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© Boardworks Ltd 2005 1 of 67 Commands Talking about the future Reflexive verbs in the perfect tense En + present participle The imperfect tense Using the perfect and imperfect tenses together Time expressions The comparative and the superlative Qui and que The conditional tense Grammar: Menu

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Page 1: © Boardworks Ltd 2005 1 of 67 Commands Talking about the future Reflexive verbs in the perfect tense En + present participle The imperfect tense Using

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CommandsTalking about the futureReflexive verbs in the perfect tenseEn + present participleThe imperfect tenseUsing the perfect and imperfect tenses togetherTime expressionsThe comparative and the superlativeQui and queThe conditional tense

Grammar: Menu

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This presentation contains teacher’s notes below some of the slides.

To access these notes go to ‘Notes Page View’ (PowerPoint 97) or ‘Normal View’ (PowerPoint 2000) .

Normal View

Notes Page View

Teacher’s notes

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Grammar: Commands 1

Infinitive present tense tu form command

regarder - to look tu regardes - you look regarde! - look!

écouter - to listen tu écoutes - you listen écoute! -listen!

répéter - to repeat tu répètes - you repeat répète! - repeat!

fermer - to close tu fermes - you close ferme! - close!

If you need to tell someone what to do in French, then it is important that you use the correct part of the verb.

If you want to give instructions to a friend, someone your age, or to a member of your family, then it is best to use the tu form of the verb.

If the infinitive of the verb you wish to use ends in -er, then you will need to drop the -s from the end of the normal tu form.

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If the infinitive of the verb you wish to use ends in -ir or -re, then the command form is identical to the usual tu form.

Infinitive present tense tu form command

finir - to finish tu finis - you look finis! - finish!

attendre - to wait tu attends - you wait attends! - wait!

Grammar: Commands 2

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regardez! - look! fermez! - close! finissez! - finish!

écoutez! - listen! ouvrez! - open! attendez! - wait!

répétez! - repeat

This is the probably the form you will hear your teacher use when he or she addresses the class as a whole:Asseyez-vous! - Sit down!

If you want to tell someone older than you or a group of people to do something, then simply use the vous form of the verb.

If you ever see a French football match, listen out for this form of the verb. Supporters often shout “Allez!” to encourage their team. If you were supporting the French national side, you might shout “Allez, les bleus! Why do you think this is?

Grammar: Commands 3

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Telling someone not to do something is easy too - just put the ne and pas around the command word. If the verb starts with a vowel or a silent ‘h’, then ne changes to n’.

Ne triche pas!

Don’t cheat!

Ne parlez pas!

Don’t speak!

N’écoute pas!

Don’t listen!

Grammar: Commands 4

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There are a few verbs which don’t follow the usual pattern, though you probably won’t meet them in this form very often. Two of these are avoir and être:

tu nous vous

avoir aie ayons ayez have

être sois soyons soyez beWhat do the following expressions mean?

Sois gentil!

Soyez sages!

N’aie pas peur!

Ne sois pas en retard!

Grammar: Commands 5

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Although it is not really a command, when you say to a group of people “let’s go!” or “let’s eat!” this works in the same way in French, only you use the nous part of the verb instead:

Allons au ciné! Let’s go to the cinema!Mangeons au restaurant! Let’s eat in a restaurant!Sortons! Let’s go out!

Menu

Grammar: Commands 6

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You have already met two ways to talk about the future – using the present tense, and aller + infinitive. The third way to talk about the future is to use the FUTURE TENSE.

This is easy to form:

1 Take the infinitive jouer.

2 Add the future endings.

Ils / elles joueront

Vous jouerez

Nous jouerons

Il / elle jouera

Tu joueras

Je jouerai I will play

You will play

He / she will play

We will play

You will play

They will play

You may notice that some of the future tense endings are identical to the present tense of the verb avoir. Use this to help you remember them!

