous

vous

vous

ils
elles

se
se

les
les

leur
leur

eux
elles

THE ORDER OF OBJECT PRONOUN

me

le

lui

en

te
la
se
les
nous
vous

leur

50

ORDINAL NUMBERS
Ordinal numbers are used to order and to rank items in a series.
1st

le premier/la premire

11th

le/la onzime

2nd

le/la deuxime

12th

le/la douzime

3rd

le/la troisime

13th

le/la treizime

4th

le/la quatrime

14th

le/la quatorime

5th

le/la cinquime

15th

le/la quatorzieme

6th

le/la sixime

16th

le/la seizime

7th

le/la septime

17th

le/la dix-septime

8th

le/la huitime

18th

le/la dix-huitime

9th

le/la neuvime

19th

le/la dix-neuvime

10th

le/la dixime

20th

le/la vingtime

The following are special cases:

To express the first, use le premier or la premire. For the last, use le dernier or
la dernire. All other ordinals are formed by adding -ime to the cardinal
number.
When the cardinal number ends in -e. drop the e before adding -ime:
quatre/quatrime
Add u to cinq before adding the ordinal ending: cinquime
Change the f of neuf to v before adding the ordinal ending: neuvime

PASSE COMPOSE

D.
Formation
Verbs conjugate with AVOIR- mose verbs whose auxiliary is AVOIR in the pass
compos are transitive verbs (verbs that are capable of having direct objects). Direct
objects can NOT be separated from the verb by a preposition.

51

parler

parl

finir

fini

attendre

attendu

avoir

eu

tre

fait

pu

faire
pouvoir
prendre
vouloir

Jai
Tu as
Il/ Elle/ On

Nous avons
Vous avez
Ils/ Elles ont

pris

voulu

AFFIRMATIVE STATEMENT = subject + auxiliary verb + past participle

NEGATIVE STATEMENT :
Subject +

ne

jamais
pas
plus
rien

+ auxiliary verb +

INVERTED QUESTION :
noun subject + auxiliary verb + sunjecy pronoun +

52

+ past participle +

jamais
pas
plus
rien

personne

+ past participle +

personne

2. Verbs Conjugated with ETRE- most French verbs that cannot take direct objects use
etre as their auxiliary verb in the pass compose. If there is a noun that follows an ETRE
verb, it must be preceded by a preposition because D.O.s The past participles of the etre
verbs function as adjectives and agree in gender and number with the subject.
Devenir

(devenu)

Revenir

(revenue)

Monter

(monte)

Rentrer

(rentre)

Sortir

(sorti)

Venir

(venu)

Arriver

(arrive)

Naitre

(ne)

Descendre

(descendu)

Entrer

(entre)

Retourner

(retourne)

Tomber

(tombe)

Rester

(reste)

Aller

(alle)

Mourir

(mort)

Partir

(parti)

53

Je suis _____(e)
Tu es ______(e)
Il est _______
Elle est _______e

Nous sommes _________(e)s

Vous etes ___________(e) (s)
Ils sont ___________s
Elles sont ___________es

B. Reflexive Verbs in the Passe Compose

SAMUSER to have fun / a good time
Je me suis amuse(e)
Tu tes amuse(e)
Il / on sest amuse
Elle sest amuse

Nous nous sommes amuse(e)s

Vous vous etes amuse(e)(s)
Ils se sont amuses
Elles se sont amuses

1. All reflexive verbs are conjugated with etre in the pass compose and its past
participle agrees in gender and in number with the reflexive pronoun / subject.
-Monique sest couchee tres tard hier soir.
Monique went to bed very late last night.
2. The past participle of SE FAIRE + infinitive constructions and those reflexive
verbs followed by direct objects will NOT agree with its reflexive pronoun /
subject in the pass compose.
-Sophie sest fait couper les cheveux.
Sophie had her hair cut.
-Elles se sont brosse les dents avant de se coucher.
They brush their teeth before going to bed.

54

3. In the negative, ne precedes the reflexive pronoun, as in the simple tense. Pas or other
negative words normally follow the auxiliary ver.
-Pierre ne sest pas endormi devant la tele.
Pierre didnt fall asleep in front of the TV.
4. When forming questions by inversion, the subject pronoun is inverted directly behind
the auxiliary verb.
-Se sont ils baignes a la plage?
Did they go swimming at the beach?
-Non, ils ne se sont pas baignes a la plage.
Mais ils se sont fait bronzer.
No, they didnt. They got a tan.
C. Uses of Pass Compos
1. Onset of the action is clearly seen, although the specific beginning point may not
necessarily be stated.
3h
pass compos

present

Je suis alle au cinema cet aprs-midi a 3h.

I went to the movies this afternoon (at 3 oclock).
2. The end of the action is clearly seen, although the specific time may not necessarily be
stated.
5h

pass compos

present

(A 5h) jai quitte le cinema a la fin du film pour aller diner.

(At 5:00) I left the movies at the end of the film to go have dinner.

55

3. The duration of the action is clearly stated, even with the use of indefinite times
expressions such as pendant quelques heures (for a few hours), plusieurs (several).
2:30
pass compos

present

Le flim a dure deux heures et demie.

The movie lasted two and a half hours.
4. An action that is repeated a SPECIFIED number of times.

pass compos

present

La semaine passee, je suis alle au cinema quatre fois.

Last week, I went to the movies four times.
5. A past action is viewed in its entirety, although the beginning and end points and the
duration are implied but not specifically stated.

pass compos

present

Viviane est allee au cinema aussi.

Viviane went to the movies too.
6. A reaction to or a sudden action may cause a change in an existing state or condition
meaning to become or get and the following adverb may indicated that an action is
completed within a given mount of time frame.
Enfin
Finalement
Soudain

tout a coup
immediatement
tout de suite

a ce moment
une fois
vite

Quand jai vu lexamen, jai eu peur.

