French Lessons and Articles - 2002
Previous French lessons, quizzes, and articles, from your Guide to Learn French at About
by date | by topic
12/31/02 - Demonstrative Pronouns - Pronoms démonstratifs
Demonstrative pronouns (this one, that one, these, those) refer to a
previously-mentioned noun in a sentence. In French, they must agree with the
gender and number of the noun they modify.
12/30/02 - Physical
Descriptions
French vocabulary used to describe someone physically: height, weight,
eye color, etc.
12/27/02 - Le Passé composé
The passé composé is the most common French past tense,
often used in conjunction with the imparfait and used to express actions
completed in the past.
12/25/02 - Christmas in France
In France, Christmas is a time for family and for generosity, marked by
family reunions, gifts and candy for children, gifts for the poor, Midnight
Mass, and le Réveillon. The celebration of Christmas varies in France by region.
12/24/02 - Free
Screensavers
My Christmas present to you! Five screensavers related to Moroccan culture or
French.
12/23/02 - Twelve Days of French
Hopefully both useful and fun, "12 Days of French" is (rather
loosely) based on the
song "12 Days of Christmas" and includes practical gift suggestions
for French lovers on any gift-giving occasion: Christmas, Chanukah, birthdays....
12/19/02 - Expressions with
Raconter
The French verb raconter, to tell, is used in a number of idiomatic expressions.
Learn how to talk about telling lies, telling one's life story, talking on and
on, and more with this lesson.
12/17/02 - Demonstrative Adjectives - Adjectifs démonstratifs
Demonstrative adjectives (this, that, these, those) are words which indicate
a specific noun. In French, they must agree in gender and number with the noun
they modify (ce, cet, cette, ces). Learn about these essential adjectives and
then take the test.
12/16/02 - French Clip Art and Photographs
A dozen free images created by me, plus links to additional clip art,
photographs, and screensavers.
12/13/02 - Review: Balade en
France Audiobook
Balade en France, from the publisher of Champs-Élysées
audiomagazine, is a collection of 18 French travel articles in audiobook format. Read my review of this combination travel guide, cultural study, history book, and French language course.
12/12/02 - Imperative - l'Impératif
The imperative is a French mood which is used to give an order, express a desire,
offer advice, recommend something, and make a polite request. Learn the
conjugations and uses of the French imperative.
12/10/02 - Warm-Up Activities and
Fillers
Most language teachers find that there is a bit of dead time during class.
This may occur at the
beginning of class, as the students are arriving; at the end of class, as they
are thinking about leaving; and right in the middle of class, when transitioning from one lesson to
another. During this dead time, the best option is to spend five or ten minutes
on a short, interesting activity.
12/9/02 - Sports Quiz
How much do you know about sports in francophone countries? Find out with this
short quiz.
12/8/02 - Conditional - Le Conditionnel
The conditional is a verb mood
used for events that
are not guaranteed to occur; often they are dependent on certain conditions,
usually translated as "would" in English.
12/7/02 - Meilleur vs Mieux
Meilleur and mieux can be confusing to French students. Meilleur is the
comparative and superlative form of bon (good), while mieux is the comparative
and superlative form of bien (well). When translating into English, there is no
difference between meilleur and mieux, hence the confusion.
11/30/02 - French Prepositions ~ Les Prépositions
Prepositions are words which link two related parts of a sentence. There are
many French prepositions and it is important to recognize and know when and when
not to use them. Take a look at this list of the most common French
prepositions, with links to specific information about meaning, usage,
and more.
11/25/02 - French
Calendars and Date Books for 2003
The end of the year is nigh - time to start thinking about a
new calendar or date book. To help you out with this difficult decision, here
are my favorite "keepers of the date" in and about French and France.
:-)
11/24/02 - Family Feud
Play Family Feud in French class - it's easy to set up, a fun way to review
vocabulary and grammar in any language class, and can be adapted for all levels.
11/23/02 - French Preterite - Le Passé simple
The passé simple is the literary equivalent of the passé composé, used only in formal writing
and speech. Although you will probably never need to actually use the passé simple, it is
important and easy to recognize it. Take a look at this lesson for passé simple
conjugations of regular and irregular verbs.