Grammar: Talking about the future 1

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If the infinitive ends in -re, drop the final -e before addingthe future endings!

prendre - to takeje prendrai - I will takeattendre - to waitnous attendrons - we will wait

Note also that the verbs acheter has an extra grave accent in the future tense:

j’achèterai - I will buy

Grammar: Talking about the future 2

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Je mangerai du pain.Tu attendras le train. Il parlera au prof après le cours.Elle s’amusera avec ses copines.On boira un jus de fruit.Nous téléphonerons à nos parents.Vous rencontrera la fille de tes rêves!Ils écriront une lettre ce soir.Elles rentreront avant nous.Paul passera les vacances chez sa tante.Mes amies ne sortiront pas demain.Anne et moi regarderons la télé ensemble.Les garçons joueront aux boules.

Regular verbs in the future tense - watch and then fill the gaps!

mangerattendreparlers’amuserboiretéléphonerrencontrerécrirerentrerpassersortirregarderjouer

mangeraiattendras

parleras’amuseraboira

téléphoneronsrencontrera

écrirontrentrerontpassera

sortirontregarderonsjoueront

Grammar: Talking about the future 3

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Unfortunately, not all verbs follow this simple pattern. Some verbs have an irregular stem, but the future tense endings are the same:

aller - to go

j’iraitu irasil / elle / on iranous ironsvous irezils / elles iront

These irregular stems simply need to be learnt by heart!

Grammar: Talking about the future 4

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Here are some common verbs which have an irregular stem in the future tense:aller - to go j’irai - I will goavoir - to have j’aurai - I will havecourir - to run je courrai - I will rundevoir - to have to je devrai - I will have toenvoyer - to send j’enverrai - I will sendêtre - to be je serai - I will befaire - to make / do je ferai - I will make / domourir - to die je mourrai - I will diepouvoir - to be able to je pourrai - I will be able torecevoir - to receive je recevrai - I will receivesavoir - to know (how to) je saurai - I will knowvenir - to come je viendrai - I will comevoir - to see je verrai - I will seevouloir - to want to je voudrai - I will want to

Grammar: Talking about the future 5

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Practise your irregular verbs!

Je (être)Tu (aller)Il (avoir)Elle (mourir)On (venir)Nous (courir)Vous (pouvoir)Ils (devoir)Elles (vouloir)Pauline (voir)Richard et moi (faire)Les enfants (envoyer)

seraiiras

auramourra

viendracourrons

pourrezdevront

voudrontverra

feronsenverront

Grammar: Talking about the future 6

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Read the text and then fill the gaps.

Quand j’ aurai seize ans je quitterai l’école. Je ferai un stage d’informatique et je trouverai un poste de programmeur dans une entreprise. Je m’entendrai bien avec tous mes collègues et nous pourrons sortir ensemble tous les soirs. Je devrai travailler dur mais je gagnerai beaucoup d’argent et je serai très riche. Je passerai tous les hivers en Espagne et j’ irai souvent à New York pour faire les magasins. J’ aurai une grande maison très belle et je serai très content!

avoir

quitter

faire

trouver

s’entendre

pouvoir

devoir

gagner

être

passer

aller

avoir

être

aurai quitterai feraitrouverai

m’entendraipourrons

devrai gagneraiserai passerai

iraiaurai

serai

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Grammar: Talking about the future 7

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In the perfect tense, all reflexive verbs take être as their auxiliary verb.

Example:

Je me couche (present)

Je me suis couché(e) (perfect)

This means that the past participle must agree with the subject of the verb.

Il s’est couchéElle s’est couchéeNous nous sommes couchésElles se sont couchées

Grammar: Reflexive verbs in the perfect tense 1

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Here, then, is the verb se coucher written out in full in the perfect tense.As you can see, the reflexive pronoun goes before the auxiliary verb:

Je me suis couché(e)Tu t’es couché(e)Il s’est couchéElle s’est couchéeNous nous sommes couché(e)sVous vous êtes couché(e)(s)Ils se sont couchésElles se sont couchées

Can you write out se réveiller and se laver in the same way?