When I saw the exam, I got scared.
Apres avoir mange la mauvaise viande, il a ete malade.
After eating the spoiled meat, he got sick.

56

PASSIVE VOICE
The passive voice is useful in a number of context, including reporting the facts and
summarizing what went on. The passive voice reverses the roles and positions of the
subject and the direct object of a normal sentence (in the active voice). The direct object
of an active sentence becomes the subject of a passive sentence. This new subject does
NOT carry out the action of the verb (as it does in an active sentence), but is acted upon
by an agent.
A. FORMATION
Active Voice:
subject + verb + direct object
Le meurtrier a tue les temoins.
La neige couvre les montagnes.
Les scientifiques vont discuter leconomie.
Passive Voice: subject + ETRE (conjugated) +past participle + par / de+agent
(subject and past participle agree in gender and number)
Les temoins ont ete tues par le meurtrier.
Les montagnes sont couvertes de neige.
Leconomie vont etre discutee.
NOTE:
1) When transforming a sentence from the active to passive voice, ETRE must
be in the same tense as the main verb in the active voice.
2) In French, only verbs that are followed by direct objects can be put into the
passive voice.
3) An agent is not always mentioned because it is either implied, unknown, or
unimportant. However, when it is present it is usually introduced by PAR.
However, DE is used when the passive voice denotes a abstract sate or
condition and is NOT followed by an article.
B. AVOIDING THE PASSIVE
1. If an agent is expressed, transform the sentence to the active voice by: 1)
making the agent the subject of the sentence, 2) making the passive
subject the direct object, and 3) deleting ETRE and the past participle of
the main verb and replacing them with a conjugated form of the main
verb.
PASSIVE: Une rage fatale a ete ecrite par un romancier clbre.
ACTIVE: Unromancier clbre a ecrit une rage fatale.
57

2.

If an agent is NOT expressed and is a person, use the indefinite pronoun ON

as the subject, followed by the active verb in the 3rd person singular form.
PASSIVE: Ce roman est connu dans de nombreux pays.
ACTIVE: On connait ce roman dans de nombreux pays.

3.

Certain, common, habitual actions in English expressed in the passive voice

can be rendered in French by pronominal verbs, assuming that the subject is
inanimate. Common pronominal verbs used in this situation are SE
MANGER, SE BOIRE, SE PARLER, SE VENDRE, SOUVRIR, SE
FERMER, SE DIRE, SE FAIRE, SEXPLIGUER, SE TROUVER, and SE
VOIR.
Ce roman ne se vend pas bien en ce moment.
This novel is not selling very well right now.
Mais cela sexpligue facilement, puisquil vient seulement de sortir en
librairie.
But that is easily explained, since it just came out in the bookstores.

PAST INFINITIVE
Like the pass compos, the past infinitive is composed of an auxiliary verb (AVOIR or
ETRE) and a past participle. The auxiliary is not conjugated, but stays in the infinitive.
The equivalent English expression is after having past participle or quite frequently just
after ing.
Aprs + auxiliary verb + past participle
A.

The past infinitive can ONLY be used when the subject in each clause is the
same. However, when the subjects are different, <Aprs que + subj. +
conjugated verb must be used.
Aprs tre arriv laroport, il a tlphon sa mere pour venir le
chercher.After having arrived at the airport, he called his mother to come pick
him up.
Aprs quil est arriv laroport, sa mre est venue le chercher.
After he arrived at the airport, his mother came to pick him up.

B.

When the past infinitive appears more than once in the same sentence, for the
sake of redundancy, all elements that would be repeated are deleted.
Aprs avoir bien cir ses chaussures et (aprs avoir) ajust sa cravate, il est
sorti.
After having shined his shoes and adjusted his tie, he left.

C.

When the auxiliary ETRE, the past participle agrees in gender and in number
with its subject.

58

Aprs avoir pris une douche et stre habille, elle a mange le petit djener.
After having taken a shower and gotten dressed, she ate breakfast.

58, cont

D. In the negative, place nepas / jamais / plus, etc. before the auxiliary verb.
Aprs ne pas avoir fait ses devoirs, llve a eu une mauvaise note.
After not having done his homework, the student got a bad grade.

PAST SUBJUNTIVE
A.

FORMATION the past subjunctive is formed from the present subjunctive

of the auxiliary AVOIR or ETRE plus the past participle of the main verb.
ETRE / AVOIR
(present subjunctive)

past
participle

. . . que jaie regard

. . . que nous soyons parti(e)s
. . . que tu te sois rveill(e)
B.

USAGE The past subjunctive is a compound tense used to refer to actions or

conditions that took place at any time prior to the verb in the main clause.
Il est content que je sois parti tt.
He is happy that I left early.
Je doute quil ait achet la moto hier.
I doubt he bought the motorcycle yesterday.
Il est peu probable quil soit devenu anti-cologique.
Its very unlikely that he became anti-environmental.

NOTE:

There is no future subjunctive in French. Future actions are

expressed in the present subjunctive.

