41.

Imperfect Tense

This past tense corresponds to "was, were or used to."  This tense is used for repeated,
continuous, or ongoing actions; as well as for verbs that describe background and
circumstances, such as weather, time, and physical, mental, and emotional states. (Use
the passé composé for actions that happened once and are done.)  Verbs that express
mental and emotional states that are descriptive in nature are generally used in the
imperfect more than the passé composé.  These verbs are: aimer, avoir, croire, détester,
espérer, être, penser, and préférer.

To form the stem, use the nous form of the present tense and drop the -ons.  Then add
these endings:

-ais /ɛ/ -ions /jɔ/̃

-ais /ɛ/ -iez /je/
-ait /ɛ/ -aient /ɛ/

The only exception is être for which you must use the stem ét-, but still the same endings.
Verb stems that end in -c must use a cedilla (ç) under the c to make it soft. Verb stems
ending in -g keep the e before all forms except nous and vous.

être
étais /etɛ/ étions /etjɔ̃/
étais /etɛ/ étiez /etje/
était /etɛ/ étaient /etɛ/
commencer manger
commençais /kɔmɑ̃sɛ/ commencions /kɔmɑ̃sjɔ/̃ mangeais /mɑ̃ʒɛ/ mangions /mɑ̃ʒjɔ/̃
commençais /kɔmɑ̃sɛ/ commenciez /kɔmɑ̃sje/ mangeais /mɑ̃ʒɛ/ mangiez /mɑ̃ʒje/
commençait /kɔmɑ̃sɛ/ commençaient /kɔmɑ̃sɛ/ mangeait /mɑ̃ʒɛ/ mangeaient /mɑ̃ʒɛ/

Avoir, Devoir, Pouvoir, Savoir, and Vouloir

These verbs change meanings, according to whether they are used in the imperfect or the
passé composé.

Imperfect Passé Composé

avoir j'avais I had j'ai eu I got, received
I was supposed
devoir je devais j'ai dû I must have, I had to (and did)
to
pouvoir je pouvais I was capable j'ai pu I was able to (and did),
je n'ai pas pu succeeded
 I couldn't, failed
savoir je savais I knew j'ai su I found out, discovered
j'ai voulu
I tried, decided, insisted
vouloir je voulais I wanted to je n'ai pas
I refused
voulu

The imperfect tense is also used with these constructions:

être en train de + infinitive = to be in the middle of doing something

J'étais en train d'étudier quand vous êtes I was (in the process of ) studying when
arrivés. you arrived.
être sur le point de + infinitive = to be just about to do something
J'étais sur le point de vous rappeler. I was just about to call you back.
aller + infinitive = going to do something
J'allais sortir quand le téléphone a sonné. I was going to leave when the phone rang.
venir de + infinitive = to have just done something
Je venais de manger, alors je n'avais plus I had just eaten, so I wasn't hungry
faim. anymore.

42. Places / Les Endroits

l'université
school l'école (f) /ekɔl/ university /ynivɛʀsite/
(f)
les toilettes
bathroom /twalɛt/ bank la banque /bɑ̃k/
(f)
train
locker le casier /kɑzje/ la gare /gaʀ/
station
drinking l'aéroport
la fontaine /fɔ̃tɛn/ airport /aeʀɔpɔʀ/
fountain (m)
store le magasin /magazɛ/̃ telephone le téléphone /telefɔn/
la
l'appartemen
library biblio(thèque /biblijɔtɛk/ apartment /apaʀtəmɑ̃/
t (m)
)
office le bureau /byʀo/ hotel l'hôtel (m) /otɛl/
stadium le stade /stad/ village le village /vilaʒ/
cafe le café /kafe/ factory l'usine (f) /yzin/
cafeteria la cafétéria /kafeteʀja/ garden le jardin /ʒaʀdɛ/̃
movie le cinéma /sinema/ castle le château /ʃato/
theater
church l'église (f) /egliz/ cathedral la cathédrale /katedʀal/
museum le musée /myze/ zoo le zoo /zo/
la
pool la piscine /pisin/ bakery /bulɑ̃ʒʀi/
boulangerie
monumen
countryside la campagne /kɑ̃paɲ/ le monument /mɔnymɑ̃/
t
beach la plage /plaʒ/ pharmacy la pharmacie /faʀmasi/
butcher
theater le théâtre /teɑtʀ/ la boucherie /buʃʀi/
shop
candy
park le parc /paʀk/ la confiserie /kɔf̃ izʀi/
store 
police la
restaurant le restaurant /ʀɛstɔʀɑ̃/ /ʒɑ̃daʀm(ə)ʀi/
station gendarmerie
hospital l'hôpital (m) /ɔpital/ town hall la mairie /mɛʀi/
post office la poste /pɔst/ square la place /plas/
home la maison /mɛzɔ̃/ bookstore la librairie /libʀɛʀi/
grocery
city la ville /vil/ l'épicerie (f) /episʀi/
store
le pastry
supermarket /sypɛʀmaʀʃe/ la pâtisserie /pɑtisʀi/
supermarché shop
fish la
delicatessen la charcuterie /ʃaʀkytʀi/ /pwasɔnʀi/
market poissonnerie