11/17/02 - Books
by Peter Mayle
Anyone interested in France or French is certain to have read Peter Mayle's best-selling "A Year in Provence." Did you know that he has written about other things too? In addition to two Provence sequels, Peter Mayle has written three novels set in Provence and a couple of books on other topics. If you're looking for something funny and interesting to read, any of these books will fit the bill.
11/16/02 - French Math Vocabulary
Whether you're teaching math operations in French class, planning to study
math in a French school, or just interested in knowing French vocabulary from
a new domain, this list of French math vocabulary will help you on your way.
11/15/02 - Regular -IR Verbs
-IR verbs are the second most common category of regular French verbs. Once you've learned the rules
of conjugation for them, you'll have no problem
conjugating dozens of common verbs.
11/14/02 - Books on
Living and Working in France
If you dream of living and working in France, you have to plan ahead. Even if you're a citizen of the European Union, it's extremely unlikely that you'll be able to move to France and have everything fall into place. There are permissions to be acquired, paperwork to be filled and filed, and many important cultural differences to be aware of. These books can help you make your dream come true.
11/10/02 - French Audio
Dictionary
The French audio dictionary contains more than 2,000 alphabetical entries, each
with a French word or expression, sound file, English translation, and links to
additional or related information. (The terms have been culled from their
original homes in assorted vocabulary and pronunciation lessons across my site,
which makes this a slightly eclectic but very useful range of vocabulary.)
11/09/02 - French Present Tense - Le Présent
The French present tense, called le présent
or le présent de l'indicatif, is quite
similar in usage to the English present tense.
Learn how to use it with this lesson.
11/7/02 - National French Week
2002 marks the fourth annual National French Week in the United States.
Organized by the American Association of Teachers of French (AATF), National
French Week is a celebration of French language and francophone cultures. If you
are a French teacher, National French Week is the perfect opportunity to
organize in-class and/or extracurricular events for current or potential
students. Take a look at this page for some ideas with links to additional
information.
11/6/02 - Ramadan in Morocco
Although Muslims practice Islam in various ways every day, the holy month of
Ramadan is an especially religious time. One of the pillars of Islam is
fasting during Ramadan. During daylight hours for this entire month, Muslims
must voluntarily abstain from indulging in physical desire, which includes
eating, drinking, smoking, and having sex. Learn more about this holiest of
holy months, as celebrated in Morocco.
10/31/02 - Halloween in France
What is Halloween? Where did it come from? Why and how is it celebrated in
France? If you've ever puzzled over these questions, take a look at this article
- the answers are here!
10/26/02 - Stressed/Disjunctive
Pronouns - Pronoms disjoints
Stressed pronouns are used to emphasize a noun or pronoun that refers to a
person. There are 9 forms in French, one of which (soi) sometimes confuses
French learners. Study this lesson and then take the quiz.
10/20/02 - Future Tense - Le Futur
The future is one of the simplest French tenses. There is only one set of
endings, and most verbs - even those which are irregular in the present tense -
use their infinitive as the root for the future tense. After studying this
lesson, you will be able to talk about future events.
10/19/02 - French Baby Names
There are hundreds of common French first names. Some of them
look just like their English counterparts, others are fairly similar, and still others
may be uniquely French. These pages include more than 200 of the most popular
French names, along with their pronunciation and English equivalents.
10/13/02 -
Pronunciation Tools
Pronunciation tends to be the most difficult aspect of learning French. It takes a lot of practice to pronounce French correctly, but if you want to speak
well, good French pronunciation is essential. Nothing will kill
a conversation faster than an inability to make yourself understood. The
following resources include detailed explanations of French sounds and some audio
tools for listening and speaking practice.
10/12/02 - Expressing Opinions
If you want to have a debate in French or discuss your opinions, you need to
know the relevant vocabulary and expressions. This page offers suggestions for
offering, supporting, asking for, and avoiding opinions in French.
10/11/02 - French Relative Pronouns -
Pronoms relatifs
Just as in English, a relative pronoun links a dependent/relative clause to a main clause. Qui, que, lequel, dont, and où are the French relative pronouns. There are no standard translations for these words; depending on context, the English equivalents are who, whom, that, which, whose, where, or when. In French, relative pronouns are required, whereas in English, they are sometimes optional.
