Introduction to Perfect Tenses
The next section is optional. You will eventually learn everything that is covered in it, but if you would like a preview, read it, and if not, continue on to the school section.
Introduction to Moods and Tenses
Like the above section, this is also optional. You will eventually learn everything in here.
School
| French Vocabulary · School · School L'école | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| General | Classes / Grades | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| le professeur | teacher | 12th Grade | Classe Terminale | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| la bourse | scholarship | 11th Grade | 1ère (la première classe) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| le diplôme (professionnel) | diploma | 10th Grade | 2ème (la deuxième classe) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| le bac(calauréat) | high school exit exam | 9th Grade | 3ème (la troisième classe) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| la bibliothèque | library | 8th Grade | 4ème (la quatrième classe) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| les notes | grades (as on a test) | 7th Grade | 5ème (la cinquième classe) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| les cours | classes or courses | 6th Grade | 6ème (la sixième classe) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| la classe | grade (e.g. 6th Grade) | 5th Grade | CM2 (CM = cours moyen) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| en cours de [...] | in [...] class | 4th Grade | CM1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Pendant les cours - During Classes | 3rd Grade | CE2 (CE=cours élémentaire) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| le tableau | chalkboard | 2nd Grade | CE1 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| la craie | chalk | 1st Grade | CP1 (CP = cours préparatoire) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| le pupitre | desk | Verbs | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| l'examen (m) | test | passer un examen | to take a test | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| les devoirs | homework | étudier | to study | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| la classe | class | écrire | to write | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| la cantine déjeuner | cafeteria to (eat) lunch | lever (la main) | to raise (your hand) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| la récré(ation) la cour | recess courtyard | poser (une question) | to ask (a question) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Schools and Students | parler | to speak | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| l'école (f) | school | écouter | to listen (to) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| l'étudiant l'étudiante | student (m) student (f) | entendre | to hear (of)[5] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| le collège (classes 3-terminale) | jr. high school (grades 6-9) | regarder | to watch | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| le collégien | jr. high school student | déjeuner | to (have) lunch | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| le lycée (classes 6-4) | high school (grades 10-12) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| le lycéen | high school student | Describing Teachers and Students | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| l'université (f) la fac(ulté) | university | intelligent(e) | intelligent | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| nul(le) | not good, not bright | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| l'enseignement supérieur | higher education graduate school | strict(e) | strict | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Des fournitures scolaires - School Supllies | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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^ The word professeur is considered masculine at all times, even if the teacher is female. The only case when "professeur" can be preceded by feminine determinant is either when contracting it in colloquial language "la prof", or when adding a few words before : "madame/mademoiselle la/le professeur".
^ The way that grades are numbered in France is opposite the way they are in the US. Whereas American grade numbers go up as you approach your senior year, they descend in France.
^ Écrire is an irregular verb. You will learn to conjugate it in the next section.
^ In French, you do not "own" body parts. While in English, you would say my hand or your hand, the definate article is always used in French.
- la main - my hand
- la jambe - my leg
- le bras - my arm
^ To and of are built into the verbs écouter and entendre respectively. It is not necessary to add a preposition to the verb. Other verbs, such as répondre {à), meaning to respond (to), are almost always followed by a preposition.
Écire & Lire
School Subjects
Passé Composé with Regular Verbs
The passé composé is a perfect tense, and is therefore composed of an auxiliary verb and a past participle. With most verbs, that auxililary verb is avoir.
Meaning
In English, verbs comjugated in the passé composé literally mean have/has ____ed. While there is a simple past tense in French, it is only used in formal writing, so verbs conjugated in the passé composé can also be used to mean the English simple tense.
- For example, the passé composé form of parler (to speak), [avoir] parlé, literally mean has/have spoken, but also means spoke.
Basic Formation
To conjugate a verb in the passé composé, the helping verb, usually avoir, is conjugated in the present indicative and the past participle is then added.
Auxiliary Verb - Avoir
Conjugate avoir in the present indicative.
| j'ai | I have | nous avons | we have |
| tu as | you have | vous avez | you have |
| il a | he has | ils ont | they have |
Past Participle
- -er verbs - replace -er with é
- -ir verbs - replace -ir with i
- -re verbs - replace -re with u
| Formation of the Past Participle | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Verb Group | Infinitive | Stem | Past Participle |
| -er verbs | jouer | jou | joué |
| -ir verbs | finir | fin | fini |
| -re verbs | répondre | répond | répondu |
Avoir + Past Participle
| J'ai joué. | I have played | Nous avons joué. | We have played. |
| Tu as joué. | You have played. | Vous avez joué. | You have played. |
| Il a joué. | He has played. | Ils ont joué. | They have played. |
Content is available under GNU Free Documentation License Source: Wikibooks