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Il faut + infinitive (it is necessary, one must)
Il faut tourner à gauche. It is necessary to turn left.
Il faut faire les devoirs. One must do homework.
Il lui faut aller à l'école. He must go to school.
Il faut + noun (need)
Il faut du fromage. You need some cheese.
Il faut un jeton. You need a token.
Il me faut un stylo. I need a pen.
Il reste (there remains)
Il reste une chambre. There is one room left.
Il n'en reste plus. There are no more left.
Il me reste trois jours. I have three days left.
Notice that il faut and il reste can both take an object pronoun to indicate a person.
Il vaut mieux + infinitive (it is better)
Il vaut mieux prendre le bus. It is better to take the bus.
Il vaut mieux apprendre les langues que la politique. It's better to
learn languages than politics.
Il s'agit de (it's a question of, it's a matter of, it's about)
De quoi s'agit-il ? What's is about?
Il ne s'agit pas de ça ! That's not the point!
Il s'agit de ton avenir. It's a matter of your future.
Avoir beau (although, despite the fact, however much)
J'ai beau étudier cette langue, je ne la parle pas. Although I
study this language, I don't speak it.
Il a beau faire froid, nous sortirons. Although is it cold, we will go
out.
Avoir l'air + adjective (to seem/look)
Ça a l'air délicieux. That looks delicious.
Vous avez l'air fatigué. You seem tired.
Ça n'a pas l'air d'aller. Things don't look so good.
Ça vous dit ? / Ça vous dirait de... ? (Would
you like to? / How would you feel about...? / Does that interest you? / Does
that ring a bell?)
Ça vous dirait de regarder un film ce soir ? Are you interested in watching
a movie tonight? / Would you like to watch a movie tonight?
Non, ça me dit rien. No, that doesn't interest me. / No, I don't want
to.
Ça te dit quelque chose ? Does that ring a bell? / Does that remind you
of anything?
Non, ça me dit rien. No, that doesn't ring a bell. / That doesn't remind
me of anything.
Ça ne me dit pas grande chose. That does nothing for me.
Ça parle de quoi / qui ? (What / Who is it about?)
Ça parle de quoi, le livre que tu écris ? What's the book about
that you're writing?
Ça y est ! ( There! That's it ! It's done!)
Ça a été (How did it go? / It went well.)
Ton examen, ça a été ? How did your exam go?
Oui, ça a été. It went well.
On dirait... [ça ressemble à] (It seems / it
looks like / it tastes like / it smells like / it feels like / it sounds like)
On dirait un chat. It looks like a cat.
pas terrible (terrible actually means terrific
in this phrase)
C'est pas terrible, ce film. This movie is not very good.
pas mal de (a lot of, lots of, tons of - synonym of beaucoup)
J'ai pas mal de trucs à faire aujourd'hui. I have lots of things to do
today.
82. Conjunctions & Connecting Words
auparavant | before | de même | similarly | par exemple | for example |
d'abord | first | en/de plus | moreover / furthermore | pour / afin de | in order to |
ensuite / puis | then | d'ailleurs | besides | par contre / en revanche | on the contrary |
plus tard | later | plutôt | rather | d'autre part | on the other hand |
après | after | surtout | especially | au moins | at least |
alors | so | quand même | anyway | malgré / en dépit de | in spite of |
ainsi | thus | au fait | by the way | sauf | except |
donc | therefore | en fait | actually | cependant / pourtant | however / yet |
finalement / enfin | finally | c'est-à-dire | that is to say | même si | even if |
quand / lorsque | when | en d'autres termes | in other words | par conséquent | consequently |
aussitôt / dès que | as soon as | c'est pour ça que | that's why | comme si | as though |
tant que | as long as | parce que | because | néanmoins | nevertheless |
depuis | since | car | for / because | soit... soit | either... or |
bien que | although | puisque / comme | since | en conclusion | in conclusion |
alors / tandis que | while / whereas | à cause de | because of | en bref | in brief / in short |
The word soit has several meanings. It is also the third person singular form of être in the present subjunctive. Je veux qu'il soit là. I want him to be here. It can also be used to mean i.e. or that is when introducing a clause. Le contenu du CD est bilingue, soit français et anglais. The contents of the CD are bilingual, i.e. French and English.