Nowadays, la médiathèque /medjatɛk/ is replacing bibliothèque because most libraries

also have DVDs and CDs to lend, not just books. You may also hear la cantine /kɑ̃tin/ to
refer to the cafeteria in a school.

43. Transportation

by bike en vélo (m) /ɑ̃ velo/

by bus en bus (m) /ɑ̃ bus/
by moped en scooter (m) /ɑ̃ skutœʀ/
by car en voiture (f) /ɑ̃ vwatyʀ/
by motorcycle en moto (f) /ɑ̃ moto/
by subway en métro (m) /ɑ̃ metʀo/
on foot à pied (m) /a pje/
 by plane en avion (m) /ɑ̃ navjɔ̃/
by train en train (m) /ɑ̃ tʀɛ/̃
by boat en bateau (m) /ɑ̃ bato/

Instead of using a specific verb of movement (drive, fly, walk) before a location, French
actually uses a more general verb + the location + the manner of movement.

I walk to school. = Je vais à l'école à pied. (I go to school on foot.)

I'm flying to New York. = Je vais à New York en avion. (I go to New York by plane.)

Common slang words for car/automobile are une bagnole /baɲɔl/ or une caisse /kɛs/. In
Quebec, it's un char /ʃaʀ/.

44. To Want & To Be Able To

vouloir /vulwaʀ/ -to want and pouvoir /puvwaʀ/ - to be able to, can

Present Imperfect Future

veu / voulon voulai voulion voudr / voudro
/vulɔ̃/ /vulɛ/ /vuljɔ̃/ /vudʀɔ̃/
x vø/ s s s ai vudʀɛ/ ns
veu / voulai voudr / voudre
voulez /vule/ /vulɛ/ vouliez /vulje/ /vudʀe/
x vø/ s as vudʀa/ z
veu / veulen voulai voulaie voudr / voudro
/vœl/ /vulɛ/ /vulɛ/ /vudʀɔ̃/
t vø/ t t nt a vudʀa/ nt
                       
peu / pouvo / pouva / pouvion / pourr pourro
/puʀɛ/ /puʀɔ/̃
x pø/ ns puvɔ/̃ is puvɛ/ s puvjɔ/̃ ai ns
peu / pouve / pouva / / pourr pourre
pouviez /puʀa/ /puʀe/
x pø/ z puve/ is puvɛ/ puvje/ as z
peu / peuve pouva / pouvaie pourr pourro
/pœv/ /puvɛ/ /puʀa/ /puʀɔ/̃
t pø/ nt it puvɛ/ nt a nt

Voulez-vous? can mean Do you want? or Will you? The past participles are voulu and pu
and both are conjugated with avoir. The conditional forms of vouloir are used in the
expression "would like" i.e. I'd like = je voudrais, you'd like = tu voudrais, he'd/she'd
like = il/elle voudrait, we'd like = nous voudrions, you'd like = vous voudriez, they'd
like = ils/elles voudraient.

► You do not need to use pouvoir after verbs that involve the senses, such as voir (to
see) and entendre (to hear). Je ne vois pas / Je n'entends pas can mean I don't see or I
can't see / I don't hear or I can't hear depending on the context.

