2 Languages and Nationalities
MUST 
KNOW
For winter, you’ll need un ou deux manteaux, une écharpe, and des gants.
In school, you’ll study le français, la géographie, and les sciences humaines.
Sa veste can mean his or her jacket.
Ne… pas surrounds the conjugated verb.
Congrats on making it through the first chapter! Now it’s time to dig a little more deeply into the mechanics of French nouns and verbs. Did you know that French nouns almost always use articles, even when we don’t use them in English? Learning the articles is tricky business, especially when we have to take gender into account. Similarly, we’ll explore how French sometimes changes a verb’s conjugation to keep its original sound.
Speaking of sound, French is one of the most melodious languages. So it’s no surprise that Gustave Flaubert had a special room in his house, the gueuloir (shouting room), where he would read out the latest draft of his novel at the top of his voice to adjust its rhythm and cadence. Even if you are not ready to write Volume II of Madame Bovary, read aloud each dialogue in the book to develop a greater intuition of French’s flow.
Introduction to Indefinite and Definite Articles
All French nouns are gendered. They are either masculine or feminine whether they refer to a person, animal, thing, or abstract notion. This will be explored further in Chapter 4 when studying the gender of French nouns.
Indefinite Articles
In French, there are three indefinite articles: un (masculine singular), une (feminine singular), and des (plural). Un and une translate to a and an, and des translates to some. Notice, however, that in English the word some is often omitted.
Definite Articles
In French, there are three definite articles: le (masculine singular), la (feminine singular), and les (plural). And they all translate to the word the.
In most cases, to turn a singular noun into the plural form, one adds -s. For example: un livre (a book), des livres (books); un vélo (a bicycle), des vélos (bicycles). Most nouns ending in -eau take an -x in the plural: un bateau (a boat), des bateaux (boats).
Also, you should know how to make a noun plural. Usually this is done by adding an -s, so pay to attention to how words change from their singular form into plural.
And notice that most of the time, you use an elision, the le and la become l’ in front of nouns starting with a vowel or a mute h.
Here are some exceptions when there is no elision: le haricot (bean). It is oddly called an h aspiré, although it is not “aspirated.” Don’t worry about the label; just memorize some of these nouns in a sentence as you go along. In the plural form, you do not make a liaison between the definite article and the noun: les haricots (beans).
Let’s look at the masculine and feminine plural of nouns:
In the plural form, for nouns starting with a vowel or a mute h, you make a liaison between the definite article and the noun with a z sound.
Let’s compare the plural forms of the definite and indefinite articles:
Possessive Adjectives
Possessive adjectives are used to express relationship and ownership. They agree in gender and number with the noun they modify.
Note that the masculine form (mon, ton, son) is used before singular feminine nouns beginning with a vowel or a mute h.
Therefore son, sa, and ses can mean either his or hers. The context will usually prevent any ambiguity on the owner. Otherwise, the sentence will be reformulated.
Another way of expressing possession is to use à + a noun or a pronoun.
Introducing -er Verbs
Unconjugated verbs are called infinitives, and the French infinitives are divided into three groups, each with its own endings. The first set ends in -er and includes verbs like parler (to speak), habiter (to live), and danser (to dance). To conjugate regular -er verbs, you need to memorize the ending for each person and attach it to the root of the verb. The root is obtained by dropping the -er and attaching the corresponding ending. For instance, the root of parler is parl- and the root of habiter is habit-. The endings for the regular -er verbs are as follows:
It’s important to note that the -e, -es, and -ent endings are all silent. And the final s of nous, vous, ils, and elles links with verbs beginning with a vowel sound, making a z sound; this is called a liaison. Most -er verbs are regular and follow this pattern, though there are exceptions.
Notice how the definite article le is added when an adverb is used with the verb parler. Je parle suédois, but je parle très bien le suédois. Il parle le japonais couramment.
Notice how apporter in the first person contracts to the form j’apporte.
Verbs Ending in -ger
A few -er verbs are spelled differently in the present tense in order to maintain the sound of the infinitive. With verbs ending in -ger, as voyager (to travel), the -g- becomes -ge- before the first-person plural. Let’s take a look at the verb voyager.
Verbs Ending in -cer
Similar to verbs ending in -ger, verbs ending in -cer change spelling when in the present-tense first-person plural. The c is replaced with a ç (a soft sound that matches the infinitive form of the verb). Let’s take a look at the verb prononcer.
