French Lessons

Lana wrote:

The problem isn't understanding slang for me. I'm pretty good at that. I just don't know how to talk or write slang myself. So, it would be soooooo fab and useful, if you could teach me a few little things, sweetie!

Of course ! But the words you understand, you can use them, right ?
But I understand. Sometimes it's easier to understand than to write and talk itself, even if we know enough vocabulary .

Marina wrote:

But I'm sure you have some skills . And a really cute Russian accent .

Ah, Marinochka! You're really great teacher! I'm starting to believe that I can learn it! (even numbers)

Quote :

Anya, have you memorized all numbers ?
So... how old are you ?
--> quel âge as-tu ?

J'ai vingt-et-un ans

(The last time I mentioned my age in French was like that... "J'ai dix-sept ans"... Time, time, time!)

Thanks god, I know good Lessons 4-5! :study: That's nothing complicated and new for me I think so

I have a question I'll explain it in French, it will be more easy like this.

Quel est le substantif provenant du verbe "surmonter"? Je traduis un texte et je veux dire "la stabilisation et le(ou la) *****(le substantif en question) des difficultés etc.etc......." Peut-être, j'aurai d'autres questions à vous poser cet après-midi et demain, je traduis un texte très compliqué

Merci!

Vania wrote:

Quel est le substantif provenant du verbe "surmonter"? Je traduis un texte et je veux dire "la stabilisation et le(ou la) *****(le substantif en question) des difficultés etc.etc......." Peut-être, j'aurai d'autres questions à vous poser cet après-midi et demain, je traduis un texte très compliqué

Erm... Pas de substantif pour le verbe "surmonter". Ca n'existe pas .
Donc pour ta phrase, tu peux dire "stabiliser et surmonter des difficultés", ça me semble être le mieux .
N'hésite pas si ça ne te convient pas ou si tu as besoin d'aide pour ton texte


Lesson 6 : un / une ; le / la
This is a little lesson, but it will be useful for the next one.

the = le (for masculine names) --> le garçon (the boy)
the = la (for feminine names) --> la fille (the girl)

a = un (masculine) --> un garçon (a boy)
a = une (feminine) --> une fille (a girl)

Marina wrote:

Erm... Pas de substantif pour le verbe "surmonter". Ca n'existe pas .
Donc pour ta phrase, tu peux dire "stabiliser et surmonter des difficultés", ça me semble être le mieux .
N'hésite pas si ça ne te convient pas ou si tu as besoin d'aide pour ton texte

Merci, Marina! C'est ce que j'ai fait finalement.

Je suis Alexandra. J'ai vingt-deux ans.

How do you say 'and you?' or 'what about you?'

Marina, tu es ma petite et un bon professeur (thanks Aline for the sentence you wrote in French ). Merci. J'espere to learn French.

Je suis une fille.
Nous sommes friends - plural

Hehe..I'm making random sentences in order to memorize the lessons faster.

Albena and Maxim sont belle (plural!?) guess I have to wait
for a lesson with plurals.

Girls, I have a question...I don't know how to pronounce 'â' ? Is it possible to explain through internet?! Writing?!

PS: Vania, I have the notebook now. It's all in there

Alexandra wrote:

Girls, I have a question...I don't know how to pronounce 'â' ? Is it possible to explain through internet?! Writing?!

Actually, we don't have this 'â', but 'à'. It's the same pronounciation as a 'a' with any accent (hehe, 1st easy explanation ).

Marina wrote:

Et toi ? Or Et vous ? (of you talk to more than one person, or to somebody you don't know well, like a professor. Vous is more respectful).

Yes, I understand now

Quote :

J'espère... apprendre le français

Oui, j'espere apprendre le francais I can't write 'è' or 'ç' unless I copy-paste the letters. Sometimes I'll be too lazy to find a word with those letters. So excuse me for that

In a sentence do you always have to put un/une/des before the noun?! Can you use a noun without the article?
Sorry for asking so many questions and not waiting for the proper lessones

Quote :

Well... you're allowed to say that French is too complicated and difficult
I even think that they are more exceptions, but I can't think about them now, I don't see anything for now

It would be without these rules. If the exceptions would be totally random But it's ok like this. They make sense. I'll try to learn...

