For the past three weeks our French 4 class has had two French students. It was so cool to hear their sound. They have the real French "r" that everybody envies. Just hearing them talk was so wonderful, and I could definitely say some words much better because of them. We heard many stories and difference between school in the states and in France. Of course they liked it here much better, but we'd like it in France better, this is being human.
it's always so cool to communicate with someone of a different culture, language, lifestyle. It's so interesting and wonderful. If anything, they made me want to be in France that much more. One down side of only being here for three weeks is that they couldn't get fully immersed in the "American Life". But hopefully they learned a lot, and enjoyed their time here.
Friday, February 27, 2015
The future tense
Bonjour! / Hello!
The future tense in French is just like in English. You will do something. I "will" go to the movies tonight. I "will" go to school tomorrow. I "will" buy a car today. If you haven't already figured this out "will" is your key word in English. This is what you translate the French into. This is a very important tense, and allows you to say a lot more.
The formula for using future tense is simply your subject pronoun, infinitive of the verb, and the avoir ending. Here is a recap of the avoir endings.
Je: -ai Nous: -avons
Tu: -as Vous: -avez
Il/Elle/On: -a Ils/Elles: -ont
So now we know how to form the future tense, now let's try to use it in context. Let's say "I will eat". So let's think about the formula. The subject pronoun is "I", in French this is "Je". Remember that you don't actually directly have say "will" in French, this is just the definition in English. So after you have the subect "je" you need to figure out what verb to use, in this case "to eat", or "manger". Do you remember what you do with this verb? It's very simple, take the infinitive "manger" and add the avoir ending that corresponds with the subject. As you know or see about the avoir ending for je is -ai. So manger + -ai becomes mangerai. So all together it becomes "Je mangerai", or "I will eat".
Merci/ Thank you!
The future tense in French is just like in English. You will do something. I "will" go to the movies tonight. I "will" go to school tomorrow. I "will" buy a car today. If you haven't already figured this out "will" is your key word in English. This is what you translate the French into. This is a very important tense, and allows you to say a lot more.
The formula for using future tense is simply your subject pronoun, infinitive of the verb, and the avoir ending. Here is a recap of the avoir endings.
Je: -ai Nous: -avons
Tu: -as Vous: -avez
Il/Elle/On: -a Ils/Elles: -ont
So now we know how to form the future tense, now let's try to use it in context. Let's say "I will eat". So let's think about the formula. The subject pronoun is "I", in French this is "Je". Remember that you don't actually directly have say "will" in French, this is just the definition in English. So after you have the subect "je" you need to figure out what verb to use, in this case "to eat", or "manger". Do you remember what you do with this verb? It's very simple, take the infinitive "manger" and add the avoir ending that corresponds with the subject. As you know or see about the avoir ending for je is -ai. So manger + -ai becomes mangerai. So all together it becomes "Je mangerai", or "I will eat".
Merci/ Thank you!
Thursday, February 26, 2015
l'imparfait et le passé composé
L'imparfait and le passé composé are two common past tenses in French. To say something that is completely over and done with, you would use the passé composé. So say an on going activity in the past you would use the imparfait. L'impfarfait is also used for description and repeated actions. It's important to decide which tense to use, and sometimes this can be confusing. You can easily tell which tense to use, if you learn key phrases that start sentence (every morning, frequently, this Monday). For exapmple "Chaque matin" or "each morning" would be l'imparfait because it happened every morning, more then one. Keep working on the differences and soon it'll be easy. Don't worry, I'm still even working on it.
Here is how you form the passeé composé. First, the subject pronoun second, the conjugation of avoir or être thrid, the past participle of your verb. "j'ai mangé"
Here is how you form l'imparfait. It's just the subject pronoun along with your imperfect ending. Remeber to take the nous form of the verb, then take off the -ons and add the correct ending.
Je: ais Nous: ions
Tu: ais Vous: iez
Il/Elle/On: ait Ils/Elles: aient
Here is how you form the passeé composé. First, the subject pronoun second, the conjugation of avoir or être thrid, the past participle of your verb. "j'ai mangé"
Here is how you form l'imparfait. It's just the subject pronoun along with your imperfect ending. Remeber to take the nous form of the verb, then take off the -ons and add the correct ending.
Je: ais Nous: ions
Tu: ais Vous: iez
Il/Elle/On: ait Ils/Elles: aient
Monday, February 23, 2015
Lesson de français #5 ER, RE, and IR Verbs
Bonjour!/ Hello!
French verbs are such an important part in learning a language. If you know the formula and ending of verbs it's simple to form them. ER, RE, and IR verbs all have specific endings that don't change, except for irregular verbs. Once you know the endings of all three verbs you can say thousands of verbs, and start to write in French.
These are the endings for ER verbs:
Je: e Nous: ons
Tu: es Vous: ez
Il/Elle/On: e Ils/Elles: ent
These are the endings for RE verbs:
Je: s Nous: ons
Tu: s Vous: ez
Il/Elle/On: nothing Ils/Elles: ent
These are the endings for the IR verbs:
Je: is Nous: issons
Tu: is Vous: issez
Il/Elle/On: it Ils/Elles: issent
Now after you memorize the endings that correspond with each kind of verb it's easy to form the verb. All you have to do is drop the ER, RE, or IR from the end of the infinitive (dictionary form), and add the appropriate endings.
