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Dialogue
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Grammar · -aître verbs
editVerbs ending in -aître, such as connaître, meaning to know (personally), are conjugated irregularly.
Formation
editconnaître /kɔ.nɛtʁ/ (koh-nehtr) | to know |
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je connais /kɔ.nɛ/ (koh-neh) | I know |
tu connais /kɔ.nɛ/ (koh-neh) | you know |
il connaît /kɔ.nɛ/ (koh-neh) | he knows |
nous connaissons /kɔ.nɛ.sɔ̃/ (koh-neh-soh(n)) | we know |
vous connaissez /kɔ.nɛ.se/ (koh-neh-say) | you know |
ils connaissent /kɔ.nɛs/ (koh-nehs) | they know |
connu /kɔ.ny/ (koh-new) | known |
Supplementary vocabulary · Other -aître verbs
editapparaître | /a.pa.ʁɛtʁ/ (help·info) | to appear | |||
comparaître | /kɔ̃.pa.ʁɛtʁ/ (help·info) | to appear before an official | Il a comparu devant le maire. | He appeared before the Mayor. | |
disparaître | /dis.pa.ʁɛtʁ/ (help·info) | to disappear | La douleur a complètement disparu. | The pain has completely disappeared. | |
méconnaître | /me.kɔ.nɛtʁ/ (help·info) | to not recognize, to be unaware of | Le médecin a méconnu la nature de cette maladie. | The doctor did not recognize the nature of this sickness. | |
disparaître | [[:Media:Fr-disparaître.ogg|]] (help·info) | to disappear | |||
naître | [[:Media:Fr-naître.ogg|]] (help·info) | to be born1 | |||
paraître | /pa.ʁɛtʁ/ (help·info) | to appear, to seem | L'acteur a paru sur l'écran. Il paraît 40 ans. |
The actor appeared on screen. He seems forty. | |
réapparaître | /ʁe.a.pa.ʁɛtʁ/ (help·info) | to reappear | Lorsque la terre est réapparue, ce a été à l’entrée du détroit de Magellan. | When land reappeared, it was at the entrance of the Strait of Magellan. | |
reconnaître | /ʁǝ.kɔ.nɛtʁ/ (help·info) | to recognize | Je l’ai reconnu à sa démarche. | I recognized his walk. | |
repaître | /ʁə.pɛtʁ/ (help·info) | to feed, to eat | Il faut repaître ces animaux. Les cerfs sortent le soir des bois pour repaître. |
It is necessary to feed these animals. The deer come out of the woods in the evening to eat. | |
reparaître | /ʁǝ.pa.ʁɛtʁ/ (help·info) | to reappear, to come out again | Le soleil reparaît sur l’horizon. | The sun reappears on the horizon. |
1Naître has an irregular past participle (né) and takes être as its auxiliary verb in perfect tenses.
Grammar · To know · Savoir
editsavoir /sa.vwaʁ/ (sah-vwahr) | to know |
---|---|
je sais /sɛ/ (seh) | I know |
tu sais /sɛ/ (seh) | you know |
il sait /sɛ/ (seh) | he knows |
nous savons /sa.vɔ̃/ (sah-voh(n)) | we know |
vous savez /sa.ve/ (sah-vay) | you know |
ils savent /sav/ (sahv) | they know |
su /sy/ (sew) | known |
Usage notes · Connaître and savoir
editConnaître is used to say that you know someone, or are acquainted with someone or something:
- Ce chien connaît bien son maître.This dog knows its master.
- Ce cheval connaît le chemin.This horse knows the way.
Savoir is used to say that you know a fact or piece of information:
- Il est difficile de savoir si elle ment.It's difficult to know if she's lying.
Savoir is also used to say that you know how to do something:
- Savez-vous nager?Do you know how to swim?
Examples
editCet enfant ne connaît pas encore ses lettres. | This child does not know his letters. | ||||
Je ne connais cette personne que de nom. | I know this person only by name. | ||||
Il connaît sa faiblesse. | He knows his weakness. |
Vocabulary · Phone calls
editle téléphone | /te.le.fɔn/ (tay-lay-fohn) (help·info) | telephone | |||
le téléphone portable le téléphone mobile le mobile |
/te.le.fɔn pɔʁ.tabl/ (tay-lay-fohn pohr-tahbl) (help·info) Fr-le téléphone mobile.ogg (help·info) /mɔ.bil/ (moh-beel) (help·info) |
mobile phone |
Usage notes · Téléphoner and appeler
editTéléphoner (à) is used to say that you are calling (to) someone. In French, you call to someone, so the verb is used with indirect, and not direct, objects:
- Je téléphone à Jacques.I'm calling Jacques.