Accent-Changing Verbs
With some verbs composed of -e + consonant + -er, like the verb enlever (to remove), some accent changes occur. An accent grave is added in all but the first- and the second-person plural.
But:
Épeler
With some verbs composed of -e + l + -er, like the verb épeler (to spell), add an additional l in all but the first- and second-persons plural.
This rule also applies to verbs like jeter and its derivatives, which require an additional t in all but the first- and second-persons plural.
Countries and Languages
Here are some countries whose names you should know in French, along with their official languages. Do remember, however, that in some of these countries, many other languages are spoken.
Interrogative and Negative Sentences
Could you imagine life without questions? Or life without the ability to say no? Let’s learn how to craft sentences using the interrogative and negative forms.
Interrogative Sentences
Interrogative is a complex way to express the idea of asking questions. In French, there are three ways of asking a question:
■ Inverting the subject and the verb
■ Adding est-ce que to the beginning of the sentence
■ Ending the unmodified sentence with an upward intonation
Each way of asking a question is subtly different. While the est-ce que form is widespread in spoken French, inversion is common in writing and is more formal. And in informal dialogue, ending an unmodified sentence with an upward intonation gets the job done.
If the third-person singular of a verb ends in a vowel, a t is inserted to facilitate the pronunciation. This helps to make the sentence flow better.
The t is not needed in the third-person plural since the -er verb ending -ent already has one.
Negative Sentences
In French, a negative sentence has two components: ne and pas. To make a sentence negative, simply place the ne and pas around the conjugated verb.
DIALOGUE Quelle langue parlez-vous? What language do you speak?
Justin and Alice are at the Anticafé Beaubourg in the third arrondissement.
Cajun music is rooted in the songs of the Acadians who found refuge in Louisiana after being exiled from Nova Scotia and New Brunswick between 1755 and 1764. Cajun music is defined by three elements: the button accordion, the fiddle, and the French language. Cajun music and its hybrid offspring Zydeco, celebrated every year in New Orleans, attract music lovers from all over the world.
We learned quite a few expressions with avoir in Chapter 1. Avoir la pêche is another familiar expression, commonly used, that means to be in top form or to be full of energy. The origin of this expression is subject to debate. Some think it comes from China, where the peach is a symbol of immortality and good health. Who knows? The most important is to avoir la pêche! Remember, it is a familiar expression you will only use with friends.
Learning French isn’t as hard as you think! Thanks to cognates, you have already mastered thousands of French words, including la soupe, la salade, le sofa, le dictionnaire, le cinéma, and la musique. Cognates are words that are spelled similarly and have the same meaning as in English—though the prounciation is different for each word. Because many of these words are derived from Latin, they share a common linguistic history, making your life as a language learner all the easier.
EXERCISES
EXERCISE 2.1
Fill in each blank with the appropriate possessive adjective.
1. Aimez-vous (my) _______________ nouvelle veste?
2. Je connais (his) _______________ grand-mère paternelle.
3. Que pensez-vous de (our) _______________ professeur de maths?
4. (His) _______________ voiture est une Citroën C-ZERO électrique.
5. (Our) _______________ parents habitent à Carcassonne.
6. J’admire (her) _______________ tableau.
7. (Your, sing.) _______________ cousine a-t-elle des enfants?
8. Non, (my) _______________ sœur est décoratrice.
9. Quel âge a (their) _______________ fils?
10. (His) _______________ question est importante.
EXERCISE 2.2
Conjugate the following verbs in the present tense.
1. Vous (penser) _______________ à votre ami Henri.
2. Je (arriver) _______________ au restaurant.
3. Nous (donner) _______________ des chocolats à Alice.
4. Tu (entrer) _______________ dans un café.
5. Elle (chercher) _______________ un magasin.
6. Ils (porter) _______________ un costume bleu.
7. Vous (parler) _______________ français.
8. On (poser) _______________ une question.
9. Je (aimer) _______________ la glace à la framboise.
10. Il (fermer) _______________ la porte.
EXERCISE 2.3
Conjugate the following verbs in the present tense.
