Le Verbe - Mocks.ie

in association with
Step by Step Simplified
FRENCH GRAMMAR
La Grammaire.
Qu’est-Ce que C’est?
Sample
By
Delphine O’Brien
Delphine O’Brien, 2013
published by myFrench.ie
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Table of Contents
Introduction
4
Booklet I Le Verbe Qu’est-ce que C’est?
5
Booklet II Le Présent de l’Indicatif Qu’est-ce que C’est?
15
Booklet III Le Passé-Composé Qu’est-ce que C’est?
27
Booklet IV L’Imparfait Qu’est-ce que C’est?
40
Booklet V Le Futur Qu’est-ce que C’est?
50
Booklet VI Le Conditionnel Qu’est-ce que C’est?
62
Booklet V Le Subjonctif Qu’est-ce que C’est?
73
Booklet VIII Le Nom Qu’est-ce que C’est?
79
Booklet IX L’Adjectif Qu’est-ce que C’est?
85
Booklet X L’Adverbe Qu’est-ce que C’est?
94
Booklet XI La Préposition Qu’est-ce que C’est?
99
Appendix : Solutions aux Activités
104
A Note about the Author
127
Copyrights
128
You might Also Like
129
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Introduction: A Word about Grammar
Grammar. Just saying or reading the word makes most of the learners
panic! People have a negative feeling about French grammar. They have
heard about irregular verbs, weird tenses, nouns and gender…
That’s why this e-book is compiled with only very simplified
grammatical points.
You will be guided step by step and all the points are defined and
explained.
At the end of each mini lesson, you will be able to test your knowledge
and learn new vocabulary by working with cultural and authentic
literary texts.
Grammar, which knows how to control even kings.” Molière
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Booklet I
Le Verbe
Qu’est-ce Que C’est?
Le Verbe : Qu’est-ce Que C’est?
What is a verb?
In French, a verb is called un verbe.
1. Un verbe could be the most important part of a sentence. Je pleure = I cry
2. The verb asserts, tells something about the subject of the sentence.
3. A verb expresses feelings, state of beings, actions or events.
4. The verb represents the chronology and the temporality of the action.
5. A verb has to be conjugated to do its work properly. It indicates if the action was in the
past, if the action is finished or starting, if the action is on-going, if the action is repeated
and if the action will take place in the future.
What is an infinitive verb/un verbe à l’infinitif?
We could say that l’infinitif is the surname of the verb, its identity.
In English, the infinitive of a verb starts with to + the verb: to eat. It’s also called full
verb.
In French, l’infinitif is a single word with one of the following endings:
-ER  manger (to eat)
-IR  finir (to finish)
-RE  rendre (to give back)
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3 Ways to Use the Infinitive
1. After a conjugated verb:
This one is very important to remember:
In French, the second, third, etc… verb that comes after the first conjugated verb
is always an infinitive.
Je veux danser.
-ER ending because veux is the conjugated verb vouloir

You will find an infinitive verb after a conjugated verb but not after an auxiliary / un
auxiliaire (avoir or être). 
J’ai aimé ce film.
NO -ER ending because ai is the auxiliaire avoir.
2. After a preposition :
C’est difficile de se concentrer avec tout ce bruit! It’s hard to concentrate with all
this noise!
Il y aura à boire et à manger. There will be food and drinks.
3. As a noun:
Prendre une décision importante ce n’est jamais facile. Making an important
decision is never easy.
What is an auxiliary verb?
2 Auxiliary Verbs in French: ETRE and AVOIR
1. ETRE
The verb être as an auxiliary is used to conjugate all the verbs at the passive voice.
Voix active: Elsa mange un gâteau au chocolat. Elsa eats a chocolate cake.
Voix passive: Le gâteau au chocolat est mangé par Elsa. The chocolate cake is eaten by Elsa.
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It can also be used to conjugate compound tenses / les temps composés of all
the pronominal verbs (s’habiller = to get dressed).
Je me suis habillé(e). I got dressed.
It is used to conjugate all the compound tenses (like le passé-composé) of
some intransitive verbs.
Il est rentré de France samedi soir. He came back from France Saturday night.
2. AVOIR
The verbe avoir as an auxiliary is used to conjugate all the compound tenses
of the transitive verbs.
Nous avons marché toute la journée. We walked all day.
It is also used to conjugate all the compound tenses of the most of the
intransitive
verbs.
J’ai couru vers elle. I ran towards her.
It is used to form the compound forms of the verbs être and avoir.
J’ai eu de bons résultats à mes examens. I got great results at my exams.
J’ai été très content de mon séjour à Nantes. I was very happy with my trip to
Nantes.
Attention! Être and avoir are also verbs not only
auxiliaries. Être means to be, to exist.
Avoir means to possess, to own.
What is a pronominal verb / un verbe pronominal?
Un verbe pronominal is a verb that is built with a reflexive pronoun (me, te, se,
nous, vous) : se laver, s’endormir
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Booklet II
Le Présent de l’Indicatif
Qu’est-ce Que C’est?