As an adjective, tout precedes and agrees with the noun.
masc. sing. | tout le train | the whole train |
fem. sing. | toute la journée | the whole day |
masc. pl. | tous les enfants | all the kids |
fem. pl. | toutes les mères | all the moms |
► As a pronoun, tout can be used alone; it then means everything and is
invariable.
Tout va bien. Everything's fine.
Je ne peux pas tout faire. I can't do everything.
► It can also reinforce the subject. (The s of tous is pronounced when tous is a pronoun.)
Ils sont tous là. They are all here.
► Tout can also be used with direct object pronouns. The forms of tout
follow the verb in a simple tense and go between the auxiliary and past
participle in a compound tense.
Je les ai toutes. I have them all.
Je ne les ai pas tous eu. I didn't have them all.
Idiomatic Expressions with Tout
en tout cas | in any case |
tout le monde | everyone |
tout de suite | right away |
de toute façon | anyway |
tout à fait | completely |
toutes sortes de | all kinds of |
pas du tout | not at all |
malgré tout | in spite of it all |
tout à l'heure | in a little while |
baby | le bébé | carousel | le manège |
fetus | le fœtus | toys | les jouets (m) |
diaper | la couche | ball | le ballon |
safety pin | l'épingle à nourrice (f) | marbles | les billes (f) |
rattle | le hochet | doll | la poupée |
pacifier | la tétine | stuffed animals | les peluches (f) |
bottle | le biberon | teddybear | le nounours |
carriage | le landau | blocks | les cubes (m) |
stroller | la poussette | top | la toupie |
high chair | la chaise haute | puppet | la marionnette |
bib | le bavoir | kite | le cerf-volant |
crib | le lit de bébé | balloon | le ballon |
cradle | le berceau | rollerblades | les rollers (m) |
kids | les gosses (m) | rollerskates | le patin à roulettes |
slide | le toboggan | wagon | le petit chariot |
seesaw | la balançoire à bascule | maze | le labyrinthe |
swing | la balançoire | hopscotch | la marelle |
A doudou refers to a favorite stuffed animal.
85. Primary & Secondary School
school | l'école (f) | pencil | le crayon |
teacher (m) | l'enseignant | mechanical pencil | le porte-mine |
teacher (f) | l'enseignante | pen | le stylo |
elem. teacher (m) | l'instituteur | eraser | la gomme |
elem. teacher (f) | l'institutrice | ink | l'encre (f) |
secondary teacher | le professeur | ink jar | l'encrier (f) |
chalkboard | le tableau | pencil sharpener | le taille-crayons |
chalk | la craie | glue | la colle |
desk | le pupitre | scissors | les ciseaux (m) |
student | l'élève | ruler | la règle |
university student | l'étudiant(e) | highlighter | le surligneur |
book | le livre | crayons | les crayons de couleur (m) |
backpack | le sac à dos | marker | le marqueur |
schoolbag | le cartable | piece of paper | la feuille |
locker | le casier | spiral notebook | le carnet de notes à spirale |
globe | le globe terrestre | folder | la chemise |
diploma | le diplôme | notebook | le cahier |
school supplies | les fournitures scolaires | binder | le classeur |
pencil case | la trousse | notepad | le bloc-notes |
Students of all ages use a trousse in France. They're not just for elementary students!
As in English, the passive voice in French is composed of a tense of the verb to be and a past participle. However, only a direct object in French can become the subject of the passive form. The active form, le chat mange la souris is made passive thus: La souris est mangée par le chat. The cat eats the mouse becomes the mouse is eaten by the cat. The subject in the active sentence (le chat) becomes the object of the passive. The direct object of the active sentence (la souris) becomes the subject of the passive sentence preceded by "par." The verb of the active sentence is changed into a past participle (mange becomes mangée, notice the agreement!) preceded by a form of être.
Elle est portée par Jean. She is carried by
John.
Elles ont été inspirées par Van Gogh. They
were inspired by Van Gogh.
Il avait été tué par les soldats français.
He had been killed by French soldiers.