Grammar: Reflexive verbs in the perfect tense 2

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As you have already seen, reflexive verbs are sometimes used with parts of the body:

se laver les mains - Je me suis lavé les mains.se brosser les dents - Elle s’est brossé les dents.se faire mal au genou - Vous vous êtes fait mal au genou?se casser le bras - Elle s’est cassé le bras.se couper le doigt - Tu t’es coupé le doigt.se faire une entorse du poignet - Il s’est fait une entorse du poignet.

From the examples above, you will notice that as soon as you mention a part of the body with a reflexive verb in the perfect tense, the past participle no longer has to agree with the subject. (This is because the reflexive pronoun now acts as the indirect object, rather than the direct object).

Grammar: Reflexive verbs in the perfect tense 3

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Using the expressions from the box below, work out how you would say the following. Don’t forget that with parts of the body, the past participle does not agree with the subject.1 I have brushed my teeth.2 They have washed their hair.3 You have broken your wrist.4 She has cut her finger.5 He has hurt his arm.6 I have washed my hands.7 You have burnt your hand.8 She has broken her leg.

se faire mal aux dents

se couper le doigt

se laver les mains

se casser le poignet

se brûler la main

se laver la tête

se brosser les dents

se casser la jambe

Je me suis brossé les dents.Ils se sont lavé la tête.

Tu t’es cassé le poignet.Elle s’est coupé le doigt.

Il s’est fait mal au bras.Je me suis lavé les mains.

Tu t’es brûlé la main.Elle s’est cassé la jambe.

Menu

Grammar: Reflexive verbs in the perfect tense 4

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En + the present participle is used most often to say“whilst ...ing”:

Il s’est coupé le doigt en faisant la cuisine.He cut his hand whilst cooking.

Elle s’est fait mal au poignet en jouant au tennis.She hurt her wrist whilst playing tennis.

In English, we do not always have to use the word whilst:

Il s’est fait mal à la main en jouant au basket.He hurt his hand playing basketball.

Grammar: En + the present participle 1

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The present participle itself is easy to form:

1 Take the nous form of the present tense.

2 Take away the nous and the -ons ending.

3 Add the letters -ant.

Example:1 nous jouons nous mangeons nous finissons2 jou- mange- finiss-3 jouant mangeant finissant

Grammar: En + the present participle 2

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Only a few verbs have an irregular present participle:

1 être - to be en étant - (whilst) being

2 avoir - to haveen ayant - (whilst) having

3 savoir - to knowen sachant - (whilst) knowing

Luckily, you will probably not need to use these often!

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Grammar: En + the present participle 3

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The imperfect tense is used to talk about the past. Whereas the perfect tense describes a single completed action in the past, the imperfect tense...

• describes something that happened frequently or regularly in the past

• is used for descriptions in the past, such as describing what the weather was like or giving your opinion of something you did

• tells us what something used to be like

• describes something that went on for a long period of time

• is used to translate was…ing and were…ing.

Grammar: The imperfect tense 1

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Describing something that happened frequently or regularly in the past

Eg

Quand j’avais 10 ans, je faisais de la natation deux fois par semaine.

When I was 10 years old, I went swimming twice a week.

Grammar: The imperfect tense 2

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General descriptions in the past.Eg La maison était énorme.The house was enormous.

Describing what the weather was like.Eg Hier, il faisait du soleil.Yesterday it was sunny.

Giving your opinion of something you did.Eg J’ai mangé du poulet - c’était délicieux.I ate some chicken – it was delicious.

Grammar: The imperfect tense 3

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Saying what something used to be like.

EgQuand j’étais petite, je mangeais beaucoup de bonbons.

When I was small, I used to eat lots of sweets.

Grammar: The imperfect tense 4

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Describing something that went on for a long period of time.

EgQuand j’étais petite, j’habitais à la campagne et nous avions deux chats.