59

PLUPERFECT
A. FORMATION imperfect form of the auxiliary AVOIR or ETRE + Past Participle

tudier

arriver

javais tudi

nous avions
tudi

j tais
arriv(e)

tu avais
tudi

vous aviez
tudi

tu tais
arriv(e)(s)

il
elle
on avait
tudi

ils
elles avaient
tudi

nous tions
arriv(e)s
vous tiez
arriv(e)(s)

se coucher
je mtais
couch(e)
tu ttais
couch(e)

nous nous
tions
couch(e)s
vous vous
tiez
couch(e)
ils
elles
staient

il
ils
il
elle tait
elles
elle stait
on
taient
on
arriv
couch
arrive
arrives
couche
couchs
arriv
B. USAGE The pluperfect reflects
a past action that happens beforecouch
another action
in the past. Therefore, it is sometimes known as the past past tense. It is equivalent
to the English had + past participle.
Il sest aver que javais dj fait sa connaissance il y a trois semaines.
It turned out that I had already met him three years ago.
Quand elle est arriv la gare, le train tait dj parti.
When she arrived at the train station, the train had already left.
1.

Sometimes in English the pluperfect is translated as a simple past tense, as

in the examples below. However, whenever it is clear that an action had
been completed prior to another past action in the same time period, the
pluperfect MUST be used.
Jai vu lemission que vous maviez recommande.
I saw the show that you (had) recommended to me.
Le film tait aussi bon que vous me laviez dit.
The movie was as good as you (had) recommended to me.

2.

The pluperfect, when used with SI, expresses a wish or regret about past
events.
Si seulement javais gagn la loterie!
If only I had won the lottery!
Si seulement je navais pas perdu
60tout mom argent!
If only I hadnt lost all my money

60, cont

POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVES
Subject

Possessive Adjective

English Equivalent

Example

mon + (masculine singular noun)

*mon + (feminine singular noun
beginning with a vowel)
ma + (feminine singular noun)
mes + (masc. / fem. plural noun)
ton + (masculine singular noun)
*ton + (feminine singular noun
beginning with a vowel)
ta + (feminine singular noun)
tes + (msc. / fem. plular noun)
son + (masculine singular noun)
*son + (feminine singular noun
beginning with a vowel)
sa + (feminine singular noun)
ses + (masc. / fem. plural noun)
notre + (masculine singular noun)
+ (feminine singular noun)
nos + (masc. / fem. plural noun)

my

mon livre
mon amie
ma chambre
mes cls

your

ton livre
ton amie
ta chamber
tes cls

his/her/ones

son livre
son amie
sa chambre

our

notre livre
notre chambre
nos cls

Vous

votre + (masculine singular noun)

+ (feminine singular noun)
vos + (msc. / fem. plural noun)

your

votre livre
votre chambre
vos cls

Ils/Elles

leur + (msculine singular noun)

+ (feminine singular noun)
leurs + (masc. / fem. plural noun)

their

leur livre
leur chambres
leurs cls

Je

Tu

Il/ Elle/ On

Nous

ses cls

*With a feminine noun beginning with a vowel or a vowel sound, the masculine form
mon, ton, and son is used instead of the feminine form in order to maintain liaison.
mon omelette
ton amie
NOTE:Possessive adjectives agree in number (singular or plural) & gender (masc. or
fem.) with the nouns they modify which may not necessarily be the subject!!!!
Marc a ses livres.
(Marc has his books.)
(sees agrees in gender & number with livres not Marc!)

61

PREPOSITIONS OF PLACE

loid de
(far from)
au bout de
(at the end of)
entre
(in between)

prs de
(near)
au coin de
(at the cornerof)
dans
(in)

en face de
(across from)
devant
(in front of)
sous
(under)

ct de
(next to)
derrire
(behind)
sur
(on)

de
(from)

(in)

The above prepositions always precede:

1.
2.
3.

indefinite/definite articles
possessive pronouns
the noun when there is no article

Le maison se trouve au coin de la rue.

The house is located at the corner of the street.
Le vlo est en face du magasin.
The bike is in front of the store.
La voiture se trouve prs de votre maison.
The car is located near your house.

Il est loin de lhtel.

He is far from the hotel

La poste est devant la gare

The post office is in front of the train station.
Il est entre ma maison et la banque.
It is between my house & the bank.
NOTE:
For those prepositions that are followed by de, remember that de + le
contracts to du & de + les contracts to des.

PREPOSITIONS WITH GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATIONS

Most locations whose names end in e are feminine. Normally, names ending in any
other letter are masculine (exception: le Mexique)
A. Countries, continents & states
1. En is used to express the ideas of to, at, or in with the names of feminine
countries, continents, and states.
Je vais en France.
Sont-ils en Asie.
1habite en Virginie.

Im going to France.
Are they in Asia?
I live in Virginia.

2. + definite article (to, at, or in) is used for masculine geographical locations.
Il va au Portugal.

Hes going to Portugal.

62

Vont-ils aux Etats-Unis?

Vous allez au Texas?

62, cont

Are they going to the USA?

Youre going to Texas.

3. en is used with names of masculine singular georgraphical locations beginning with a

vowel.
Isreal (m)
en Isreal
lIran (m)
en Iran
NOTE No article is ever used with Isreal.
de is used without an article to express the idea of from wirh feminine countries,
continents, and states; whereas de + definite article is used with masculine countries,
continents, and states.
Venez-vous dEurope?
Ils arrivent du Canada?
Nous arriovons de France.
Ils sont des Etas-Unis.

Do you come from Europe?

They are arriving from Canada?
Were arriving from France.
They are from the United States.

Cities
1. is always used with cities to express the isea of to, at, & in. Almost all cities are
neither masculine or feminine, and thus, will never be preceded by an article.
Il est New York?
Non, il est Paris/

BUT

Is he in NewYork?
No, hes in Paris.

*Le Mardi gras est

la Nouvelle Orlans.

The Mardi Gras is in New Orleans.

*Je vais au Havre.

( = + le)

Im going to Le Havre.

*NOTE- There are a few cities that contain the definite article as part of its name; and
thus, it must be retained.
2. de is used with cities to express the idea of from
Il est de Paris.
Elle arrive de Chicago.