1. Nous (nager) _______________ dans l’océan Atlantique.
2. Nous (mélanger) _______________ les ingrédients.
3. Nous (corriger) _______________ les exercices.
4. Nous (changer) _______________ la décoration.
5. Nous (partager) _______________ les mêmes opinions.
6. Nous (ranger) _______________ la salle de classe.
7. Nous (protéger) _______________ l’environnement.
8. Nous (échanger) _______________ des idées.
9. Nous (voyager) _______________ en TGV.
10. Nous (télécharger) _______________ un film.
EXERCISE 2.4
Conjugate the following verbs in the present tense.
1. Nous (commencer) _______________ la nouvelle leçon.
2. Nous (remplacer) _______________ l’équipement.
3. Nous (financer) _______________ cette organisation.
4. Nous (effacer) _______________ les erreurs sur le tableau.
5. Nous (prononcer) _______________ le mot clairement.
6. Nous (avancer) _______________ rapidement.
7. Nous (dénoncer) _______________ l’injustice.
8. Nous (placer) _______________ le vase sur la table.
9. Nous (lancer) _______________ le ballon.
10. Nous (recommencer) _______________ le chapitre.
EXERCISE 2.5
Conjugate the following verbs in the present tense.
1. Il (enlever) _______________ sa veste en classe.
2. Je (acheter) _______________ les légumes au marché.
3. Vous (emmener) _______________ votre grand-mère en vacances.
4. Nous (lever) _______________ la main pour répondre.
5. Elles (congeler) _______________ les fruits rouges.
6. Vous (acheter) _______________ un magazine.
7. Je (emmener) _______________ mon amie Coralie au théâtre.
8. Ils (soulever) _______________ une question difficile.
9. Il (geler) _______________ en décembre.
10. Nous (enlever) _______________ les étiquettes sur les fruits.
EXERCISE 2.6
Conjugate the following verbs in the present tense.
1. Il (appeler) _______________ sa mère tous les jours.
2. Nous (appeler) _______________ les enfants pour dîner.
3. Vous (jeter) _______________ les papiers dans la corbeille.
4. Il (rejeter) _______________ notre offre.
5. Je (projeter) _______________ d’ouvrir un restaurant dans ce quartier.
6. Nous (projeter) _______________ de voyager en Australie.
7. Tu (épeler) _______________ son nom avec un ou deux « t »?
8. Nous (épeler) _______________ son nom correctement.
9. Je (jeter) _______________ mes vieilles baskets.
10. Elle (feuilleter) _______________ le magazine.
EXERCISE 2.7
Complete the following answers with the verb used in the question. Watch out for spelling changes.
1. —Gérez-vous cette entreprise vous-même? —Oui, je la _______________ moi-même.
2. —Déménagez-vous bientôt? —Oui, je _______________ bientôt.
3. —Achètes-tu les oranges au marché? —Oui, je _______________ les oranges au marché.
4. —Espérez-vous une amélioration? —Oui, je _______________ une amélioration.
5. —Commencez-vous demain? Oui, nous _______________ demain.
6. —À quelle heure appelez-vous Xavier? —Je _______________ Xavier à midi.
7. —Mangez-vous une pizza ce soir? —Oui, nous _______________ une pizza ce soir.
8. —Emmenez-vous Éric au cinéma? —Oui, je _______________ Éric au cinéma.
9. —Effacez-vous le tableau? —Oui, nous _______________ le tableau.
10. —Répétez-vous la chanson? —Oui, je _______________ la chanson.
EXERCISE 2.8
Complete the following statements with their corresponding language.
1. Micaelo habite en Argentine. Il parle _______________.
2. Kristen habite au Danemark. Elle parle _______________.
3. Aziz habite au Maroc. Il parle _______________.
4. Kofi habite au Kenya. Il parle _______________.
5. Liang habite en Chine. Il parle _______________.
6. Akiko habite au Japon. Elle parle _______________.
7. Wolfgang habite en Allemagne. Il parle _______________.
8. Mei Lin habite en Indonésie. Elle parle _______________.
9. Aylin habite en Turquie. Elle parle _______________.
10. Alberto habite en Italie. Il parle _______________.
EXERCISE 2.9
Turn the following sentences into questions using inversion.
1. Vous parlez mandarin.
2. Tu achètes les croissants chez Poilâne.
3. Elle habite dans un studio à Lille.
4. On mange dans le jardin ce soir.
5. Il pose une question en anglais.
6. Tu apportes les baguettes pour le pique-nique.
7. Elle prononce le mot correctement.
8. Elles chantent la chanson d’Angèle.
9. Ils dînent avec Agathe demain.
10. Vous commencez un nouveau projet.
EXERCISE 2.10
Turn the following sentences into questions using the est-ce que form.
