French/Lessons/School

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Development stage: 25% (as of Dec 09, 2008) Lessons
Development stage: 50% (as of Dec 09, 2008) Level Two
Development stage: 75% (as of Dec 09, 2008) 2.01 School
Development stage: 50% (as of Dec 09, 2008) 2.02 Culture
Development stage: 100% (as of Jun 21, 2009) 2.03 Shopping
Development stage: 75% (as of Dec 09, 2008) 2.04 Going out
Development stage: 25% (as of Dec 09, 2008) 2.05 Transportation
Development stage: 50% (as of Dec 09, 2008) 2.06 Everyday Life
Development stage: 25% (as of Feb 26, 2009) 2.07 Rural life
Development stage: 75% (as of Dec 09, 2008) 2.08 Food and Drink
Development stage: 50% (as of Dec 09, 2008) 2.09 Dining
Development stage: 75% (as of Dec 09, 2008) 2.10 Communication
Development stage: 00% (as of Dec 09, 2008) Test • Planning
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( v d e ) French Language Course (discussion)
Learning the French Language  •  Downloadable and Print Versions

Lessons • Grammar • Appendices • Texts • About • Q&A • Planning
Introductory  •  Level One  •  Level Two  •  Level Three  •  Level Four


Contents

[edit] G: Introduction to Perfect Tenses

The next section is optional. You will eventually learn everything that is covered in it, but if you would like a preview, read it, and if not, continue on to the school section.

Introduction to Perfect Tenses
Main article: French/Grammar/Tenses/Composed
  • The perfect tenses are also called the compound or composed tenses.
  • The perfect tenses are all composed of a conjugated auxiliary verb and a fixed past participle.

Auxiliary Verb Formation

  • The auxiliary verb is always either avoir or être.
  • The tense of the verb depends upon the tense that avoir or être is conjugated in.
    • When the auxiliary verb is conjugated in the passé composé, for example, the auxiliary verb is conjugated in the present indicative.
      • J'ai fini. - I have finished.

Past Participle Formation

  • -er verbs - replace -er with é
  • -ir verbs - replace -ir with i
  • -re verbs - replace -re with u
  • irregular verbs - must be memorized

Past Participle Agreement

  • The past participle must agree with the direct object of a clause in gender and plurality if the direct object goes before the verb.
    • the direct object is masculine singular - no change
      • J'ai fini le jeu. - I have finished the game.
      • Je l'ai fini. - I have finished it.
    • the direct object is feminine singular - add an e to the past participle
      • J'ai fini la tâche. - I have finished the task.
      • Je l'ai finie. - I have finished it.
    • the direct object is masculine plural - add an s to the past participle.
      • J'ai fini les jeux. - I have finished the games.
      • Je les ai finis. - I have finished them.
    • the direct object is feminine plural - add an es to the past participle.
      • J'ai fini les tâches. - I have finished the tasks.
      • Je les ai finies. - I have finished them.
  • The past participle must agree with the subject of a clause in gender and plurality if it is conjugated with the auxiliary être.
    • the subject is masculine singular - no change
      • Il est arrivé. - He has arrived.
    • the subject is feminine singular - add an e to the past participle
      • Elle est arrivée. - She has arrived.
    • the subject is masculine plural - add an s to the past participle.
      • Ils sont arrivés. - They have arrived.
    • the subject is feminine plural - add an es to the past participle.
      • Elles sont arrivées. - They have arrived.

Avoir ou Être?

  • In most circumstances, the auxiliary verb is avoir.
  • However, under certain situations, the auxiliary verb is être.
  • This occurs when:
    • The verb is one of 16 special verbs that take être.
      • Note that when a direct object is used with these verbs, the auxiliary verb becomes avoir.
    • The verb is reflexive.
      • That is, the subject of the verb is also its object.