Le Présent de l’Indicatif : Qu’est-ce Que C’est?
Le présent in French is the equivalent of the present tense in English.
When is the present tense used?
1. For on-going actions or current situations.
Je suis malade. I’m sick.
2. To state general truths.
Le soleil se lève à l’Est. The sun rises at the east.
3. To describe a habitual action.
Je prends le train tous les matins. I take the train every morning.
4. For an action that is going to happen immediately.
Je descends! I am going downstairs!
How do you conjugate at the present tense a regular verb of the
-ER group (premier groupe)?
The first group verbs are all the ones which end up with -ER at the infinitive.
To conjugate an -ER verb at the present tense, remove the ending -ER and add the
appropriate endings: -e
-es
-e
-ons
-ez
-ent
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TIP:
When the subject is tu, the verb always ends with an S
(Exceptions: tu vaux you are worth, tu veux you want, tu peux you can)
Let’s take the verb louer (to rent): remove the infinitive ending –ER to get lou and add the
endings:
LOUER
1 personne
ème
2
personne
ème
3
personne
ère
Singulier
Je loue
Tu loues
Il/ Elle/On loue
Pluriel
Nous louons
Vous louez
Ils/Elles louent
How do you conjugate at the present tense a regular verb of the
-IR group (deuxième groupe)?
The second group verbs are all the ones which end up with -IR at the infinitive and that have
a present participle ending in -issant.
To conjugate an -IR verb at the present tense, remove the ending -IR and add the
appropriate endings:
-is
-is
-it issons
-issez
-issent
Let’s take the verb grandir (to grow up): remove the infinitive ending -IR to get grand
and add the endings:
GRANDIR
ère
1 personne
ème
2
personne
ème
3
personne
Singulier
Je grandis
Tu grandis
Il/ Elle/On grandit
Pluriel
Nous grandissons
Vous grandissez
Ils/Elles grandissent
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How do you conjugate at the present tense a regular verb of
the -RE group (troisième groupe)?
The third group verbs are all the verbs not belonging either to the first or the second
group and that are not auxiliary verbs (être & avoir). Most of them are irregular verbs.
The verbs that end with -DRE have the following endings:
-ds
-ds
-d ons
-ez
ent
Let’s take the verb vendre (to sell):
VENDRE
1 personne
ème
2
personne
Singulier
Je vends
Tu vends
Pluriel
Nous vendons
Vous vendez
Il/ Elle/On vend
Ils/Elles vendent
ère
ème
3
personne
Exceptions with the following irregular verbs:
Prendre (to take): nous prenons, vous prenez, ils ou elles prennent
Coudre (to sew): nous cousons, vous cousez, ils ou elles cousent
The verbs that end with -TRE have the following endings:
-ts ts -t
tons
-tez
tent
Booklet III
Le Passé-Composé
Qu’est-ce Que C’est?
Le Passé-Composé : Qu’est-ce Que C’est?
Le passé-composé in French is the equivalent of the past tense in English and is the past
tense the most used in French.
When is the passé-composé used?
Action completed in the past.
As-tu beaucoup étudié ce weekend? Did you study a lot this weekend?
A series of action completed in the past.
Samedi, il a vu sa mère, a parlé au médecin et a trouvé un chat. Saturday he saw his
mother, talked to the doctor, and found a cat.
An action repeated a few times in the past.
Je t’ai téléphoné cinq fois hier. I phoned you 5 times yesterday.
How is the passé-composé formed?
2 elements:
1 auxiliary (être or avoir) at the present tense.
1 past participle/ participe passé of the verb.
What is a past participle?
The French Participe-Passé is quite similar to the English past participle.
In English -ed is added at the end of the regular verbs to form the past participle.
I have worked all my life.
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In French we will add :
st
-é for the 1 group verb ending in -ER : J’ai rêvé (verbe rêver)
-i for the 2ng group verbs ending in -IR : J’ai fini (verbe finir)
-u for the 3rd group verbs ending in -RE : j’ai bu (verbe boire)

Notice some exceptions though: j’ai pris (verbe prendre) 
j’ai mis (verbe
mettre) etc…
4 Roles for the Past Participle
1. To form the passé-composé with an auxiliary être or avoir.
Je suis devenu(e). I have become.
2. To form other compound tenses with auxiliaries (e.g. plus que perfect).
J’étais parti(e) au Canada. I was gone to Canada.
3. To form the passive voice with the auxiliary être.
Le chat est nourri tous les matins. The cat is fed every morning.
4. On its own as an adjective alone.
Appeuré, il s’enfuit en courant. Frightened, he ran away.
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How do you form the passé-composé with the auxiliaire avoir?
The past participle stays neutral and doesn’t need to agree with the subject of the
sentence.
Exception: the past participle will have to agree with its direct object. The direct object
will often be a pronoun le, la, les and will be before the verb.
Je te rends ta robe, je l’ai portée hier soir. (l’ stands for ta robe, to avoid repetition)
Je te rends tes chaussures, je les ai mises au mariage de mon cousin. (les stands for
tes chaussures, to avoid repetition)
The direct object answers to the question WHAT?