When I was small, I lived in the country and we had two cats.

Grammar: The imperfect tense 5

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Was…ing and were…ing

If you want to translate was or were doing something, you must use the imperfect tense.

EgJe faisais mes devoirs quand ma mère est rentrée à la maison.I was doing my homework when my mother came home.

Nous jouions au foot quand il a commencé à pleuvoir.We were playing football when it started to rain.

Grammar: The imperfect tense 6

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Meaning of the imperfect tense.

The meaning of the imperfect tense therefore changes depending on the context.

Egj’allais could mean…

I wentI used to goI was going

Grammar: The imperfect tense 7

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Formation of the imperfect tense

1 Take the nous part of the present tensenous jouons

2 Take away the nous and the -ons endingjou

3 Add the following endings:

je jouaistu jouaisil / elle / on jouaitnous jouionsvous jouiezils / elles jouaient

Grammar: The imperfect tense 8

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This method also works for verbs which are irregular in the present tense

Eg avoir - to havePresent tense nous part = nous avonstherefore the imperfect tense is as follows:j’ avaistu avaisil / elle / on avaitnous avionsvous aviezils / elles avaient

Grammar: The imperfect tense 9

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The only verb which does not follow this pattern is être, which has an irregular stem.Present tense nous part = nous sommes but the imperfect tense is as follows:j’ étaistu étaisil / elle / on étaitnous étionsvous étiezils / elles étaient

The endings are the same as with all other verbs in the imperfect tense, however.

Grammar: The imperfect tense 10

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You must take care over verbs which take an extra -e in the nous part of the present tense, and in some parts of the imperfect tense in order to make the g sound soft.

Eg manger - to eat.Present tense nous part = nous mangeons therefore the imperfect tense is as follows:je mangeaistu mangeaisil / elle / on mangeaitnous mangions (no extra -e needed)vous mangiez (no extra -e needed) ils / elles mangeaient

Grammar: The imperfect tense 11

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Similarly, with verbs like commencer, a -ç is needed rather than a c to make the sound soft in some parts of the imperfect tense.

Egpresent tense nous part = nous commençons therefore the imperfect tense is as follows:je commençaistu commençaisil / elle / on commençaitnous commencions (no -ç needed)vous commenciez (no -ç needed) ils / elles commençaient

Grammar: The imperfect tense 12

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What would the following infinitives change to in the imperfect tense? Remember to find out the nous form of the present tense in order to have the correct stem.1 J’ (aller) souvent en ville.2 Tu n’ (arriver) jamais à l’heure.3 Il (écrire) une lettre chaque jour.4 Elle (finir) son déjeuner quand il est arrivé.5 On (attendre) toujours la fin avec impatience.6 Nous (manger) des frites une fois par semaine.7 Vous (parler) quand le téléphone a sonné.8 Ils (tomber) tout le temps.9 Elles (choisir) rarement le même livre.10 Je (lire) mon livre à ce moment-là.11 Tu (être) plus jolie que moi.12 Il (commencer) à neiger quand ils sont partis.13 Nous (s’entendre) bien à cette époque.14 Vous (aimer) les bonbons et le chocolat.

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Grammar: The imperfect tense 13

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J’espère que tu vas bien. Moi, je viens de passer une semaine à la campagne, près de Carcassonne. J’y suis allé avec Michel et Manu et nous avons fait du camping. Le terrain de camping était assez petit et notre emplacement était un peu trop loin des blocs sanitaires. Il n’y avait pas de piscine mais on pouvait nager dans la rivière à côté. On a loué des vélos pour pouvoir visiter un peu la région, qui était très belle. Il faisait beau toute la semaine.

Lundi, nous sommes allés à Carcassonne. C’est une ville magnifique et nous avons déjeuné dans une petite crêperie très sympa. Tous les soirs on cuisinait sur le camping-gaz ou mangeait dans le café-bar du camping. Je suis rentré hier, mais je repars demain - je vais en Grèce avec mes parents.