List of Tenses

There are seven perfect tenses in French. These are:

  1. Le passé composé (The Present Perfect)
  2. Le plus-que-parfait de l'indicatif (The Pluperfect of the Indicative)
  3. Le plus-que-parfait du subjonctif (The Pluperfect Subjunctive)
  4. Le passé antérieur (The Past Anterior)
  5. Le futur antérieur (The Future Anterior)
  6. Le conditionnel passé (The Past Conditional)
  7. Le passé du subjonctif (The Past Subjunctive)


Don't worry if you don't completely understand the perfect tenses. Each tense and lists of irregular verb conjugations will be given later in this course. In the next lesson, the passé composé is introduced.


[edit] G: Introduction to Moods and Tenses

Like the above section, this is also optional. You will eventually learn everything in here.

[edit] V: School

French Vocabulary • School • Gnome-speakernotes.pngaudio (upload)
Flag of France.svg School Flag of La Francophonie.svg L'école
General Classes / Grades[1]
le professeur[2] teacher 12th Grade Classe Terminale
la bourse scholarship 11th Grade 1ère (la première classe)
le diplôme (professionnel) diploma 10th Grade 2ème (la deuxième classe)
le bac(calauréat) high school exit exam 9th Grade 3ème (la troisième classe)
la bibliothèque library 8th Grade 4ème (la quatrième classe)
les notes grades (as on a test) 7th Grade 5ème (la cinquième classe)
les cours classes or courses 6th Grade 6ème (la sixième classe)
la classe grade (e.g. 6th Grade) 5th Grade CM2 (CM = cours moyen)
en cours de [...] in [...] class 4th Grade CM1
Pendant les cours - During Classes 3rd Grade CE2 (CE=cours élémentaire)
le tableau chalkboard 2nd Grade CE1
la craie chalk 1st Grade CP1 (CP = cours préparatoire)
le pupitre desk Verbs
l'examen (m) test passer
un examen		 to take a test
les devoirs homework étudier to study
la classe class écrire[3] to write
la cantine
déjeuner		 cafeteria
to (eat) lunch		 lever (la main)[4] to raise (your hand)
la récré(ation)
la cour		 recess
courtyard		 poser
(une question)		 to ask (a question)
Schools and Students parler to speak
l'école (f) school écouter to listen (to)[5]
l'étudiant
l'étudiante		 student (m)
student (f)		 entendre to hear (of)[6]
le collège
(classes 6-4)		 jr. high school
(grades 6-9)		 regarder to watch
le collégien jr. high school student déjeuner to (have) lunch
le lycée
(classes 3-terminale)		 high school
(grades 10-12)
le lycéen high school student Describing Teachers and Students
l'université (f)
la fac(ulté)		 university intelligent(e) intelligent
nul(le) not good, not bright
l'enseignement supérieur higher education
graduate school		 strict(e) strict
Des fournitures scolaires - School Supllies
la craie chalk cray
le tableau the board tahbloh
le stylo(-bille) pen steeloh (bee)
le crayon pencil krayoh
la calculatrice calculator
le livre
le bouquin		 book leevr
le cahier notebook kie ay
le papier
la feuille de papier		 paper
sheet of paper		 pahpeeyay
le bloc-notes (small) notepad block nut
le classeur three-ring binder
le sac à dos backpack sack ah doe
la gomme eraser gum
la règle ruler rehgluh
le feutre marker feuhtr

^  The word professeur is considered masculine at all times, even if the teacher is female. The only case when "professeur" can be preceded by feminine determinant is either when contracting it in colloquial language "la prof", or when adding a few words before : "madame/mademoiselle la/le professeur".

^  The way that grades are numbered in France is opposite the way they are in the US. Whereas American grade numbers go up as you approach your senior year, they descend in France.

^  Écrire is an irregular verb. You will learn to conjugate it in the next section.

^  In French, you do not "own" body parts. While in English, you would say my hand or your hand, the definite article is almost always used in French.

  • la main - my hand
  • la jambe - my leg
  • le bras - my arm

For example, you would say Je me suis cassé la main (I have broken my hand) and never Je me suis cassé ma main. But you must say "Ma main est cassée" (My hand is broken) and not "La main est cassée" (lit. The hand is broken) if you speak about your own hand.