Here’s your dress back; I wore it Saturday night. → I wore WHAT? It (your dress)
→ it is a direct object/ un complément d’object direct.
Un complément d’objet direct represents the people or things in a sentence which
receive the action of the verb. To find the direct object in a sentence, ask the questions
What? or Who?
Un complément d’objet indirect represents the people or things in a sentence to or for
whom/what the action of the verb occurs.
How do you conjugate at the passé-composé a regular verb of
the -ER group (premier groupe)?
Let’s take the verb louer (to rent): add the auxiliary avoir + remove the infinitive
ending -ER to get lou and add the ending -é:
LOUER
ère
1 personne
ème
2
personne
ème
3
personne
Singulier
J’ai loué
Tu as loué
Il/ Elle/On a loué
Pluriel
Nous avons loué
Vous avez loué
Ils/Elles ont loué
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Booklet IV
L’Imparfait
Qu’est-ce Que C’est?
L’Imparfait : Qu’est-ce Que C’est?
When is the imperfect used?
1. Translated in English by was or was + V-ing.
2. It is more used written than spoken. It is the tense used in literature to describe past
actions.
3. To describe a repeated or incomplete action at the past tense.
Tous les étés, je travaillais dans un hôtel. Every summer, I used to work in a hotel.
4. The beginning and end of the action are often not specified.
Je marchais pendant des heures sans retrouver mon chemin. I was walking for hours
without finding my way back.
5. To describe feelings, weather, time, age in the past.
Tous les étés, il pleuvait. Every summer, it was raining.
6. To express wishes.
Ah! Si j’étais président! Ah! If I were president!
7. To express suggestions.
Si tu venais demain soir, nous pourrions aller au cinéma. If you come tomorrow evening,
we could go to the cinema.
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8. To express the condition (if…)
Si je pouvais, je le ferais. If I could, I would.
How do you conjugate at the imperfect a regular verb of the -ER
group (premier groupe)?
The first group verbs are all the ones which end up with -ER at the infinitive.
To conjugate an -ER verb at the imperfect, remove the ending -ER and add the appropriate
endings:
-ais ais ait ions iez aient
TIP:
When the subject is tu, the verb always ends with an S
Let’s take the verb louer (to rent)
remove the infinitive ending -ER to get lou and add the endings:
LOUER
ère
1 personne
ème
2
personne
ème
3
personne
Singulier
Je louais
Tu louais
Il/ Elle/On louait
Pluriel
Nous louions
Vous louiez
Ils/Elles louaient
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How do you conjugate at the imperfect a regular verb of the IR group (deuxième groupe)?
The second group verbs are all the ones which end up with -IR at the infinitive and that
have a present participle ending in –issant.
To conjugate an -IR verb at the present tense, remove the ending -IR and add -ISS and
then the appropriate endings.
Let’s take the verb grandir (to grow up)
remove the infinitive ending -IR to get grand and add the endings:
GRANDIR
ère
1 personne
ème
2
personne
ème
3
personne
Singulier
Je grandissais
Tu grandissais
Il/ Elle/On grandissait
Pluriel
Nous grandissions
Vous grandissiez
Ils/Elles grandissaient
How do you conjugate at the imperfect a verb of the -RE
group (troisième groupe)?
The third group verbs are all the verbs not belonging either to the first or the second
group and that are not auxiliary verbs (être & avoir). Most of them are irregular verbs.
Let’s take the verb vendre (to sell)
VENDRE
ère
1 personne
ème
2
personne
ème
3
personne
Singulier
Je vendais
Tu vendais
Il/ Elle/On vendait
Pluriel
Nous vendions
Vous vendiez
Ils/Elles vendaient
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Booklet V
Le Futur
Qu’est-ce Que C’est?
Le Futur : Qu’est-ce Que C’est?
Now that you know how to recognise an infinitive verb (a full verb) that ends in -ER, -IR or RE this is going to make things easier for you when you need to use the future tense.
The future is, in my opinion, the simplest French tense ever. There is only one set of endings
for it, and most verbs use their infinitive as the root.
When is the future used?
1. To express projects.
Je viendrai te voir demain. I’ll come and see you tomorrow.
2. To give orders (less harsh than using the imperative).
Tu rangeras ta chambre avant de partir. You will tidy up your room before going.
3. To describe historical events.
Creuser le tunnel du Mont-Blanc prendra 4 ans. Digging the Mont-Blanc tunnel will take
4 years.
How is the future formed?
1ST STEP
To form the future tense of -ER and -IR verbs: keep -ER or -IR, and then add the appropriate
endings to the infinitive.
Finir → je finirai
To form the future tense of -RE verbs, drop the final E and then add the appropriate
endings.
Prendre →je prendrai
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2ND STEP
Add the following endings:
-ai
-as
-a
-ons
-ez
-ont
How do you conjugate at the future tense a regular verb of the
-ER group (premier groupe)?
The first group verbs are all the ones which end up with -ER at the infinitive.
