random french words LEARN FRENCH WITH ELISABETH

Vous m'aidez mais je connoisseur bien la lutte

You help me but I know the struggle well. La lutte means the struggle

Corriger quelques erreurs récurrentes

Correct some recurrent errors

Si vous ne me connaissez pas

If you don’t know me.

Note in french object pronounce like “me te le la) are placed before the verb so the structure becomes “ne + (object p) + verb + pas”

LA CHAÎNE

THE CHANNEL

• Nous allons voir ensemble le film ce soir.
  

• NOUS ALLONS VOIR ENSEMBLE

• We are going to watch the movie together tonight.

• WE ARE GOING TO SEE/LOOK AT TOGETHER. ENSEMBLE MEANS TO GETHER TO INDICATE IT’S A GROUP THING YOU’RE DOING TOGETHER

PRESQUE

ALMOST

JE VAIS EVIDEMMENT VOUS EXPLIQUER COMMENT LES EVITER

• Je vais = I am going (future proche/near future)

• évidemment = obviously (adverb, can be placed before or after "vous expliquer")

• vous expliquer = to explain to you

• comment les éviter = how to avoid them

Full translation:
"I am obviously going to explain to you how to avoid them."

SPEAK ON THE USE OF LES AS THEM IN THIS SENTENCE ‘JE VAIS EVIDEMMENT VOUS EXPLIQUER COMMENT LES EVITER’

. Does "les" Mean "the" or "them"?

• "les" as "the":
  When used as a definite article before a noun, "les" means "the" for plural nouns.

  • Les enfants jouent. (The children are playing.)

• "les" as "them":
  When used as a direct object pronoun before a verb, "les" means "them" (referring to people or things previously mentioned).

  • Je vais les éviter. (I am going to avoid them.)

How do you know which one it is?

• If "les" comes before a noun, it means "the" (article).

• If "les" comes before a verb, it means "them" (pronoun).

Examples:

• Les pommes sont rouges. (The apples are red.) — "les" = "the"

• Je les mange. (I eat them.) — "les" = "them"

Where to Place "évidemment" and Other Adverbs in French

eneral Rules for Adverb Placement:

• With a simple (non-compound) verb:
  The adverb usually comes right after the conjugated verb.

  • Je parle doucement. (I speak softly.)

  • Je travaille beaucoup. (I work a lot.)12456

• With compound tenses (like passé composé):
  Most adverbs go after the auxiliary verb (avoir/être) and before the past participle if they are short/common, or after the past participle if they are longer or less common.157

• With the near future (futur proche, like "je vais expliquer"):
  The adverb is placed after the conjugated verb (aller) and before the infinitive.

  • Je vais évidemment vous expliquer... (I am obviously going to explain to you...)5

• When the adverb modifies the whole sentence:
  It can go at the very beginning or very end of the sentence.

  • Évidemment, je vais vous expliquer comment les éviter.

  • Je vais vous expliquer comment les éviter, évidemment.

NOTE

Adverb Type/Function	Typical Placement Example
Modifies a verb (simple tense)	Je mange rarement. (I rarely eat.)
Modifies a verb (compound tense)	J’ai bien compris. / J’ai compris rapidement.
Near future (aller + infinitive)	Je vais probablement (PROBABLY) partir.
Modifies whole sentence	Heureusement, il est venu. / Il est venu, heureusement.
Modifies adjective/adverb	Elle est très gentille. / Il parle trop vite.

Heureusement IS FORTUNATELY, VITE IS QUICKLY

GRATUIT

FREE

I AM SURE THAT IF YOU ARE ENGLISH

JE SUIS SÛR QUE SI VOUS ÊTES ANGLAIS

Vous l’avez faite au moins une fois et même plusieurs fois

How the Sentence Works

• Vous l’avez faite

  • You have done it (the "it" is a feminine thing previously mentioned)

  • l’ = "it" (feminine)

  • avez faite = "have done" (passé composé; "faite" agrees with "la")

• au moins une fois

  • at least once

• et même plusieurs fois

  • and even several times (emphasizing repetition)

Why "faite" (not "fait")?

• Because "la" (l’) is a feminine direct object before the verb, the past participle "fait" agrees in gender and number, so it becomes "faite" (feminine singular).

Does fois mean "time"? What about temps?

fois

• Meaning: "time" as in an occurrence or a countable instance.

• Examples:

  • une fois = one time / once

  • deux fois = two times / twice

  • plusieurs fois = several times

Use "fois" when you are counting how many times something happens.

temps

• Meaning: "time" as in duration, the concept of time, or weather.

• Examples:

  • Je n’ai pas le temps. = I don’t have (the) time. (duration)

  • Le temps passe vite. = Time passes quickly.

