Read and study the following vocabulary words. Use the audio controls to hear the pronunciation and try saying the words aloud. If you find it difficult to pronounce a certain word, be sure to write down a pronunciation note. Example: beau (boh)
Read and study the following vocabulary words. Use the audio controls to hear the pronunciation and try saying the words aloud. If you find it difficult to pronounce a certain word, be sure to write down a pronunciation note. Example: amical (ah-me-kahl).
Did you notice that many of the adjectives have two forms? For example: blond and blonde; courageux and courageuse; sportif and sportive. The first adjective is the masculine form, and it is used with masculine nouns. The second adjective is the feminine form, and it is used with feminine nouns. Look at the following examples:
Le garçon est blond. = The boy is blond.
La fille est blonde. = The girl is blond.
L'homme est sportif. = The man is athletic.
La femme est sportive. = The woman is athletic.
There are a few adjectives that end in the letter e. These adjectives only have one form, which can be used with masculine and feminine nouns. Look at the following examples:
Le garçon est timide. = The boy is shy.
La fille est timide. = The girl is shy.
L'homme est sympathique. = The man is nice.
La femme est sympathique. = The woman is nice.
Number - Singular and Plural
Most adjectives can be made plural by adding the letter s. Here are a few exceptions:
If the adjective ends in the letter s, such as gros, no extra s is needed.
If the adjective ends in the letter x, such as roux or sérieux, there is no need to add an s. These adjectives are treated as both singular and plural.
The plural of amical is amicaux.
The plural of beau is beaux.
Look at the following examples:
Les garçons sont forts. = The boys are strong.
Les filles sont fortes. = The girls are strong.
Les hommes sont généreux. = The men are generous.
Les femmes sont généreuses. = The women are generous.
Les garçons sont beaux. = The boys are handsome.
Les filles sont belles. = The girls are beautiful.
Do you remember the verb aller? What is special about the verb aller? It is an irregular verb, and even though it ends in the letters ER, it does not use the endings: e, es, e, ons, ez, ent. Aller completely changes when it is conjugated, and its forms are: vais, vas, va, allons, allez, vont.
A second irregular verb is être (to be). Although it looks like an RE verb, it does not use the endings: s, s, (none), ons, ez, ent. Read, study, and listen to the six forms of the verb être.
Je suis sportif. / Je suis sportive. = I am athletic. (masculine) I am athletic. (feminine)
Est-ce que tu es triste? = Are you sad?
Elle est amicale. = She is friendly.
Nous ne sommes pas paresseux. = We are not lazy.
Est-ce que vous êtes grands? = Are you tall?
Ils sont impatients. = They are impatient.
Note: The question Comment es-tu? should not be translated literally. It is asking for a description, as in What are you like? Remember, if you would like to ask How are you? the verb aller should be used - Comment vas-tu?
One of the Most Famous Avenues in the World!
Parades, New Year's Eve celebrations, shopping, cafés, movies, cycling, you can find it all on the Avenue des Champs-Élysées. When you go to Paris, you must take time to walk down the Champs-Élysées! The name of this avenue means Elysian Fields, which refers to the place in Greek mythology where the virtuous and heroic souls went after their death. This is just one of the many reasons why people refer to the Champs-Élysées as "heaven on earth."
Approximately 1 1/4 miles in length, the Champs-Élysées stretches from the Place de la Concorde to the Arc de Triomphe. Along this famous route are very expensive clothing stores, hotels, automobile showrooms, and cabarets. A cup of coffee at one of the more renowned cafés can cost you several euros, but many people say it is well worth the money to sit on the terrace and "people watch." Legend has it that if you walk far enough on the Champs-Élysées, you will always see someone you know.
The avenue is also known for celebrations. Each year, it hosts Europe's largest military parade on July 14, which is Bastille Day or the French Independence Day. For New Year's Eve, it is closed to traffic so that thousands of people can crowd the street in order to countdown to the New Year. In what is probably the avenue's most exciting moment each year, the Tour de France marks the Champs-Élysées as the finish line for the world's premier cycling event.
"Arc De Triomphe Paris - Paris Attractions - Arc De Triomphe." Arc De Triomphe Paris - Paris Attractions - Arc De Triomphe. N.p., n.d. Web. 05 July 2014.
"Champs-Elysees." Champs Elysees Paris, Official Guide. Luxice Regie, 2010. Web. 06 July 2014. .
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