^  To and of are built into the verbs écouter and entendre respectively. It is not necessary to add a preposition to the verb. Other verbs, such as répondre {à), meaning to respond (to), are almost always followed by a preposition.

EXERCISE • Translator • Exercise Appendix • School • E: 2.01 1 - School Vocabulary - Complétez
  • Celui qui enseigne, c'est le ___.
  • Le prof écrit sur le tableau avec une ____.
  • Un étudiant écrit sur une feuille de ____ avec un crayon ou un _____.
  • On lit un ___.
  • Quand on finit le collège, on va au ____.
  • On pose une _____.
  • On lève la _____.
  • Quand on a faim, on déjeune à la _____.
SOLUTION • French/Lessons/School • E: 2.01 1 - School Vocabulary - Complétez
  • Celui qui enseigne, c'est le prof(esseur).
  • Le prof écrit sur le tableau avec une craie
  • Un étudiant écrit sur une feuille de papier avec un crayon ou un stylo.
  • On lit un livre ou bouquin
  • Quand on finit le collège, on va au lycée
  • On pose une question.
  • On lève la main.
  • Quand on a faim, on déjeune à la cantine.
 
 

[edit] G: Écrire & Lire

Écrire is an irregular french verb, meaning to write. It varies from other '-re' verbs in the plural conjugation, by adding a 'v'.

French Verb • School • Gnome-speakernotes.pngaudio (upload)
Flag of France.svg écrire Flag of La Francophonie.svg to write
past participle: écrit
Singular Plural
first person j' écris jay cree I write nous écrivons noozay creevohn we write
second person tu écris tue aycree you write vous écrivez voozay creevay you write
third person il écrit eel aycree he writes ils écrivent eel zaycreeve they write
(masc. or mixed)
elle écrit ell aycree she writes
on écrit ohn aycree one writes elles écrivent ell zaycreeve they write (fem.)


Lire is an irregular french verb, meaning to read. It's plural conjugation adds an additional 's'.

French Verb • School • Gnome-speakernotes.pngaudio (upload)
Flag of France.svg lire Flag of La Francophonie.svg to read
past participle: lu
Singular Plural
first person je lis jeuh lee I read nous lisons noo leezonn we read
second person tu lis tue lee you read vous lisez voo leezay you read
third person il lit eel lee he reads ils lisent eel leez they read
(masc. or mixed)
elle lit ell lee she reads
on lit ohn lee one reads elles lisent ell leez they read (fem.)

[edit] V: School Subjects

French Vocabulary • School • Gnome-speakernotes.pngaudio (upload)
Flag of France.svg School Subjects Flag of La Francophonie.svg Les matières d'enseignement
les langues languages les mathématiques
les maths		 mathematics
l'anglais English l'algèbre (f) algebra
le français French le calcul calculus
l'espagnol Spanish la géométrie geometry
l'allemand German les sciences
sociales		 social
sciences
le russe Russian l'économie economics
l'italien Italian la géo(graphie) geography
l'histoire (f) history
les sciences
naturelles		 natural
sciences		 d'autres
matières		 other subjects
la biologie
la bio		 biology le dessin drawing
la chimie chemistry l'informatique (f) computer science
la technologie engineering la littérature literature
la physique physics la musique music

[edit] G: Passé Composé with Regular Verbs

Main article: French/Grammar/Tenses/Present perfect

The passé composé is a perfect tense, and is therefore composed of an auxiliary verb and a past participle. With most verbs, that auxiliary verb is avoir.

[edit] Meaning

In English, verbs conjugated in the passé composé literally mean have/has ____ed. While there is a simple past tense in French, it is almost only used in formal writing, so verbs conjugated in the passé composé can also be used to mean the English simple tense.

  • For example, the passé composé form of parler (to speak), [avoir] parlé, literally mean has/have spoken, but also means spoke.

[edit] Basic Formation

To conjugate a verb in the passé composé, the helping verb, usually avoir, is conjugated in the present indicative and the past participle is then added.