Thanks for the other things

Quote :

Hehe, Alex, I'd like to see your notebook You'll show me ? Maybe I'll add some things in it

Please, please :study: I'd love that. Make sure to ask for the notebook, I might forget

PS: It's fun to try to learn French like this and so agrreable

Marina wrote:

Alexandra wrote:

Girls, I have a question...I don't know how to pronounce 'â' ? Is it possible to explain through internet?! Writing?!

Actually, we don't have this 'â', but 'à'. It's the same pronounciation as a 'a' with any accent (hehe, 1st easy explanation ).

I was wrong... We have 'â', but I forgot it because it's random.
You have to pronounce it like a deep 'a'. There is not a big difference (not like 'a' and 'â' in Romanian ), only a little one.

Next lesson, the most interesting one, is coming

We started these French lessons in order to enable you to read Marina Anissina's book in French, do you remember ?
So here is some useful vocabulary to help you to understand this book !


Lesson 7 : skating vocabulary


le patinage artistique : figure skating
la danse sur glace : ice dancing
un patineur (masc.) / une patineuse (fem.) : a skater
un danseur (masc.) / une danseuse (fem.) sur glace : an ice dancer
un entraîneur : a coach
un entraînement : a training, a practice
un juge : a judge
les notes : marks
une compétition : a competition
les championnats d’Europe / du monde : European / World championships

les hommes : men
les dames : ladies
les couples : pairs
le programme court : the short program
le programme long / libre : the long / free program
la danse imposée : compulsory dance
la danse originale : original dance
la danse libre : free dance

la glace : the ice
la patinoire : the rink
un patin : a skate
une lame : a blade
une tunique : an outfit (but only the dress, for ladies)
un costume : an outfit, a costume

une pirouette : a spin
une pirouette allongée : a camel spin
une pirouette Biellman : a Biellman spin
un porté : a lift
un pas : a step
une séquence de pas : a step sequence
des twizzles : twizzles
un saut : a jump
un boucle : a loop
un boucle piqué : a toe-loop
un saut lancé : a throw jump

That's all for now. I try to collect my thoughs, but I don't know what to add for now. Maybe later... Or if you have questions, suggestions about words I forgot (I'm sure I forgot a lot...), you're welcome of course !

Marina wrote:

des twizzles : twizzles

my absolutely favourite

Marina wrote:

I was wrong... We have 'â', but I forgot it because it's random.
You have to pronounce it like a deep 'a'. There is not a big difference (not like 'a' and 'â' in Romanian ), only a little one.

Next lesson, the most interesting one, is coming

What does it mean random? It means that you can choose between writing it or not? However you like?
Ok, I have problems with your 3 'e'(s) and now you tell me you have more than 3 types of 'a'(s)??

Thank you for the rectification and for continuing the lessons

Marina wrote:

We started these French lessons in order to enable you to read Marina Anissina's book in French, do you remember ?
So here is some useful vocabulary to help you to understand this book !

Skating vocabulary!! I adore this lesson.
Awww..mon ami!! Merci beaucoup!!

This is funny - > un boucle piqué

We're making a progress here with all these words

alexandra wrote:

What does it mean random? It means that you can choose between writing it or not? However you like?

Ooops , it's not random, I did a mistake, I don't know what I used THAT word. Sometimes, I write some English words instead of the right ones. Random/seldom... almost the same I wanted to say that this 'â' is pretty rare. I'm sorry

Quote :

Ok, I have problems with your 3 'e'(s) and now you tell me you have more than 3 types of 'a'(s)??

Noooo, only 3 types of 'a'. Like you .
But this one 'a' and this one 'à' have the same pronounciation. The difference is mostly grammatical.
And this one 'â' is deeper than 'a'.
So, it's not more difficult than the Romanian 'a'(s)

Quote :

Awww..ma petite amie!! Merci beaucoup!!

