French, but FUN — Part 7

In this lesson, we will be learning how to make questions in French, use adjectives, and tell time. Asking questions is an essential skill in any language, so it’s important to understand how to make them.

Asking Questions

Additional Info Regarding Questions

Question words, also known as interrogative words, are essential for forming questions in French. They help gather specific information and guide the structure of the question.

1. Forming Questions: In French, question words typically come at the beginning of a sentence, followed by the subject and the verb. For example:

• Où habites-tu ? (Where do you live?)
• Quand est-ce que tu pars ? (When are you leaving?)
• Comment ça va ? (How are you?)

2. Common Question Words:

• Qui (who): Used to inquire about a person or people. Qui est-ce ? (Who is it?)
• Quoi (what): Generally used for asking about objects or actions. Qu’est-ce que tu fais ? (What are you doing?)
• Où (where): Asks about a location. Où est la gare ? (Where is the train station?)
• Quand (when): Inquires about time or dates. Quand est ton anniversaire ? (When is your birthday?)
• Comment (how): Used to ask about manner or condition. Comment vas-tu ? (How are you?)
• Pourquoi (why): Asks for the reason or cause. Pourquoi es-tu en retard ? (Why are you late?)

Adjectives

Recap & Tips of Adjectives

1. Agreement with Gender and Number: In French, adjectives must agree with the gender and number of the noun they modify. If the noun is feminine, the adjective needs to be feminine as well. Similarly, if the noun is plural, the adjective should be in its plural form. For example:

• Un livre intéressant (masculine singular)
• Une chaise confortable (feminine singular)
• Des amis sympathiques (plural)

2. Placement: In general, adjectives in French come after the noun they modify, unlike in English where they often come before the noun. For example:

• Une voiture rouge (A red car)
• Un homme gentil (A kind man)

3. BANGS Rule: The BANGS rule is a useful mnemonic to remember that certain adjectives usually come before the noun. BANGS stands for Beauty, Age, Number, Goodness, and Size. Adjectives that fall into these categories typically precede the noun they modify. For example:

• Un joli chapeau (A pretty hat)
• Une grande maison (A big house)

4. Irregular Adjectives: Some adjectives have irregular forms that don’t follow the typical pattern of adjective endings. For example:

• Bon (good) has the irregular feminine form “bonne”
• Beau (handsome/beautiful) has the irregular feminine form “belle”
• Vieux (old) has the irregular feminine form “vieille”

5. Fun Fact: French adjectives also have a special form called the “participe présent” (present participle). It is formed by adding “-ant” to the verb stem and is used to describe ongoing actions or characteristics. For example:

• Une femme souriante (A smiling woman)
• Un enfant joueur (A playful child)

6. Remember Context: Adjectives in French need to match the gender and number of the noun they modify, so it’s important to consider the context and adjust the adjective accordingly. For example:

• Un grand garçon (A tall boy)
• Une grande fille (A tall girl)

Telling Time

Reading Exercise

Text

Je m’appelle Sophie et j’ai un chat. Mon chat s’appelle Minou. Minou est un petit chat noir et blanc. Il est très mignon et doux. Minou aime jouer avec une balle et chasser les souris. Tous les jours, je lui donne à manger et je lui donne de l’eau. Parfois, Minou dort sur mon lit. Il est mon meilleur ami.

Translation

My name is Sophie, and I have a cat. My cat’s name is Minou. Minou is a small black and white cat. He is very cute and gentle. Minou likes to play with a ball and chase mice. Every day, I feed him and give him water. Sometimes, Minou sleeps on my bed. He is my best friend.

Listening Exercise

Here is a great resource for improving both your listening and pronunciation skills.

Writing Exercise

Write a paragraph describing your favorite hobby or activity using present tense verbs.

Example

Mon passe-temps préféré est la lecture. Chaque jour, je consacre du temps à lire. J’aime me plonger dans différentes histoires et découvrir de nouveaux mondes à travers les livres. Je lis principalement le soir, après le dîner. Je m’installe confortablement sur mon canapé avec un livre intéressant et je me laisse emporter par l’histoire. Je me sens détendu et heureux lorsque je lis. C’est un moment de calme et de plaisir pour moi.

Translation

My favourite hobby is reading. Every day, I dedicate time to reading. I enjoy immersing myself in different stories and discovering new worlds through books. I mostly read in the evening, after dinner. I settle comfortably on my couch with an interesting book and let myself be carried away by the story. I feel relaxed and happy when I read. It’s a moment of calm and pleasure for me.

Feel free to use this example as inspiration and write your own paragraph describing your favourite hobby or activity using present tense verbs. Remember to practice regularly to improve your writing skills at the A1 level.