- J'ai téléphoné à mon ami.I called my friend.
Appeler is also used:
- J'ai appelé Marcel sur son mobile.I called Marcel on his mobile.
Grammar · To say · Dire
editDire , meaning to say or to tell, is conjugated irregularly.
Formation
editdire /diʁ/ (deer) | to say |
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je dis /di/ (dee) | I say |
tu dis /di/ (dee) | you say |
il dit /di/ (dee) | he says |
nous disons /di.zɔ̃/ (dee-zoh(n)) | we say |
vous dites /dit/ (deet) | you say |
ils disent /diz/ (deez) | they say |
dit /di/ (dee) | said |
The related verb redire /ʁə.diʁ/ (ruh-deer) means to repeat, to restate, or to retell. The related phrase vouloir dire /vu.lwaʁ diʁ/ (voo-lwahr deer) means to mean.
Examples
editIl a dit son nom. | He said his name. | ||||
« Je m'appelle Paul, » dit-il. | "My name is Paul," he said. | ||||
Je vais dire un secret. | I'm going to say a secret. | ||||
Georges ne dit pas la vérité. | Georges does not tell the truth. | ||||
Il ne faut pas le redire. | You don't have to say it again. | ||||
Je t'ai déjà dit, mais je le redis à toi. | I've already told you, but I'll tell you again. | ||||
Il va redire tout ce qu’on lui dit. | He's going to retell all that we say to him. |
Supplementary grammar · Verbs conjugated similarly to dire
editThe following verbs are conjugated like dire, except that the second person plural form is -dissez, not -dites.
contredire | /kɔ̃t.ʁə.diʁ/ (help·info) | to contradict | Il a essayé de me contredire, il n’y a pas réussi. | He tried to contradict me, he has not succeeded. | |
interdire | /ɛ̃.tɛʁ.diʁ/ (help·info) | to forbid, to ban | Il est interdit d’interdire. Une obligation imprévue m’interdit ce plaisir. |
It is forbidden to forbid. An unforeseen obligation prevents me that pleasure. | |
médire | /mediʁ/ (help·info) | to slander, to speak badly of | Vous médisez de tout le monde. Il médit de son prochain. |
You speak badly of everyone. He speaks ill of his neighbor. | |
prédire | /pʁediʁ/ (help·info) | to predict, to foretell | Les chercheurs ont prédit l'éclipse. Les prophètes ont prédit la venue de Jésus-Christ. |
The scientists predicted the eclipse. The prophets foretold the coming of Jesus Christ. | |
dédire | /de.diʁ/ (help·info) | to go back on, to retract |
maudireto curse /mo.diʁ/ is also conjugated in this way, except that the third person plural is maudissent.
Vocabulary · Mail · Le courrier
editla poste | /pɔst/ (help·info) | post office | |||
le courrier | /ku.ʁje/ (help·info) | Le courrier n’est pas encore arrivé. Répondez-moi par courrier. Les heures du courrier sont changées. |
The mail has not arrived yet. Answer me by mail. The mail hours are changed. | ||
la lettre (d’affaires, d’amour, de recommandation, d’avis, de condoléance) | /lɛtr(ə)/ (help·info) | (business, love, recomendation, notification, condolence) letter | J'ai mis la lettre à la poste. | I put the letter in the post. | |
la boîte aux lettres la boite aux lettres |
/bwa.to.lɛtʁ/ (help·info) | mailbox | J'ai mis ta missive dans la boite aux lettres. | I put your letter in the mailbox. | |
cacheter (une lettre, un paquet) | /ka.ʃə.te/ (help·info) | to seal (a letter, a parcel) | Elle cachète toutes ses lettres avec de la cire. | She seals all her letters with wax. | |
fermer (une lettre) | /fɛʁ.me/ (help·info) | to close (a letter) | |||
envoyer (une lettre) | /ɑ̃.vwa.je/ (help·info) | to send (a letter) | Je vais envoyer le paquet par le chemin de fer. | I will send the package by railroad. | |
recevoir (une lettre) | /ʁəs.vwaʁ/ (help·info) | to receive (a letter) | |||
ouvrir (une lettre) | /u.vʁiʁ/ (help·info) | to open (a letter) | |||
décacheter (une lettre) | /de.kaʃ.te/ (help·info) | to unseal (a letter) | |||
répondre (à une lettre) | /re.pɔ̃dʁ/ (help·info) | to answer, to respond (to a letter) | Je lui ai écrit deux fois, il ne m’a pas répondu. | I wrote to him twice, he did not answer. |
Supplementary grammar · To send · Envoyer
editFormation
editenvoyer /ɑ̃.vwa.je/ (ah(n)-vwah-yuhay) | to send |
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j'envoie /ɑ̃.vwa/ (ah(n)-vwah) | I send |
tu envoies /ɑ̃.vwa/ (ah(n)-vwah) | you send |
il envoie /ɑ̃.vwa/ (ah(n)-vwah) | he sends |
nous envoyons /ɑ̃.vwa.jɔ̃/ (ah(n)-vwah-yuhoh(n)) | we send |
vous envoyez /ɑ̃.vwa.je/ (ah(n)-vwah-yuhay) | you send |
ils envoient /ɑ̃.vwa/ (ah(n)-vwah) | they send |
envoyé /ɑ̃.vwa.je/ (ah(n)-vwah-yuhay) | sent |
The verb renvoyer /ʁɑ̃.vwa.je/ (rah(n)-vwah-yuhay), meaning to resend or to send back, is conjugated in the same way as envoyer.