10/5/02 - Articles: Definite, Indefinite, and
Partitive
French definite, indefinite, and partitive articles are sometimes confusing
for French students, because there are several of each and they don't always
correspond to articles in other languages. Take a look at this lesson for
detailed explanations, tips, and comparisons of French definite, indefinite, and
partitive articles.
9/29/02 - Mâcher la
Moustique - French Classroom Game
Mâcher la moustique is a fun and easy game and a great way to review vocabulary or
grammar in any language class.
9/28/02 - Subjunctive - Le
Subjonctif
Students of French tend to agree that the subjunctive is the most difficult verb form.
The subjunctive mood is used to express actions which are subjective:
will/wanting, emotion, doubt, possibility, necessity, judgment, etc., and is is nearly always found
in dependent clauses introduced by que. Take a look at this lesson for
conjugations and uses of the tricky French subjunctive.
9/25/02 - Top Books on French Culture
There's more to language learning than vocabulary lists and grammar rules - culture is an essential element. Since language reflects culture and vice versa, fluency implies an understanding of both. If you don't know anything about wine, the Tour de France, or the French Revolution, your French is missing some context. Fill in the gaps with these books about the rich French culture.
9/21/02 - Proofreading and Editing Tips
Whether you're checking over homework, proofreading
a paper, or verifying a translation, there are certain key problem areas to
watch out for. This is not a definitive list by any means, but it indicates
areas of confusion and common mistakes caused by differences between French and
English and includes links to more detailed explanations and examples.
Before you turn anything in, check the following areas of your work.
9/20/02 - Regular -ER Verbs
-ER verbs are the most common category of regular French verbs. Once you've learned the rules
of conjugation for them, you'll have no problem
conjugating dozens of common verbs.
9/14/02 - Apocopes / Abbreviations
It is very common in French for long words to be abbreviated by dropping one or
more syllables at the end, and, in some instances, then adding an -o, such as
dico, ordi, and métro. There are
some apocopes which are so old that they are normal register, but most are
informal or familiar, so use them with caution.
9/13/02 - Possessive Pronouns
Possessive pronouns are the words which replace nouns modified by possessive adjectives. In French there are different forms depending on whether the noun is masculine or feminine, singular or plural.
9/7/02 - All About Vouloir
The verb vouloir has several different
meanings, depending mainly on
the tense and mood it is conjugated into. This lesson explains the various uses and meanings of this
common French verb.
9/6/02 - Y and En
The adverbial pronouns y and en
are so tiny that one might think their role in a sentence is not very important, but in
fact quite the opposite is true. They are both extremely important in French.
8/31/02 - Expressions with Claquer
The verb claquer literally means to slap or to bang. It is also used in a number of idiomatic expressions, including snapping one's heels or fingers, slamming the door, pulling a muscle, and more.
8/30/02 - Possessive Adjectives
Possessive adjectives are the words used in place of articles to indicate to whom or to what something belongs. Their usage is similar to English, but there are some differences in form.
8/24/02 - French in English
The English language has been shaped by a number of other languages over the centuries, and most English speakers know that Latin and German were two of the most important. What a lot of people don't realize is how much the French language has influenced English. Learn about how French has affected English vocabulary, pronunciation, and grammar.
8/23/02 - Auxiliary Verbs
An auxiliary verb is a conjugated verb used in front of another verb in compound tenses in order to help form the mood and tense of the verb. French verbs are classified by which auxiliary verb they take. Most French verbs use avoir, so you need to memorize this list of verbs that require être.
8/17/02 - Back to School - French Class
The new school year is just around the corner - time to start dusting off last year's French notes and figuring out whatever happened to that beat-up old dictionary. To help you get back into the French mood - pun intended - here are some links to general information about French, lessons, online resources, and recommended tools and supplies. Whether it's time to start thinking about a formal evaluation of your French level, figuring out what kind of job you can use your French in, or upgrading to a bigger dictionary, this page has everything you need to get back into French.
