NOUNS AND ARTICLES
A noun designates a person, place, or thing. Nouns in French have number (Singular
and Plural). However, French nouns also have gender (masculine or feminine).
Example:
Le Café = masculine singular La bibliothèque = femenine singular
Les Cafés = masculine plural Les bibliothèques = féminine plural
Nouns that designate a male are usually masculine. Nouns that designate a female are
usually feminine.
Masculine Feminine
L’acteur (m.) The actor L’actrice (f.) The actress
L’ami (m.) The (male) friend L’amie (f.) The (female) friend
Le chanteur The (male) singer La chanteuse The (female) singer
L’étudiant (m.) The (male) student L’étudiante (f.) The (female) student
Le petit ami The boyfriend La petite amie The girlfriend
Some nouns can designate either a male or female regardless of their grammatical
gender; in other words ,whether the word itself is masculine or feminine.
Example:
Un professeur Une personne
A (male or female) professor A (male or female) person
Nouns for objects that have no natural gender can be whether masculine or feminine.
Masculine Feminine
Le bureau the office; desk La chose the thing
Le lycée the high school La difference the difference
L’examen (m.) the test; exam La faculté the faculty
L'objet (m.) the object La littérature literature la
L’ordinateur the computer La sociologie sociology
Le problème the problem L’université (f.) the university
You can usually form the plural of a noun by adding -s. The final -s in the plural form of
a noun is not pronounced. Therefore ami and amis sound the same. You can
determine whether the word you’re hearing is singular or plural by the article that comes
before it.
Singular Plural
Typical masculine noun L’objet (m.) the object Les objets The objects
Typical feminine noun La télévision the television Les télévisions the televisions
However, in the case of words that end in -eau in the singular, add -x to the end to form
the plural. For most nouns ending in -al, drop the -al and add -aux.
Example:
Le Bureau ----> Les Beureaux or L’animal ----> Les animaux
When you have a group composed of males and females, use the masculine plural
noun to refer to it.
Example:
Les amis or Les étudiants
The English definite article the never varies with number or gender of the noun it
modifies. However, in French the definite article takes four different forms depending on
the gender and number of the noun that it accompanies: le, la, l’, or les.
In English, you sometimes omit the definite article when making general statements. In
French, you must always use the definite articles in such cases.
Singular nouns begin. w/ a
Singular nouns begin. w/ a consonant Plural Noun
vowel sound
the painting/ the friend
Masculine le tableau l’ami (m.) les cafés the cafés
blackboard (m.)
les the
Feminine la librairie the bookstore l’université the university
télévisions television
In English, the singular indefinite article is a/an, and the plural indefinite article is some.
In French, the singular indefinite articles are un and une, and the plural indefinite article
is des. Unlike in English, the indefinite article des cannot be omitted in French.
singular plural
Masculine un instrument an instrument des instruments (some) instruments
Feminine une table a table des tables (some) tables
Use c’est followed by a singular article and noun or ce sont followed by a plural article
and noun to identify people and objects.
Example:
Qu’est-ce que c’est? ---> What is that?
C’est une librairie. ----> It’s a bookstore.
Ce Sont des bureaux. ----> Those are offices
NUMBERS 0-60
Numbers 0-60
0-10 11-20 21-30
zéro 0
un 1 onze 11 vingt et un 21
deux 2 douze 12 vingt-deux 22
trois 3 treize 13 vingt-trois 23
quarte 4 quatorze 14 vingt-quatre 24
cinq 5 quinze 15 vingt-cinq 25
six 6 seize 16 vingt-six 26
sept 7 dix-sept 17 vingt-sept 27
huit 8 dix-huit 18 vingt-huit 28
neuf 9 dix-neuf 19 vingt-neuf 29
dix 10 vingt 20 trente 30
When counting a series of numbers, use un for one.
When one is followed by a noun, use un or une depending on whether the noun is
masculine or femenine.
Example:
un objet or une télévision
an/one object a/one television
Note that the number 21 (vingt et un) follows a different pattern than the numbers 22-
30. When vingt et un precedes a feminine noun, add -e to the end of it: vingt et une.
Notice that the numbers 31-39, 41-49, and 51-59 follow the same pattern as the
numbers 21-29.
Numbers 31-60
31-34 35-38 39,40,50,60
trente et un 31 trente-cinq 35 trente-neuf 29
trente-deux 32 trente-six 36 quarante 40
trente-trois 33 trente-sept 37 cinquante 50
trente-quatre 34 trente-huit 38 soixante 60
As with the number 21, to indicate a count of 31,41, or 51 for a feminine noun, change
the un and une.