► Notice how pronominal verbs change from active to passive:
Active: Je me suis réveillée. I woke up.
Passive: J'ai été réveillée par quelque
chose. I was awakened by something.
Passive is Not Possible
► If a verb takes an indirect object, it cannot be transformed into the passive voice in French. In this case, on is used in the active construction, as long as the agent is not specified and the action is performed by a human being (i.e. no natural forces, such as weather).
On a donné un cadeau à ma mère. My
mother was given a present. [Someone gave a present to my mother.]
On lui a dit de retrouver le conservateur au musée. He
was told to meet the curator at the museum. [Someone told him to meet the curator
at the museum.]
Alternatives to the Passive
► In addition to using on as the subject of an active construction to replace the passive, you can also use the pronominal constructions: se voir [to see oneself], s'entendre [to hear oneself], se faire [to get oneself] and se laisser [to let oneself] + infinitive. These verbs can be used when the agent is specified, unlike the active construction with on.
Je me suis vu promettre une augmentation. I have
been promised a raise.
Elle s'est entendu dire qu'il allait mourir. She was told that
he was going to die.
Jean s'est fait arrêter. John got arrested.
Ils se sont laissé tomber malade. They let themselves
get sick.
► You can also use a pronominal verb to translate the passive, as long as the agent is not specified. However, this does not work for all verbs.
Ça s'écrit comment? How is that written?
Ça ne se dit plus. That is not said anymore.
► Use être à + infinitive to translate must + English passive:
Ce monument est à voir ! This monument must
be seen!
Ce rapport est à refaire. This report must be redone.
87. Depuis, il y a, & pendant in past contexts
1. To express an action that has been going on, depuis (or il y a ... que) is used with the present tense.
Depuis quand avez-vous votre ordinateur ? Depuis combien de temps avez-vous votre ordinateur ? How long have you had your computer ? |
Je l'ai depuis deux ans. Ça fait deux ans que je l'ai. Il y a deux ans que je l'ai. I've had it for two years. |
Je conduis depuis longtemps. | I have been driving for a long time. |
2. But to express an action that had been going on for some time when something else happened, depuis is used with the imperfect.
Nous conduisions depuis deux heures, quand j'ai proposé de prendre le volant. |
We had been driving for two hours when I volunteered to drive. |
3. To express an action that you have not done for some time, use depuis with the passé composé.
Je n'ai pas conduit depuis mon mariage. | I haven't driven since I've been married. |
4. To express an action that was done for a period of time, pendant is used, usually with the passé composé. But for an action that was completed some time ago, use il y a, also with the passé composé.
J'ai loué une voiture pendant deux semaines. | I rented a car for two weeks. |
J'ai appris à conduire il y a deux ans. | I learned to drive two years ago. |
post office | la poste | bank | la banque |
letter | la lettre | teller | le caissier / la caissière |
postcard | la carte postale | bill | le billet |
stamp | le timbre | check | le chèque |
phone booth | la cabine téléphonique | checkbook | le chéquier |
mailbox | la boîte à lettres | ATM | le guichet automatique |
mail slot | la fente | key | la clé |
address | l'adresse | lock | la serrure |
return address | l'expéditeur | filing cabinet | le classeur |
label | l'étiquette | safety deposit box | le coffre |
packing tape | le ruban adhésif | notepad | le bloc-notes |
package | le paquet | credit card | la carte de crédit |
postmark | le cachet de la poste | security camera | la caméra de surveillance |
rubber band | l'élastique | security guard | le gardien |
ink pad | le tampon encreur | drive-thru window | le drive-in |
string | la ficelle | safe | le coffre-fort |
reçois | recevons |
reçois | recevez |
reçoit | reçoivent |
The past participle of recevoir is reçu.