[edit] Auxiliary Verb - Avoir

Conjugate avoir in the present indicative.

j'ai I have nous avons we have
tu as you have vous avez you have
il a he has ils ont they have

[edit] Past Participle

  • -er verbs - replace -er with é
  • -ir verbs - replace -ir with i
  • -re verbs - replace -re with u
  • irregular verbs - varies, must be memorized.
Formation of the Past Participle
Verb Group Infinitive Stem Past Participle
-er verbs jouer jou joué
-ir verbs finir fin fini
-re verbs répondre répond répondu

[edit] Avoir + Past Participle

J'ai joué. I have played Nous avons joué. We have played.
Tu as joué. You have played. Vous avez joué. You have played.
Il a joué. He has played. Ils ont joué. They have played.
EXERCISE • Translator • Exercise Appendix • School • E: 2.01 2 - Passé Composé - English to French

Translate the following sentences into French. The infinitive of the verb is in parentheses.

  1. I have listened. (écouter)
  2. Jacques has waited. (attendre)
  3. We finished. (finir)
SOLUTION • French/Lessons/School • E: 2.01 2 - Passé Composé - English to French
  1. J'ai écouté.
  2. Jacques a attendu.
  3. Nous avons fini.
 
 
EXERCISE • Translator • Exercise Appendix • School • E: 2.02 3 - Passé Composé - Present Indicative to Passé Composé

Change the following from the present indicative to the passé composé.

  1. Je regarde.
  2. Vous jouez.
  3. Elles finissent.
SOLUTION • French/Lessons/School • E: 2.02 3 - Passé Composé - Present Indicative to Passé Composé
  1. J'ai regardé.
  2. Vous avez joué.
  3. Elles ont fini.
 
 


Level Two Lessons Development stage: 50% (as of Dec 09, 2008)

2.01 School Development stage: 75% (as of Dec 09, 2008) • 2.02 Culture Development stage: 50% (as of Dec 09, 2008) • 2.03 Shopping Development stage: 100% (as of Jun 21, 2009) • 2.04 Going out Development stage: 75% (as of Dec 09, 2008) • 2.05 Transportation Development stage: 25% (as of Dec 09, 2008) • 2.06 Everyday Life Development stage: 50% (as of Dec 09, 2008) • 2.07 Rural Life Development stage: 25% (as of Feb 26, 2009) • 2.08 Food and Drink Development stage: 75% (as of Dec 09, 2008) • 2.09 Dining Development stage: 50% (as of Dec 09, 2008) • 2.10 Communication Development stage: 75% (as of Dec 09, 2008) • Test Development stage: 00% (as of Dec 09, 2008)

Lessons 50%.png

Information • Introductory 100%.png • Level One 75%.png • Level Two 50%.png • Level Three 25%.png • Level Four 00%.png • Q&A • Planning

Introductory : 0.01 Introduction • 0.02 Learning French • 0.03 The Alphabet • 0.04 Accents • 0.05 Greetings • 0.06 Formal Speech • 0.07 How are you? • 0.08 Numbers • 0.09 Dates • 0.10 Telling Time • Review • Test
Level One : 1.01 Basic Grammar • 1.02 To Be • 1.03 Description • 1.04 Family • 1.05 Recreation • 1.06 The House • 1.07 Weather • 1.08 Travel • 1.09 Art • 1.10 Science • Test
Level Two : 2.01 School • 2.02 Culture • 2.03 Shopping • 2.04 Going out • 2.05 Transportation • 2.06 Everyday Life • 2.07 Rural Life • 2.08 Food and Drink • 2.09 Dining • 2.10 Communication • Test
Level Three : 3.01 Vacations • 3.02 Work • 3.03 Health • 3.04 Money • 3.05 Youth • 3.06 Adolescence • 3.07 Ancient History • 3.08 Revolution! • 3.09 Modern France • 3.10 Current Events • Test
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Grammar • Appendices • Texts • About • Q&A • Planning

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