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French Numbers 1 - 100
French Words

Learn how to say French Numbers 1 – 100 (with audio)

Un, deux, trois, on y va! (One, two, three)….

Starting your journey learning French?

Whats next?

Have you learned to count numbers in french 1 – 100 !

let’s go!

All these French numbers might appear daunting at first but do not worry, counting is actually a lot easier than it seems!!

After having read this blog, you will know how to say French numbers 1 – 100, how to pronounce them and how to spell them. Magnifique, n’est-ce pas? (Wonderful, isn’t it?).

Why is learning french numbers 1-100 so important?

Well, once you will know these numbers, you will be able to count endlessly!

Now lets learn French numbers 1-100

French Numbers from 0 to 20

A little cultural insight before we start: single numbers (0-9) are called “chiffres” in French and not “nombres” (numbers). “Nombres” are any two digits (or more) numbers. However, most French people call chiffres nombres so don’t worry yourself too much if you get this mixed up!

Ok so now let’s count but before we do you must be warned that if there is a tiny (and I mean very tiny) difficult part in learning numbers in French, it might number from eleven to sixteen. You will just have to learn them by heart. The creation of numbers seventeen to nineteen makes sense. Let’s see what I mean thanks to the following grid!

In the following grid are numbered up to twenty as well as their pronunciation.

 

Understood what I meant by “The creation of numbers seventeen to nineteen makes sense”? Basically, 17 is 10+7 so we put dix next to sept ! We work it out exactly the same for eighteen and nineteen

 

French Numbers 20 to 60

Now you know numbers from 0 to 20 in French, let’s learn some more! Here come numbers 20 to 60!

I wrote tens in bold to enable you to clearly see the pattern. It is always the same one: adding units next to the tens. Just like you would do in English (for example: 22 is 20+2 so you write 20 next to 2, twenty-two in English and vingt-deux in French). So basically to create these numbers, you simply have to take the tens and the units you need and put them together! Facile, n’est-ce-pas? (easy, isn’t it).

A couple of things before I give you the grid:

– A rule: any tens followed by “un”(one) (21, 31, 41, 51) will need “et” (and) between the tens and the unit.

– A pronouciation trick: the final consonants in six, huit, and dix are pronounced at the end of a sentence or in front of a vowel. But, they are silent when followed by another word that begins with a consonant.

 

French Numbers from 60 to 100

And now last but not least, numbers from 60 to 100! You’ll see, it is very easy and logical. Logical? why is it logical? Have a closer look at soixante-dix (70), quatre-vingts (80) and quatre-vingt-dix (90). What do you notice?

– 70 is 60+10. Therefore, in a very logical way, French people put number sixty next to number ten to create seventy! Soixante (60) plus dix (10) → soixante-dix (70).

– Same sort of thinking with quatre-vingts. Eighty is four times twenty (4X20). This is the reason why, in French, you put quatre (4) next to vingt (20) to create quatre-vingts (80)! Literally it is “four twenties”!

– Once again, you will need to appeal to mathematical thinking. What is 90? Well, we could say 90 is 4X20+10, couldn’t we? So, there, you have it. Ninety in French is quatre-vingt-dix!

 

Check this if you are done with learning French Numbers 1 – 100

Now, let’s check if you paid close attention to the spelling of some of the French tens!

Well to two tens in particular: quatre-vingts (80) and quatre-vingt-dix (90). What do you notice? What is present in one of them but not in the other? …

Yes, you’re right! It is the “s”!

Here’s a little rule (the French language is full of them!): if quatre-vingts (80) is followed by another number (81, 82, 83, 84, 85, 86, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99) then it looses its “s”. Numbers or “s”, 80 has to choose, it can’t have it all!

So, here you have them, French numbers 1 – 100! Happy counting!

PASSE COMPOSE
French Online Courses

How to conjugate passe compose with avoir ?

How to download useful tools to conjugate avoir in the past compound (Passé Composé) tense in French

The passé composé (compound past) is an action or event completed in the past.

The action has just taken places and it has just ended: the consequence of this action is perceptible at the moment of speaking.

Charlotte est partie, she’s gone. She not here anymore.

Passé Composé is to compound as it is made up of two elements.

It is made up of the verb, to be or to have (être ou avoir) and the main verb, which expresses what action took place. (partir / to go)

Examples of Passé Composé  :

J’ai mangé. I have eaten.