1. Elle préfère jouer au golf. ______________________________
2. Vous cherchez une maison dans ce quartier. ______________________________
3. Nous invitons Julien. ______________________________
4. Tu étudies le japonais. ______________________________
5. Ils aiment étudier les langues étrangères. ______________________________
6. Nous voyageons à l’Île Maurice cet été. ______________________________
7. Tu m’appelles ce soir. ______________________________
8. Elle emmène Justin à l’opéra. ______________________________
9. Vous déménagez bientôt. ______________________________
10. Tu gardes les enfants ce week-end. ______________________________
EXERCISE 2.11
Make the following sentences negative.
1. Je chante une chanson de Renaud. ______________________________
2. Elle s’appelle Christine. ______________________________
3. Vous passez vos vacances au Danemark. ______________________________
4. Ils déménagent dimanche. ______________________________
5. Tu achètes le journal au kiosque. ______________________________
6. Nous habitons dans un appartement. ______________________________
7. Il apporte le dessert. ______________________________
8. Vous regardez le match de tennis. ______________________________
9. J’arrive en retard à la cérémonie. ______________________________
10. Nous travaillons dans le centre-ville. ______________________________
EXERCISE 2.12
Translate the following sentences using the vous form when necessary. When asking a question, use inversion.
1. Are you asking the questions in English?
2. I do not live in a studio. Alex and I share an apartment downtown.
3. We are traveling in Argentina with our friend Micaelo.
4. She is taking her friend Amélia to the theater.
5. Where do you buy the Chinese newspapers?
6. Does she like to speak French? Yes, she speaks French fluently.
7. Are you bringing dessert?
8. Babette and Clara work for an Italian company.
9. We start a new chapter.
10. We are not pronouncing this word properly!
LE COIN DES CRÉATEURS
AUJOURD’HUI AVANT LE DÎNER…
Using vocabulary from Chapters 1 and 2, make a list of ten things that you are doing, in the present tense, before dinner. For example:
J’ai le temps de visiter un musée; je contacte Luca; j’étudie le chapitre deux; …
À votre tour! Your turn!
NOTE CULTURELLE
FRENCH AND FRANCOPHONIE
“Francophone” is the term used to describe those who speak French, whether by birth or by choice, and “francophonie” the quality of speaking French. Did you know that, according to the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs, French is the fifth most spoken language in the world, after Mandarin Chinese, English, Spanish, and Arabic? In 2018, there were more than 300 million French speakers worldwide, up 9.6 percent since 2014.
Everyone has their own reasons for wanting to learn another language, but why French? Here are some reasons to consider:
French is an international language. It is the second most used language in diplomacy after English. It is one of the official languages of the United Nations and is a working language of the European Union and the African Union. Together with English, it is one of the two official languages of the Olympic Games and a number of other international sports federations.
French is a modern language. It is the fourth most used language on the internet and the fifth in terms of number of articles in Wikipedia. It is the third most used language in business, with francophone countries accounting for over 15 percent of global wealth. It is also the second language for international information in the media.
French is a living language. It is one of the rare languages taught in the education systems of almost every country. It ranks second in terms of number of learners, with more than 125 million people studying French around the world. And to teach them, there are more than 500,000 French teachers outside of France.
Why study a foreign language anyway? In the United States, we often assume that everyone speaks English. Of course that isn’t true, but are there good reasons for learning French in the United States? Definitely! According to Fabrice Jaumont, author of The Bilingual Revolution: The Future of Education Is in Two Languages, there are more than nine million Americans who claim French ancestry, so French is certainly part of the United States’ heritage. Jaumont’s revolution has provided an invaluable bilingual road map for parents and educators all over the world.
From its very foundation, the United States and France have shared strong ties. These historical bonds have proven robust over the years and continue to unite both countries as they face new global challenges.
There are, of course, more specific reasons to study French. For those interested in cooking, fashion, theater, cinema, the visual arts, dance, and architecture, knowledge of French is a must. And for some, there is simply the pleasure of learning a beautiful, rich, melodious language that is often called “the language of love.”
Looking towards the future, it is estimated that by 2050 there will be more than 700 million French speakers in the world! If so, will you be one of them?