8/10/02 - French Vocabulary in English
Over the years, the English language has borrowed a great number of words and
expressions from French. Some of this vocabulary has been so completely absorbed
by English that speakers might not realize its origins. Other words and
expressions have retained their "Frenchness" - a certain je ne sais
quoi which speakers tend to be much more aware of. Here, then, is a list
of French terms commonly used in English.
8/9/02 - Qui vs Que
Qui and Que are small but infinitely important words in French. In this
newly-updated lesson, learn how to use them as interrogative pronouns.
8/3/02 - True Cognates
At long last - a list of true French/English cognates. The 1,700 words on these
pages are spelled (although not pronounced) identically in French and English
and are true or semi-true cognates. Take a look at this list to discover just
how much vocabulary is shared between French and English.
8/2/02 - Negative Adverbs
Making sentences negative in French is a bit different than in English, due to the two-part negative
adverb and the sometimes difficult issue of placement. Normally, ne...pas is the first negative
adverb that we learn. But there are actually many negative adverbs used just
like it, so once you understand ne...pas, you can make just about any sentence negative.
7/27/02 - Partir, S'en aller, Sortir, Quitter,
Laisser
There are five French verbs that mean to leave: partir, s'en aller, sortir, quitter, and
laisser.
These all have different meanings, so how can you know which one to use?
Study this lesson to find out.
7/26/02 - Top Fiction Set in France
I find that books about France, whether fiction or non-fiction, pique my appetite for travel more than anything else. I love writers who weave culture and language into their stories and memories. Of course, the best books are probably those written in French, but since not everyone reads well enough to survive [i]Germinal[/i], here's a list of my favorite English-language novels set in France.
7/20/02 - Largonji / Loucherbem / Louchébème
- French Slang
Largonji, also called loucherbem or louchébème, is a
form of French slang that consists of playing around with syllables, much like pig Latin. It is a secret language that was invented by the
butchers of la Villette in Paris.
7/19/02 - Position of French Adjectives
The use of French adjectives can be difficult, because they may be placed
before or after the noun, depending on their type and meaning. Study this
updated lesson and then take the quiz.
7/14/02 - Bastille Day - French National
Holiday
The French national holiday commemorates the storming of the Bastille, which
took place on 14 July 1789 and marked the beginning of the French Revolution. Do
you know what this event represents? When the French observe this holiday in
mid-July, what ideals are they celebrating? Learn all about Bastille and listen
to the Marseillaise in this article.
7/13/02 - Expressions with Sonner
The verb sonner literally means to ring and is used in a
number of idiomatic expressions which must be memorized. Learn how to talk about
ringing bells, ringing ears, ringing hollow, and more with this lesson.
7/6/02 - Le Passé
One of the most striking differences between French and English is in verb tenses.
Learning how to use the various past tenses can be very tricky, because English has several tenses which either do not exist
in or do not
translate literally into French - and vice versa.
6/28/02 - Dessus and Dessous
The adverbs dessus and dessous are used alone as well as in a number of
adverbial phrases, such as au-dessus/dessous, là-dessus/dessous,
par-dessus/dessous, and more. Despite their similar spelling, dessus and dessous
are exact opposites.
6/21/02 - Expressions with Rouler
Rouler literally means to roll, to wheel along, or to con, and is also used in a number of idiomatic expressions.
Learn how to talk about rolling on the ground laughing, rolling out dough, getting swindled, going 80 km per hour,
and more useful expressions with this lesson.
6/14/02 - Accord - French Agreement
Agreement is arguably one of the most difficult aspects of the French language. This summary of the different
types of agreement
includes links to detailed lessons on each grammatical point.
6/7/02 - L'On or On?
On is the French impersonal subject pronoun, and normally shouldn't be preceded by l'
- neither the direct object nor the
definite article. However, if you've been studying French for a while,
particularly written French, you've probably seen l'on where you expected to find
on and wondered what that l' was doing there. Here's everything
you need to know.
6/4/02 - Living + Working in
France
Many people dream of living and possibly working in
France, but not many succeed in actually doing it. Just what is it that makes it
so difficult to live and work in France?
