The Alphabet - French Grammar

• The French alphabet is pronounced differently from the way it is pronounced in English. Use the list below to help you sound out the letters.

A, a	[ɑ]	(ah)	like ‘a’ in ‘la’
B, b	[be]	(bay)
C, c	[se]	(say)
D, d	[de]	(day)
E, e	[ə]	(uh)	like ‘e’ in ‘le’
F, f	[εf]	(eff)
G, g	[Ze]	(jay)
H, h	[aʃ]	(ash)
I, i	[i]	(ee)
J, j	[Zi]	(jee)
K, k	[ka]	(ka)
L, l	[εl]	(ell)
M, m	[εm]	(emm)
N, n	[εn]	(enn)
O, o	[o]	(oh)
P, p	[pe]	(pay)
Q, q	[ky]	(ku)	like ‘u’ in ‘une’
R, r	[εr]	(air)
S, s	[εs]	(ess)
T, t	[te]	(tay)
U, u	[y]	(u)	like ‘u’ in ‘une’
V, v	[ve]	(vay)
W, w	[dubləve]	(doobla-vay)
X, x	[iks]	(eex)
Y, y	[igrεk]	(ee-grek)
Z, z	[zεd]	(zed)

Some common difficulties - French Grammar

 

General problems

• You can’t always translate French into English and English into French word for word. While occasionally it is possible to do this, often it is not. For example:

• English phrasal verbs (verbs followed by a preposition or adverb), for example, to run away, to fall down, are often translated by ONE word in French.

continuer	to go on
tomber	to fall down
rendre	to give back

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• Sentences which contain a verb and preposition in English, might NOT contain a preposition in French.

payer quelque chose	to pay for something
regarder quelqu’un/quelque chose	to look at somebody/something
écouter quelqu’un/quelque chose	to listen to somebody/something

• Similarly, sentences which contain a verb and preposition in French, might NOT contain a preposition in English.

obéir à quelqu’un/quelque chose	to obey somebody/something
changer de quelque chose	to change something
manquer de quelque chose	to lack something

• The same French preposition may be translated into English in different ways.

parler de quelque chose	to talk about something
sûr de quelque chose	sure of something
voler quelque chose à quelqu’un	to steal something from someone
croire à quelque chose	to believe in something

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• A word which is singular in English may not be in French.

les bagages	luggage
ses cheveux	his/her hair

• Similarly, a word which is singular in French may not be in English.

un short	shorts
mon pantalon	my trousers

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• In English, you can use ’s to show who or what something belongs to; in French, you have to use de.

la voiture de mon frère	my brother’s car
la chambre des enfants	the children’s bedroom

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Specific problems

1 -ing

• The -ing ending in English is translated in a number of different ways in French:

• to be …-ing is translated by a verb consisting of one word.

Il part demain.	He’s leaving tomorrow.
Je lisais un roman.	I was reading a book.

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• Note that when you are talking about somebody’s or something’s physical position, you use a past participle.

Elle est assise là-bas.	She’s sitting over there.
Il était couché par terre.	He was lying on the ground.

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• -ing can also be translated by:

• an infinitive

J’aime aller au cinéma.	I like going to the cinema.
Arrêtez de vous disputer!	Stop arguing!
Avant de partir…	Before leaving…

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• a present participle

Étant plus timide que moi, elle…

Being shyer than me, she…

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• a noun

Le ski me maintient en forme.

Skiing keeps me fit.

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2 to be

• The verb to be is generally translated by être.

Il est tard.	It’s late.
Ce n’est pas possible!	It’s not possible!

• When you are talking about the physical position of something, se trouver may be used.

Où se trouve la gare?

Where’s the station?

• In certain set phrases which describe how you are feeling or a state you are in, the verb avoir is used.

avoir chaud	to be warm
avoir froid	to be cold
avoir faim	to be hungry
avoir soif	to be thirsty
avoir peur	to be afraid
avoir tort	to be wrong
avoir raison	to be right

• When you are describing what the weather is like, use the verb faire.

Quel temps fait-il?	What’s the weather like?
Il fait beau.	It’s lovely.
Il fait mauvais.	It’s miserable.
Il fait du vent.	It’s windy.

• When you are talking about someone’s age, use the verb avoir.

Quel âge as-tu?	How old are you?
J’ai quinze ans.	I’m fifteen.

• When talking about your health, use the verb aller.

Comment allez-vous?	How are you?
Je vais très bien.	I’m very well.

3 it is, it’s

• it is and it’s are usually translated by il est or elle est when referring to a noun.

‘Où est mon parapluie?’ – ‘Il est là, dans le coin.’	‘Where’s my umbrella?’ – ‘It’s there, in the corner.’
Descends la valise si elle n’est pas trop lourde.	Bring the case down if it isn’t too heavy.

• When you are talking about the time, use il est.

‘Quelle heure est-il?’ – ‘Il est sept heures et demie.’

‘What time is it?’ – ‘It’s half past seven.’

• When you are describing what the weather is like, use the verb faire.

Il fait beau.	It’s lovely.
Il fait mauvais.	It’s miserable.
Il fait du vent.	It’s windy.

• If you want to say, for example, it is difficult to do something or it is easy to do something, use il est.

Il est difficile de répondre à cette question.

It is difficult to answer this question.

• In ALL other phrases and constructions, use c’est.

C’est moi qui ne l’aime pas.	It’s me who doesn’t like him.
C’est Charles qui l’a dit.	It’s Charles who said so.
C’est ici que je les ai achetés.	It’s here that I bought them.
C’est parce que la poste est fermée que…	It’s because the post office is closed that…

4 there is, there are

• Both there is and there are are translated by il y a.

Il y a quelqu’un à la porte.	There is someone at the door.
Il y a cinq livres sur la table.	There are five books on the table.

5 can, to be able

• If you want to talk about someone’s physical ability to do something, use pouvoir.

Pouvez-vous faire dix kilomètres à pied?

Can you walk ten kilometres?

• If you want to say that you know how to do something, use savoir.

Elle ne sait pas nager.

She can’t swim.

• When can is used with verbs to do with what you can see or hear, you do NOT use pouvoir in French.

Je ne vois rien.	I can’t see anything.
Il les entendait.	He could hear them.

6 to

• The preposition to is generally translated by à.

Donne le livre à Patrick.

Give the book to Patrick.

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• When you are talking about the time, use moins.

dix heures moins cinq	five to ten
à sept heures moins le quart	at a quarter to seven

• If you want to say (in order) to, use pour.

Je l’ai fait pour vous aider.	I did it to help you.
Il va en ville pour acheter un cadeau.	He’s going into town to buy a present.