45. The House and Yard / La maison et le jardin

House la maison /mɛzɔ̃/ Yard le jardin /ʒaʀdɛ/̃

l'appartemen l'arbuste
Apartment /apaʀtəmɑ̃/ Shrub /aʀbyst/
t (m) (m)
le gazon /
Bedroom la chambre /ʃɑ̃bʀ/ Lawn/grass /gazɔ/̃ /p(ə)luz/
la pelouse
Hallway le couloir /kulwaʀ/ Bush le buisson /bɥisɔ/̃
l'arbre
Kitchen la cuisine /kɥizin/ Tree /aʀbʀ/
(m)
la
Storeroom le débarras /debaʀa/ Lawn mower tondeuse /tɔ̃dœzagazɔ̃/
à gazon
le tuyau
Stairs l'escalier (m) /ɛskalje/ Hose d'arrosag /tɥijodaʀozaʒ/
e
l'arrosoir
Floor l'étage (m) /etaʒ/ Watering can /aʀozaʒ/
(m)
le living / le
Living Room /liviŋ/ /salɔ̃/ Rake le râteau /ʀɑto/
salon
Closet la penderie /pɑ̃dʀi/ Hoe la bêche /bɛʃ/
Room la pièce /pjɛs/ Clippers le cisaille /sizɑj/
Ground le rez-de-
/ʀɛdʃose/ Shovel la pelle /pɛl/
Floor chaussée
Dining la salle à l'arroseur
/salamɑ̃ʒe/ Sprinkler /aʀozœʀ/
Room manger (m)
la salle de
Bathroom /saldəbɛ/̃ Lock (door) la serrure /seʀyʀ/
bains
Terrace, pati
la terrasse /tɛʀas/ Lock (bolt) le verrou /vɛʀu/
o
Attic le grenier /gʀənje/ Padlock le cadenas /kadna/
la
Chimney la cheminée /ʃ(ə)mine/ Hinges /ʃaʀnjɛʀ/
charnière
Roof le toit /twɑ/ Key la clé /kle/
le porte-
Garage le garage /gaʀaʒ/ Keychain /pɔʀtkle/
clé
le trou de
Driveway l'allée (f) /ale/ Keyhole seʀyʀ/
la serrure
la poignée
Sidewalk le trottoir /tʀɔtwaʀ/ Doorknob /pwaɲedəpɔʀt/
de porte
les tuiles
Porch le porche /pɔʀʃ/ Tile roofing /tɥil/
(f)
les
Clapboard/
Basement le sous-sol /susɔl/ bardeaux /baʀdo/
Shingle
(m)
l'ardoise
Cellar la cave /kav/ Slate roofing /aʀdwaz/
(f)

You may also see the words la loggia /lɔdʒja/ (small room off a large room - sometimes
like a pantry) and la veranda /veʀɑ̃da/ (enclosed porch/balcony), as well as les toilettes
/twalɛt/ (a separate room just for the toilet), for parts of a house or apartment.