Je suis tombé. I have fallen down

Charlotte est partie. Charlotte is gone.

To make the compound past tense you take être or avoir in the present tense followed by the past participle of the verb.

Most compound past tense use avoir (to have). So it is necessary to revisit this much used well known verb avoir.

If you want to learn more about French conjugation and more particularly more about avoir in the past compound tense, click here to download our free French lesson.

A Spotlight on the verb Avoir at the past compound (Passé Composé) in French.

Here you are !

Welcome to our fabulous French lesson about the verb avoir and the compound past tense.

It may sound tricky to understand how this rule works. but do not be afraid, it is simpler than you think speaking French can be so easy.

First, remember this simple rule:

Like all compound conjugations, the passé composé may be subject to grammatical agreement.

  • When the auxiliary verb is être, the past participle must agree with the subject
  • When the auxiliary verb is avoir, the past participle may have to agree with its DIRECT OBJECT

This is the most important thing to know ! When you get this, you got it!

Now let’s take it further. You just need 3 steps to get it.

1. Avoir at the present tense

At the past compound (Passsé Composé)  we conjugate Avoir at the present tense. So easy !

 

2. Past participle

To make your sentence at the compound past you just have to add the main verb. This one has to be conjugated at the past participle.

 But there are lot of exceptions.

Let’s have a look at some simple examples and improve your French:

From the first group. The past participle is always é.

Danser-dance
Partager-share
J’ai dansé toute la nuit.
J’ai partagé un bon repas
I danced all night long.
I shared a good meal.

From the second group. The past participle is always i.

Finir-finish
Réussir – do
J’ai fini toute ma soupe.
J’ai réussi cet exercice
I finished all my soup.
I did my exercise.

From the third group. The past participle changes.

Reconnaitre-Recognise
Entendre-hear
Voir-see
Sortir- go out
Prendre-take
J’ai reconnu ce tableau.
J’ai entendu ce chant.
J’ai vu ce film.
J’ai sorti le chien
J’ai pris mon temps.
I recognized this painting.
I heard this song.
I saw this movie.
I walked the dog
I took my time.

3. Agreement

The most important thing to know is, with the compound past tense when conjugated with avoir agreement with the object pronoun occurs BEFORE the verb.

It seems crazy ! but it’s not. It’s easy.

Just look at these examples.

In English the sentence is :

John walked his two lovely dogs. John walked them.

In French:

John a sorti ses deux adorables chiens.

Il les a sortis.

In the first sentence, the verb doesn’t agree with the subject because it is conjugated with avoir. It does not agree with the direct object either because this one is placed after the verb. The direct object is “les adorables chiens”.

Whereas in the second sentence the direct object is placed before the verb.

“Les adorables chiens” has been replaced by “les” which is a direct object pronoun. So “sortir” has to agree with the direct object “les” which are the dogs.

I told you! it’s straightforward! Just to make sure you understand it properly, I give you more examples here and in no time you will speak fluently.

J’ai acheté de belles robes.

Je les ai achetées.

J’ai cuisiné des raviolis.

Je les ai cuisinés.

Ils ont cueilli des fleurs. Les fleurs étaient belles.

Les fleurs qu’ils ont cueillies étaient belles.

I bought beautiful dresses.

I bought them.

I cooked ravioli.

I cooked them.

They picked flowers. The flowers were lovely.

The flowers they picked were lovely.

Now the only way to get familiar with all of this, is to enrol in one of our terrific French conversation classes.

Do not hesitate and contact us now at French Lessons Australia.

We are here to help you improve your French

Falloir
French Grammar

All about the French verb Falloir to be necessary

Do you know how to say “it’s necessary to” in French? Falloir ? It’s easy and it’s here

Do you need to learn this (Falloir)?

It’s totally necessary to understand what “Il faut” is in the French Language.

If you have been to France before or if you know some French friends, you have probably heard these two words over and over again.

Il faut aller faire des courses

We have to go shopping!

Il faut t’habiller chaudement

You must dress warmly.

Il faut faire tes devoirs !

You have to do your homework !

Il faut means a necessity, an obligation. It also can be used to express directions or orders.

Do you know how to say “it’s necessary to” (Falloir) in French?

Learning French can be tricky but we, at French Lessons Australia are here to help. With this simply online and totally free lesson, you will understand easily how to use the French verb Falloir.

Falloir is an irregular French verb, and it means to need, to be necessary to.