Hes from Paris.

Shes arriving from Chicago.

BUT

**Il est du Havre.

**Elle arrive de La Nouvelle
Orlans.

Hes from Le Havre.

Shes arriving from New Orleans.

**NOTE- Cities that contain a definite article as past of its name, must be retained.
63

PRESENT PARTICIPLE
A. FORMATION The present participle of both regular & irregular verbs is formed by
dropping the ONS ending from the present tense NOUS form and adding ANT. It is
the equivalent of the verbal ING form in English.
utilisons utilisant
finissons finissant
battons battant
faisons faisant
EXCEPTIONS
tre tant
avoir ayant
savoir sachant
B.

USAGE The present participle functions either as a verb or an adjective

1. When it functions as an adjective, agreement is made with the noun it
modifies.
Le chalet o nous tions hbergs navait pas leau courante.
The chalet where we were staying had no running water.
2. When it functions as a verb, no agreement is made. In this instance, the
present participle is usually preceded by EN to express a condition or to
show what two actions are going on simultaneously & is equivalent to the
English while ING
En sautant la corde, la jeune fille sest bless au pied.
While jumping rope, the little girl hurt her foot.
Jaime couter la radio en faisant mon footing.
I like to listen to the radio while jogging.
Les jours de comptition, je commence me concentrer en me levant.
On competition days, I begin concentrating as soon as I get up.

NOTE- TOUT can be used before EN+ present participle to accentuate the simultaneity
or opposition of two actions. In this case, TOUT does not change form.
Tout en paraissant dtendu, je me prpare la course.
While looking relaxed, I prepare myself for the race.
64

3. While functioning as a verb, the present participle can also express by what
means something can be done & in this instance, is equivalent to the English by ING.
Comme me le dit mon entraneur, cest en travaillant son proper rythme
russit.
As my coach tells me, its by working at your own pace that you succeed.
C.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN FRENCH AND ENGLISH

1. After all prepositions except EN, the French infinitive form is used to
express the equivalent of the English present participle.
Jai pass mon temps libre me preparer pour le triathlon.
I spent my free time preparing for the triathlon.
Jai fini par me placer deuxime.
I ended up placing second.
2. The preposition APRES must be followed by the past infinitive, even
though is may translate as after +verb-ING.
Aprs avoir pris une douche et stre habille, elle a mang le petit
djeuner.
After taking a shower and getting dressed, she ate breakfast.
3. An infinitive in French is also used when the English present participle
functions as the subject or object of a verb.
Faire du sport est bon pour la sant.
Practicing sports is good for your health.

PRESENT TENSE
A. Regular ER Verbs-are the largest groups of verbs that follow a similar conjugation
pattern
1. The ER ending denotes that the verb is in the infinitive form (to + verb).
The infinitive is an unmodified form because it has not yet been
conjugated.
2. To arrive at the appropriate conjugated verb forms that correspond with
each subject pronoun, the ER ending of the infinitive is dropped
to form the stem to produce the following conjugated forms:
65

REGULAR ER VERBS PARLER (to speak), STEM- PARLSingular Forms

Subj. Pronoun
Verb Ending
Conj. Form
je (I)
-e
je parle
tu (you)
-es
tu parles
il (he/it)
-e
il parle
elle (she/it)
elle parle
Plural Forms
Verb Ending
-ons
-ez
-ent

Subj. Pronoun
nous (we)
vous (you)
ils (they)
elles
Other ER verbs:
bavarder
chanter
danser
tudier
fumer
habiter
manger

to chat
to sing
to dance
to study
to smoke
to live (in)
to eat

Conj. Form
nous parlons
vous parlez
il parlent
elle parlent

marcher
parler
travailler
voyager
__aux
tats-Unis
__en France

to walk
to speak/talk
to work
to travel
to the USA
to France

Regular RE verbs- like regular er verbs, all regular re verbs follow a similar pattern of
conjugation. Remove the re infinitive ending and add the following endings to the stem.
Attendre- to wait for

Vendre- to sell

Descendre- to go fown, to stop, to stay

Attendre- to wait for

Jattends
Nous attendons
Tu attends
Vous attendez
Il/Elle/On attend
Ils/Elles attendent
-Est-ce que tu descends en ville?

Are you going downtown?

-Non, je ne descends pas en ville maintenant.

No, Im not going downtown now.

Jattends Paul.

Im waiting for Paul.

-Mais, on vend des disques et des cassettes un

prix spcial Dicso-Rama.

But, therre selling records and cassettes at a special

price at Dico-Rama.

Est-ce que vous descendez lhtel?

Are you staying at a hotel?

-Oui, nous desendons lhtel Univers.

Yes, were staying at the Universe Hotel.

66

66, cont

NOTE- When the verb attendre + person/thing means to wait for, the
preoposition foris incorporated into the meaning of the verb; and thus, not repeated.
However, attendre followed by the preposition means to wait at/in & requires the
presence of his preposition.
Jattends mon ami au parc.
Il attend le train depuis une heure.

Im waiting for my friend at the park.

Hes been waiting for the train for an hour.

Vous attendez la gare longtemps?

Ils attendent au Parc.

Have you been waiting at the train station long?

Theyre waiting in the park.

C. IR VERBS
OBEIRE - to obey

FINIR- to finish
Je finis
Tu finis
Il
Elle finit
On

Nous finissons
Vous finissez
Ils
Elles finissent

choisir
punir

to choose
to punish

Jobis
Tu obis
Il
Elle obit
On
rflchir
russir

Nous obissons
Vous obissez
Ils
Elles obissent
to reflect on; think about
to success; to pass

1. Note that a preposition follows these verbs when they are followed by an infinitive:
finir de + infinitive
choisir de + infinitive

Je finis de travailler. Im finished working.

