environs
- les environs de the area round
- aux environs de (de lieu) in the area around
- aux environs de (d’heure) around
- aux environs de dix-neuf heures around 7 p.m.
- aux environs de minuit around midnight
- dans les environs in the area, in the vicinity
depuis peu / depuis longtemps
- Je la connais depuis peu. I have not known her for long. / I have known her for only a short time.
- Je les connais depuis longtemps. I have known them for a long time.
se rendre compte
Mais je me suis rendu compte que l’immeuble à l’angle du l’avenue brûlait. But I realised that the building on the corner of the avenue was burning.
“Se rendre compte” is a French idiomatic expression that means “to realize” or “to become aware of something”.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Meaning and Usage | - Primary meaning: To become conscious of something, to realize - Secondary meaning: To observe, to see, to notice |
| Grammatical Structure | - It’s a reflexive verb phrase: “se” + “rendre” + “compte” - The participle “rendu” is always invariable, regardless of the subject’s gender or number (Becasue compte is the direct object of the reflexive verb, rendu does not agree in number or gender: Elle s’est rendu compte…) |
| Conjugation Example | - Je me suis rendu compte - Tu t’es rendu compte - Il/Elle s’est rendu compte - Nous nous sommes rendu compte - Vous vous êtes rendu compte - Ils/Elles se sont rendu compte |
| Common Constructions | - Se rendre compte de + noun: To realize something - Se rendre compte que + clause: To realize that… |
| Synonyms | - Prendre conscience - S’apercevoir - Réaliser (in modern usage) - Comprendre |
les secours vs. le secours
Both “les secours” and “le secours” are correct, but they are used in different contexts:
Le secours (singular):
- Used when referring to aid or assistance in a general or abstract sense
- Example: “Le secours est arrivé à temps.” (The help arrived on time.)
Les secours (plural):
- More commonly used, especially when referring to emergency services or rescue operations
- Example: “Les secours ont été appelés immédiatement.” (Emergency services were called immediately.)
| Form | Usage | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Le secours | General aid, abstract concept | Le secours mutuel est important dans une communauté. (Mutual aid is important in a community.) |
| Les secours | Emergency services, concrete actions | Les secours sont en route vers le lieu de l’accident. (Emergency services are on their way to the accident site.) |
In everyday speech, “les secours” is more frequently used, particularly when talking about calling for help or emergency situations.
Examples:
- “Appeler les secours” (To call for help/emergency services)4
- “Secours en montagne, en mer” (Mountain rescue, sea rescue)
- “Premiers secours” (First aid)
- “Au secours!” (Help!)
- “Être d’un grand secours” (To be of great help)
peu importe
It doesn’t matter / Never mind
- Peu importe le prix. Never mind the price.
- peu m’importe I don’t mind / I don’t care
- peu importe que it doesn’t matter if
Vocabulaire
| mots | explications |
|---|---|
| de plus en plus | more and more |
| l’incendie | n.m. fire- un incendie de forêt a forest fire |
| peu | shortly, just- peu après shortly afterwards- Je suis arrivé peu avant la fermeture du magasin. I arrived shortly before the shop closed.- un peu de a little, a bit of- peu de little/few- J’ai peu d’argent mais un peu de temps. I have little money but a bit of time. |
| lorsque | when (=quand) |
| apercevoir | to see |
| le brouillard | fog - il y a du brouillard it’s foggy |
| maussade | sullen, gloomy |
| bruiner | il bruine it’s drizzling |
| brûler | to burn |
| juste à temps | just in time |
| le toit | roof |
| au début | in the beginning / at first |
| équipage | n.m. crew |
| réaliser | to carry out, to fulfil, to realize, to make |
| formidable | great |
| prévenir | to tell, to inform |
| garer | to park |
| à l’époque | at that time |