Direct object pronouns
- Direct object pronouns are placed before the conjugated verb in French sentences.
- When used with compound tenses, such as the passé composé, the pronoun is placed before the auxiliary verb (e.g., “Il m’a vu” - He saw me).
- Pronouns agree in gender and number with the nouns they replace.
| French Pronoun | English Equivalent | Example Sentence in French |
|---|---|---|
| me (m') | me | Il me voit. (He sees me.) |
| te (t') | you | Je te comprends. (I understand you.) |
| le (l') | him, it | Je le vois. (I see him/it.) |
| la (l') | her, it | Je la connais. (I know her/it.) |
| nous | us | Il nous entend. (He hears us.) |
| vous | you | Je vous appelle. (I call you.) |
| les | them | Je les vois. (I see them.) |
what / which: quel
In French, the words “what” and “which” are translated as “quel,” “quelle,” “quels,” and “quelles,” depending on the gender and number of the noun they modify. These are known as interrogative adjectives and are used to ask questions about specific items or people.
- “Quel” and its variations must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify.
- They are used to ask questions about specific items or people.
- These words are often followed by a noun or the verb “être” (to be) when asking about a specific choice or identification.
| French Word | English Equivalent | Gender/Number | Example Sentence in French |
|---|---|---|---|
| quel | what/which | Masculine Singular | Quel livre lis-tu ? (Which book are you reading?) |
| quelle | what/which | Feminine Singular | Quelle robe préfères-tu ? (Which dress do you prefer?) |
| quels | what/which | Masculine Plural | Quels films aimes-tu ? (Which movies do you like?) |
| quelles | what/which | Feminine Plural | Quelles chansons écoutes-tu ? (Which songs do you listen to?) |
Demonstrative pronouns: celui
Demonstrative pronouns in French are used to refer to a specific noun without repeating it. They correspond to “this one,” “that one,” “these ones,” and “those ones” in English. The pronouns must agree in gender and number with the noun they replace.
- Demonstrative pronouns must agree in gender and number with the noun they replace.
- They are often used with relative clauses (e.g., “celui qui,” “celle que”) to provide more information about the noun.
- These pronouns are useful for distinguishing between different items or people in a conversation.
| French Pronoun | English Equivalent | Gender/Number | Example Sentence in French |
|---|---|---|---|
| celui | this one/that one | Masculine Singular | Celui que tu vois est mon frère. (The one you see is my brother.) |
| celle | this one/that one | Feminine Singular | Celle que tu aimes est jolie. (The one you love is pretty.) |
| ceux | these ones/those ones | Masculine Plural | Ceux qui sont là sont mes amis. (Those who are there are my friends.) |
| celles | these ones/those ones | Feminine Plural | Celles que tu vois sont mes sœurs. (The ones you see are my sisters.) |
avoir ➡ (to be)
In French, the verb “avoir” (to have) is used in many idiomatic expressions where English would use “to be.” These expressions often describe states of being or feelings.
- “Avoir” is used in many idiomatic expressions that convey states of being or emotions.
- These expressions often do not translate literally into English.
- Understanding these expressions is essential for fluency in French, as they are commonly used in everyday conversation.
| French Expression | English Equivalent | Example Sentence in French |
|---|---|---|
| avoir faim | to be hungry | J’ai faim. (I am hungry.) |
| avoir soif | to be thirsty | Elle a soif. (She is thirsty.) |
| avoir chaud | to be hot | Nous avons chaud. (We are hot.) |
| avoir froid | to be cold | Ils ont froid. (They are cold.) |
| avoir peur (de) | to be afraid (of) | Tu as peur des araignées. (You are afraid of spiders.) |
| avoir besoin de | to need | J’ai besoin de dormir. (I need to sleep.) |
| avoir envie de | to feel like | Il a envie de manger. (He feels like eating.) |
| avoir l’air | to seem/look | Elle a l’air fatiguée. (She looks tired.) |
| avoir raison | to be right | Vous avez raison. (You are right.) |
| avoir tort | to be wrong | J’ai tort. (I am wrong.) |
| avoir hâte de | to look forward to | J’ai hâte de te voir. (I look forward to seeing you.) |
| avoir mal à | to have pain in | J’ai mal à la tête. (I have a headache.) |
Vocabulaire
| mots | explications |
|---|---|
| oublier | to forget, to leave - oublier de faire qch to forget to do sth - oublier l’heure to forget the time - J’ai oublié mon sac chez Sabine. I left my bag at Sabine’s. |
| remplir | to fill up, to fill in - Elle a rempli son verre de vin. She filled up her glass with wine. - Tu as rempli ton formulaire ? Have you filled in your form? |
| la grille | wire fence, metal gate, grid |
| le ventre | stomach - avoir mal au ventre to have stomachache |
| tout à fait | absolutely |