90. Verbs + a or de + infinitives or nouns
Some verbs require à or de before an infinitive:
Verb + à + infinitive |
Verb + de + infinitive | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|
aider à | to help | accepter de | to accept | conseiller de | to advise |
s'amuser à | to have fun | arrêter de | to stop | convenir de | to agree upon |
apprendre à | to learn | avoir envie de | to feel like | craindre de | to fear |
arriver à | to manage | avoir honte de | to be ashamed | désespérer de | to despair |
chercher à | to look for | avoir peur de | to be afraid | dissuader de | to dissuade |
commencer à | to begin | avoir raison de | to be right | entreprendre de | to undertake |
consister à | to consist | avoir tort de | to be wrong | envisager de | to contemplate |
continuer à | to continue | choisir de | to choose | s'étonner de | to astonish |
donner à | to give | décider de | to decide | se garder de | to keep oneself |
encourager à | to encourage | défendre de | to forbid | négliger de | to neglect |
enseigner à | to teach | demander de | to ask | persuader de | to persuade |
s'exercer à | to practice/learn | se dépêcher de | to hurry up | prier de | to beg |
s'habituer à | to get used to | dire de | to say | recommander de | to recommend |
hésiter à | to hesitate | empêcher de | to prevent | reprocher de | to reproach |
insister à | to insist | essayer de | to try | ||
inviter à | to invite | être heureux de | to be happy | ||
renoncer à | to give up | être obligé de | to be required | ||
réussir à | to succeed | éviter de | to avoid | ||
songer à | to consider | s'excuser de | to apologize | ||
s'appliquer à | to apply to | finir de | to finish | ||
s'attacher à | to become attached | interdire de | to forbid | ||
se décider à | to decide | menacer de | to threaten | ||
s'employer à | to use | oublier de | to forget | ||
inciter à | to incite | permettre de | to permit | ||
s'obstiner à | to insist | promettre de | to promise | ||
parvenir à | to succeed | refuser de | to refuse | ||
persister à | to persist in | regretter de | to regret | ||
pousser à | to push | remercier de | to thank | ||
provoquer à | to provoke | rêver de | to dream | ||
se risquer à | to risk | risquer de | to risk | ||
veiller à | to look after | venir de | to have just | ||
viser à | to aim | cesser de | to stop |
► Venir de + infinitive means "to have just" + past participle
in English. Je viens de manger. I just ate.
Some verbs require à or de before nouns:
Verb + à + noun |
Verb + de + noun
|
||
aller à | to suit | s'apercevoir de | to notice |
assister à | to attend | s'approcher de | to approach |
demander à | to ask (someone) | avoir besoin de | to need |
dire à | to tell (someone) | changer de | to change |
convenir à | to suit | dépendre de | to depend on |
jouer à | to play (sport/game) | douter de | to doubt |
nuire à | to harm | hériter de | to inherit |
obéir à | to obey | jouer de | to play (instrument) |
penser à | to think of | jouir de | to enjoy |
plaire à | to please | manquer de | to lack |
renoncer à | to give up | se méfier de | to distrust |
répondre à | to answer | penser de | to think/have an opinion about |
resister à | to resist | remercier de | to thank for |
ressembler à | to resemble | rire de | to laugh at |
songer à | to consider | se servir de | to use |
survivre à | to survive | se souvenir de | to remember |
téléphoner à | to phone | vivre de | to live on |
And some verbs require no prepositions in French, while others
use different prepositions from English:
No prepositions in French |
Different prepositions from English
|
||
approuver | to approve of | entrer dans | to enter |
attendre | to wait for | consister en | to consist of |
chercher | to look for | se fâcher contre | to get angry with |
demander | to ask for | ||
écouter | to listen to | ||
espérer | to hope for | ||
payer | to pay for | ||
rappeler | to remind of | ||
regarder | to look at | ||
sentir | to smell of/like | ||
viser | to aim at |
Tu me rappelle mon père. You remind
me of my father.
Ça sent la pluie. It smells like rain.