Use il y a to say there is or there are in French. This expression doesn’t change, even if
the noun follows it is plural.
Example:
Il y a un ordinateur dans le bureau.
There is a computer in the office.
Il y a une table dans le café.
There is one table in the café
Il y a des tables dans le café.
There are tables in the café.
Il y a dix-huit objets sur le bureau.
There are eighteen objects on the desk.
In most cases, the indefinite article (un,une or des) is used with il y a, rather than the
definite article (le, la, l’, or les).
Example:
Il y a un professeur de biologie américain.
There's an American biology professor.
Use the expression il n’y a pas de/d’ followed by a noun to express there isn't a… or
there aren’t any…. Note that no article (definite or indefinite) is used in this case. Use
de before a consonant sound and d’ before a vowel sound.
Example:
Before a consonant before a vowel sound
Il n’y a pas de tables dans le café Il n’y a pas d’ordinateur dans le bureau.
There aren’t any tables in the cafe. There isn’t a computer in the office.
Use combien de/d’ to as how many of something there are.
Il y a combien de tables? Il y a combien de librairies?
How many tables are there? How many bookstores are there?
Il y a combien d’ordinateurs? Il y a combien d’étudiants?
How many computers are there? How many students are there?
THE FRENCH ALPHABET
The French alphabet is made up of the same 26 letters as the English alphabet. While
they look the same, some letters are pronounced differently. They also sound different
when you spell.
a (a) f (effe) j (ji) o (o) t (té) y (i grec)
b (bé) g (gé) k (ka) p (pé) u (u) z (zède)
c (cé) h (hache) l (elle) q (ku) v (vé)
d (e) i (i) m (emme) r (erre) w (double vé)
n (enne) s (esse) x (iks)
Notice that some letters in French words have accents. You’ll learn how they influence
pronunciation in later lessons. Whenever you spell a word in French, include the name
of the accent after the letter. For double letters, use deux:ss = deux s.
In French, as in English, the subject of a sentence is the person or thing that performs the
action. The verb expresses the action.
SUBJECT < - - - - - > VERB
Le professeur parle français.
The professor speaks French.
Subject Pronouns:
Subject pronouns replace a noun that is the subject of a sentence.
SUBJECT PRONOUN < - > VERB
Il parle français.
He speaks French.
In English, you sometimes use the pronoun it to replace certain nouns.
The exam is long. - - - - - - > It is long.
In French, there is no equivalent neuter pronoun. You must use il or elle depending on the
gender of the noun it is replacing.
L’examen est long. - - - - - > Il est long.
French Subject Pronouns
Singular Plural
first person Je - - - -> I nous - - - - > We
second person Tu - - - -> You Vous - - - > You
third person Il - - - - - > He/It (masc.) Ils - - - - > They (masc.)
Elle - - - > She/It (fem.) Elles - - - > They (fem.)
On - - - > one
Subject pronouns in French show number (singular vs. plural) and gender (masculine vs.
feminine). When a subject consists of both males and females, use the masculine form of the
pronoun to replace it.
Rémy et Marie dansent très bien.
Ils dansent très bien.
They dance very well.
M. et Mme Diop sont de Dakar.
Ils sont de Dakar.
They are from Dakar.
Use tu for informal address and vous for formal. Vous is also the plural form of you, both
informal and formal.
Comment vas-tu?
How’s it going?
Comment t’appelles-tu?
What’s your name?
Comment allez-vous?
How are you?
Comment vous appelez-vous?
What is/What are your name(s)?
The subject pronoun on refers to people in general, just as the English subject pronouns one,
they, or you sometimes do. On can also mean we in casual speech. On always takes the same
verb form as il and elle.
En France, on parle français.
In France, they speak French.
On est au cafe.
We are at the coffee shop.
Être (to be) is an irregular verb; its conjugation (set of forms for different subjects) does not
follow a pattern. The form être is called the infinitive. It does not correspond to any particular
subject.
Être (to be)
Je suis I am
Tu es You are
Singular Forms
Il/Elle est He/She/It is
On est One is
Nous sommes We are
Plural Forms Vous êtes You are
Ils/Elles sont They are
Nouns that the -s of the subject pronouns vous is pronounced as an English z in the phrase
vous êtes.
Vous◡êtes à Paris.
You are in Paris.
Vous◡êtes M.Leclerc? Enchantée.
Are you Mr. Leclerc? Pleased to meet you.
C’EST AND IL/ELLE EST:
Use c’est or its plural form ce sont plus a s a noun to identify who or what someone or
something is. Remember to use an article before the noun.
C’est un téléphone.
That is a phone.
Ce sont des photos.
Those are pictures.