It’s one of the easiest verbs as it is an impersonal one.

It means it has only one conjugation in each tense and mood. Easy! ?

Our today’s French lesson allows you to learn French faster.

Let’s get our feet wet!

Falloir has just one conjugation in each tense and mood. The third person singular which may be followed by either an infinitive or a noun or a subjunctive.

  • To express something mandatory, to make strong suggestions, to give directions we use Falloir followed by an infinitive verb.

Il faut faire tes devoirs tous les jours !

You have to do your homework every day.

Il faut préparer tes affaires le soir, si tu ne veux pas être en retard le matin.

You must prepare your things in the evening, if you do not want to be late in the morning.

Il faut prendre à gauche après le magasin.

You have to take a left after the shop.

Il Faut + Infinitive

  • To express something more personal or if you want to make a recommendation to someone in particular you have to use Falloir followed by subjunctive.

Il faut que tu fasses tes devoirs !

<pIl faut que tu prépares tes affaires le soir…

Il faut que nous prenions à gauche

Il faut + que + subject pronouns + subjunctive

  • When you want to express a need we use il faut followed by a noun.

Il faut du temps We need time.

Il faut une voiture We need a car.

If you want to make it more personal you can add a pronoun.

Il me faut du temps.

Il nous faut une voiture.

Il faut + nom

OR

Il + pronoun + faut + nom

Now you are ready to speak French so enrol in one of our wonderful classes at French Lessons Australia. Whatever you choose conversational class, private tuition we are here to help and we have much to offer click here to get more.

French Grammar, French Online Courses

How to be more confident with French Homophones?

Are you asking yourself if you are the only one to get confused with some words in French language?

Have you ever said a few lines of nonsense or replied to someone with something that sounded crazy?

No big deal in the long run, but these situations can be avoided you just need to learn your French homophones!

French Homophones are words that have the same pronunciation but different meanings and, sometimes, spellings.

Therefore, speaking the language out of context could be a nightmare.

Sometimes intonations help but, the context is of utmost importance.

French Lessons Australia can help you to be more confident with French vocabulary.

By following this free French class, you will to be able to understand words in context,and to understand the difference between the most common French homophones.

1. How to be more confident with French Homophones?

Our online French lesson will help you with Homophones.

Many errors are made to the confusion of words that sound similar but do not have the same meaning.

These words are called homophones.

They are pronounced in the same way but they have neither the same meaning nor the same spelling.

While some say that is just the fun of the French language, we’re going to greatly reduce your chance of getting into those embarrassing situations by going over some common and confusing homophones right now. To speak French more fluently discover the list below.

We list here the most common homophones in alphabetical order:

Homophones aren’t something to stress over, especially since we just went through most of the major ones. Keep them in a notebook and if you want to practice, just enrol now in one of our wonderful French active class.

At French Lessons Australia it is not just about learning French in classroom it’s also about fun and entertainment!

Click here to discover more about our FRENCH  CLASSES 

 homophone
HOW TO UNLOCK YOUR FRENCH?
French Grammar

How to Unlock your French?

If you are one of many learners struggling with spoken French, you might wonder what you’re doing wrong and as a beginner, you wonder how to understand grammar and how to Unlock your French?

You might feel like the trouble you’re having is all your fault, or assume you’re just not any good at languages.

After years of learning myself I have found success by following 5 simple steps.

This free lesson gives you an understanding and appreciation of French grammar and verb conjugation that will be valuable for you for a lifetime.

Take a look inside this French class and discover these 5 tools to unlock your French.

Our training will increase your potential of speaking French and improve your understanding of French grammar and conjugation.

How to unlock your French and learn how to speak like a native!

Whether you are just a beginner, or someone who has spent a number of years learning French, it is important to keep your language skills well shaped, and to find ways to improve these skills as often as possible.

And you can follow these steps to advancing your knowledge of French.

1. Vocabulary

Words, words, words!

Language is made up of words, and French is not an exception.

To improve your French vocabulary follow these three steps

  • • Keep words in mind! write down all the new words you have learnt on your smartphone or Ipad or use the old-fashioned method, a small notebook with a pen.
  • • One word-a-day! Follow us on Facebook and learn one word-a-day.
  • • Use the fridge! Paste your word of the day on your fridge and keep it there for a week. It will help memorisation.