91. Adjectives + a or de + infinitives
Adjective + à + infinitive |
Adjective + de + infinitive |
||
accessible à | accessible | accusé de | accused |
agréable à | pleasant | assuré de | assure/insured |
amusant à | fun | capable de | capable |
antérieur à | previous/earlier | certain de | certain |
attaché à | attached | chargé de | charged/loaded |
conforme à | standard | connu de | known |
contraire à | contrary | conscient de | conscious |
dernier à | last | content de | content/satisfied |
ennuyeux à | boring | dénudé de | naked/bare |
étranger à | foreign | désireux de | desirous |
exposé à | exposed | désolé de | sorry |
favorable à | favorable | différent de | different |
inférieur à | inferior/lower | digne de | fit/worthy |
intéressant à | interesting | exempt de | exempt |
léger à | light | furieux de | furious |
lent à | slow | heureux de | happy |
lourd à | heavy | honteux de | ashamed |
opposé à | opposite | impatient de | impatient |
pénible à | difficult | plein de | full |
premier à | first | privé de | private |
prêt à | ready | proche de | close/near |
rapide à | fast | rempli de | full |
semblable à | similar | soucieux de | worried |
seul à | only | sûr de | sure |
supérieur à | superior/higher | triste de | sad |
terrible à | terrible | vide de | empty |
utile à | useful |
suis | suivons |
suis | suivez |
suit | suivent |
The past participle of suivre is suivi. Suivre can also be used with school subjects to mean "to take a course."
Suivez le guide ! Follow the guide!
Suivez les instructions. Follow the instructions.
Je suis un cours de maths. I'm taking a math class.
Faire + an infinitive is called the faire causative. It translates to "have something done by someone or cause something to be done by someone," or "to cause someone to do something."
Je répare la voiture. I'm fixing the car.
Je fais réparer la voiture. I'm having the car fixed.
Il peint son appartement. He's painting his apartment.
Il fait peindre son appartement. He's having his apartment
painted.
Le bébé mange. The baby is eating.
Elle fait manger le bébé. She's feeding the baby.
► When replacing the object with a pronoun, the pronoun precedes faire. And in past tenses, the past participle remains invariable.
Je la fais réparer. I'm having it fixed.
Il leur a fait apprendre les verbes. He had them learn
the verbs.
Il les leur a fait apprendre. He had them learn them.
► Se faire + infinitive is usually translated as "to get" + (oneself) + verb.
Tu vas te faire tuer. You're going to get yourself
killed.
Il va se faire casser la gueule. He's going to break his neck.
Se faire soigner sans se faire arrêter.
Get treated/looked after without getting arrested.
Évitez de vous faire piquer. Avoid getting stung.
94. Direct & Indirect Discourse
Direct discourse relates exactly what someone has said or written, using quotation marks and the original wording. Indirect discourse relates indirectly, without quotation marks, what someone has said or written. It works the same way in French as it does in English.
Direct Discourse | Indirect Discourse | |
Main verb is present | Il me dit: <<Je pars en vacances et ma famille a loué une villa.>> |
Il me dit qu'il part en vacances et que sa famille a loué une villa. |
Main verb in past | Il m'a dit: <<Je pars en vacances et ma famille a loué une villa.>> |
Il m'a dit qu'il partait en vacances et que sa famille avait loué une villa. |
Note that if the main verb is in the present tense, no tense changes occur when using indirect discourse. However, if the main verb is in a past tense, the following tense changes occur:
Present → Imperfect
Passé Composé → Pluperfect
The Imperfect and Pluperfect do not change. Remember to use que to introduce each dependent clause, and adjust personal pronouns and possessive adjectives.
In questions, the following (rather uncomplicated) changes occur:
1. Yes/no questions = si + declarative sentence
Je t'ai demandé si tu avais faim.
2. Où, quand, comment, etc. = interrogative word + declarative
sentence
Il m'a demandé à quelle heure j'allais revenir.
3. Interrogative pronouns are a little trickier:
qui est-ce qui qui est-ce que |
qui | Il m'a demandé qui était resté. Elle m'a demandé qui j'avais vu. |
---|---|---|
qu'est-ce qui | ce qui | Ils m'ont demandé ce qui s'était passé. |
qu'est-ce que | ce que | Elles m'ont demandé ce que j'avais dit. |
computer | l'ordinateur | scanner | le scanner |
disk | la disquette | laptop | le portable |
document | le document | internet | l'internet |
CD-ROM | le cédérom | internet user | l'internaute |
monitor | l'écran | online | en-ligne |
keyboard | le clavier | link | le lien |
mouse | la souris | bookmark | le signet |
printer | l'imprimante | le courriel / le mail | |
memo | la note de service | password | le mot de passe |
fax machine | le télécopieur | search engine | le moteur de recherche |
photocopier | la photocopieuse | chat room | la salle de tchatche |
typewriter | la machine à écrire | bulletin board | le forum |
software | le logiciel | homepage | la page d'accueil |
file | le dossier | website | le site |
cabinet | le placard | web browser | le navigateur |
memory card | la carte mémoire | cable | le câble |
flashdrive | la clé USB | DSL | l'ADSL |
external HD | le disque dur externe | to sign on / off | se connecter / déconnecter |
attachment | la pièce jointe | to scroll up / down | dérouler le texte |
to attach | joindre | to download | télécharger |
French uses portable to refer to a laptop computer and a cell phone.
