Extremely Simplified Grammar - Grammaire Extrêmement Simplifiée → Empezar lección / Descargar tarjetas en MP3

término

definición

What's Extremely simplified grammar?

empezar lección

A few simplified rules which shall allow you to form MORE OR LESS correct and understandable sentences.

The position of an adjective

empezar lección

AFTER the noun

some notable exceptions: petit (small), jeune (young), beau (pretty, beautiful), gros (fat), bon (good), mauvais (bad)

feminine form

an intelligent friend (male) - an intelligent friend (female)

empezar lección

add "-e" to the noun or adjective in question

many exceptions to this rule though but if a word concludes with "e" it is most likely feminine

un ami intelligent – une amie intelligente

general plural form

intelligent friends

empezar lección

add "-s" to the noun or adjective in question

des amis inteligents

plurals of the nouns ending in -au, -eau, -eu, -oeu

a beautiful gift - beautiful gifts

empezar lección

add "-x"

un beau cadeau – des beaux cadeaux

plurals of the nouns ending in -al

an international newspaper - international newspapers

empezar lección

"-al" becomes "-aux"

exception: un festival – des festivals (festival - festivals)

un journal international – journaux internationaux

3 groups of verbs

empezar lección

2 patterns + irregular verbs

1. verbs ending in "-er" e.g. "aller" (to go); 2. verbs ending in "-ir" e.g. "finir" (to finish); 3. irregular forms e.g. "être" (to be)

past participles of the 1st group of verbs

empezar lección

change of ending: "-er" -> "-é"

to go - gone

aller - allé

past participles of the 2nd group of verbs

empezar lección

change of ending: "-ir" -> "-i"

to finish - finished

finir - fini

passé composé tense for 1st and 2nd group of verbs

empezar lección

conjugated form of auxiliary verb "avoir" (to have) followed by past participle

to finish - I (have) finished

finir - j'ai fini

the most common verbs which go with auxiliary "être" (to be) in passé composé

empezar lección

aller – to go

entrer - to enter

partir - to leave, to set off

future tense

empezar lección

conjugated form of "aller" (to go) + infinitive

to finish - I will finish

finir - je vais finir

negating a word

empezar lección

"pas" + word

important - not important

important - pas important

comparative of an adjective or adverb

empezar lección

"plus" + adjective/adverb

fast - faster

vite - plus vite

superlative of an adjective/adverb

empezar lección

"le plus" + adjective/adverb

fast - the fastest

vite - le plus vite

adverbs

empezar lección

add "-ment" to the feminine form of an adjective in question

happy -> happily

heureux -> heureuse (feminine form) -> heureusement

usage of indefinite articles "un", "une", "des"

empezar lección

1. to introduce a new, countable noun; 2. to refer to a general class of things

usage of definite articles "le", "la", "les"

empezar lección

1. to talk about things known from the context; 2. to talk about unique things, phenomena etc.

verb negation

empezar lección

add "ne" before and "pas" after the main verb

if it's an infinitive "ne" and "pas" do not get separated by a verb but are placed one after the other before an infinitive e.g. danser -> ne pas danser

je danse – je ne danse pas (I'm dancing - I'm not dancing)

Do nouns inflect for cases in French?

empezar lección

No;)

How to form a question? (1)

empezar lección

main verb + subject + object/the rest

You speak French. -> Do you speak French?

Vous parlez français. –> Parlez-vous français?

How to form a question? (2)

empezar lección

(interrogative word e.g. "who", "when" etc.) + "est-ce que" + subject + main verb + the rest

You speak French. -> Do you speak French?

Vous parlez français. –> Est-ce que vous parlez français?

How to form a question? (3)

empezar lección

by intonation

You speak French. -> You speak French?

Vous parlez français. -> Vous parlez français?

negation in passé composé (past tense)

empezar lección

subject + "ne" + conjugated auxiliary "avoir" or "être" + "pas" + past participle (participe passé)

I didn't dance.

Je n'ai pas dansé.

question in passé composé (past tense)

empezar lección

(interrogative word e.g. "who", "when" etc.) + "est-ce que" + subject + conjugated auxiliary "avoir" or "être" + past participle (participe passé) + the rest

Did I dance?

Est-ce que j'ai dansé?

negation in future tense

empezar lección

subject + "ne" + conjugated auxiliary "aller" + "pas" + infinitive

He will not dance.

Il ne va pas danser.

question in future tense

empezar lección

(interrogative word e.g. "who", "when" etc.) + "est-ce que" + subject + conjugated auxiliary "aller" + infinitive

When will he dance?

Quand est-ce qu'il va danser?