2. Grammar

Grammar offers us rules and structure that makes describing the world around us so much easier. It is one of the most terrifying aspects of the French language. It seems that it’s the reason why many learners give up. But it doesn’t have to be that way. French grammar isn’t that complicated.

All you need is to start the right way and follow a few important rules.

I. Nouns

All French nouns have a gender! Masculine and feminine. This applies even for words that are inanimate.

HOW TO UNLOCK YOUR FRENCH?

In French sentences, the article of the word is mentioned all the time. Articles change depending on the gender of the word. To make a correct sentence the articles will need to match word genders.

Un chat (a cat) une chaise (une table) une entreprise (a firm)

II. Verbs

If you’re a new French learner, there are two mandatory verbs you’ll have to use from the first day. They are avoir (to have) and être (to be) which are both irregular verbs.

“Conjugation”, describes the way that a verb changes to reflect who the subject is in any sentence.

Conjugation is what is behind the change from “I do” to “he does” in English, so again the concept’s not actually a French thing. It happens in most European languages.

To unlock your French you just have to practice and learn the most common verbs.

III. Pronouns

A pronoun is the word that represents something unnamed in a sentence.

Pronouns are used to make in a sentence to avoid repeating the subject.

To start your French journey grammar, you must know these subject pronouns.

3. Conjugation

In the life of all language learners, there comes a time when you just can’t hide.

 

You have to look things in the eye, take a deep breath and face it :

The verb tables!

In French there are three different groups which keep repeating the same endings and reliably change in the same way.

To learn online your verbs table you can use the Bescherelle or this link

http://bescherelle.com/conjugueur.php

A handy solution is to download the fabulous online App Bescherelle App for Iphone or Android.

4. Pronunciation

Good pronunciation help ensure that you are easily understood.

Ways to improve your pronunciation include:

  • • Listen to a native French speaker, listening radio, music or movies every day, even for 5 minutes only.
  • • Practice as much as you can with your teacher (a native French Teacher).

5. Stay connected

Finally, how to Unlock your French? & in order to learn a language if you need to practice!

So, Surround yourself with French.

  • • Listen to the French radio using podcast!
  • • Watch French movies using streaming!
  • • Sing French song with lyrics using YouTube!
  • • Listen to or read an easy French audiobook

Stay connected and speak French.

Find a good conversational partner to speak with or if you do not have any French friend Enroll to practice your French and join us at French lessons Australia.

Interrogative Adjectives-
French Grammar, Learning New Language

How to use interrogatives Adjectives in French?

Quelle histoire !!!

What are the interrogative adjectives ?

Quelles Quels Quelle Quel !! If you are asking yourself how to use interrogative adjectives and what are their different forms, follow this guide today !

In our French lesson today we will explain how many forms interrogative adjectives can have and how to ask questions with them.

Throughout our class today you will learn some common examples which will help you in everyday French conversation.

There is no need to attend.

What film do you want to watch?

What time does your train leave?

If you want to know more about all the French interrogatives Adjectives just click on the link here this and you will know how to speak and write French properly.

No need to attend a French class to understand the French interrogative adjectives.

It’s very simple with French Lessons Australia.

“Quel” is an interrogative French adjective that means which or What

 

WHAT ARE THE INTERROGATIVE ADJECTIVES ?

Like most adjectives, it has four forms

Masculine singular Quel

Masculine plural Quels

Feminine singular Quelle

Feminie plural Quelles

Singular Plural
Masculine Quel Quels
Feminine Quelle Quelles

Have a look on the following examples!

Quel jour sommes nous ?

What day is it ?

Quels livres lis-tu?

Which books are you reading ?

Quelles expositions préfères-tu ?

What exhibitions do you prefer?

Quelle heure est-il ?

What time is it?

If you want to ask questions with Quel follow these simple rules.

  • • Questions with QUEL may be asked with est-ce que or inversion:

Quel film veux-tu aller voir ? ou Quel film est-ce que tu veux aller voir ?

  • What film do you want to watch?

Quelles chansons aime-t-elle ? Quelles chansons est-ce qu’elle aime ?

  • Which songs does she like ?
  • • Quel + a noun may be used with a preposition such as à or de

If you want to ask questions with Quel follow these simple rules.

  • • Questions with QUEL may be asked with est-ce que or inversion:

Quel film veux-tu aller voir ? ou Quel film est-ce que tu veux aller voir ?

  • What film do you want to watch?