  • Quel temps fait-il ? = What’s the weather like? (here, "temps" means "weather")

Use "temps" when talking about time as a measurable thing (duration, period, or weather), not as a countable event.

Summary Table

French Word	English Meaning	When to Use	Example
fois	time (instance)	Counting occurrences	trois fois (three times)
temps	time (duration/concept)	Duration, the idea of time, weather	pas de temps (no time)

What about même? Does it mean "same" or "even"?

même has several meanings in French, depending on context:a) "Same" (adjective)

• Used with a noun, means "same".

• la même chose = the same thing

• au même moment = at the same moment

b) "Even" (adverb)

• Used to emphasize, like "even" in English.

• même plusieurs fois = even several times

• Il a même oublié son anniversaire. = He even forgot his birthday.

c) "Self" (pronoun, reflexive)

• Used with pronouns to mean "-self" (myself, yourself, etc.)

• moi-même = myself

• lui-même = himself

d) "Itself" (intensifier)

• To emphasize the subject.

• Le problème lui-même est compliqué. = The problem itself is complicated.

How to know which meaning?

• If it comes before a noun: usually "same" (le même livre = the same book)

• If it comes before a number or adverb: usually "even" (même trois fois = even three times)

• If it comes after a pronoun: usually "-self" (elle-même = herself)

Summary Table

French Usage	English Meaning	Example in French	English Translation
même + noun	same	la même question	the same question
même + number/adverb	even	même plusieurs fois	even several times
pronoun + même	-self	moi-même	myself
noun + lui-même	itself/himself	le livre lui-même	the book itself

Quick Recap:

• fois = "time" (as in how many times something happens)

• temps = "time" (as in duration, period, or weather)

• même = "same," "even," "-self," or "itself" depending on where it appears in the sent

If you want to say "ask yourself" in French, the verb you want is "se demander" (to ask oneself), not "répondre" (to answer).

How to Say "Ask Yourself" in French1. Imperative (telling someone to ask themselves):

• Demande-toi !
  (Ask yourself!)

2. Infinitive (to ask oneself):

• Se demander
  (to ask oneself)

3. Examples in Sentences:

• Tu devrais te demander pourquoi.
  (You should ask yourself why.)

• Avant de juger, demande-toi si tu ferais mieux.
  (Before judging, ask yourself if you would do better.)

• Il faut se demander si c'est la bonne décision.
  (One must ask oneself if it's the right decision.)

Why Not "répondre toi-même"?

• "Répondre" means "to answer," not "to ask."

• "Demander" means "to ask," but "demander toi-même" is not correct for "ask yourself."

• In French, "se demander" is the reflexive verb for "to ask oneself."

Summary Table

English	French	Notes
Ask yourself!	Demande-toi !	Imperative, informal
Ask yourself!	Demandez-vous !	Imperative, formal/plural
To ask oneself	Se demander	Infinitive

THIS IS A BAD USE

• C’est = It is / This is

• une mauvaise utilisation = a bad use / a misuse

  • mauvaise = bad (feminine form of "mauvais")

  • utilisation = use (noun, feminine)

• du mot = of the word

  • du = of the (de + le)

  • mot = word

• "actuellement" = "currently" (false friend for English "actually")

Why is "actuellement" often misused?

"Actuellement" in French means "currently" or "at the present time", not "actually."

• Many English speakers mistakenly use "actuellement" when they mean "actually," but the correct French word for "actually" is "en fait" or "en réalité."

Examples:

• Actuellement, je travaille à Paris.
  (Currently, I am working in Paris.)

• En fait, je n’aime pas le café.
  (Actually, I don’t like coffee.)

ACTUALLY I WENT TO FRANCE 2 MONTH AGO

EN REALIT(E WITH ACCENT AGU) , JE SUIS ALL(E WOTH ACCENT AGU) EN FRANCE IL Y A 2 MOIS

ACTUELLEMENT, MAINTENANT, POUR LE MOMENT

CURRENTLY , NOW

• Il s’adresse à...
  It is intended for...

• des personnes de 16 ans ou plus
  people aged 16 or more

• dont le français n’est pas la langue maternelle
  whose native language is not French

• et souhaitant faire certifier leur niveau de français
  and who wish to have their level of French certified

. What is a relative pronoun? How is "dont" used as "whose"?Relative Pronoun:

A relative pronoun is a word that connects a main clause to a dependent clause, adding more information about someone or something in the sentence. In English, common relative pronouns are: who, whom, whose, which, that.

Examples in English:

• The woman who is speaking is my teacher.

• The book that I read was interesting.

"dont" as "whose":

In French, dont is a relative pronoun that often means "whose" (showing possession or relationship).

Examples:

• L’homme dont la voiture est rouge...
  (The man whose car is red...)