Sometimes ne must be inserted in a phrase even when it is not expressing the negative. (However, do not confuse the use of ne explétif with the verbs that can exist in the negative with only using ne and not pas in formal, written language: cesser, daigner, oser, pouvoir, savoir).
It is used 1) after certain conunctions: avant que, à moins que; 2) after expressions and verbs of fear: de crainte que, de peur que, craindre que, avoir peur que, redouter que, trembler que, empêcher que, éviter que; 3) before a verb that follows a comparison of inequality: plus, moins, autre; and 4) after adverbs of doubt and negation used in the negative to express a positive idea.
Je sors ce soir à moins qu'il ne pleuve. I'll go out
this evening unless it rains.
Il craint que tu ne sois fatigué après le voyage.
He's afraid that you'll be tired after the trip.
Nous sommes plus forts qu'elle ne pense. We are stronger than
she thinks.
Je ne doute pas que vous ne fassiez des progrès. I don't
doubt that you are making progress.
97. Conditional Tenses: Present & Past
The present conditional tense corresponds to "would." It is used after the imperfect in a conditional sentence. Most conditionals sentences begin with si (if). However, do not confuse the conditional would with the would that expresses a repeated action in the past. If would means used to, then the imperfect tense is used. Another use of the conditional is in news reports to indicate that the information is not confirmed.
Si j'étais (imperfect) dans
une autre famille, est-ce que je serais (conditional)
plus heureuse ? If I were in another family, would I be happier?
Quand nous étions (imperfect) en vacances,
nous dormions (imperfect) jusqu'à midi.
When we were on vacation, we would (used to) sleep until noon.
Un otage étranger serait mort en route pour l'hôpital.
A foreign hostage (probably) died on the way to the hospital.
To form the conditional, use the infinitive and add the imperfect
endings (but remember to drop the -e on -re verbs). You use the same irregular stems and exceptions for the conditional
that are used for the future tense.
-ais | -ions |
-ais | -iez |
-ait | -aient |
The past conditional is formed by using the conditional of avoir or être and a past participle. It corresponds to "would have" and is used in hypothetical sentences.
Il n'aurait jamais dit ça ! He would have never said that!
► If... sentences: When si (if) is used in sentences of condition, the verb tenses change. These pretty much correspond to English usage.
1. Si + present tense + present, imperative, or future
Si je suis fatiguée, je me repose. If I'm tired,
I rest.
Repose-toi si tu es fatigué. Rest if you're tired.
Si je suis fatigué demain, je me reposerai. If
I am tired tomorrow, I will rest.
2. Si + imperfect + present conditional
Si j'étais riche, je pourrais acheter un château. If
I were rich, I would buy a castle.
Il deviendrait roi s'il avait plus de courage. He would
become king if he had more courage.
3. Si + pluperfect + past conditional
Si j'avais su, j'aurais compris. If I had known, I would
have understood.
It is possible to have past conditional with the imperfect, and it is also possible to have present conditional with pluperfect. However, you can never have the future or conditional tenses directly following si. They must be in the other clause.