Examples
editJe vais envoyer le paquet par le chemin de fer. | I will send the package by railroad. |
Usage notes · Renvoyer
editSupplementary grammar · -cevoir verbs
editVerbs ending in -cevoir, such as recevoir, meaning to receive, are conjugated irregularly.
Formation
editrecevoir /ʁə.sv.waʁ/ (ruh-sev-wahr) | to receive |
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je reçois /ʁə.swa/ (ruh-swah) | I receive |
tu reçois /ʁə.swa/ (ruh-swah) | you receive |
il reçoit /ʁə.swa/ (ruh-swah) | he receives |
nous recevons /ʁə.sv.ɔ̃/ (ruh-sev-oh(n)) | we receive |
vous recevez /ʁə.sv.e/ (ruh-sev-ay) | you receive |
ils reçoivent /ʁə.swav/ (ruh-swahv) | they receive |
reçu /ʁǝ.sy/ (ruh-sew) | received |
Other -cevoir verbs
editapercevoir | /a.pɛʁ.sǝ.vwaʁ/ (help·info) | to see, to glimpse, to catch sight of | |||
concevoir | /kɔ̃səvwaʀ/ (help·info) | to conceive, to understand | C'est un ouvrage bien conçu. Cette femme a passé l’âge de concevoir. |
It is a well-designed book. This woman was too old to conceive. | |
décevoir | /de.sǝ.vwaʁ/ (help·info) | to disappoint, to deceive | Il m’a déçu par sa manière d’agir. | He disappointed me by his actions. | |
percevoir | /pɛʁ.sǝ.vwaʁ/ (help·info) | to perceive | |||
repercevoir | /ʁə.pɛʁ.sə.vwaʁ/ (help·info) | to reperceive |
Examples
editOdette répond à toutes les lettres qu’elle reçoit. | Odette answers all the letters that she receives. | ||||
Je conçois bien ce que vous me dites. | I understand what you say. | ||||
C’est une chose difficile à concevoir. | It is hard to conceive. | ||||
Tous ses espoirs ont été déçus. | All his hopes were dashed. |
Supplementary vocabulary · Computers and the Internet
editComputer hardware | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
l'ordinateur (portable) (m) | /ɔʁ.di.na.tœʁ/ (help·info) | (laptop) computer | Elle est sur l’ordinateur. | She is on the computer. | |
l'écran (d'ordinateur) (m) | /e.kʁɑ̃/ (help·info) | (computer) screen, monitor | |||
le clavier | /klavje/ (help·info) | keyboard | |||
la souris | /su.ʁi/ (help·info) | mouse | |||
l'imprimante (f) | /ɛ̃.pʁi.mãt/ (help·info) | printer | Cette imprimante est dotée de cartouches couleur ; elle peut imprimer en couleur. | This printer has color cartridges and can print in color. | |
le CD-ROM | /se.de.ʁɔm/ (help·info) | CD-ROM | Ce CD-ROM contient un dictionnaire très complet. | This CD-ROM contains a comprehensive dictionary. | |
la disquette | /dis.kɛt/ (help·info) | floppy disk | |||
Computer software | |||||
le software | software | ||||
l’information (f) | /ɛ̃.fɔʁ.ma.sjɔ̃/ (help·info) | information | |||
le logiciel | /lɔ.ʒi.sjɛl/ (help·info) | software (program) | C’est un logiciel très facile d’utilisation. | The software is easy to use. | |
le programme la programmation |
/pʁɔ.ɡʁam/ (help·info) /pʁɔ.ɡʁa.ma.sjɔ̃/ (help·info) |
program programming |
L’ordinateur refuse d'ouvrir ce programme. Ce programme résoud tous mes problèmes ! |
The computer refuses to open this program. This program solves all my problems! | |
le document | /dɔkymɑ̃/ (help·info) | document | |||
le fichier | /fi.ʃje/ (help·info) | file | |||
Computer use | |||||
utiliser | /y.ti.li.ze/ (help·info) | to use | |||
taper (un texte) | /ta.pe/ (help·info) | to type (a text) | |||