Read Paul’s letter

J’espère que tu vas bien. Moi, je viens de passer une semaine à la campagne, près de Carcassonne. J’y suis allé avec Michel et Manu et nous avons fait du camping. Le terrain de camping était assez petit et notre emplacement était un peu trop loin des blocs sanitaires. Il n’y avait pas de piscine mais on pouvait nager dans la rivière à côté. On a loué des vélos pour pouvoir visiter un peu la région, qui était très belle. Il faisait beau toute la semaine.

Lundi, nous sommes allés à Carcassonne. C’est une ville magnifique et nous avons déjeuné dans une petite crêperie très sympa. Tous les soirs on cuisinait sur le camping-gaz ou mangeait dans le café-bar du camping. Je suis rentré hier, mais je repars demain - je vais en Grèce avec mes parents.

J’espère que tu vas bien. Moi, je viens de passer une semaine à la campagne, près de Carcassonne. J’y suis allé avec Michel et Manu et nous avons fait du camping. Le terrain de camping était assez petit et notre emplacement était un peu trop loin des blocs sanitaires. Il n’y avait pas de piscine mais on pouvait nager dans la rivière à côté. On a loué des vélos pour pouvoir visiter un peu la région, qui était très belle. Il faisait beau toute la semaine.

Lundi, nous sommes allés à Carcassonne. C’est une ville magnifique et nous avons déjeuné dans une petite crêperie très sympa. Tous les soirs on cuisinait sur le camping-gaz ou mangeait dans le café-bar du camping. Je suis rentré hier, mais je repars demain - je vais en Grèce avec mes parents.

Grammar: The perfect & imperfect tenses together 1

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The perfect and imperfect tenses are often used together.

The PERFECT tense is used for completed actions in the past.

Eg

Paul and his friends ate in the crêperie on one particular day of their holiday - now both the meal and the holiday are over.

The IMPERFECT tense is, as you have already learnt, used for descriptions in the past, weather, regular and repeated actions, was -ing and were -ing and for giving opinions.

Eg

Nous avons déjeuné dans une petite crêperie.

Le terrain de camping était assez petit.

Il faisait beau toute la semaine.

Tous les soirs on cuisinait sur le camping-gaz.

La région était très belle.

Grammar: The perfect & imperfect tenses together 2

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In the following sentences, use the context to decide whether the perfect or imperfect verb is needed:

1 J’ / Je _____ au football tous les jours.

2 Ma mère _____ en France l’année dernière.

3 Joseph et Paul _____ régulièrement à l’église.

4 Hier, nous _____ du poulet au déjeuner.

5 Autrefois, on _____ toujours une semaine à la campagne en été.

6 Quand j’étais petit, nous _____ en France.

7 La semaine dernière je / j’ _____ de la natation.

8 Mes vacances _____ formidables!

ai joué / jouais

est allée / allait

sont allés / allaient

avons mangé / mangions

a passé / passait

avons habité / habitions

ai fait / faisais

ont été / étaient

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Grammar: The perfect & imperfect tenses together 3

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Saying how often you do something

Listen to the text about household tasks and put the following time expressions into the order in which you hear them:

tous les jours

souvent parfois

le samedi matin

une fois par mois

rarement

pas très souvent

Grammar: Time expressions 1

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Saying how often you do something

Put the following expressions into order, starting with the most frequent (deux fois par jour) and finishing with the least frequent (jamais)

tous les jours

une fois par semaine

une fois par mois

jamais

deux fois par an

toutes les deux semainesdeux fois par jourchaque février

trois fois par mois

Grammar: Time expressions 2

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Using time expressions with tenses

When you are writing an essay in French, it is always a good idea to use time expressions to make it clear to the reader when exactly you did, do or plan to do something. Read the following list of expressions and their meanings.

à présent - at present

aujourd’hui - today

en ce moment - at the moment

Which tense do you think you would use with these expressions?