Example of an ER verb:
Parler: To speak
Je: Parle Nous: Parlons
Tu: Parles Vous: Parlez
Il/Elle/On: Parle Ils/Elles: Parlent
Example of an RE verb:
Descendre: To go down
Je: Descends Nous: Descendons
Tu: Descends Vous: Descendez
Il/Elle/On: Descend Ils/Elles: Descendent
Example of an IR verb:
Choisir: To choose
Je: Choisis Nous: Choisissons
Tu: Choisis Vous: Choisissez
Il/Elle/On: Choisit Ils/Elles: Choisissent
I've given you an example verb for each of the "regular" French verbs. There are irregular versb as well, and they have special endings (like avoir and être). But if you know these three regula verbs you already know about 75% of the French verbs, congrats!
Merci!/ Thank you!
French verbs are such an important part in learning a language. If you know the formula and ending of verbs it's simple to form them. ER, RE, and IR verbs all have specific endings that don't change, except for irregular verbs. Once you know the endings of all three verbs you can say thousands of verbs, and start to write in French.
These are the endings for ER verbs:
Je: e Nous: ons
Tu: es Vous: ez
Il/Elle/On: e Ils/Elles: ent
These are the endings for RE verbs:
Je: s Nous: ons
Tu: s Vous: ez
Il/Elle/On: nothing Ils/Elles: ent
These are the endings for the IR verbs:
Je: is Nous: issons
Tu: is Vous: issez
Il/Elle/On: it Ils/Elles: issent
Now after you memorize the endings that correspond with each kind of verb it's easy to form the verb. All you have to do is drop the ER, RE, or IR from the end of the infinitive (dictionary form), and add the appropriate endings.
Example of an ER verb:
Parler: To speak
Je: Parle Nous: Parlons
Tu: Parles Vous: Parlez
Il/Elle/On: Parle Ils/Elles: Parlent
Example of an RE verb:
Descendre: To go down
Je: Descends Nous: Descendons
Tu: Descends Vous: Descendez
Il/Elle/On: Descend Ils/Elles: Descendent
Example of an IR verb:
Choisir: To choose
Je: Choisis Nous: Choisissons
Tu: Choisis Vous: Choisissez
Il/Elle/On: Choisit Ils/Elles: Choisissent
I've given you an example verb for each of the "regular" French verbs. There are irregular versb as well, and they have special endings (like avoir and être). But if you know these three regula verbs you already know about 75% of the French verbs, congrats!
Merci!/ Thank you!
Thursday, February 19, 2015
Leçon de Français #3 Être et Avoir
Bonjour!/ Hello!
One of the most important parts of learning a foreign language are the verbs. Once you know the pronouns verbs are the next step. You can't say very much if you don't know verbs. The two most crucial and most used verbs in French are "Être" and "Avoir"
Avoir in English is to have, and être in English is to be. These verbs are not only important because they are frequently used, but because they are also auxiliary. An auxiliary verb is used to form the passé composé (J'ai mangé). In J'ai mangé, the "ai" is avoir. In Enlgish we would say "I have eaten, I did eat, or I ate". You would use être in the same fashion, but it is not as commonly used.
The conjugations for the verb avoir:
Je: J'ai Nous: avons
Tu: as Vous: avez
Il/Elle/on: a Ils/Elles: ont
The conjugations for the verb être:
Je: suis Nous: sommes
Tu: es Vous: êtes
Il/Elle/On: est Ils/Elles: sont
It's important to notice that these verbs are irregular. In French there are many common or regular verbs that all have the same endings (this will be another lesson). I wanted to teach you these two verbs first, because they are vital to learn the language of love.
I will create a video soon reintroducing these verbs to you guys. There, you will be able to hear and repeat the verbs along with the pronouns.
Thank you for watching, and make sure to comment if you have any concerns or questions.
Merci!/ Thank you!
One of the most important parts of learning a foreign language are the verbs. Once you know the pronouns verbs are the next step. You can't say very much if you don't know verbs. The two most crucial and most used verbs in French are "Être" and "Avoir"
Avoir in English is to have, and être in English is to be. These verbs are not only important because they are frequently used, but because they are also auxiliary. An auxiliary verb is used to form the passé composé (J'ai mangé). In J'ai mangé, the "ai" is avoir. In Enlgish we would say "I have eaten, I did eat, or I ate". You would use être in the same fashion, but it is not as commonly used.
The conjugations for the verb avoir:
Je: J'ai Nous: avons
Tu: as Vous: avez
Il/Elle/on: a Ils/Elles: ont
Je: suis Nous: sommes
Tu: es Vous: êtes
Il/Elle/On: est Ils/Elles: sont
It's important to notice that these verbs are irregular. In French there are many common or regular verbs that all have the same endings (this will be another lesson). I wanted to teach you these two verbs first, because they are vital to learn the language of love.
I will create a video soon reintroducing these verbs to you guys. There, you will be able to hear and repeat the verbs along with the pronouns.
Thank you for watching, and make sure to comment if you have any concerns or questions.
Merci!/ Thank you!
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
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