5/31/02 - Expressions with
Demander
The verb demander literally means to ask and is used in a
number of idiomatic expressions which must be memorized. Learn how to ask for
assistance, to ask for a favor, to ask to speak to someone, and more with this
lesson.
5/28/02 - Money + Banking Vocabulary
A basic introduction to French vocabulary related to money and banking, with
links to more detailed sources.
5/24/02 - Comparatives and Superlatives
This lesson has been around for a long time, but I've just made it better, with clearer explanations, more
detailed descriptions, and additional examples. I now consider it one of the
best explanations of French comparatives and superlatives that exist. :-)
5/17/02 - Verlan - French Slang
Verlan is a form of French slang that consists of playing
around with syllables, kind of along the same lines as pig Latin. Verlan is actively spoken in France - many words have
become so commonplace that they are used in everyday French.
5/14/02 - Agreement with
French Compound Verbs
A detailed lesson on agreement with the passé composé (for both être and
avoir verbs), pronominal verbs, and the newly-added passive voice.
5/10/02 - Invitations
There are a number of different ways to extend, accept, and refuse
invitations in French, both formally and informally.
5/6/02 - Le Pen Is Out of Ink
After an exciting two weeks in France, starting with the shocking first-round
election results and followed by mass demonstrations,
Jacques Chirac soundly defeated Jean-Marie Le Pen in yesterday's second round of
presidential elections.
5/3/02 - Fickle French Adjectives
There are a number of French adjectives which have different meanings depending on where
they are placed. Generally speaking, when the adjective precedes the noun, it
has a figurative or subjective meaning, whereas the adjective which follows the
noun has a literal or objective meaning.
5/1/02 - The Crook or the Fascist - Chirac vs Le Pen
In reaction to Jean-Marie Le Pen's shocking victory on
21 April, more than one million people across France spent May Day on the streets.
4/30/02 - Languages and Nationalities
As much as I would like to list every language and nationality in the world,
it's simply not possible, so here are some you should definitely recognize.
Lesson includes sound files.
4/23/02 - Le Pen for Le Président?
Le Pen = La Peine: A political earthquake rocks France as
racist Front National head Jean-Marie Le Pen wins the first round of the
presidential elections, beating out Lionel Jospin and his Parti socialiste. The
French have been quick to express their unhappiness.
4/19/02 - Expressions with Casser / Se Casser
The French verbs casser and se casser literally mean to break, and are also used in a number of idiomatic expressions. Learn how to talk about
breaking someone, boring someone stiff, warning someone, making an omelette by
breaking eggs, and more.
4/16/02 -French
Acronyms and Abbreviations
BCBG, Sida, X... Feel like you're lost in alphabet soup? Acronyms abound in the
French language, especially in news and politics.
You might not be able to learn every French acronym and abbreviation, but you
can get a good head start by memorizing this list
of the most common ones. I've just added another couple dozen, so check out this
page!
4/12/02 - DELF / DALF - French
Proficiency Test
DELF / DALF is the official French proficiency test offered by the French Ministry of Education. In addition to
allowing you to opt out of a French university's language entrance exam, it looks good on your
CV. If you are interested in obtaining an official document proclaiming your French language skills, read this article about the test(s) you'll need to pass.
4/9/02 - Only / Not Only -
Ne... que, Seulement, and their negatives
There are two common French equivalents for the restrictive only in English: ne... que and
seulement. These two terms mean essentially the same
thing, but their negative forms are a bit more complicated.
4/5/02 - Quantities, Weights, + Measures in French
Learn how to talk about quantities so that you can go shopping
and follow recipes in French.
4/2/02 - What is French? Facts and
Figures about the French Language
How many French speakers are there? Where is French spoken? In which
international organizations is French an official language? Read this introduction to some facts and figures about the
French language.
3/29/02 - Expressions with Coup
The French noun un coup literally refers to a shock or blow. It is also used in
dozens of idiomatic expressions, noun clauses, and prepositional phrases.
3/26/02 - All About Pouvoir
The verb pouvoir has a number of different
meanings, depending mainly on
the tense and mood it is conjugated into. This lesson explains the various uses and meanings of this
common French verb.