46. Furniture and Appliances / Les meubles et l'Electromenager

l'électroménag
Furniture les meubles /mœbl/ Appliances /elɛktʀomenaʒe/
er
Shelf l'étagère (f) /etaʒɛʀ/ Thermostat le thermostat /tɛʀmɔsta/
Air
Desk le bureau /byʀo/ Conditione le climatiseur /klimatizœʀ/
r
Chair la chaise /ʃɛz/ Fan le ventilateur /vɑ̃tilatœʀ/
Rocking le fauteuil à
Dresser la commode /kɔmɔd/ /fotœjabaskyl/
chair bascule
Curtain le rideau /ʀido/ Stool le tabouret /tabuʀɛ/
Curtain
la tringle /tʀɛg̃ l/ Cushion le coussin /kusɛ/̃
rod
les volets
Shutters /vɔlɛ/ Carpet la moquette /mɔkɛt/
(m)
les stores Mixer / le batteur
Blinds /stɔʀ/ /batœʀelɛktʀik/
(m) Beater électrique
Window la fenêtre /fənɛtʀ/ Blender le mixeur /miksœʀ/
 le lit / le l'ouvre-boîtes
Bed /li/ /plymaʀ/ Can opener /uvʀəbwat/
plumard (m)
Door la porte /pɔʀt/ Toaster le grille-pain /gʀijpɛ/̃
Coffee
Closet le placard /plakaʀ/ la cafétière /kaftjɛʀ/
maker
Coffee le moulin à
Rug le tapis /tapi/ /mulɛ̃ na kafe/
press café
Lamp la lampe /lɑ̃p/ Kettle la bouilloire /bujwaʀ/
la table de
Nightstand /tabldənɥi/ Sheet le drap /dʀa/
nuit
Answering
le répondeur /ʀepɔd̃ œʀ/ Blanket la couverture /kuvɛʀtyʀ/
machine
la chaîne hi
Stereo /ʃɛn i fi/ Mattress le matelas /matla/
fi
les lits
la
Television /televizjɔ/̃ Bunkbeds superposés /lisypɛʀpoze/
télé(vision)
(m)
le
Lightswitc l'interrupteur
VCR magnétosco /maɲetɔskɔp/ /ɛt̃ eʀyptœʀ/
h (m)
pe
la
Remote
télécomman /telekɔmɑ̃d/ Lampshade l'abat-jour (m) /abaʒuʀ/
Control
de
l'ordinateur
Computer /ɔʀdinatœʀ/ Faucet le robinet /ʀɔbinɛ/
(m)
Drain/
Radio la radio /ʀadjo/ la canalisation /kanalizasjɔ̃/
Piping
le porte-
Fridge le frigo /fʀigo/ Towel bar /pɔʀtsɛʀvjɛt/
serviettes
le
Refrigerat Laundry
réfrigérateu /ʀefʀiʒeʀatœʀ/ la buanderie /bɥɑ̃dʀi/
or room
r
le
Freezer /kɔʒ̃ elatœʀ/ Bleach la javel /ʒavɛl/
congélateur
(Coffee) la table Laundry le panier à
/tabl bas/ /panje a lɛʒ̃ /
Table (basse) basket linge
Sink l'évier (m) /evje/ Clothespin la pince à linge /pɛs̃ a lɛʒ̃ /
la machine à
Washing /maʃinalave/
Bathtub la baignoire /bɛɲwaʀ/ laver / le lave-
Machine /lavlɛʒ̃ /
linge
Clothes
Stove la cuisinière /kɥizinjɛʀ/ le sèche-linge /sɛʃlɛʒ̃ /
Dryer
 le fer à
Oven le four /fuʀ/ Iron /fɛʀaʀəpase/
repasser
Dishwashe le lave- Ironing la planche à
/lavvɛsɛl/ /plɑ̃ʃaʀəpase/
r vaisselle board repasser
Microwav le four à
/fuʀamikʀoɔ̃d/ Hanger le cintre /sɛt̃ ʀ/
e micro-ondes
l'aspirateur
Shower la douche /duʃ/ Vacuum /aspiʀatœʀ/
(m)
Pillow l'oreiller /ɔʀɛje/ Broom le balai /balɛ/
Mirror le miroir /miʀwaʀ/ Dustpan la pelle /pɛl/
Ceiling le plafond /plafɔ/̃ Mop la serpillière /sɛʀpijɛʀ/
Floor le plancher /plɑ̃ʃe/ Garbage les ordures (f) /ɔʀdyʀ/
Garbage
Armchair le fauteuil /fotœj/ le sac poubelle /sakpubɛl/
bag
Garbage
Clock la pendule /pɑ̃dyl/ la poubelle /pubɛl/
can
la tapette à
Bedspread le couvre-lit /kuvʀəli/ Flyswatter /tapɛtamuʃ/
mouche
Clothes
Vase le vase /vɑz/ le séchoir /seʃwaʀ/
Dryer
Bathroom le sèche-
le lavabo /lavabo/ Hair Dryer /seʃaʃəvø/
sink cheveux
Futon Couch/ le canapé / le
le clic-clac /klik klak/ /kanape/ /sɔfa/
couch Sofa sofa
DVD le lecteur de /
     
Player DVD lɛktœʀdədevede/

Monte le son. / Baisse le son. Turn up the volume. / Turn down the volume.
Allume la lumière. / Eteinds la télé. Turn on the light. / Turn off the television.

47. Comparatives & Superlatives

Comparatives
aussi (adj or adv) que as (adj or adv) as
moins (adj or adv) que less (adj or adv) than
plus (adj or adv) que more (adj or adv) than
plus de (noun) que more (noun) than
autant de (noun) que as many (noun) as
 moins de (noun) que less (noun) than

Sample Sentences
She is taller than Colette. Elle est plus grande que Colette.
I am smarter than you. Je suis plus intelligente que toi.
Peter runs less quickly than me. Pierre court moins rapidement que moi.
The kitchen is as big as the living room. La cuisine est aussi grande que le salon.
I have more books than she. J'ai plus de livres qu'elle.
We have as many cars as he. Nous avons autant de voitures que lui.

Verbs can also be compared with plus/aussi/moins (+ que):

Il travaille moins qu'elle.  He works less than she.

Ils dorment plus.  They sleep more.

Superlatives
Simply add le, la or les before the comparative if you are using an adjective.  With
adverbs, always use le.  After a superlative, de is used to mean in.  If the adjective
follows the noun, the superlative follows the noun also, surrounding the adjective.

Sample Sentences
It's the biggest city in the world. C'est la plus grande ville du monde.
She is the most beautiful woman in this
Elle est la plus belle femme de cette salle.
room.
This neighborhood is the least expensive in
Ce quartier est le moins cher de Paris.
Paris.
It's the most dreaded punishment in the C'est la punition la plus redoutable du
world. monde.
She works the most courageously of Elle travaille le plus courageusement de
everyone. tous.