► Translating Would, Could, Should
In general, you use the conditional tense of a verb to express would + infinitive, such as je dirais - I would say. Again, make sure to use the imperfect of the verb if you're referring to repeated actions in the past (i.e. used to). You can also use the conditional of pouvoir to mean could, as long as the meaning is something that is yet to happen. Il pourrait m'aider. He could help me. Otherwise, you use the imperfect or passé composé to mean could if you're referring to the past of can (i.e. was/were not able to). Elle ne pouvait pas s'arrêter de rire. She couldn't stop laughing. Should is usually translated by using the conditional of devoir. Tu ne devrais pas dire ça. You shouldn't say that. For would have, could have and should have, you use the past conditional of the verb, past conditional of pouvoir + infinitive, and past conditional of devoir + infinitive, respectively. Just remember that would and would have are not followed by infinitives in French.
would | conditional of verb | il dirait | he would say |
could | conditional of pouvoir + infinitive | il pourrait dire | he could say |
should | conditional of devoir + infinitive | il devrait dire | he should say |
would have | past conditional of verb | il aurait dit | he would have said |
could have | past conditional of pouvoir + infinitive | il aurait pu dire | he could have said |
should have | past conditional of devoir + infinitive | il aurait dû dire | he should have said |
"You shouldn't have" or "that wasn't necessary" when someone gives you a gift is il ne fallait pas.
Listen to the le conditionnel : si tu gagnais au loto mp3 and try the cloze (fill-in-the-blank) exercise from French Listening Resources.
98. Parts of a Car & At the Gas Station
horn | le klaxon | directional signal | le clignotant |
hood | le capot | license plate | la plaque d'immatriculation |
brake | le frein | brake light (on car) | le stop |
steering wheel | le volant | car | la voiture |
windshield wipers | les essuie-glaces | window | la vitre |
dashboard | le tableau de bord | door | la portière |
accelerator | l'accélérateur | gas tank | le réservoir |
headlights | les phares | wheel | la roue |
windshield | le pare-brise | tire | le pneu |
motor | le moteur | bumper | le pare-chocs |
trunk | le coffre | fender | l'aile |
body (of car) | la carrosserie | door handle | la poignée de portière |
driver's license | le permis de conduire | air conditioning | la climatisation |
gasoline | l'essence | heater | le chauffage |
traffic lights | les feux | battery | la batterie |
oil | l'huile | gas cap | le bouchon de réservoir d'essence |
hubcap | l'enjoliveur | gas pump | la pompe à essence |
air hose | la pompe à air |
The most common types of cars in France are Peugeot, Clio, Renault, and Fiat, and the majority are manual drive. Automatic cars in Europe are generally reserved for handicapped people. The driving age in France is 18, and young drivers who have just gotten their licenses have a red A sticker on their car.
conduis | conduisons |
conduis | conduisez |
conduit | conduisent |
The past participle of conduire is conduit. Other verbs conjugated like conduire are: traduire - to translate, produire - to produce, and construire - to construct.
100. Travelling & At the Airport
suitcase | la valise |
clothes | les vêtements |
passport | le passeport |
diary | le journal |
traveler's checks | les chèques de voyage |
dictionary | le dictionnaire |
flight | le vol |
baggage | les bagages |
Euro | l'euro |
bill | le billet |
coin | la pièce |
change | la monnaie |
cent | le centime |
arrival | l'arrivée |
departure | le départ |
Where is/are... | Où est / Où sont... |
currency exchange | le bureau de change |
passport check | le contrôle des passeports |
customs | la douane |
entrance | l'entrée |
lost and found | les objets trouvés |
information | les renseignements |
exit | la sortie |
taxi stand | les taxis |
restroom | les toilettes |
When asking Where is/are..., Où est is the singular form and Où sont is the plural form, even if it's singular in English. Where is the entrance? would be Où est l'entrée ? and Where is the lost and found? would be Où sont les objets trouvés ?
right there | juste là | zhoost lah | across from | en face de | awn fawz duh |
here | ici | ee-see | between | entre | awn-truh |
over there | là-bas | lah bah | next to | à côté de | ah koh-tay duh |
to the right of | à droite de | ah dwaht duh | near | près de | preh duh |
to the left of | à gauche de | ah gohsh duh | far (from) | loin de | lwahn duh |
straight ahead | tout droit | too dwah | at the end of | au fond de | oh fohn duh |
in front of | devant | duh-vawn | at the top of | en haut de | awn oh duh |
behind | derrière | dare-ee-air |
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