Quelles chansons aime-t-elle ? Quelles chansons est-ce qu’elle aime ?

  • Which songs does she like ?
  • • Quel + a noun may be used with a preposition such as à or de

À quelle heure part ton train ? À quelle heure est-ce que ton train part ?

  • What time do your train leave?

De quel train parles-tu ?

  • Which train are you talking about?

To ask What is or What are you have to use Quel with être

Quel est le problème ?

What is your problem ?

Quels sont les règles du jeu ?

What are the rules of the game?

If you want to practice your French join us at French Lessons Australia and enroll into one of our amazing classes

Interrogative Pronouns
French Online Courses, French Vocabulary

What are Interrogative Pronouns?

How to ask question about the identity of a person or an object

Lequel? What does that mean?

Did you know that Lequel has to agree in gender and number, and as a result, there are several forms of Interrogative Pronouns?

Do you know how to use interrogative pronouns in French? And what are they?

Lequel, which usually means which, is one of the most difficult French pronouns.

But with a clear French lesson, we can make it easy for you.

The French interrogative pronouns

How can we use interrogative pronouns to speak and write French properly?

Follow this free French lesson and you will discover all about French interrogative pronouns.

Interrogative pronouns can be either simple – qui que quoi or compound – lequel laquelle lesquelles and so on.

Lequel is an interrogative pronoun as well as qui que quoi.

It has to agree in gender and number with the noun it replaces.

Take a look at the simple table :

The most common interrogative pronouns are qui (for people) and que (for everything else).

Singular Plural Indefinite
Masculine lequel lesquels; qui, que, quoi
Feminine laquelle lesquelles

Here are a few examples;

“Qui ?” means “Who ?” Is most of the time masculine singular, and applies only to people.

  • Qui est là ? Who’s here ?

“Que ?” Is neutral, it means What.

  • Que fais-tu ? What are you doing?

“Quoi ?” Is usually neutral and singular. It is employed with a preposition such as à or de.

  • A quoi penses-tu? What are you thinking about?
  • De quoi parles-tu? What are you talking about?

“Lequel ?”

Lequel can replace quel + noun.

The interrogative pronoun Lequel means Which. It represents one or more people or things already refered to immediately after the pronoun.

It involves a choice between several members of a group (people or things). Lequel agrees in gender and number with the name that replaces.

Singular Plural
Masculine Lequel chantera ce soir ?

Which one will sing tonight?

Lesquels sont Australiens parmi vous ?

Which ones are Australians among you?

Feminine Laquelle de vous est Laura ?

Which one of you is Laura?

Lesquelles de vos filles jouent du piano ?

Which ones of your daughters play the piano?

If you want to learn more or just practice your French, contact us at French Lessons Australia, we can offer new courses so the opportunities to learn and improve are always growing. Do not hesitate and enrol now for your first French Class.

Check our grammar online course HERE.

Interrogative Adverbs
French Online Courses

Interrogative Adverbs

How to ask questions in French with interrogative adverbs?

Are you asking yourself how to ask specific questions such as When Why Where What how many or How much in French Language?

If so, you’re at the right place. French

Lesson Australia will give you all the keys to find out about on the interrogative adverbs.

How to ask questions with Interrogative adverbs?

Asking different kinds of questions will help you manage every kind of day-to-day interactions in French. You need to ask questions in order to find out what’s going on!

Interrogative adverbs are used to ask for new information or facts.

In everyday life, there are 5 (only!!) interrogative adverbs whereas there are 7 in English. You see! French is easy. Let’s learn French now.

French interrogative adverbs are:

• combien (de) – how many/much

• comment – how, what

• où – where

• pourquoi – why

• quand – when

In English, we use helping words like DO / DOES or AM / IS / ARE when asking questions.

In French, this is not necessary because it’s implied in the question.

Examples:

Combien

Combien de personnes as-tu invitées à ton anniversaire ?

Combien de personnes est-ce que tu as invitées à ton anniversaire

How many people have you invited to your birthday party?

Note: When following by a noun Combien requires preposition “de”

Comment

Comment t’appelles-tu ?

Comment est-ce que tu t’appelles ?

What’s your name ?

In certain sentences; Comment means How.

Comment vas-tu ?

Comment est-ce que tu vas ?

How are you?

Où habites-tu ?

Où est-ce que tu habites ?

Where do you live ?