In French, sometimes you don't use any articles, as compared to English:

Plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose.  The more things change, the more they stay
the same.

48. Irregular Forms

 Adjective Comparative Superlative
bon good meilleur/e better le/la meilleur/e best
mauvais bad pire worse le/la pire worst
petit small moindre less le/la moindre least

Adverb Comparative Superlative

bien well mieux better le mieux best
beaucoup much plus more le plus most
mal badly pis worse le pis worst
peu little moins less le moins least

Only use the irregular forms of mauvais in the abstract sense.  If the idea is concrete, you
may use plus/moins mauvais and le/la mauvais.

49. Clothing / Les vetements

pajamas le pyjama   boxer shorts le caleçon  

jewelry le bijou   briefs le slip  
necklace le collier   panties la culotte  
jeans le jean   tuxedo le smoking  
pants le pantalon   bowtie le nœud papillon  
sweater le pull   vest/cardigan le gilet  
turtleneck le col roulé   flip flops les tongs  
raincoat l'imperméable (m)   sleeve la manche  
blouse le chemisier   pocket la poche  
bra le soutien-gorge   decorative scarf la foulard  
slip le jupon   man's suit le costume  
coat le manteau   woman's suit le tailleur  
tennis shoes des tennis (m)   slippers des pantoufles (f)  
swimsuit le maillot de bain   jacket le blouson  
shorts le short   underwear les sous-vêtements  
bracelet le bracelet   gloves les gants (m)  
charm le porte-bonheur   mittens les moufles (f)  
t-shirt le tee-shirt   belt la ceinture  
hat le chapeau   cap la casquette  
ring la bague   skirt la jupe  
chain la chaînette   dress la robe  
 earrings les boucles d'oreilles (f)   sandal la sandale  
pin l'épingle (f)   boots des bottes (f)  
sock la chaussette   blazer/coat la veste  
shoe la chaussure   scarf l'écharpe (f)  
man's shirt la chemise   tie la cravate  
hooded jacket l'anorak   slipper shoes des chaussons  
sneakers des baskets   high heels des escarpins  
track suit le jogging   long shorts le bermuda  
size (clothes) la taille   size (shoes) la pointure  

Les bas (stockings) and les collants (tights) are popular in France. Chaussures à talons
hauts are high-heeled shoes, while chaussures à talons plats are flat shoes. Chaussures
de ville are dress shoes. A slang word for clothes is les fringues.

50. To Wear

Mettre /mɛtʀ/ - to put, to put on, wear

Present Imperfect Future
met / metto metta mettio / mettr mettro
/mɛtɔ̃/ /mɛtɛ/ /mɛtʀɛ/ /mɛtʀɔ̃/
s mɛ/ ns is ns mɛtjɔ̃/ ai ns
met / mette metta / mettr mettre
/mɛte/ /mɛtɛ/ mettiez /mɛtʀa/ /mɛtʀe/
s mɛ/ z is mɛtje/ as z
/ mette metta mettaie mettr mettro
met /mɛt/ /mɛtɛ/ /mɛtɛ/ /mɛtʀa/ /mɛtʀɔ̃/
mɛ/ nt it nt a nt

Other verbs that are conjugated like mettre:  promettre - to promise and permettre - to
permit. The past participle of mettre is mis and it is conjugated with avoir.

Porter is actually the verb to wear, but the French use mettre also.

It looks good on you.

Il / Elle te va bien.
(informal)
It looks good on you.
Il / Elle vous va bien.
(formal)
Ils / Elles te vont They look good on you.
bien. (informal)
Ils / Elles vous vont They look good on you.
bien. (formal)
51. Future Tenses: Simple and Anterior

The futur simple expresses an action that will take place [will + infinitive]. The futur
antérieur expresses an action that will have taken place before another future action [will
have + past participle].  The future tense is used just like it is in English, however, in
French, the future is always used after quand or lorsque (when), dès que or aussitôt que
(as soon as) and tant que (as long as.)

To form the future tense, use the infinitive and add these endings that resemble those of
avoir.  However, you drop the -e from -re verbs.