To conjugate an -ER verb at the future tense, keep the ending -ER and add the appropriate
endings: -ai
-as
-a
-ons
-ez
-ont
TIP:
When the subject is tu, the verb always ends with an S
Let’s take the verb louer (to rent)
Keep the infinitive ending -ER and add the endings:
LOUER
1 personne
ème
2
personne
ème
3
personne
ère
Singulier
Je louerai
Tu loueras
Il/ Elle/On louera
Pluriel
Nous louerons
Vous louerez
Ils/Elles loueront
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How do you conjugate at the future tense a regular verb of
the -IR group (deuxième groupe)?
The second group verbs are all the ones which end up with -IR at the infinitive and that
have a present participle ending in -issant.
To conjugate an -IR verb at the present tense, keep the ending -IR and add the appropriate
endings:
-ai
-as
-a
-ons
-ez
-ont
Let’s take the verb grandir (to grow up)
keep the infinitive ending -IR and add the endings:
GRANDIR
ère
1 personne
ème
2
personne
ème
3
personne
Singulier
Je grandirai
Tu grandiras
Il/ Elle/On grandira
Pluriel
Nous grandirons
Vous grandirez
Ils/Elles grandiront
How do you conjugate at the future tense a verb of the RE group (troisième groupe)?
The third group verbs are all the verbs not belonging either to the first or the second group
and that are not auxiliary verbs (être & avoir). Most of them are irregular verbs.
To form the future tense of -RE verbs, drop the final E then add the appropriate endings.
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53
Booklet VI
Le Conditionnel
Qu’est-ce Que C’est?
Le Conditionnel : Qu’est-ce Que C’est?
Now that you know how to recognise an infinitive verb (a full verb) that ends in -ER, -IR or
-RE this is going to make things easier for you when you need to use the conditional tense.
Once you master the future tense, understanding and using the conditional tense will
be easy.
When is the conditional used?
1. To talk about events with no guarantee to happen.
2. In English, you will use would to form the conditional tense.
3. When there is a IF condition, SI
Si je pouvais, je viendrais. If I could, I would come.
When is the verb aimer (to love) used?
1. To express a wish, a desire in a polite way.
J’aimerais de la glace à la vanille. I would love some vanilla ice cream.
2. To express a wish that might never occur.
J’aimerais tant aller à San Francisco. I would love to go to San Francisco so much.
When is the verb vouloir (to want) used?
1. To express a wish, a desire in a polite way.
Je voudrais de la glace à la vanille. I would like some vanilla ice cream.
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When is the verb pouvoir (to be able to) used?
1. To express a suggestion, a possibility of doing something.
2. Translated by could in English.
Je pourrais venir te voir demain. I could come and see you tomorrow.
Pourrais-je venir te venir te voir demain? Could I come and see you tomorrow?
When is the verb devoir (to have to) used?
1. To express something that should be done.
2. Translated by should in English.
Tu devrais réviser ton bac. You should revise for your leaving cert.
How is the conditional formed?
1ST STEP
To form the conditional tense of -ER and -IR verbs: keep -ER or -IR and then add
the appropriate endings to the infinitive.
Finir → je finirais
To form the conditional tense of -RE verbs, drop the final E then add the appropriate
endings.
Prendre →je prendrais
2ND STEP
Add the following endings: -ais
-ais
-ait
-ions
-iez
-aient
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How do you conjugate at the conditional tense a regular verb
of the -ER group (premier groupe)?
The first group verbs are all the ones which end up with -ER at the infinitive.
To conjugate an -ER verb at the conditional tense, keep the ending -ER and add
the appropriate endings:
-ais
-ais
-ait
ions
-iez
aien
t
TIP:
When the subject is tu, the verb always ends with an S
(exceptions: tu vaux you are worth, tu veux you want, tu peux you can)
Let’s take the verb louer (to rent)
keep the infinitive ending -ER and add the endings:
LOUER
ère
1 personne
ème
2
personne
ème
3
personne
Singulier
Je louerais
Tu louerais
Il/ Elle/On louerait
Pluriel
Nous louerions
Vous loueriez
Ils/Elles loueraient
How do you conjugate at the conditional tense a regular verb of
the - IR group (deuxième groupe)?
The second group verbs are all the ones which end up with -IR at the infinitive and that
have a present participle ending in -issant.
Booklet VII
Le Subjonctif
Qu’est-ce Que C’est?
Le Subjonctif : Qu’est-ce Que C’est?
The subjunctive is a difficult tense that you need to be able to recognise in a text and to use
it from time to time.
When is the subjunctive used?
1. Unfortunately there is no equivalent in English.
2. It is kind of the present tense but needs to be used with some specific verbs or
following some specific words like que or qui
3. To express subjective actions: necessities, emotion, will, judgment doubt,
possibility….
4. There is no future subjunctive. The present subjunctive will be used. However,
there is a past subjunctive.
How is the subjunctive formed?