Sometimes the preposition de is required in front of the interrogative adverb où. They should not appear at the end of the sentence!

D’où vient ce chien?

D’où est-ce que ce chien vient ?

From where does this dog come ?

(Where does this dog come from ?)

Pourquoi

Pourquoi pleurez-vous ?

Pourquoi est-ce que vous pleurez ?

Why are you crying?

If you want to answer this question you have to use Parce que (because)

Parce que je suis tombée

Because I fell down.

Quand

Quand part le train ?

Quand est-ce que le train part ?

When does the train leave?

Good to know! Interrogative adverbs are invariable!

Now; you’re ready to speak French and ask questions!

Learn more and practice with our French Classes at French lessons Australia.

French Grammar

How to easily ask questions in French?

How to ask questions in French!

Whether you’re working, travellling, learning, or just trying to learn more about someone, questions are an essential part of any conversation.

You must be confident of your ability to ask questions in French: forming questions is done in a different way in French.

There are a number of ways of forming questions in French and the ins and outs of some of them are rather complicated. But 99 per cent of the time, you don’t need the complicated forms. Here are some simple rules to get you through.

How to ask questions in French!

To speak French you need to know How to ask question.

This French class will help you with simple rules to get through forming questions.

Let’s start with basics of forming questions in French

An interrogative sentence has 4 parts to it;

• It ends with a question mark (as in English!).

• It often has an inverted subject.

• It frequently includes an interrogative word (when, what, …)

• It possesses an ascending intonation when spoken (rising voice inflection)

There are two main types of questions:

1. Yes/no questions, also known as closed questions (questions fermées), which ask for a simple yes or no answer.

2. Information questions, also known as or open questions (questions ouvertes), ask for information with question words, like who, what, when, where, why, which, how, how much/many. But that will be part of another French lesson !

So stay tuned with French Lessons Australia.

 

To make it easy when you want to ask something to someone you can use the interrogative sentence Est-ce-que!

In English, the most common way to ask question is to put in a form of the verb ‘do’. Similarly, the French rebuild sentences round the words ‘est-ce que’. This is a very useful and simple way to ask questions:

Est-ce que + subject + verb + predicat

 

Est-ce que tu veux venir au cinéma ce soir ?

Do you want to come to the cinema tonight?

Est-ce que tu aimes le chocolat ?

Do you like chocolate ?

Est-ce que tu joues du piano ?

Do you play piano ?

Est-ce que tu cuisines ?

Do you cook ?

 

You can also ask a question without the question words Est-ce-que just by going up at the end of the sentence

Tu veux venir au cinéma ce soir ?

Tu aimes le chocolat ?

Tu joues du piano ?

Tu cuisines ?

 

But a more formal way to ask question without any question words is to invert the verb and the subject and join them with an hyphen:

Veux-tu venir au cinéma ce soir ?

Aimes-tu le chocolat ?

Joues-tu du piano ?

Cuisines-tu ?

You can use inversion to ask negative questions. But it’s not really common in French spoken language.

Ne veux-tu pas venir au cinéma ce soir ?

Don’t you want to come to the cinema tonight ?

N’aimes-tu pas le chocolat ?

Don’t you like chocolate ?

Ne joues-tu pas du piano ?

Don’t you play piano ?

Ne cuisines-tu pas ?

Don’t you cook?

Note :
When using inversion with the third person singular (il, elle, or on) and a verb that ends in a vowel, you must add t-

Elle aime le chocolat.

Aime-t-elle le chocolat ?

N’aime-t-elle pas le chocolat ?

To answer negative invert question you have to use Si instead of Yes.

Joue-t-il du piano ? Oui il joue du piano.

Ne joue-t-il pas du piano ? Si ! il joue du piano.

Cuisine-t-on ? Oui, on cuisine.

Ne cuisine-t-on pas ? Si on cuisine

You can also add questions words such as When, Where… in front of Est-ce que to be more precise.

This gives a pattern of:

 

Question word + est-ce que + subject + verb + other words

Some examples to get you started

  • Est-ce que tu as une grande famille?
  • Est-ce que tu aimes le sport?
  • Qu’est-ce que tu aimes faire?
  • Quand est-ce que tu vas arriver?
  • Où est-ce que tu vas aller?
  • Comment est ta maison?
  • Est-ce qu’il y a un jardin chez toi?
  • Peux-tu envoyer une photo de ta maison?
  • Veux-tu venir en Ecosse?
  • Tu as des frères ou des soeurs?