Il choisit de partir. He chooses to leave.

2.
rflchir + noun / infinitive

Tu rflchis lire un livre

Youre thinking about reading a book.
Paul rflchit ses projects.
Paul is thinking about his plans.

russir + noun / infinitive

Ils russissent trouver un hotel.

They succees in finding a hotel.
Monique russit son examen.
Monique passes her test.

Note:
used.

67
When a noun follows FINIR, CHOISIR, & PUNIR a preposition is not

3. The infinitive ending IR can be added to certain adjectives, including

the names of certain colors. Such verbs mean to become / to turn .
blanc
noir
rouge
grand
gros
maigre
D.

blanchir
noireir
rougir
grandir
grossir
maigrir

to turn white; to bleach

to turn black; to blacken
to turn red; to blush
to get big; to grow up
to become / get fat
to become / get skinny, thin

Irregular ER verbs

e
achter (to buy); se lever (to
get up); amener (take along)
j achte
nous achetons

prfrer (to prefer); esprer
(to hope); rpter (to repeat)
j espre
nous esprons

tu

achtes vous

achetez

tu

espres

vous

esprez

il
ils
elle achte elles
on

achtent

il
elle espre
on

ils
elles

esprent

t tt
jeter to throw

je

jette

nous

jetons

y i
payer (to pay); envoyer (to
send); ennuyer (to
bore/annoy); nettoyer (to
clean); essayer (to try);
employer (to use)
je paie
nous payons

tu

jettes

vous

jetez

tu paies

vous

payez

il
elle jette
on

ils
elles

jettent

il
elle paie
on

ils
elles

paient

68
Manger to eat; Nager to swim;
Plonger to dive

l ll
sappeler to be named
je mappelle

nous nous
appelons
tu tappelles vous vous
appelez
il
il
elle sappelle elle sappellent
on
on

c
comener to begin

je commence nous
commenons
tu
vous
commences
commenez
il
il
elle comence elle
on
commenent
on

je mange
tu manges
il
elle mange
on

nous
vous
ils
elles

mangeons
mangez
mangent

Aller to go
je vais
nous allons
tu vas
vous allez
il
ils
elle va
elles vont
on
Past Part: all

Avoir to have
j ai
nous avons
tu as
vous avez
il
ils
elle a
elles ont
on
Past Part: eu

Dire to tell/say
je dis
nous disons
tu dis
vous dites
il
ils
elle dit
elles disent
on
Past Part: dit

je suis
tu es
il
elle est
on
Past Part:

Faire to make/do
je fais
nous faisons
tu fais
vous faites
il
il
elle fait
elle font
on
on
Past Part: fait

Mettre to put/place
je mets
nous mettons
tu mets
vous mettez
il
ils
elle met
elles mettent
on
Past Part: mis

Pouvoir to be able to
je peux
nous pouvons
tu peux
vous pouvez
il
ils
elle peut
elles peuvent
on
Past Part: pu

Prendre to take
je prends
nous prenons
tu prends
vous prenez
il
il
elle prend
elle prennent
on
on
Past Part: pris

je

Sortir to go out
sors
nous sortons

je

Etre to be
nous somes
vous tes
ils
elles sont

69
Venir to come
viens
nous venons

Devoir to owe, must, have to

je dois
nous devons
tu dois
vous devez
il
il
elle doit
elle doivent
on
on
Past Part: d

je

Vouloir to want
veux
nous voulons

tu sors
il
elle sort
on
Past Part:

vous
ils
elles

sortez
sortent

sorti

tu viens
il
elle vient
on
Past Part:

vous
ils
elles
venu

venez

tu veux
il
viennent elle veut
on
Past Part:

vous voulez
il
elle veulent
on
voulu

QUANTITIVE EXPRESSIONS
A.

To ask how much/many of something, use:

Combien de disques compacts est-ce que tu as?

Combien de jambon est-ce que tu as achete?
Combien dargent avez-vous?
B.

a lot (of) / many / much

not many, much
a little
very little

EXPRESSIONS OF SUFFICIENCY
Assez de
Trop de
Nepas assez de

D.

How many CDs do you have?

How many ham did you buy?
How much money do you have?

GENERAL QUANTITIES
Beaucoup de
Nepas beaucoup de
**un peu de
tres peu de

C.

COMBIEN DE/D

enough
too much / too many
not enough

SPECIFIC QUANTITIES
Une bouteille de
Une carafe de
Un morceau de
Un bout de
Une tasse de
Une trance de
Un verre de
Un kilo de
Une livre de
Une demi-kilo de
Une douzaine de

a bottle of
a pitcher of
a piece of
a piece of
a cup of
a slice of
a glass of
a kilogram of
a pound of
a half-kilogram of
a dozen

70
These expressions of quantity are followed directly by a noun without
definite/indefinite /partitive article:

Il y a assez de vin?
Non, il ny a pas beaucoup de vin.

Is there enough wine?

Yes, theres a lot of wine.

Que penez-vous Monsieur?

*Je prends un peu deau.

What are you having, sir?

Ill have a little water.

Vous avez une carafe de vin rouge? Do you have a carafe of red wine?
Non, jai un verre de vin.
No, I have a glass of wine.
E.

When expressing the idea of per, use the definite article when used before
unites of measure.
Ca coute 5F .
le kilo
(per kilo)
Le litre
(per liter)
La livre
(per pound)
La bouteille (per bottle)

*NOTE:

When an expression of quantity is followed by a noun beginning

with a vowel or mute h, de changes to d.