For all the regular verbs ending with -ER, -IR, and -RE, take the 3rd person plural form (ils)
of the present tense of the verb, drop the -ent, and add the subjunctive endings as follows:
-e
-es
-e
-ions
-iez
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-ent
VERB
3RD PERSONN
PLURAL PRESENT
DROP THE -ENT
SUBJONCTIF
PARLER
ILS/ELLES PARLENT
PARL
QUE JE PARLE
CHOISISS
QUE TU CHOISISSES
PRENN
QU’IL PRENNE
CHOISIR
PRENDRE
ILS/ELLES
CHOISISSENT
ILS/ELLES
PRENNENT
Note that -IR verbs like sortir and partir and -RE verbs like mettre which are irregular in
the present tense are regular in the subjunctive.
Irregular Verbs at the Subjunctive Tense
Let’s take the verb aller (to go)
ALLER
ère
1 personne
ème
2
personne
ème
3
personne
Singulier
Que j’aille
Que tu ailles
Qu’Il/ Elle/On aille
Pluriel
Que nous allions
Que vous alliez
Qu’Ils/Elles aillent
Let’s take the verb faire (to do)
FAIRE
ère
1 personne
ème
2
personne
ème
3
personne
Singulier
Que je fasse
Que tu fasses
Qu’Il/ Elle/On fasse
Pluriel
Que nous fassions
Que vous fassiez
Qu’Ils/Elles fassent
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Let’s take the verb pouvoir (to be able to)
POUVOIR
ère
1 personne
ème
2
personne
ème
3
personne
Singulier
Que je puisse
Que tu puisses
Qu’Il/ Elle/On puisse
Pluriel
Que nous puissions
Que vous puissiez
Qu’Ils/Elles puissent
Let’s take the verb savoir (to know)
SAVOIR
ère
1 personne
ème
2
personne
ème
3
personne
Singulier
Que je sache
Que tu saches
Qu’Il/ Elle/On sache
Pluriel
Que nous sachions
Que vous sachiez
Qu’Ils/Elles sachent
Let’s take the verb vouloir (to want)
VOULOIR
ère
1 personne
ème
2
personne
ème
3
personne
Singulier
Que je veuille
Que tu veuilles
Qu’Il/ Elle/On veuille
Pluriel
Que nous voulions
Que vous vouliez
Qu’Ils/Elles veuillent
Let’s take the verb être (to be)
ETRE
1 personne
ème
2
personne
ème
3
personne
ère
Singulier
Que je sois
Que tu sois
Qu’Il/ Elle/On soit
Pluriel
Que nous soyons
Que vous soyez
Qu’Ils/Elles soient
Let’s take the verb avoir (to have)
AVOIR
ère
1 personne
ème
2
personne
ème
3
personne
Singulier
Que j’aie
Que tu aies
Qu’Il/ Elle/On ait
Pluriel
Que nous ayons
Que vous ayez
Qu’Ils/Elles aient
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Booklet VIII
Le Nom
Qu’est-ce Que C’est?
Le Nom : Qu’est-ce Que C’est?
What is a noun?
In French, a noun is either called un nom or un substantif.
1. A noun is a word. (chat)
2. A noun can be a common noun / un nom commun.
It defines individuals of the same species (les hommes, les chevaux…) or represents a
concept (la psychologie de l’enfant).
It is the opposite of the proper noun that does not have a specific definition. (Paul)
3. A noun can be a proper noun / un nom propre.
It defines a person, a place, a unique thing.
This kind of noun requires a capital letter: Monet (le peintre / the painter), la ville de
Toulouse
4. Any word preceded by a determiner (un déterminant : un, une, la, le, les, des, ce,
son...) is a noun.
5. A noun varies in gender:
le chat (masculine form)
la chatte (feminine form)
6. A nouns varies in number:
le chat (singular form)
les chats (plural form)
What is gender in French? (le genre)
1. Gender or le genre defines if the noun is masculine or feminine.
A noun preceded by un or le is masculine.
A noun preceded by une or la is feminine.
For someone studying French, picking the right gender to use is a nightmare because there
is no logic or even a rule to refer to. The only way is to learn the gender for each word.
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2 Techniques to Learn French Gender
1. When you make a list of vocabulary that you need to learn off, always include the
gender with the noun. Do not write a noun without its determiner (le, la, un, une…).
2. Listen and read as much French as you can and the gender will automatically stay
imprinted in your brain. Without thinking or learning it, you will get familiar to the language.
For this to happen, you need to read French or listen to French podcasts, radio programmes,
etc… at least once a day.
This is how the French children learn the gender without realising it, just by immersion.
What is number in French?

Number indicates if articles, adjectives or pronouns that modify nouns must be singular or
plural.
L’enfant
Les enfants
singular (one child) / singulier
plural (many children) / pluriel
What are the different functions of a noun?
1. A noun can be a subject /un sujet.
Les enfants jouent dans la cour de l’école. Children play in the school yard.
The subject of a verb is the thing or the person who performs the action of that verb.
2. A noun can be an attribute /un attribut.
Paris est la capitale de la France. Paris is the capital of France.