More about the interrogative adverbs Ou Quand Comment Pourquoi? Click here.

Learn more and practice with our French Lessons at French lessons Australia.

Demonstrative Adjectives in French
French Grammar

Demonstrative Adjectives in French (With exercises)

Learning a language necessarily means studying grammar. It’s part and parcel of languages learning.

In this blog, I will highlight some grammar rules on French demonstrative adjectives.

Before doing so, I feel it is important to do a little reminder of what demonstrative adjectives actually are in English and what the difference is between demonstrative adjectives and demonstrative pronouns.

It can all be so confusing, we’re better to be safe than sorry! Let’s the grammar fun begins!

 

Demonstrative adjectives in English

There are four demonstrative adjectives in English: this, that, these, those. This and that are the singular form of these and those. They are words used to point out which person or thing is referred to.

This and these are used when speaking about something relatively close.

For example, I like this pair of shoes (the one just here). I like these shoes (the ones just here).

That and those are used when speaking about something further away, something you can point to.

For example, I prefer that pair of boots over there. I prefer those boots over there.

 

Difference between demonstrative pronouns and demonstrative adjectives

It is important to understand the grammar jargon and to make a difference between demonstrative pronouns (also called independent demonstratives) and demonstrative adjectives (also called demonstrative determiners).

 

What exactly is a demonstrative adjective?

A demonstrative adjective modifies* a noun.

This and that are used to modify singular nouns whereas these and those are used to modify plural nouns.

For example, I enjoyed this book (this modifies book). She loves those earrings (those modifies earrings).

* a word that modifies a noun is called a modifier. It is a word, phrase, or clause which functions as an adjective or an adverb to describe a word or make its meaning more specific.

What is a demonstrative pronoun?

Just like demonstrative adjectives, demonstrative pronouns are this, that, these and those. They are also used to show specific people or things. However, they don’t actually modify nouns.

They replace other nouns and stand alone. There are used more like pronouns.

For example, This is interesting. I prefer those.

Does it all make more sense? Brilliant. We can start studying French demonstrative adjectives now we know precisely what we are talking about!

Demonstrative adjectives in French

In French, demonstrative adjectives are called “les adjectifs démonstratifs”. They agree in number (singular or plural) and gender (feminine or masculine) with the noun they introduce or modify.

Singular Example Translation
Feminine Cette Cette soupe est délicieuse. This soup is delicious.
Masculine Ce / Cet Ce garçon est coquin.

Cet arbre est vieux.

This boy is cheeky.

This tree is old.

 

In the masculine singular form, you have to use cet if the following word starts with a vowel. It is to ease the pronunciation thanks to the liaison between the t at the end of cet and the vowel.

Plural Example Translation
Feminine Ces Ces robes sont belles. These dresses are beautiful.
Masculine Ces Ces livres sont passionants. These books are fascinating.

In the plural form, if the words following ces starts with a vowel or an h, you have to do the liaison between the s of ces and the vowel or the h of the following word.

-ci and -là

Just like in English, the French language differentiates things that are close and things that are further away.

As I mentioned before, this and these are used in English to designate something relatively close, and that and those are used to speak about something further away.

It is similar in French. Indeed, you would add the suffix -ci after the modified noun when something is close and the suffix -là when something is further away.

For example,

Aimes-tu de ces chaussures-ci? Ou préfères-tu ces chaussures-là?

Do you like these shoes (here)? Or do you prefer those shoes (there)?

 

Exercise

Let’s practice a little bit to check if you have understood this grammar lesson correctly.

Fill in the blank with the correct French demonstrative adjective (ce, cet, cette, ces).

Then check your answers.

  1. Enzo, as-tu lu ___________ livre?
  1. Noah, aimes-tu ___________ baskets?
  1. Qui est ___________ belle petite fille?
  1. Comment s’appelle ___________ homme?
  1. ___________ chien est agressif!

Answers

1.Enzo, as-tu lu ce livre?

  1. Noah, aimes-tu ces baskets?
  1. Qui est cette belle petite fille?
  1. Comment s’appelle cet homme?
  1. Ce chien est agressif!

So, here you have it, a little grammar lesson about demonstrative adjectives in French. I hope it was clear enough and that you now rock this grammar rule!

Also Read: 17 EFFORTLESS WAYS TO SAY GOODBYE IN FRENCH

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