**NOTE:

un peu de can only be used with noncountable nouns (nouns that

are always in the singular). To express a few with a plural noun,
you must use QUELQUES + noun.
QUESTION FORMATION

A. INTONATION The simplist way to form a question in French is to take a

statement and raise your voice at the end. This type of formation is the most
common in everyday conversation when a yes or no answer is expected.
Vous travaillez maintenant?
Oui, je travaille maintenant.

Are you working now?

Yes, I am working now.

Vous habitez en France?

Oui, jhabite en France.

Do you live in France?

Yes, I live in France.

B. EST-CE QUE Another way of asking yes/no questions in French is to place

the construction est-ce que directly before the statement.
Est-ce que tu parles franais?
Est-ce que vous coutez un disque?
record?
71

Do you speak French?

Are you listening to a

C. INVERSION
1. Formation conjugated verb + - + subject pronoun
- Travaillez-vous dans un restaurant?
- Oui, je travaille dans un restaurant.
- tudient-ils luniversit?
- Oui, ils etudient luniversit.
- As-tu trois soeurs?
- Non, jai deux soeurs.
- Na pas-il dargent?
- Si, il a beaucoup dargent.
2. When the verb form ends in a vowel, a-t- must be added before the il, elle, on
forms.
Parle-t-elle bien le franais?
A-t-il un animal domestique?
Lassie-t-il un pouboire pour le garon?
3. With noun subjects, est-ce que or intonation is preferred.
Est-ce que ton frre tudie le franais?
Ton frre etudie le franais?
4. Questions involving je are usually formed using either intonation or est-ce que.
The je formed is normally not inverted.
Est-ce que jai raison?
D. Complex Inversion allows nouns and proper nouns to be inverted by placed a subject
pronoun copy that agrees in gender and number with the subject after the conjugated
verb.
Formation: Subject (noun/proper noun) + conjugated verb + - + subject
pronoun copy
Ton frre tudie-t-il le franais?
Vos cls sont-elles sur la table?
Note: Nouns and proper nouns can only be inverted when there are NO other
elements that follow the inverted NOUN / PROPER NOUN.
72

Que fait Paul?

C. NEST-CE PAS affirms / verifies what has been stated.
Tu es bien all lcole hier, nest-ce pas?
You went to school yesterday, didnt you?

72, cont

REFLEXIVE / REXIRPOCAL VERBS

A. REFLEXIVE VERBS- Action of the verb reflex back on the subject. These
verbs are always accompanied by a reflexive pronoun indicating that the subject is
performing an action upon or for itself. This pronoun follows the subject and
immediately precedes the verb form.
1.
je

me

nous

nous

tu

te

vous

vous

il
elle

se

ils
elles

se

-Tendors-tu quand tu voyages en

avion?

Do you go to sleep when you travel

by plan?

-Oui, je mendors toujours.

Yes, I always go to sleep.

2. To form the negative of a reflexive verb, ne follows the subject and precededs
the reflexive pronoun. As in the normal negative construction, pas follows the
verb form.
-Est-ce que tu te lves sept
heures du matin?

Do you get up at 7:00 AM?

-Non, je ne me lve pas sept No, I dont get up at 7:00AM

heures du matin.
3. Only the subject pronoun is inverted when forming questions by inversion with
reflexive verbs. Such questions will begins with the reflexive pronoun. Negative
interveted questions will begin with ne.
-Vous rasez-vous souvent?
-Oui, je me rase souvent.

Do you dshave often?

Yes, I shave often.

-Ne vous couchez-vous pas tard?

-Si, he me couche trs tard.

Dont you go to bed late?

Yes, I go to bed very late.

73

4. When a reflexive verb is used in the infinitive form, the reflexive pronoun always
agrees with the subject of the conjugated verb.
-Est-ce que tu vas thabiller pour aller au restaurant?
Are you going to get dressed to go to the restaurant?
-Bien sur, je vais mhabiller dune maniere elegante.
Of course. Im going to dress elegantly.
-Vous esperez vous coucher tot.
You hope to go to bed early.
B. VERBS WITH REFLEXIVE AND NON-REFLEXIVE FORMS
amuser
arreter
depecher
disputer
ennuyer
entendre
f cher
marier
occuper

NON REFLEXIVE
to amuse
to arrest; to stop
to send
to fight
to bore; to bother
to hear
to get angry
to marry
to occupy

REFLEXIVE
samuser to have a good time
sarreter
to stop (oneself)
se depecher
to hurry up
se disputer
to argue
sennuyer
to get bored
sentendre (avec) to get along with
se marier (avec) to get married
soccuper (de) to take care of

Certain verbs exist only in reflexive forms:

se souvenir de
se moquer de

to remember
to make fun of

C. RECIPROCAL VERBS - Some verbs can be used in the reflexive form to give them a
reciprocal sense of people doing something to or for each other. They are used only in the
plural.
saimer
se parler
se poser
se regarder
se rencontrer
se telephoner

to love/like each other

to talk to each other
to ask each other (questions)
to look at each other
to meet each other
to telephone/call each other

74

WORD ORDER FOR REFLEXIVE VERBS

PRESENT TENSE
1. Affirmative Statement
Subject + reflexive pronoun + reflexive verb (conjugated)
Elle se couchent tard.
2. Negative Statement
Subject + NE +reflexive pronoun + reflexive verb + PAS
Elles ne se couchent pas tard.
3a. Inverted Questions - Affirmative
reflexive pronoun + reflexive verb (conjugated) + subject pronoun
Ce couchent-elle tard?
3b. Inverted Questions- Negative
NE + reflexive pronoun + reflexive verb + subject pronoun + PAS
Ne se couchent-elle pas tard?