Grammar: Time expressions 3

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Using time expressions with tenses

Here is another list of time expressions:

hier - yesterday

hier soir - yesterday evening / last night

la semaine dernière - last week

samedi dernier - last Saturday

juillet dernier - last July

il y a cinq jours - five days ago

avant-hier - the day before yesterday

l’année dernière - last year

autrefois - in the past

Which tense or tenses do you think you would use with these expressions?

Grammar: Time expressions 4

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Using time expressions with tenses

Here is another list of time expressions:

Which tense do you think you would use with these expressions?

ce soir - this evening

demain - tomorrow

après-demain - the day after tomorrow

dans une semaine - in a week

dans un mois - in a month

cet hiver - this winter

l’année prochaine - next year

dans dix ans - in ten years

dans l’avenir - in the future

Grammar: Time expressions 5

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Using time expressions with tenses

Complete the following sentences with a suitable time expression - remember to look carefully at what tense is being used:

1 Je suis en France.

2 Je suis allée en France.

3 J’irai en france.

4 Je vais voir mes amis.

5 Tu fais tes devoirs.

6 Il va écrire une lettre.

7 Le professeur est arrivé.

8 Je serai médecin.

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Grammar: Time expressions 6

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When you compare two or more things, you will probably need to use the words plus and moins.

Plus means “more” and you can use it to say that something is more important, bigger, smaller, more interesting etc.

Le train est plus cher que le bus.

The train is more expensive than the bus.

La moto est plus rapide que le bus.

The motorbike is faster (literally “more fast”) than the bus.

Grammar: The comparative & the superlative 1

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Moins works in the same way, but means the opposite. It is used to say that something is less big, fast, expensive than something else.

Le train est moins cher que le bus.

The train is less expensive than the bus.

La moto est moins rapide que le bus.

The motorbike is slower (literally “less fast”) than the bus.

With both plus and moins, it is important that you remember to make the adjective agree with what is being described:

La voiture est plus polluante que le vélo.

Grammar: The comparative & the superlative 2

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There are some irregular forms to remember, however.

If you want to say that something is better or worse than something else, you need to use the following expressions:

Mon vélo est meilleur que sa moto.

My bike is better than his motorbike.

Ma voiture est pire que la voiture de ma mère.

My car is worse than my mother’s car.

Grammar: The comparative & the superlative 3

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Both plus and moins can be used with adverbs as well as adjectives, to say that someone is doing something more quickly, less slowly etc than someone else:

Il roule plus lentement que toi.

He drives more slowly than you.

Je suis arrivé moins vite que mon frère.

I arrived less quickly than my brother.

Grammar: The comparative & the superlative 4

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But it is important to remember that in this case there are also some irregular forms:

Je conduis mieux que toi.

I drive better than you. (no plus or moins!)

Je conduis pire que toi.

I drive worse than you. (no plus or moins!)

Grammar: The comparative & the superlative 5

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The superlative is used to say that something is the biggest, the best, the most interesting, the least exciting etc.

Look at the following sentences:

Le TGV est le train français le plus rapide.

The TGV is the fastest French train.

Ma sœur est la sœur la moins intelligente du monde.

My sister is the least intelligent sister in the world.

Grammar: The comparative & the superlative 6

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You can see from these examples that to form the superlative, you use:

le / la + plus / moins + correct form of the adjective:

la plus belle voiture – the most beautiful car

le garçon le plus intelligent – the cleverest boy

You may also notice from the above examples that if an adjective usually goes before the noun (beau / belle), then the superlative will also go before the noun (la plus belle voiture). If an adjective usually goes after the noun (agréable) then the superlative will also go after the noun (le garçon le plus intelligent).

Grammar: The comparative & the superlative 7

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As with the comparative, the superlative also has its irregularities:

Le meilleur vélo La meilleure moto

The best bike The best motorbike

Le pire train La pire voiture

The worst train The worst car

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Grammar: The comparative & the superlative 8

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Qui and que are both used to join up sentences:

J’ai acheté un livre. J’aime beaucoup le livre.I bought a book. I really like the book.