• Les enfants dont la mère est médecin...
  (The children whose mother is a doctor...)

In your sentence:

• des personnes dont le français n’est pas la langue maternelle
  (people whose native language is not French)

2. Why use "souhaitant" for "wishing/wanting" and not "vouloir"?vouloir = "to want" (stronger, more direct)

• Je veux un café. (I want a coffee.)

souhaiter = "to wish" (more formal, polite)

• Je souhaite réussir. (I wish to succeed.)

souhaitant is the present participle of "souhaiter," used to describe people who have the wish or desire to do something.

In your sentence:

• et souhaitant faire certifier leur niveau de français
  (and wishing to have their level of French certified)

3. What does "faire certifier" mean?faire = "to do" or "to make"

But in French, faire + infinitive (another verb) = to have something done (causative construction).

Examples:

• Je fais réparer ma voiture.
  (I have my car repaired / I’m getting my car repaired.)

• Elle fait laver sa robe.
  (She has her dress washed.)

So:

• faire certifier = to have certified / to get certified

In your sentence:

• faire certifier leur niveau de français
  (to have their level of French certified)

1. Rédigez votre réponse ci-dessous.
   

1. Write your response below.

1. à noter : sera enregistrée mais pas corrigée par la plateforme.
   

1. Note: It will be recorded but not corrected by the platform.

quelqu’un qui dit connaitre votre collègue Johanna
Literal translation:
someone who says know your colleague Johanna

• In French, the verb connaître (to know) is used directly after “qui dit” (who says), because the subject “quelqu’un” (someone) is already clear and singular.

• French does not need a pronoun here. The structure is:

  • quelqu’un qui dit connaître = someone who says [that they] know

So:

• In French, you do not add a pronoun like “they” or “il/elle” in this kind of relative clause.

• The subject is understood from “quelqu’un” (someone).

  Summary Table

  English	French
  someone who says they know...	quelqu’un qui dit connaître...
  someone who says he/she knows...	quelqu’un qui dit connaître...

  
  

Simplifying: “pour lui raconter la rencontre et lui décrire cette personne.”

Let’s break it down:

• pour = to / in order to

• lui = to her (here, Johanna)

• raconter la rencontre = tell about the meeting

• décrire cette personne = describe this person

Simple English:

• to tell her about the meeting and describe the person

Bonjour Johanna,

Je voulais te dire que j’ai rencontré quelqu’un aujourd’hui qui dit te connaître. C’est une femme d’environ 35 ans, de taille moyenne, avec les cheveux bruns et les yeux verts. Elle portait des lunettes et elle avait l’air très sympathique et ouverte. Elle m’a dit qu’elle a travaillé avec toi il y a quelques années et qu’elle garde un très bon souvenir de cette période.

Dis-moi si tu vois de qui il s’agit !

À bientôt,
[ton prénom]

1. Bonjour Johanna,
   Hello Johanna,

2. Je voulais te dire que j’ai rencontré quelqu’un aujourd’hui qui dit te connaître.
   I wanted to tell you that I met someone today who says she knows you.

3. C’est une femme d’environ 35 ans, de taille moyenne, avec les cheveux bruns et les yeux verts.
   She is a woman of about 35 years old, medium height, with brown hair and green eyes.

4. Elle portait des lunettes et elle avait l’air très sympathique et ouverte.
   She was wearing glasses and she seemed very friendly and open.

5. Elle m’a dit qu’elle a travaillé avec toi il y a quelques années et qu’elle garde un très bon souvenir de cette période.
   She told me that she worked with you a few years ago and that she has very good memories of that time.

6. Dis-moi si tu vois de qui il s’agit !
   Let me know if you know who it is!

7. À bientôt,
   See you soon,

8. [ton prénom]
   [your name]

what is wrong with this: Hi  sAMUEL

HOW HAVE YOU BEEN AND HOW IS WORK

 

TODAY I MET SOMEONE WHO SAYS THEY KNOW YOU. THE PERSON IS A MAN AND HE HAS DARK SKIN AMD IS VERY TALL.  HE ALSO HAS A SMALL PIMPLE NEXT TO HIS LIPS. HE SAYS YOU GUYS WENT TO SCHOOL TOGETHER IN 2001.

Let me know if you remember this person and I look forward to reading your response

 

Bonjour Samuel,

Comment ca va? Comment est ton travaill? Aujourd’jui, J’ai recontr(e with accent aigu) quelque’un qui dit connais-toi. Le personne est un homme et il est noir et tres grand. Il a un petit pimple aussi a cote de il bouche. Il dit tu aller a lecole ensemble en 2001.  Tu remembre cette personne? Je veux lire ton reprondre.