75

B. PASSE COMPOSE
1. Affirmative Statement
Subject + reflexive pronoun + ETRE (conjugated) + Past Participle (agreement)
Elles ne se sont pas couchees tard.
2. Negative Statement
Reflexive pronoun + ETRE (conjugated) + PAS + Past Participle (agreement)
Elles ne se sont pas couchees tard.
3a. Inverted Question - Affirmative
Reflexive pronoun + ETRE (conjugated) + subject pronoun + Past Participle
(agreement)
Ce sont-elles couchees tard?
3b. Inverted Question - Negative
Ne + reflexive pronoun + ETRE (conjugated) + subject + pronoun + PAS + Past
Participle (agreement)
Ne se sont-elles pas couchees?
C. IMMEDIATE FUTURE
1. Affirmative Statement
Subject + ALLER (conjugated) + reflexive pronoun + Reflexive verb (infinitive)
Je vais me choucher.

76

2. Negative Statement
Subject + NE + ALLER (conjugated) + PAS + reflexive pronoun + reflexive verb
(infinitive)
Je ne vais pas me coucher.
3a. Inverted Questions - Affirmative
ALLER (conjugated) + subject pronoun + reflexive + pronoun + reflexive verb
(infinitive)
Vas-tu te coucher?
3b. Inverted Questions - Negative
NE + ALLER (conjugated) + subject pronoun + PAS + reflexive pronoun +
reflexive verb (infinitive)
Ne vas-tu pas te coucher?

RELATIVE PRONOUNS
Relative pronouns join two clauses into a single sentence. A relative pronoun refers back
to a word in the main clause and introduces a subordinate (dependent) clause. The form
of the relative pronoun is determined by the grammatical function on the subordinate
clause.

77

A.

QUI functions as the subject of the second clause and is always followed by a
verb. It is equivalent to the English who, which, or that and can be refer back to
either persons or things.
-Connais-tu M. Penaud?
-Cest un prof qui enseigner langlais.
-Est-ce que tu amies crire de dissertations?
-Oui. Mais je naime pas les dissertations qui prennent trop de temps.

B.

Que is always the object of the second clause and is followed by a subject and a
verb. It is equivalent to whom, which, or that and can also refer to both persons
and things. The final e of QUE drops when followed by a vowel or vowel sound
(qu).
-Est-ce que vous avez aime ce cous?
-Oui. Mais je naime pas aime
Les dissertations que nous avons
faites en classe.
-Comment trouve t-elle ce prof?
teacher?
-Cest un prof quelle aime.

Do you like this course?

Yes, but I didnt like
the compostions that we
did in class.
What does she think of that
He/Shes a teacher whom she likes.

Specified Antecedent
Subject
Direct Object
Object of Preposition
Object of DE

PERSON
Qui
Que
Prep + Qui
Dont

THING
Qui
Que
Prep + Que
Dont

Unspecified Antecedent
PERSON or THING
Ce Qui
Ce Que
Prep. + Quoi
Ce Dont

SAVOIR & CONNAITRE

Connaitre-To Know
Je Connais
Nous Connaissons
Tu Connais
Vous Connaissez
Past Participle-Su
Savoir-To
Know
Il/Elle/On Connait
Ils/Elles Connaissent
Je Sais
Nous Savons
Tu Sais
Vous Savez
Past Participle-Connu
Il/Elle/On Sait
Ils/Elles Savent
78

A.

SAVOIR means to know with respect to facts, numbers, and other specific
information.
-Sais-tu la date du concert?
Do you know the date of the concert?
-Savaient-ils le nom du group?
Did they know the name of the group?
-Savez-vous quand ils vont arriver? Do you know when theyre going to arrive?
1. SAVOIR followed by an infinitive means to be able to or to know
how to do something.
-Vous savez faire du ski?
-Oui. Je sais faire du ski.

Do you know how to ski?

Yes, I know how to ski.

-Est-ce quil savait danser la polka? Did he know how to dance the polka?
-Pas du tout. Il ne savait rien faire! Not at all! He didnt know how to do
anything!
2. In the pass compose, SAVOIR means learned or found out.
Jai su que Jacqueline tait malade. I found out/learned that Jacqueline was sick.
B.

CONNAITRE means to know in the sense to be familiar with people or things, to

have knowledge of something.
-Tu connais ce restaurant?
Are you familiar with this restaurant?
-Oui je le connais assez bien. Yes I know it rather well.
-Il connait Sophie longtemps. Hes known Sophie for a long time.
Vous connaissez bien la France? Do you know France well?
1. In the pass compose CONNAITRE is equivalent to met
Elle a connu son petit ami aure boum. She met her boyfriend at a party.
2. A more commonly used expression meaning to meet (for the first time) is
FAIRE LA CONNAISSANCE DE
Jai fait la connaissance de Marie une boum.

79

Past Participle-Connu

I met Marie at a party.

SEASONS
Le Printemps (m)-Spring
Lt (m)-Summer

Lautomne (m)-fall/autumn
Lhiver (m)-Winter

To say in the use:

Au printemps
En t
En automne
En hiver

Au printemps il faut du ski.

En t il fait trs chaud.
En automne il fait frais.
En hiver il neige.

SUJECT PRONOUS
Each conjugated form of a verb is accomplished by its appropriate subject pronoun.
A.

Je (I)-When followed by a word that begins with a vowel or a mute h, je becomes

j

B.

Tu (You) -SINGULAR form used when expressing familiarity or informality.

Thus it is used to address family members, small children, close friends, coworkers, classmates, and pets.

C.

Il/Elle/On -SINGULAR forms used:

1. Il equivalent to the English He or It (masculine object)
2. Elle equivalent to the English She or It (feminine object)
3. On equivalent to the English forms one, you, we, they, people in general
(although ON frequently stands for a plural concept [people, we, they] it always
takes a 3rd person singular verb form)

D.