Thanks to the verb, the attribute of the subject indicate a way of being, a characteristic
of the subject.
3. A noun can be a complement / un complément.
Je fais mes courses au supermarché, le lundi. I do my food shopping at the
supermarket, on Mondays.
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En Résumé: 5 Things You Need to Know
about
French Nouns
1. A noun indicates a person, an animal or a thing.
2. A noun is most of the time preceded by a determiner
(le, la, les, un, une…).
3. A proper noun always takes a capital letter
(Marseille).
4. A commun noun always takes a small letter
(l’aéroport).
5. There are concrete nouns (une table) and abstract
noun (la volonté/ the will).
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Booklet IX
L’Adjectif
Qu’est-ce Que C’est?
L’Adjectif : Qu’est-ce Que C’est?
What is an adjective?
L’adjectif is a word that modifies a noun by describing it about its:
Shape
Colour
Size
How do I form a French adjective?
The French adjectives agree in gender and number with the noun they are describing.
Le joli tableau the lovely painting
La jolie maison the lovely house
Les jolis bateaux the lovely boats
Les jolies filles the lovely girls
→ masculine singular
→ feminine singular
→ masculine plural
→ feminine plural
You have to make sure that you know the gender and number of the noun and then
form the adjective accordingly.
How do I find the adjective in the sentence?
Most French adjectives will be found after the noun they describe.
la maison jaune the yellow house
Exceptions:
Some French adjectives are found before the noun: joli, beau, petit, grand…
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When do I place the adjective before the noun?
This is not very common. The types of adjectives that go before the noun describe the age,
the beauty, the size and “good & bad”.
To remember them, think of BAGS (Beauty, Age; Good & bad, Size)
une jolie fille a pretty girl un
jeune chien a young dog
une nouvelle voiture a new car
un bon élève a good student
When do I place the adjective after the noun?
This is the most common place for the adjectives.
They describe shape, religion, nationality, social class, colour, mood, personality and taste.
une cravate rouge et noire a red and black tie
une femme irlandaise an Irish woman
un mariage catholique a Catholic wedding
le bureau oval the oval office
What is a possessive adjective / un adjectif possessif?
1. Un adjectif possessif indicates to whom the noun belongs.
2. The gender and number will determine which adjective to use.
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SINGULAR SUBJECTS : MY/ YOUR / HIS / HER / ITS
ADJECTIF POSSESSIF
MY
YOUR
HIS
HER
ITS
Masculine : un bébé
mon bébé
ton bébé
son bébé
son bébé
son bébé
Feminine : une sœur
ma sœur
ta sœur
sa sœur
sa sœur
sa sœur
In front of vowel : un ami / une amie
mon ami
ton amie
son ami
son amie
son ami
Pluriel : les enfants
mes enfants tes enfants
ses enfants ses enfants ses enfants
As you can see, the adjective agrees with the noun.
The adjective is not determined by the person to whom the object belongs.
PLURAL SUBJECTS: OUR/ YOUR / THEIR
ADJECTIF POSSESSIF
OUR
YOUR
THEIR
Masculine : un bébé
notre bébé
votre bébé
leur bébé
Feminine : une sœur
notre sœur
votre sœur
leur sœur
In front of vowel : un ami / une amie
notre ami
votre amie
leur ami
Pluriel : les enfants
nos enfants vos enfants leurs enfants
What is a negative adjective / un adjectif négatif?
ADJECTIF NEGATIF
Negative Adjective
NE PAS ….. UN /UNE
no, not one
NE PAS ….. UN/ UNE SEULE
no,not a single
NE PAS ….. AUCUN/ AUCUNE
no, not any
NE PAS ….. NUL/NULLE
no, not any
1. They refuse on a quality about the noun that they modify.
OR
2. They give a doubt on a quality about the noun that they
modify. Je n'ai aucune confiance en lui. I don't have any trust
in him.
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Booklet X
L’Adverbe
Qu’est-ce Que C’est?
L’Adverbe : Qu’est-ce Que C’est?
What is an adverb?
It is a word that modifies a verb, an adjective, or another adverb.
It is invariable : doesn’t change because of number or gender.
How is an adverb formed?
Most of a time, a word finishing with -ment is an adverb. In English, the adverb ends with
-ly.
Eventuellement → Eventually
Where do you place the adverb in the sentence?
The placement rule for French adverbs could be quite strict according to either the
verb modifies a verb or an adjective.
If modifying an adjective or another adverb, it will be placed in front of
them. Il est extrêmement énervé. He is extremely stressed.
If modifying a verb, the adverb will be after the conjugated verb.
Je pleure fréquemment. I cry frequently.
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What are the different types of adverb?