-ai /ɛ/ -ons ɔ/̃

-as /a/ -ez /e/
-a /a/ -ont /ɔ/̃

parler choisir perdre

parler parlero choisir choisiro perdr perdro
ai ns ai ns ai ns
parler choisir choisire perdr
parlerez perdrez
as as z as
parler parlero choisir choisiro perdr perdro
a nt a nt a nt

And of course, there are exceptions.  Here are the irregular stems for the future tense
(these will also be used in the conditional tense):

Irregular Stems
aller ir- pleuvoir pleuvr-
avoir aur- pouvoir pourr-
courir courr- recevoir recevr-
devoir devr- savoir saur-
envoyer enverr- tenir tiendr-
être ser- valoir vaudr-
faire fer- venir viendr-
falloir faudr- voir verr-
mourir mourr- vouloir voudr-
 être aller
serai serons j'irai irons
seras serez iras irez
sera seront ira iront

Other exceptions:  For appeler and jeter, double the consonant.  For nettoyer and payer,
change the y to i.  For acheter, add an accent grave.  For préférer, the accents all remain
the same.

jeter payer acheter

préférer
jetterai jetterons paierai paierons achèterai achèterons préférerai préférerons
jetteras jetterez paieras paierez achèteras achèterez préféreras préférerez
jettera jetteront paiera paieront achètera achèteront préférera préféreront

To form the futur antérieur (will have + past participle), use the future of either avoir or
être (whichever the main verb takes) and the past participle of the main verb.

Quand ils reviendront, ils auront changé.  When they come back, they will have
changed.
Dès qu'ils seront revenus, ils voudront repartir.  As soon as they have returned, they
will want to leave again.

52. Preceding & Plural Adjectives

Masculine Feminine
Adjective Singular Plural   Singular Plural  
beautiful beau (bel) beaux   belle belles  
good bon bons   bonne bonnes  
dear cher chers   chère chères  
crazy fou (fol) foux   folle folles  
nice gentil gentils   gentille gentilles  
big grand grands   grande grandes  
large gros gros   grosse grosses  
young jeune jeunes   jeune jeunes  
 pretty joli jolis   jolie jolies  
long long longs   longue longues  
bad mauvais mauvais   mauvaise mauvaises  
better, best   meilleur meilleurs   meilleure meilleures  
soft mou (mol) moux   molle molles  
new nouveau (nouvel) nouveaux   nouvelle nouvelles  
little petit petits   petite petites  
old vieux (vieil) vieux   vieille vieilles  

The masculine singular and plural are pronounced the same, as are the feminine singular
and plural.  These are the most common adjectives that go before the noun.  An acronym
to remember which ones go before the noun is BRAGS:  Beauty, Resemblance (même
and autre), Age/Order (premier and dernier), Goodness, and Size.  All other adjectives,
except numbers, go after the noun.  The five words in parentheses (bel, fol, mol, nouvel,
and vieil) are used before masculine singular words beginning with a vowel or a silent h.

A few adjectives can be used before or after the noun, and the meaning changes
accordingly.  When used before the noun, they take a figurative meaning; and when used
after, they take a literal meaning.

Before plural adjectives preceding plural nouns, you use de instead of des to mean some.
Ex:  Some old monuments.  De vieux monuments.

53. Adjectives: Formation of Feminine

Almost all adjectives must agree in number and gender with the noun they modify. Most
adjectives are given in the masculine form, so to change to the feminine forms, follow
these rules:

Masculine Feminine Adjective

Add -e brun   brune   brown
fatigué   fatiguée   tired
If it already ends in -e, add nothing jeune   jeune   young
-x changes to -se généreux   généreuse   generous
faux   fausse   false
Exceptions:
roux   rousse   red (hair)
doux   douce   sweet, soft
 -il, -el, and -eil change to
naturel   naturelle   natural
-ille, -elle, and -eille
-et changes to -ète inquiet   inquiète   worried
muet   muette   silent
Exceptions:
coquet   coquette   stylish
-en and -on change to
Italien   Italienne   Italian
-enne and -onne
-er changes to -ère cher   chère   dear, expensive
-f changes to -ve actif   active   active
-c changes to -che blanc   blanche   white
public   publique   public
Exceptions:
grec   grecque   Greek
-g changes to -gue long   longue   long
-eur changes to -euse if adjective
menteur   menteuse   liar
is derived from verb
-eur changes to -rice if adjective
créateur   créatrice   creator
is not same as verb
-eur changes to -eure with
inférieur   inférieure   inferior
adjectives of comparison
épais   épaisse   thick
And a few completely irregular ones: favori   favorite   favorite
frais   fraîche   fresh, cool

54. Forming Plurals:  Adjectives

To form the feminine plural, just add an -s, unless it already ends in an s, then add
nothing.  To form the masculine plural, just add an -s, except in these cases:  -al becomes
-aux (exceptions: banal - banals; final - finals); and if it ends in an x or s already, add
nothing.