When the expressions c’est or ce sont are followed by prosper names, don’t use an article
before the names.
C’est Amina.
That’s Amina.
Ce sont Amélie et Anne.
That's Amelie and Anne.
Use c’est or ce sont instead of il/elle est and ils/elles sont when you have an adjective
qualifying the noun that follows.
C’est un professeur intelligent.
He is an intelligent professor.
Ce sont des actrices élégantes.
Those are elegant actresses.
Use il/elle est and ils/elles sont to refer to someone or something previously mentioned.
La bibliothèque? Elle est moderne.
The library? It’s modern.
Nathalie et Felix? Ils sont intelligents.
Nathalie and Felix? They are intelligent.
Use the phrases il/elle est and ils/elles sont to tell someone’s profession. Note that in French,
you do not use the article before the profession.
Voilà M. Richard. Il est acteur.
There’s Mr. Richard. He’s an actor
Elles sont chanteuses.
They are singers.
Adjective Agreement
Adjectives are words that describe people, places, and things. In French adjectives are often used
with the verb être to point out the qualities of nouns or pronouns.
Many adjectives in French are cognates; that is, they have the same or similar spellings and
meanings in French and English.
Cognate Descriptive Adjectives
Agréable Pleasant Intelligent(e) Intelligent
Amusant(e) Fun Intéressant(e) Interesting
Brilliant(e) Brilliant Occupé(e) Busy
Charmant(e) charming Optimiste Optimistic
Désagréable Unpleasant Patient(e) Patient
Différant(e) Different Poli(e) Polite
Égoïste Selfish Réservé(e) Reserved
Élégant(e) Elegant Sincère Sincere
Impatient(e) Impatient Sociable Sociable
important(e) Important Sympathique Nice
indépendant(e) Independent Timide Shy
Difficile Difficult Pessimiste pessimistic
In French, most adjectives agree in number and gender with nouns they describe. Most adjectives
form the feminie by adding a silent -e (no accent) to the end of the masculine form. Adding a
silent -s to the end of the mascukkine feminine form gives you the plural forms of both.
Masculine Feminine
Singular Patient Patiente
Plural Patients Patientes
Henri est élégant.
Claire et Lise sont élégantes.
Use the masculine plural form of an adjective to describe a group composed of masculine and
feminine nouns:
Henri et Patricia sont élégants.
If the masculine form of the adjective already ends in an unaccented -e, do not add another one
for the feminine form.
French adjectives are usually placed after the noun they modify when they don't directly follow a
form of être.
Ce sont des étudiantes brillantes.
They’re brilliant students.
Bernard est un homme agréable et poli.
Bernard is a pleasant and polite man.
Here are some adjectives of nationality, Note that the -n of the adjectives that end in -ien doubles
before the final -e of the feminie form: algerenne, canadienne, italienne, vietnamienne.
Adjectives of Nationality
algérien(ne) Algerian japonais(e) Japanese
allemand(e) German marocain(e) Moroccan
anglais(e) English martiniquais(e) from Martinique
américain(e) American mexicain(e) Mexican
canadien(ne) Canadian québécois(e) from Quebec
espagnol(e) Spanish sénégalais(e) Senegalese
français(e) French suisse Swiss
italien(ne) Italian vietnamien(ne) Vietnamese
Adjectives of nationality can be used as nouns as well. Unlike adjectives, nouns of nationality are
capitalized.
La femme anglaise est réservée.
L'Anglaise est réservée.
The first letter of adjectives of nationality is not capitalized.
An adjective whose masculine singular form already ends in -s keeps the identical form in the
masculine plural.
To ask someone’s nationality or heritage, use Quelle est ta/votre nationalité? Or Tu es/Vous êtes
de quelle origine?
Quelle est votre nationalité? Je suis de nationalité canadienne.
What is your nationality? I’m Canadian.
Tu es de quelle origine? Je suis d’origine italienne.
What is your heritage? I’m of Italian heritage.
Le Campus
une salle de classe classroom
un dictionnaire dictionary
un examen exam, test
un livre book
un résultat result
une carte map
une chaise chair
une fenêtre window
une horloge clock
une porte door
un cahier notebook
une calculatrice calculator
une corbeille (à papier) wastebasket
un crayon pencil
une feuille (de papier) sheet of paper
une montre watch
un sac à dos backpack
un stylo pen
Les Personnes
un(e) camarade de roommate
chambre
un(e) camarade de classe classmate
une classe class (group of students)
un copain/une copine friend
(fam.)
un(e) élève pupil, student
une femme woman
une fille girl
un garçon boy
un homme man
Identifier
c'est it's
ce sont they are
Qui est-ce? Who is it?