Jai acheté un livre que j’aime beaucoup.I bought a book which I really like.

J’ai rencontré une fille. La fille a les cheveux blonds.I met a girl. The girl has blond hair.

J’ai rencontré une fille qui a les cheveux blonds.I met a girl who has blond hair.

Joining two sentences together in this way saves you having to repeat yourself and makes your French sound more natural. Qui and que are called relative pronouns because they relate things together.

Grammar: Qui and que 1

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Both qui and que can mean almost the same thing:

Que = whom, which, thatQui = who, which, that

Que is shortened to qu’ before a vowel:Le sac qu’il a acheté est bleu.

Qui is never shortened.

Grammar: Qui and que 2

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How do I decide which to use, qui or que?

Use qui if you are replacing the subject of the verb:

J’ai rencontré une fille. La fille a les cheveux blonds.J’ai rencontré une fille qui a les cheveux blonds.

In the highlighted sentence, la fille is the subject of the verb, so in the second sentence la fille has been replaced by qui.

Grammar: Qui and que 3

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How do I decide which to use, qui or que?

Use que or qu’ if you are replacing the object of the verb:

J’ai acheté un livre. J’aime beaucoup le livre.J’ai acheté un livre que j’aime beaucoup

In the highlighted sentence, le livre is the object of the verb (je is the subject), so in the second sentence le livre has been replaced by que.

Grammar: Qui and que 4

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The following examples may also help you to decide which to use. Look at the following two sentences:

Le sac qu’il a acheté est bleu.Il a acheté un sac qui est bleu.

Look at the verb in the second part of each sentence.

In the first sentence, the verb has a subject (il) and que (qu’) has been used to join the two parts of the sentence.

In the second sentence, the verb has no subject, and qui has been used instead, to replace the subject.

Grammar: Qui and que 5

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Using what you have learnt, decide which word is missing from the following sentences – qui or que (qu’).

1 Il a mangé le pain _____ il a acheté.2 Le village _____ j’ai visité était très joli.3 Les filles _____ arrivent s’appellent Claire et Claudine.4 J’ai deux frères _____ s’appellent Paul et Freddie.5 La voiture _____ je préfère est rouge.6 C’est le professeur _____ a les cheveux blancs et

_____ porte des lunettes.7 Ma mère porte une robe _____ je déteste.8 Le travail _____ j’ai fait hier soir était très difficile.9 Le jour _____ je préfère, c’est le samedi.10 Ma soeur, c’est la fille _____ a les cheveux roux et longs.

qu’que

quiqui

quequi

quique

queque

qui

Grammar: Qui and que 6

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Now try putting the two sentence halves back together, avoiding repetition where possible.

1 J’aime les bonbons. Nous achetons les bonbons.

2 Je connais la fille. La fille parle à Philippe.

3 Marie n’aime pas la voiture. J’achèterai la voiture.

4 Qui est la femme? La femme me regarde.

5 Je déteste le professeur. Le professeur enseigne le français.

J’aime les bonbons que nous achetons.

Je connais la fille qui parle à Philippe.

Marie n’aime pas la voiture que j’achèterai.

Qui est la femme qui me regarde?

Je déteste le professeur qui enseigne le français.

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Grammar: Qui and que 7

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The conditional tense is used to say what would or wouldn’t happen.

Example:

Si j’étais riche, j’achèterais une belle maison à la campagne.If I was rich, I would buy a beautiful house in the country.

S’il pleuvait, je ne sortirais pas.If it rained, I wouldn’t go out.

Ma tante a dit qu’elle arriverait vers midi.My aunt said she would arrive at around midday.

Grammar: The conditional tense 1

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How would you translate the following sentences?

S’il faisait mauvais, je ne jouerais pas au tennis.

If the weather was bad, I wouldn’t play tennis.

