French Grammar and Vocabulary: Imperative, Idiomatic Expressions, Irregular Verbs, Articles, and Reflexive Verbs

What is the imperative used for?

The imperative is used to give commands, instructions, advice, or suggestions.

What are the three forms of the imperative?

tu (you, singular/informal), nous (we), vous (you, plural/formal)

How do you form the imperative for -ER verbs?

Remove the -s from the tu form.

Give an example of the imperative for 'parler'.

Tu parles → Parle ! — Speak!

What is the negative form of the imperative?

Put ne...pas around the verb.

What is an idiomatic expression?

A phrase whose meaning isn't necessarily obvious from the individual words.

Translate 'Avoir faim'.

To have hunger → To be hungry.

What does 'avoir' mean?

To have.

Conjugate avoir (je, present).

j'ai

Conjugate être (tu, present).

es

What is the structure for using 'depuis'?

Depuis + length of time or specific point in time.

Translate 'J'habite ici depuis trois ans.'

I have lived here for three years.

What are the definite articles in French?

le (masculine singular), la (feminine singular), l' (before vowel/h muet), les (plural)

Translate 'Le professeur'.

The teacher.

What are the indefinite articles in French?

un (masculine singular), une (feminine singular), des (plural)

Translate 'J'ai un frère.'

I have a brother.

What are partitive articles used for?

To express an unspecified amount of something.

Translate 'Je mange du pain.'

I eat some bread.

What happens to articles in negative sentences?

Partitive and indefinite articles generally become de/d'.

What are reflexive verbs?

Verbs used with a reflexive pronoun, describing actions someone does to themselves.

Conjugate se lever (je, present).

Je me lève.

What is the common mistake with reflexive verbs?

Don't forget the reflexive pronoun!

Conjugate aller (nous, present).

nous allons

Conjugate faire (vous, present).

vous faites

Conjugate vouloir (ils, present).

ils veulent

Conjugate pouvoir (tu, present).

tu peux

What is the translation for 'Il pleut des cordes'?

It's raining heavily.

What is the translation for 'Tomber dans les pommes'?

To faint.

What does 'être dans la lune' mean?

To be daydreaming.