Masculine Masculine
 
Singular Plural
national national nationaux
general général généraux
Feminine Feminine
 
Singular Plural
national nationale nationales
 general générale générales

And of course there are more exceptions... some adjectives are invariable and do not have
feminine or plural forms.  Compound adjectives, such as bleu clair (light blue) and vert
foncé (dark green), adjectives that are also nouns, such as or (gold), argent (silver),
marron (chestnut), and the words chic (stylish), bon marché or meilleur marché
(inexpensive) never change.

55. More Adjectives

short
court/e different différent/e boring ennuyeux/euse
(length)
loud,
bruyant/e situated situé/e crazy fou/folle
noisy
elegant élégant/e big gros/se interesting intéressant/e
tight,
étroit/e curious curieux/euse sensitive sensible
narrow
several plusieurs/plusieures nervous nerveux/euse athletic sportif/sportive
pointed pointu/e only seul/e stubborn têtu/e
bright vif/vive amusing amusant/e shy timide
hard-
cute mignon/ne touching émouvant/e travailleur/euse
working
drôle,
perfect parfait/e funny optimistic optimiste
marrant/e
ready prêt/e heavy lourd/e pessimistic pessimiste
sad triste careful prudent/e tolerant tolérant/e
clever malin/maligne dirty sale pretentious prétentieux/euse
lazy paresseux/euse tired fatigué/e ambitious ambitieux/se
generous généreux/euse angry fâché/e pleasant agréable
famous célèbre annoyed irrité/e enthusiastic enthousiaste
decorated décoré/e old âgé/e honest honnête

Remember the first word is the masculine and the second is the feminine.  The addition
of an e for the feminine form allows the last consonant to be voiced.  These adjectives go
after the noun.
Normally, the verb rendre means to give something that you owe to someone, such as On
rend ses devoirs au professeur.  It can also be used in the sense of to represent.  But
rendre + adjective means to make someone or something + adjective.

Tu me rends si heureuse !  You make me so happy!

Le fait qu'il ne possède pas de voiture le rend triste.  The fact that he doesn't have a
car makes him sad.

Some common slang adjectives that are used constantly in everyday speech:

minabl
chouette great, good mediocre
e
ugly,
stupid,
con / conne moche unpleasa
dumb
nt
sensation
débile idiotic sensass
al
dégueu(lass disgusting, marvello
super
e) bad us
extraordina nice,
extra sympa
ry pleasant
very
génial tarte inane
interesting
ridiculou
s,
impec perfect tocard
deplorabl
e

The intensifiers vachement and drôlement are also used often, meaning very or really.

Il est vachement sympa. = He is really nice.

Elle est drôlement triste. = She is very sad.

56. Problem Verbs

Some verbs in French present problems because they have several translations in English.
Other verbs can have several translations in French, but fewer meanings in English.

visiter - to visit places

rendre visite à - to visit people
apporter - to bring things to some place
emporter - to take things from some place
amener - to bring someone to some place
emmener - to take someone from some place

apprendre quelque chose - to learn something

apprendre quelque chose à quelqu'un - to teach someone something

rencontrer - to meet
faire la connaissance de - to meet someone for the first time
retrouver - to meet (for an appointment)

partir - to leave (from or for a place)

quitter - to leave (a person or place)
sortir - to go out
s'en aller - to go away
laisser - to leave something behind

retourner - to go back (to where speaker is not)

revenir - to come back (to where speaker currently is)
rentrer - to come or go home
rendre - to return or give something back

faire - to make
fabriquer - to produce
obliger - to make someone do something
rendre - to make someone + adjective

► After some verbs, the word ne is required, but this does not imply negation: craindre,
redoûter, empêcher
Je crains qu'il ne fasse trop froid. I'm afraid that it's too cold.

► And a few verbs only require ne and not pas in the negative, but this is elevated or
literary language: cesser, oser, pouvoir, savoir
Je ne peux vivre sans toi. I cannot live without you.

57. C'est / Il est + Adjective + A / de + Infinitive

C'est + adjective + à + infinitive is used when the idea has already been mentioned;
while il est + adjective + de + infinitive is used when the idea has not yet been
mentioned. Also, the c'est construction is used when you do not use a direct object after
the infinitive of the transitive verb, and the il est construction is used when you do.
Est-ce qu'on peut apprendre le chinois en un an ? Can you learn Chinese in one year?
Non, c'est impossible à apprendre en un an ! No, it's impossible to learn in one year!
(The idea, Chinese, has already been mentioned, and there is no direct object.)
OR:
Non, il est impossible d'apprendre le chinois en un an ! (This sentence contains the
direct object after the infinitive.)