Si elle avait assez d’argent, elle achèterait une nouvelle voiture.

If she had enough money, she would buy a new car.

Mon père a téléphoné pour dire qu’il rentrerait en retard.

My father phoned to say that he would come home late.

Elle a dit qu’elle ne mangerait pas ici.

She said that she wouldn’t eat here.

Si j’avais mon livre, je pourrais faire mes devoirs.

If I had my book, I would be able to do my homework.

Grammar: The conditional tense 2

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From the examples you have already seen, you may have worked out how to form the conditional tense. It is very easy to form:

1 Take the stem (first part) of the future tense.2 Add the following endings:

je -ais nous -ionstu -ais vous -iezil / elle / on -ait ils / elles -aient

Which other tense that you have already met has exactly the same endings?

Answer: The imperfect tense!

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Reminder - Because you need the future tense stem to form the conditional tense, it might be a good idea to revise this!Question: How do you form the stem of regular verbs in the future tense?

Answer: By using the infinitive.

Example:

infinitive future conditionalmanger - to eat je mangerai je mangerais

Remember also that -re verbs lose the final -e in the future tense stem:attendre - to wait j’attendrai j’attendrais

Grammar: The conditional tense 4

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Question:

Which common verbs have an irregular stem in the future tense, and therefore also in the conditional tense?

Answer:infinitive future conditional aller - to go j’irai j’iraisavoir - to have j’aurai j’auraiscourir - to run je courrai je courraisdevoir - to have to je devrai je devraisenvoyer - to send j’enverrai j’enverraisêtre - to be je serai je seraisfaire - to make / do je ferai je feraismourir - to die je mourrai je mourraispouvoir - to be able to je pourrai je pourraisrecevoir - to receive je recevrai je recevrais savoir - to know je saurai je sauraisvenir - to come je viendrai je viendraisvoir - to see je verrai je verraisvouloir - to want to je voudrai je voudrais

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Look at the following regular verb which is written out in full in the conditional tense:

jouer - to play

je jouerais I would playtu jouerais you would playil / elle jouerait he / she would playnous jouerions we would playvous joueriez you would playils / elles joueraient they would play

Can you write the following three verbs out in the same way? Be careful! One is regular, one ends in -re and the other is irregular:

aller - to go, vendre - to sell, finir - to finish

Grammar: The conditional tense 6

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aller - to go

j’ irais I would gotu irais you would goil / elle irait he / she would gonous irions we would govous iriez you would goils/elles iraient they would go

vendre - to sell

je vendrais I would selltu vendrais you would sellil / elle vendrait he / she would sellnous vendrions we would sellvous vendriez you would sellils/elles vendraient they would sell

finir - to finish

je finirais I would finishtu finirais you would finishil / elle finirait he / she would finishnous finirions we would finishvous finiriez you would finishils/elles finiraient they would finish

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Ma ville idéale _____ moderne et très verte. Il y _____ beaucoup de commerces et il n’y _____ pas de chômage. Dans le centre-ville on _____ une zone piétonne très agréable avec des cafés, des restaurants et des boutiques et on _____ se promener tranquillement. Les magasins _____ très tard et les rues _____ animées. Pour limiter la pollution, il y _____ un réseau de transports très fiable et les autos _____ interdites en centre-ville. On _____ rouler facilement en vélo grâce aux pistes cyclables et il y _____ aussi un tramway. Comme distractions, on _____ aller au cinéma, aux concerts ou au théâtre sans trop dépenser de l’argent. Les habitants _____ très fiers d’y habiter.

1 serait2 aurait

4 verrait3 aurait

6 fermeraient7 seraient

8 aurait9 seraient

10 pourrait11 aurait12 pourrait

13 seraient

12

3

4

56

78

910

11

12

13

1 être2 avoir3 avoir4 voir5 pouvoir6 fermer7 être8 avoir9 être10 pouvoir11 avoir12 pouvoir13 être

5 pourrait

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Grammar: The conditional tense 8