Adverbs of manner (explains how something happens)
Absolument and most of the ones that end in –ment
FRENCH ADVERB
Bien
Vite
Mal
MANNER
ENGLISH ADVERB
well
quickly
badly
Adverbs of quantity (explains how many, how much)
FRENCH ADVERB
Très
Trop
Assez
beaucoup
Peu
QUANTITY
ENGLISH ADVERB
very
too much
quite
a lot
few
Adverbs of time (explains when something happens)
FRENCH ADVERB
Hier
aujourd’hui
Demain
Maintenant
Tot
Tard
Bientôt
Ensuite
TIME
ENGLISH ADVERB
yesterday
today
tomorrow
now
early
late
soon
next, then
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Longtemps
Enfin
Déjà
Actuellement
for a long time
finally
already
currently
Adverbs of frequency (explains often something happens)
FRENCH ADVERB
Souvent
Parfois
Toujours
rarement
FREQUENCY
ENGLISH ADVERB
often
sometimes
always
rarely
Adverbs of place (explains where something happens)
FRENCH ADVERB
Ici
là-bas
Là
quelque part
Partout
PLACE
ENGLISH ADVERB
here
over there
there
somewhere
everywhere
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Booklet XI
La Préposition
Qu’est-ce Que C’est?
La Préposition : Qu’est-ce Que C’est?
What is a French preposition?
1. Une préposition is a word used to indicate position and placement.
2. It describes when one thing is on top of another, next to it, etc.
3. It describes relations between things or people.
4. It describes movement to and from places.
Where do we find the preposition in a French sentence?
Like in English they usually precede the noun they act upon.
What are the different types of preposition?
1. Prepositions of position
Le chien est sous la table. The dog is under the table
POSITION
FRENCH PREPOSITION
à
à coté de
au-dessus
au-dessous
autour de
de
devant
derrière
loin de
en face de
ENGLISH PREPOSITION
to
next to
above
below
around
from
in front of
behind
far from
in front of
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vers
sur
sous
toward
on
under
2. Prepositions of relation (incomplete list)
They indicate a relation between people or things.
Je sors avec mes copains tous les samedis soirs. I go out with my friends every
Saturday night.
FRENCH PREPOSITION
à
avec
pour
grace
parmi
RELATION
ENGLISH PREPOSITION
to
with
to, for
thanks to
among
3. Prepositions of place
1. Before names of cities, à or de is used to indicate movement toward or away
Je vais à Paris. I am going to Paris.
Je viens de Toulouse. I am coming from Toulouse.
2. Before countries with a name that ends in E like Espagne (feminine), en indicates
movement toward or within, de movement from.
Je vais en Belgique. I am going to Belgium.
Je pars de France demain matin. I leave France tomorrow morning.
3. Before other countries (that do not end with E) au ( aux) is used to indicate
movement toward or within, du (des) movement from.
Je déménage au Portugal. I am moving to Portugal.
Je vais aux Etats-Unis. I’m going to the USA.
Il a fui du Danemark. He ran away from Denmark.