Il est facile d'apprendre l'italien.  It is easy to learn Italian. (The idea has not already
been mentioned, and the direct object is used.)

► Adjectives that express a certain emotion require de before the infinitive: content,
désolé, furieux, heureux, triste
Je suis contente de vous voir. I am happy to see you.

► Other adjectives require à before the infinitive: agréable, pénible, terrible, amusant,
intéressant, ennuyeux, léger, lourd, lent, rapide, premier, dernier, prêt, seul
Il est prêt à partir. He is ready to leave.

A longer list of adjectives that require à or de before an infinitive can be found at 91. on
French V.

► In addition, when quelque chose is followed by an adjective, de is inserted between

the two.
quelque chose d'intéressant = something interesting

58. Sports & Instruments

Soccer le football Softball le softball

Hockey le hockey Golf le golf
Football le football américain Bicycling le vélo
Basketball le basket Surfing le surf
Baseball le base-ball Dirt/Motor biking le bicross
Horse-back riding l'équitation; du cheval French horn le cor d'harmonie
Tennis le tennis violin le violon
Skiing le ski guitar la guitare
Volleyball le volley drum le tambour
Wrestling la lutte / le catch tuba le tuba
Jogging le jogging flute la flûte
Ice-skating le patin à glace trombone le trombone
Swimming la natation clarinet la clarinette
Track and Field l'athlétisme cello le violoncelle
Bowling le bowling harp la harpe

La lutte is regular wrestling (the real Greco-Roman sport), while le catch is

professional/fake wrestling.

Faire de + a sport means to play.  Jouer à + a sport also means to play, as does jouer
de + an instrument.

Tu fais du foot.  You play soccer.

J'aime jouer au tennis.  I like to play tennis.
Je peux jouer de la guitare.  I can play the guitar.
Nous jouons de la clarinette.  We play the clarinet.
Il veut jouer du tuba.  He wants to play the tuba.

59. Nature

air l'air (m) frost la gelée rose la rose

archipelago l'archipel (m) grass l'herbe (f) sand le sable
bank la rive gulf le golfe sea la mer
bay la baie hail la grêle shadow l'ombre (f)
barn la grange hay le foin sky le ciel
beach la plage high tide la marée haute snow la neige
branch la branche hill la colline soil la terre
bridge le pont ice la glace south le sud
spring
bud le bouton island I'île (f) la source
(water)
bush le buisson isthmus l'isthme star l'étoile (f)
cape le cap jungle la jungle stem la tige
l'orage (f) / la
cave la caverne lake le lac storm
tempête
city la ville leaf la feuille strait le détroit
climate le climat light la lumière stream le ruisseau
cloud le nuage lightning l'éclair (m) street la rue
coast la côte lily le lis sun le soleil
comet la comète low tide la marée basse sunflower le tournesol
la
constellation meadow le pré thaw la fonte
constellation
country le pays moon la lune thunder le tonnerre
country(side) la campagne mountain la montagne tornado la tornade
current le courant mountain la chaîne de tree l'arbre (m)
 range montagnes
mouth
daffodil la jonquille l'embouchure (f) trunk le tronc
(river)
daisy la marguerite mud la vase tulip la tulipe
darkness l'obscurité (f) nature la nature valley la vallée
desert le désert north le nord view la vue
dew la rosée peninsula la péninsule water l'eau (f)
dust la poussière plain la plaine fresh water l'eau douce
earth la terre planet la planète salt water l'eau salée
watering
east l'est (m) plant la plante l'arrosoir (m)
can
farm la ferme pond l'étang (m) waterfall la cascade
pot (for la vague /
field le champ le pot de fleurs wave
plants) l'onde (f)
flower la fleur rain la pluie weather le temps
foam l'écume (f) rainbow l'arc-en-ciel (m) west l'ouest (m)
fog le brouillard river le fleuve wind le vent
foliage le feuillage rock le rocher world le monde
forest la forêt root la racine    

60. To Live

vivre - to live, be alive (vee-vruh)

Present Imperfect Future

vis   vivons   vivais   vivions   vivrai   vivrons  
vis   vivez   vivais   viviez   vivras   vivrez  
vit   vivent   vivait   vivaient   vivra   vivront  

The past participle of vivre is vécu and it is conjugated with avoir.  Habiter is another
verb that means to live, but it means to live in a place.  Vivre is used to mean the state of
being alive.  A subjunctive form of vivre, vive, is often used in exclamations.

Vive la France !  Long live France!