 

Au revoir  

Your French Version (with comments):

Bonjour Samuel,
Comment ca va? (should be "ça")
Comment est ton travaill? (should be "travail")
Aujourd’jui, J’ai recontr(e with accent aigu) quelque’un qui dit connais-toi.
(should be "Aujourd'hui, j'ai rencontré quelqu'un qui dit te connaître.")
Le personne est un homme et il est noir et tres grand.
(should be "La personne est un homme et il a la peau foncée et il est très grand.")
Il a un petit pimple aussi a cote de il bouche.
(should be "Il a aussi un petit bouton à côté de la bouche.")
Il dit tu aller a lecole ensemble en 2001.
(should be "Il dit que vous êtes allés à l'école ensemble en 2001.")
Tu remembre cette personne?
(should be "Tu te souviens de cette personne ?")
Je veux lire ton reprondre.
(should be "J'ai hâte de lire ta réponse.")
Au revoir

Here’s a corrected and natural version:

Bonjour Samuel,

Comment ça va ? Comment se passe le travail ?

Aujourd’hui, j’ai rencontré quelqu’un qui dit te connaître. La personne est un homme, il a la peau foncée et il est très grand. Il a aussi un petit bouton à côté de la bouche. Il m’a dit que vous êtes allés à l’école ensemble en 2001.

Dis-moi si tu te souviens de cette personne. J’ai hâte de lire ta réponse !

Word-by-Word Translation:

• Bonjour Samuel,
  Hello Samuel,

• Comment ça va ? Comment se passe le travail ?
  How are you? How is work going?

• Aujourd’hui, j’ai rencontré quelqu’un qui dit te connaître.
  Today, I met someone who says he knows you.

• La personne est un homme, il a la peau foncée et il est très grand.
  The person is a man, he has dark skin and is very tall.

• Il a aussi un petit bouton à côté de la bouche.
  He also has a small pimple next to his mouth.

• Il m’a dit que vous êtes allés à l’école ensemble en 2001.
  He told me that you went to school together in 2001.

• Dis-moi si tu te souviens de cette personne.
  Let me know if you remember this person.

• J’ai hâte de lire ta réponse !
  I look forward to reading your response!

• Au revoir,
  Goodbye,

Why "il a la peau foncée" and not "noir"?

Why "il a la peau foncée" and not "noir"?

• "Noir" means "black." In French, it’s more natural and polite to describe someone’s skin color as "il a la peau foncée" (he has dark skin) rather than just saying "il est noir" (he is black), especially in a neutral or descriptive context.

• "Il est noir" can be used, but "il a la peau foncée" is softer and more commonly used in descriptions.

Why is "aussi" placed before the verb? ("Il a aussi un petit bouton..."

• n French, "aussi" (also) is usually placed before the verb it modifies.

  • Il a aussi un petit bouton. (He also has a small pimple.)

• You can sometimes put "aussi" at the beginning for emphasis, but the most natural, neutral position is before the verb.

• You cannot put "aussi" just anywhere in the sentence; its position is more fixed than in English.

Why "à côté de la bouche" and not "à côté de il bouche"

• In French, body parts usually use the definite article ("le", "la", "les") instead of possessive adjectives ("my", "his", etc.).

  • à côté de la bouche = next to the mouth (not "his mouth" or "her mouth")

• You never say "de il bouche." If you want to say "next to his mouth," you still say "à côté de la bouche" because the context makes it clear whose mouth it is.

Why "Il dit que..." and not just "Il dit vous êtes allés..."

• In French, when reporting what someone says, you must use "que" ("that") to introduce the reported speech:

  • Il dit que vous êtes allés à l’école ensemble. (He says that you went to school together.)

• Without "que," the sentence is incorrect in French.

Why "tu te souviens" and not "tu souviens"

• The verb "se souvenir" (to remember) is reflexive in French.

  • Je me souviens (I remember)

  • Tu te souviens (You remember)

  • Il/elle se souvient (He/she remembers)

• You must include the reflexive pronoun ("me", "te", "se", etc.) with this verb.

Why "souviens de cette personne" and not "souviens cette personne"?

• "Se souvenir" is always followed by "de" when mentioning what you remember:

  • Tu te souviens de cette personne ? (Do you remember this person?)

• Without "de," the sentence is incorrect.

Why "J'ai hâte de lire ta réponse" and not just "lire", and why "ta" not "ton

J'ai hâte de...

• "J'ai hâte" means "I look forward to" or "I can't wait to."

• "de lire" = "to read" (literally: I have impatience to read...)

• In French, after "avoir hâte de," you must use "de" before the verb.

Why "ta réponse" and not "ton réponse"?

• "Réponse" (answer/response) is feminine in French.

• Use "ta" for feminine nouns and "ton" for masculine nouns.

  • ta réponse = your answer (feminine)

  • ton livre = your book (masculine)