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Appendix
Solutions aux Activités
Le Verbe
ACTIVITE 1
1. Il y a de plus en plus de criminalité à Lyon.
a : auxiliaire avoir, présent, to have
2. La drogue a été le plus grand fléau des années
80. a été : auxiliaire être, passé-composé, to be
3. Il est parti sans laisser d’adresse.
est parti : -IR verbe, passé-composé, to go
laisser : infinitif, to leave
4. Si j’étais à Paris, je visiterais le Château de
Versailles. étais : auxiliaire être, imparfait, to be
visiterais : –ER verbe, conditionnel, to visit
5. Je prends l’avion demain pour Milan.
prends : -RE verbe irrégulier prendre, présent, to take
6. Je t’enverrai une lettre dès mon arrivée !
enverrai : -ER verbe irrégulier envoyer, futur, to send
7. Elle marchait dans la forêt. Elle cria.
marchait : -ER verbe régulier marcher, imparfait, to walk
cria : -ER verbe régulier crier, passe-simple, to shout
8. Quand il sera grand, il veut être avocat.
sera : auxiliaire être, futur, to be
veut : verbe irrégulier vouloir, présent, to want
9. Ils sont allés faire les vendanges.
sont allés : verbe irrégulier aller, passé-composé, to go
faire : infinitif, to do
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ACTIVITE 2
1. Make a list of all the verbs at the present tense with their meaning.
1. couvre, verbe couvrir = to cover
2. abrite, verbe abriter = to shelter
3. ombrage, verbe ombrager = to overshadow
4. aime, verbe aimer = to like
5. ai, verbe avoir = to have
6. attachent, verbe attacher = to link, to connect
7. pense, verbe penser = to think
8. mange, verbe manger = to eat
9. vois, verbe voir = to see
10. va, verbe aller = to go
11. sonnent, verbe sonner = to ring
12. apporte, verbe apporter = to bring
13. s'éveille, verbe s’éveiller = to be become aware of, to wake up to
14. s'assoupit, verbe s’assoupir = to nod off
2. Find all the pronominal verbs and their meaning.
1. s'éveille, verbe s’éveiller = to be become aware of, to wake up to
2. s'assoupit, verbe s’assoupir = to nod off
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ACTIVITE 2
Texte adapté du roman de George Sand La petite Fadette (1849)
http://abu.cnam.fr/cgi-bin/go?fadette1
Bonheur ou malheur, cette amitié-là augmentait toujours avec l'âge, et le jour
où ils surent raisonner un peu, ces enfants se dirent qu'ils ne pouvaient pas
s'amuser avec d'autres enfants quand un des deux ne s'y trouvait pas ; et le
père ayant essayé d'en garder un toute la journée avec lui, tandis que l'autre
restait avec la mère, tous les deux furent si tristes, si pâles et si lâches au
travail, qu'on les crut malades. Et puis quand ils se retrouvèrent le soir, ils s'en
allèrent tous deux par les chemins, se tenant par la main et ne voulant plus
rentrer, tant ils avaient d'aise d'être ensemble, et aussi parce qu'ils boudaient
un peu leurs parents de leur avoir fait ce chagrin-là. On n'essaya plus guère
de recommencer, car il faut dire que le père et la mère, mêmement les oncles
et les tantes, les frères et les sœurs avaient pour les Bessons une amitié qui
tournait un peu en faiblesse.
Ils en étaient fiers, à force d'en recevoir des compliments, et aussi parce que
c'était, de vrai, deux enfants qui n'étaient ni laids, ni sots, ni méchants.
De temps en temps, le père Barbeau s'inquiétait bien un peu de ce que
deviendrait cette accoutumance d'être toujours ensemble quand ils seraient en
âge d'homme, et se remémorant les paroles de la Sagette il essayait de les
taquiner pour les rendre jaloux l'un de l'autre. S'ils faisaient une petite faute, il
tirait les oreilles de Sylvinet, par exemple, disant à Landry : Pour cette fois, je
te pardonne à toi, parce que tu es ordinairement le plus raisonnable.
Mais cela consolait Sylvinet d'avoir chaud aux oreilles, de voir qu'on avait
épargné son frère, et Landry pleurait comme si c'était lui qui avait reçu la
correction.
On tenta aussi de donner, à l'un seulement, quelque chose dont tous deux
avaient envie ; mais tout aussitôt, si c'était chose bonne à manger, ils
partageaient ; ou si c'était toute autre amusette ou épelette à leur usage, ils le
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mettaient en commun, ou se le donnaient et redonnaient l'un à l'autre, sans
distinction du tien et du mien. Faisait-on à l'un un compliment de sa conduite,
en ayant l'air de ne pas rendre justice à l'autre, cet autre était content et fier de
voir encourager et caresser son besson, et se mettait à le flatter et à le caresser
aussi. Enfin, c'était peine perdue que de vouloir les diviser d'esprit ou de
corps, et comme on n'aime guère à contrarier des enfants qu'on chérit, même
quand c'est pour leur bien, on laissa vite aller les choses comme Dieu voulut ;
ou bien on se fit de ces petites picoteries un jeu dont les deux bessons
n'étaient point dupes, Ils étaient fort malins, et quelquefois, pour qu'on les
laissât tranquilles, ils faisaient mine de se disputer et de se battre ; mais ce
n'était qu'un amusement de leur part, et ils n'avaient garde, en se roulant l'un
sur l'autre, de se faire le moindre mal ; si quelque badaud s'étonnait de les
voir en bisbille, ils se cachaient pour rire de lui, et on les entendait babiller et
chantonner ensemble comme deux merles dans une branche.
Pick up all the verbs and auxiliaries at the imperfect tense and write down
their identity card: infinitive, group and meaning.
Augmentait, augmenter, verbe Groupe 1 = to increase
Pouvaient, pouvoir, verbe Groupe 3 = to be able to
Trouvait, trouver, verbe Groupe 1 = to find
Restait, rester, verbe Groupe 1 = to stay
Avaient, avoir, auxiliaire = to have
Boudaient, bouder, verbe Groupe I = to sulk
Tournait, tourner, verbe Groupe I = to turn
Etaient, être, auxiliaire = to be
s'inquiétait, s’inquiéter, verbe Groupe I = to
worry essayait, essayer, verbe Group I = to try
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ACTIVITE 2
Attention, mesdames et messieurs, dans un instant on va commencer
Installez-vous dans votre fauteuil bien gentiment
5, 4, 3, 2, 1, 0, partez, tous les projecteurs vont s'allumer
Et tous les acteurs vont s'animer en même temps
Attention, mesdames et messieurs, c'est important, on va commencer
C'est toujours la même histoire depuis la nuit des temps
L'histoire de la vie et de la mort, mais nous allons changer le décor
Espérons qu'on la jouera encore dans 2000 ans
Nous avons 20 ans et plein de chansons
Comme le printemps, nous allons danser dans votre maison
Notre pain est blanc, notre vin est bon
Si vous le voulez, c'est de bon cœur que nous partagerons
Texte tiré de la chanson Attention mesdames et messieurs de Michel
Fugain
1. Pick up all the verbs at the futur proche.
2. Translate them.
on va commencer = we are going to start
tous les projecteurs vont s'allumer = all the spotlights are going to light up
les acteurs vont s'animer = the actors are going to come to life
nous allons changer = we are going to change
nous allons danser = we are going to dance