That's pretty strange for me to read that from you, because 'une petite amie' is an expression used by boys, and it means "a girlfriend". And girls use 'un petit ami'.
In that case, it's better you use only 'ma petite' or 'mon amie' .

Quote :

This is funny - > un boucle piqué

Really ? Why ? In the pronounciation ? Or because it remembers you something in Romanian ?

Of course, you're welcome ! I hope it will help you to read Patinage Magazine and D'or et de feu

Marina wrote:

Quote :

Awww..ma petite amie!! Merci beaucoup!!

That's pretty strange for me to read that from you, because 'une petite amie' is an expression used by boys, and it means "a girlfriend". And girls use 'un petit ami'.
In that case, it's better you use only 'ma petite' or 'mon amie' .

Awww... that's so cute and so usefull !!!!! I've never used the "ma petite amie" thing, I don't know why, but I just didn't even want so I didn't know it meant a girlfriend/boyfriend !! Thank you, Alex & Marina !!

*MAGic diable* wrote:

Awww... that's so cute and so usefull !!!!! I've never used the "ma petite amie" thing, I don't know why, but I just didn't even want so I didn't know it meant a girlfriend/boyfriend !! Thank you, Alex & Marina !!

I'm glad the French lessons I made are useful, even for you who speak a very fluent French !

Lerka wrote:

Marina wrote:

That's pretty strange for me to read that from you, because 'une petite amie' is an expression used by boys, and it means "a girlfriend". And girls use 'un petit ami'.
In that case, it's better you use only 'ma petite' or 'mon amie' .

Awww... that's so cute and so usefull !!!!! I've never used the "ma petite amie" thing, I don't know why, but I just didn't even want so I didn't know it meant a girlfriend/boyfriend !! Thank you, Alex & Marina !!

Really? They taught us "petit ami" and "petite amie" in school. Don't ask why, I guess they thought it would be useful. But I use "ta blonde" and "ton chum" for your girlfriend and your boyfriend. Is that a Québec thing, or is it like that in France too? I've never used "petit ami", because I hate the English translation, "little friend". Just because in my dad's family no one will say "boyfriend"/"girlfriend"... they always use "friend". And I'm always like, "Noooo, I didn't go there with my 'friend'. I went with my date!!! " Childish? Maybe, but oh well!

Lana wrote:

But I use "ta blonde" and "ton chum" for your girlfriend and your boyfriend. Is that a Québec thing, or is it like that in France too?

No, it's only a Québec thing, we don't use it in France . But I love these expressions . Did you learn them at school or with friends from Quebec ?
I'm sure I would enjoy a lot your French, a mix between French from France and French from Québec .

Quote :

Just because in my dad's family no one will say "boyfriend"/"girlfriend"... they always use "friend". And I'm always like, "Noooo, I didn't go there with my 'friend'. I went with my date!!! " Childish? Maybe, but oh well!

In France, we can misunderstand sometimes, because we can use, for a boyfriend, the word "mon copain", or "ma copine" for a girlfriend, and that means "my friend".
So sometimes, we have thinks like this :
- I went there with mon copain.
- So, you have a boyfriend ?
- No, only un copain, just a friend !

Marina wrote:

Quote :

Ok, I have problems with your 3 'e'(s) and now you tell me you have more than 3 types of 'a'(s)??

Noooo, only 3 types of 'a'. Like you .
But this one 'a' and this one 'à' have the same pronounciation. The difference is mostly grammatical.
And this one 'â' is deeper than 'a'.
So, it's not more difficult than the Romanian 'a'(s)

Oueeh
You are right Our 'a'(s) aren't very easy.
Some girls might now how to pronounce 'â' or 'i' cause it's almost the same (if not exactly the same) with 'ы' No problems for Russian or Bulgarian girls . I'm sorry Marinka, I know 'smântână' will haunt you for a long time

As for French 'e'(s) and 'a'(s)....uff..I really need to practice them on daily bases. My tongue is not listening me.