sauvegarder (un fichier) | /sɔv.ɡaʁ.de/ (help·info) | to save (a file) | |||
exécuter | /ɛɡ.ze.ky.te/ (help·info) | to run, to carry out | |||
cliquer | /klike/ (help·info) | to click | Tu dois cliquer sur le bouton rouge. | You must click (on) the red button. | |
allumer | /a.ly.me/ (help·info) | to turn on | |||
éteindre | /e.tɛ̃dʁ/ (help·info) | to turn off (to extinguish) | |||
The Internet | |||||
aller sur Internet | to go on the Internet | Il est allé sur Internet pour lire le journal. | He went on the Internet to read the newspaper. | ||
le modem | /modˈɛm/ (help·info) | modem | |||
la connexion | /kɔ.nɛk.sjɔ̃/ (help·info) | connection | |||
connecter | /ko.nɛk.te/ (help·info) | to connect | Je vais connecter l'ordinateur au réseau informatique. | I will connect the computer to the computer network. | |
le site (Web) | /sit/ (help·info) /sit wɛb/ (help·info) |
(web) site | Je suis en train d’étudier le langage HTML pour concevoir mon site Web perso. | I am studying HTML to design my personal website. | |
l'e-mail (m) | /i.mɛl/ (help·info) | ||||
télécharger | /te.le.ʃaʁ.ʒe/ (help·info) | to download, to upload | Elle a téléchargé le ficher. | She downloaded the file. | |
transmettre | /tʁɑ̃s.mɛtʁ/ (help·info) | to transmit |
Supplementary grammar · To call · Appeler
editAppeler means to call or to call out.
Appeler is also used to say what your name is. Je m'appelle... literally means I call myself…, but in English you would say My name is…. Appeler is a regular -er verb, but is also stem changing.
Formation
editappeler /ap(.ə).le/ (ahp(uh)-lay) | to call |
---|---|
j'appelle /a.pɛl/ (ah-pehl) | I call |
tu appelles /a.pɛl/ (ah-pehl) | you call |
il appelle /a.pɛl/ (ah-pehl) | he calls |
nous appelons /ap(.ə).lɔ̃/ (ah-puh-loh(n)) | we call |
vous appelez /ap(.ə).le/ (ah-puh-lay) | you call |
ils appellent /a.pɛl/ (ah-pehl) | they call |
appelé /ap(.ə).le/ (ah-play) | called |
Rappeler /ʀa.ple/ (rah-play), meaning to call back, recall, or remind, is conjugated in the same way as appeler. The reflexive form se rappeler means to remember.
Related words
editThe related masculine noun l'appel /a.pɛl/ means call or appeal:
- J'ai entendu votre appel.I heard your call.
- Les femelles blattes produisent des phéromones lors de l'appel du mâle.The female cockroach produce pheromones during the call of the male.
The noun le rappel /ʀa.pɛl/ means reminder or recall:
- Cet ambassadeur a obtenu son rappel.The ambassador has received his recall.
- Il a obéi par la crainte du rappel.He obeyed by the fear of the recall.
- J’ai été obligé de lui faire un discret rappel pour l’amener à me rembourser.I was obliged to make a discreet reminder to him to reimburse me.
Examples
editJ'ai appelé son nom. | I called out her name. | ||||
Appelle-moi ce soir. | Call me this evening. | ||||
Nous devrons appeler un médecin. | We should call a doctor. | ||||
Elle a appelé à l'aide. | She called out for help. | ||||
Ton père t’a téléphoné. Peux-tu le rappeler ? | Your father telephoned. Can you call him back? | ||||
Rappelle-moi à mon rôle. | Remind me of my role. | ||||
Je ne me le rappelle pas. | I don't remember that/it/him. |
Text
editExercises
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