3/22/02 - Top French-Language Romantic Movies
Well, they say French is the
language of love, so what better language to watch romantic movies in? Here are
some that I've loved and I think you and your significant other will too.
3/15/02 - Expressions with Payer
The French verb payer literally means to pay (for). It is also used in a number of idiomatic expressions. Learn how to pay in kind, pay for the damages, pay out of one's own
pocket, and more.
3/12/02 - Women in Morocco
The situation of women in Morocco is somewhere between
that of women in the West and those in conservative
Islamic countries like Saudi Arabia. Read my observations of Moroccan women and their place in society.
3/8/02 - Agreement with French Compound Verbs
If you've already studied le passé composé,
you know that certain French verbs have to agree with their subjects. In addition, you may know that
this is true for all compound verb tenses and moods. What you may not be aware of is that some verbs
require agreement not with the subject of the sentence, but with the direct
object. This issue of agreement can be rather tricky; this lesson is a thorough but
(hopefully) accessible explanation.
3/4/02 - National Foreign Language Week
It's National Foreign Language Week! Don't keep putting off your dreams of
learning a new language; this is your chance to get
started with free lessons online at About.com. There are also articles on
everything from setting up a bilingual home to
figuring out if you are fluent.
3/1/02 - Baby Talk
French has quite a bit of "baby talk" or "kiddie speak" -
words and expressions which are usually used by children or when talking to
children. Even if you don't talk to kids in French, this informal language is
important to recognize, as baby talk can also be found in jokes and in
conversations with good friends. Lesson includes sound files.
2/26/02 - Expressions with Chercher
The French verb chercher literally means to look for or to
search for. It is also used in a number of idiomatic expressions which must be
memorized. Learn how to look for a fight, look everywhere for something, look
for words, and more.
2/19/02 - Books on French Slang and
Colloquial French
The French you learn in the
classroom is not the same as what you'll hear on the street or in the
news. While
it is essential to master correct, formal French, it is
equally important to be able to understand and use slang and colloquial
expressions before you can
call yourself fluent. These resources teach you what very few teachers ever
dared: real French, as spoken between friends and enemies.
2/15/02 - Verb
Encyclopedia - New and Improved!
I've just done a major rehaul of my verb encyclopedia. It now includes more than
80 verbs conjugated into all of the simple tenses
as well as hundreds of similarly-conjugated verbs. Simply click on a verb for conjugations, special features, verb lessons, common
idiomatic expressions, and more.
2/8/02 - To Take
The English verb to take has several French equivalents. Learn the difference between prendre,
amener, and all the rest.
2/1/02 - Expressing Gratitude
There are many different ways to express gratitude in French, from a simple thank
you to ultra-polite expressions of appreciation. There's
also a common dilemma about whether to use de or pour when
thanking someone for something. Take a look at this lesson to
learn the formulas.
1/29/02 - French Audio Resources
You can learn a lot of French grammar using the internet and books,
but if you want to be able to understand others and make yourself understood, you need to work on your listening
and speaking skills. These French audio resources can help.
1/25/02 - Capitalization of French Titles
The rules for the capitalization of French titles are
quite complicated; so complicated, in fact, that I have been
unable to find a definitive system. This lesson looks at the three different
schools of thought.
1/18/02 - Noms avec deux genres
- Nouns with Two Genders
The gender of nouns tends to be a sticky grammar point for French students, and there are a number of French nouns which are identical in
pronunciation (and often spelling as well) but which have different meanings
depending on whether they are masculine or feminine.
1/11/02 - Ce, Ceci, Cela, Ça - Indefinite Demonstrative Pronouns
Indefinite (aka neuter or invariable) demonstrative
pronouns do not have a specific antecedent and thus do not have different
forms for gender and number.
1/4/02 - Expressions with Perdre
The verb perdre literally means "to lose."
It is also used in a number of idiomatic expressions which must be memorized.
Learn how to talk about losing consciousness, losing interest, losing one's
mind, and much more.
1/1/02 - Top French-Language Comedy Movies
I love movies, especially comedies, but I personally don't
think that there are many funny French movies. My sense of humor just doesn't
seem to "get" most French film. However, I gave this some serious
thought recently and was able to come up with a number of great French comedies.