Quote :

A
That's pretty strange for me to read that from you, because 'une petite amie' is an expression used by boys, and it means "a girlfriend". And girls use 'un petit ami'.
In that case, it's better you use only 'ma petite' or 'mon amie'

Done. I rectified my mistake . You're not my girlfriend anymore but my sweet friend

Marina wrote:

Quote :

This is funny - > un boucle piqué

Really ? Why ? In the pronounciation ? Or because it remembers you something in Romanian ?

It's just funny....the way it sounds..the way I imagine it should sound...the way I say it...

Quote :

Of course, you're welcome ! I hope it will help you to read Patinage Magazine and D'or et de feu

It will
I will make a list with the words and I'll keep it in the book D'or et de feu

Marina wrote:

So sometimes, we have thinks like this :
- I went there with mon copain.
- So, you have a boyfriend ?
- No, only un copain, just a friend !

Ufff...I'm dizzy from the amount of expressions concerning a boyfriend or a girlfriend .... amie, ami, petite amie, blonde, chum, copine, copain..

Thus it's useful to make a clear distinction between them. Thanks for the explanations Marina and thanks Lana for the Canadian version

Lana wrote:

I've never used "petit ami", because I hate the English translation, "little friend".

Well, I admit it doesn't sound so good in English but I find it really cute in French . That's in my case & I don't know French Maybe it doesn't sound good for persons that know French

'petite' is cute...like 'mini'

Marina wrote:

No, it's only a Québec thing, we don't use it in France . But I love these expressions . Did you learn them at school or with friends from Quebec ?
I'm sure I would enjoy a lot your French, a mix between French from France and French from Québec .

Ha! I knew it. hehe. "Blonde" and "chum" just sound soooo Québecois. I actually learned these words from my friend who was going to a French school in Ottawa. I like them a lot, they're fun to say. hehe.
I would imagine that my French must be quite a strange mix.

Quote :

In France, we can misunderstand sometimes, because we can use, for a boyfriend, the word "mon copain", or "ma copine" for a girlfriend, and that means "my friend".

I'd forgotten about "copain"/"copine"!!! It's kind of funny that the word can mean both things! I lurrrrrve French.

alexandra wrote:

Well, I admit it doesn't sound so good in English but I find it really cute in French . That's in my case & I don't know French Maybe it doesn't sound good for persons that know French

'petite' is cute...like 'mini'

No, it's just not good if you have my family.

A tiny lesson for people who don't speak French yet, and then, I'm planning a slang lesson, especially for Lana .

Well, let's go...


Lesson 8 : negative form

To put a verb at the negative form, you have to add 2 words. 'ne' before the verb, and 'pas' after.

Exemples :
Je ne parle pas français (do you remember this one Alex ? ) --> I don't speak French
Je ne sais pas nager --> I can't swim (I'm sorry about the exemples, but I don't have a lot of ideas ).

And of course, you learn French, so there are exceptions .
When the first letter of the verb is a vowel, ne becomes n' (because French language doesn't like a vowel at the end of a word, when the word that follows begins by another vowel, there are a lot of exemples, different cases, like that).

Exemples :
Je n'aime pas les courgettes --> I don't like zucchinis (which is aboslutely wrong, of course ).
Je n'écris pas sur le forum --> I'm not writing on the board


Well, I think it's OK and I haven't forgotten anything. If I have, Lana will tell me
And if somebody has any question, just ask

alexandra wrote:

'petite' is cute...like 'mini'

I'm sure 'petite' is your favorite French word ! I think now it's mine too, because when I read it from you (or from anywhere else), I try to read it with your so cute Romanian accent, I loooooooove the way you pronounce it... I love your 'mini' too

There are some words like that, I think about them with another pronounciation. Like the word 'patinage', it's one of my favorite too, because I always remember how Lera pronounces it, in a so cute way too