Nous (WE)-PLURAL form

E.

Vous (YOU)
1. SINGULAR when it is used to address an individual on a formal basis such as
a stranger, an acquaintance, a superior, etc.
2. PLURAL when addressing more then one person whether on a formal or
informal basis
80

F.

Ils/Elles (THEY)-PLURAL forms used:

1. Ils-equivalent to the english they referring to a group of feminine
people or objects

NOTE: The rules governing the choice of Tu vs. Vous when

Addressing an individual is a part of an unwritten cultural code.
If you are un sure, use the vous form until your friend says. On peut
se tutoyer!
G.

Vous vs. Tu- there are formal and informal levels of language that vary according
to the person(s) being addressed and how well you know the person and his/her
social position. Part of this distinction is found in the tu/vous distinction just
introduced as well as other variation in vocabulary and form.
Style Formel (Vous)
Bonjour!
Comment allez-vous?
Bien merci.
Et vous?
Au revoir.

Formal Style (Vous)

Hello/Good Morning/Good afternoon
How are you?
Fine, thank you.
And you?
Good bye.

NOTE: In the style formel, a person is never addressed by first name but by an
appropriate title
Bonjour Madame.

Bonjour Monsieur.

Bonjour Mademoiselle.

NOTE: The term Mademoiselle is used for very young women, a woman appearing to be
over twenty-one is addressed as Madame.
Style Familier (Tu)
Salut!
Bonjour!
Ca va?
Ca va bien.
Pas mal.
Comme ci comme ca.
Et toi?
Ciao.
A bientt.
A tout a lheure

Familiar style (Tu)

Hi!
Hello/good morning/good afternoon
Hows it going?
Okay.
Not bad.
So-so.
And you?
Bye.
See you soon.
See you later.

If someone asks you your name the following would be an appropriate response:
Je mappelle Paul.

Mon nom est Annick.

80

Georges.

SUBJUNCTIVE
A.

Formation
1. ENDINGS-To form the subjunctive of regular verbs drop the ENT ending of the
3rd person plural form of the present tense and add the following endings:
Je -e
Tu -es
Il
Elle -e
On

Nous -ions
Vous -iez
Ils
Elles -ent

2. IRREGULAR STEMS
a. The following verbs have two subjunctive stems: one for the
nous and vous form and one for the remaining forms.
NOUS/VOUS
aller
allappeler appelcroire croydevoir devmourir mourprendre prenrecevoir recevvaloir
vaivenire
venvoir
voyvouloir voul-

ALL OTHER FORMS

aillappellcroidoivmeurprennrecoivvaillviennvoiveuill-

b. The following verbs have only one stem:

faire
pouvoir
savoir

fasspuisssach-

82

c. The following verbs have irregular stems and endings:

jaie
tu aies
il
elle ait
on

je sois
tu sois
il
elle soit
on

AVOIR- to have
nous ayons
vous ayez
ils
elles aient

ETRE- to be
nous soyons
vous soyez
ils
elles soient

B. USAGE of the Sunjunctive

Emotion/ Opinion/ Judgement
ETRE +

heureux(-euse)
content(e)
triste
dsol(e)
f ch(e)
furieux(-euse)
tonn(e)
ravi(e)
surprise(e)
du(e)

+ QUE

+ Sujbect

+ Verb in Subjuctive

AVOIR +

peur

+ QUE

+ Sujbect

+ Verb in Subjuctive

+ QUE

+ Subject

+ Verb in Subjuctive

Craindre
Regretter
Stonner

83

IMPERSONAL EXPRESSIONS
Il est

Cest +
Ce nest pas +

bon
triste
tonnant
(in)utile
curieux
bizarre
trange
honteux
surprenant
important
mauvais
merveilleux
pnible
(in)juste
naturel
regrettable
rare
normal
dommage
la peine

Il suffit
Il vaut mieux
Il convient

+ QUE

+ Subject

+ Verb in Subjunctive

+ QUE

+Subject

+ Verb in Subjunctive

+QUE

+ Subject

+ Verb in Subjunctive

DOUBT/ POSSIBILITIES/ UNCERTAINTY

Douter

+ QUE

+Subject

+ Verb in Subjunctive

Ne pas tre sr
Ne pas tre certain
Ne pas penser
Ne pas croire
Ne pas esprer

+QUE

+Subject

+ Verb in Subjunctive

Penser
Croire (Interrogative)
Esprer

+QUE

+Subject

+ Verb in Subjunctive

84

IMPERSONAL EXPRESSIONS
Il est +

douteux
possible
+ QUE

+ Subject

+Verb in Subjuntive

Il se peut
Il semble
Wishes/ Desires
aimer (bien)
dsirer
exiger
prfrer
souhaiter
vouloir (bien)

+ QUE

+ Subject

+ Verb in Subjunctive

Necessity/ Obligation
Demander
Insister pour
Empcher

+QUE

+Subject

+ Verb in Subjunctive

85
IMPERSONAL EXPRESSIONS

Il est +

ncessaire
essential
+QUE

+ Subject

+ Verb in Subjunctive

Il faut absolument
CNJUCTIONS THAT TAKE THE SUBJUNCTIVE
CONJUNCTION (+ subjunctive)
moins que (+ne) unless

PREPOSITION (+infinitive)
moins de

sans que

without

sains

condition que

on the condition

condition de

afin que

so that

afin de

pour que

in order that

pour

de peur que (+ne)

for fear that
de crante que (+ne) fir fear that

de peur de
de crainte de

avant que (+ne)

before
avant de

en attendant que

waiting fore

jusqu ce que

until

en attendant de
--

bien que
quelque

although
although

---

pourvu que

provided that

--