Quoi? What?
Les Adjectifs Descriptifs
agréable pleasant
amusant(e) fun
brillant(e) brilliant
charmant(e) charming
désagréable unpleasant
différent(e) different
difficile difficult
égoïste selfish
élégant(e) elegant
impatient(e) impatient
important(e) important
indépendant(e) independen
t
intelligent(e) intelligent
intéressant(e) interesting
occupé(e) busy
optimiste optimistic
patient(e) patient
pessimiste pessimistic
poli(e) polite
réservé(e) reserved
sincère sincere
sociable sociable
sympathique/sympa nice
timide shy
Les adject Les Adjectifs
de Nationalite
algérien(ne) Algerian
allemand(e) German
anglais(e) English
américain(e) American
canadien(ne) Canadian
espagnol(e) Spanish
français(e) French
italien(ne) Italian
japonais(e) Japanese
marocain(e) Moroccan
martiniquais(e) from
Martinique
mexicain(e) Mexican
québécois(e) from
Quebec
sénégalais(e) Senegalese
suisse Swiss
vietnamien(ne) Vietnamese
Vocabulary:
LES CAMPUS
une bibliothèque library
un café café
une faculté university; faculty
une librairie bookstore
un lycée high school
une université university
une différence difference
la littérature literature
un problème problem
la sociologie sociology
un bureau desk; office
un ordinateur computer
une table table
un tableau blackboard; picture
la télévision television
une chose thing
un instrument instrument
un objet object
LES PERSONNE
un(e) ami(e) friend
un(e) étudiant(e) student
un(e) petit(e) ami(e) boyfriend/girlfriend
une personne person
un acteur/une actrice actor
un chanteur/une chanteuse singer
un professeur teacher, professor
LES PRESENTATIONS
Comment vous appelez-vous? (form.) What is your name?
Comment t’appelles-tu? (fam.) What is your name?
Enchanté(e). Delighted.
Et vous? (form.) And you?
Et toi? (fam.) And you?
Je m’appelle… My name is…
Je vous présente… (form.) I would like to introduce (name) to
you.
Je te présente… (fam.) I would like to introduce (name) to
you.
IDENTIFIER
Combien…? How much/many…?
ici here
Il y a… There is/are…
là there
là-bas over there
Qu'est-ce que c'est? What is it?
voici here is/are
voilà There is/are…
BONJOUR ET AU REVOIR
À bientôt. See you soon.
À demain. See you tomorrow.
À plus tard. See you later.
À tout à l’heure. See you later.
Au revoir. Good-bye.
Bonne journée! Have a good day!
Bonjour. Good morning.; Hello.
Bonsoir. Good evening.; Hello.
Salut! Hi!; Bye!
COMMENT CA VA?
Ça va? What’s up?; How are things?
Comment allez-vous? (form.) How are you?
Comment vas-tu? (fam.) How are you?
Comme ci, comme ça. So-so.
Je vais bien. I am doing well/badly.
Je vais mal. I am doing well/badly.
Moi aussi. Me too.
Pas mal. Not badly.
Très bien. Very well.
EXPRESSIONS DE POLITESSE
De rien. You’re welcome.
Excusez-moi. (form.) / Excuse- Excuse me.
moi. (fam.)
Il n’y a pas de quoi. You’re welcome.
Je vous en prie. You’re welcome.; It’s nothing.
Je t'en prie. You’re welcome.; It’s nothing.
Merci beaucoup. Thank you very much.
Monsieur (M.) Sir (Mr.)
Madame (Mme) Ma’am (Mrs.)
Mademoiselle (Mlle) Miss
Pardon. Pardon (me).
S’il vous plaît. (form.) / S’il te plaît. Please.
(fam.)
LES NOMBRES DE 0 A 60
zéro zero vingt-neuf twenty-nine
un one trente thirty
deux two trente et un thirty-one
trois three trente-deux thirty-two
quatre four trente-trois thirty-three
cinq five trente-quatre thirty-four
six six trente-cinq thirty-five
sept seven trente-six thirty-six
huit eight trente-sept thirty-seven
neuf nine trente-huit thirty-eight
dix ten trente-neuf thirty-nine
onze eleven quarante forty
douze twelve cinquante fifty
treize thirteen soixante sixty
quatorze fourteen
quinze fifteen
seize sixteen
dix-sept seventeen
dix-huit eighteen
dix-neuf nineteen
vingt twenty
vingt et un twenty-one
vingt-deux twenty-two
vingt-trois twenty-three
vingt-quatre twenty-four
vingt-cinq twenty-five
vingt-six twenty-six
vingt-sept twenty-seven
vingt-huit twenty-eight
