Easy French Step by Step Audio Download

Index

Preface

Easy French Step-by-Step will help you learn the basics of French—for speaking, reading, and writing—as quickly and as thoroughly as possible. Prepared for beginners and advanced beginners, this book teaches French grammar and natural, everyday speech in logical order to enable you to develop and build on your language skills.

To take full advantage of the grammatical progression of this book, you'll need to learn each chapter or step—and the sequence within each chapter—one after another. We advise you not to skip around. Each step you take will lead you to the next. Chapters consist of clear grammar explanations, numerous reinforcement activities (with a complete Answer Key), vocabulary study, and short practice readings in French. Try to learn every concept before you undertake the next one.

Chapter 1 teaches the basics of French nouns, their articles, and the descriptive adjectives that modify them. Chapters 2 and 3 present the fundamentals of verb conjugation and verb use in the present tense (to express declarative statements, negation, yes/no questions, and information questions). We start with the most common French verbs, être (to be) and avoir (to have), and the largest group of verbs (those with infinitives ending in -er). Complete model verb conjugations allow you to practice all the forms as you learn their meanings. Chapters 4 through 9 present the rest of the regular and irregular verb system, step-by-step, alongside other topics. Vocabulary was selected based on frequency and thematic usefulness. The vocabulary lists will help expand your communicative skills and allow you to function in various settings.

A variety of exercises and activities follow each grammar step and vocabulary list. You may use them to check your understanding and progress. There is a complete Answer Key in the back of the book, which also includes sample answers to all personalized questions. We suggest that you also keep a journal or diary, jotting down your own vocabulary lists, questions, and statements so you can practice them aloud. If you take control of your own learning, you'll never be bored!

Original, author-written readings are included in every chapter (starting in Chapter 2). They become more challenging in form and content as the book progresses. Use these Reading Comprehension sections to learn additional vocabulary (a list of new words follows each reading), to practice reading aloud, and to gain confidence in reading other materials. Try to answer the follow-up questions in complete sentences.

Easy French Step-by-Step is divided into three parts. The first part gives you the elements of French, using the present tense. You'll notice that the word order of English and French is essentially the same. This makes learning in the early stages very quick. The second part explains the use of object nouns and pronouns, pronominal (or reflexive) verbs, the present participle (equivalent to the English -ing), and the imperative (or command form). You will find some of these structures different from English in syntax (word order). The third part of Easy French Step-by-Step expands your competence into the past and future tenses, and the conditional and subjunctive moods, with usage specific to French.

English speakers often say that French is easy enough to read—there are an extraordinary number of cognate (similar) words in the two languages—but that it is difficult to pronounce. French does have several sounds that do not exist in English; you'll need to learn those. Most French sounds, however, both consonants and vowels, are quite similar to English. Be sure to use the upcoming Guide to Pronunciation section for study, review, and reference. Return to it whenever you wish to check something. Practice the sounds and examples out loud. If possible, try to practice with a native or near-native French speaker. Throughout the book, remember to read all the French examples and activities aloud to help develop your pronunciation.

Once you have some experience with the sounds and the letter combinations, you will see that they are limited and consistent, which, believe it or not, will make French easy for you to understand and to spell. If you can spell in English, which is notoriously difficult, you will be able to pronounce and spell in French. Supplement your study by listening to French radio and online broadcasts, CDs, movies, videos, and television programs. With modern media, these opportunities are increasingly easy to come by.

This book was prepared with a logical approach that makes it accessible, whether you are a self-study learner—starting out, reviewing, or brushing up on your own—or studying in an organized program. With Easy French Step-by-Step, you will see your skills fall quickly into place. In just a few weeks, you will be communicating, reading, and writing in French.

If you learn the French in this book, you'll be well on your way to being able to get along in France and Francophone regions such as Belgium, Luxembourg, French Switzerland, countries in North and West Africa, the province of Quebec, Haiti, Martinique, Guadeloupe, and French Polynesia … not to mention exploring their rich cultural and artistic heritages. We hope you enjoy learning and using your French wherever you need it.

Abbreviations

Acknowledgments

Warm thanks to my editors Garret Lemoi and Christopher Brown, as well as to Jenn Tust, Debbie Anderson, Maki Wiering, and Pamela Juárez at McGraw-Hill Professional, and to Barbara Bregstein, who initiated the Easy series. To Leon, I'm more grateful than I can express, for your patient support and tech help.

Guide to Pronunciation

Easy French Step-by-Step occasionally includes guides to help you pronounce certain word combinations. When you read them out loud, pronounce them as you would words and syllables in English.

French has several sounds not found in English. They are what make French sound like French! You will see the symbols that represent these special sounds in the Pronunciation columns below, in brackets. Some are printed in capital letters, which will help you spot them easily.

Vowels

Vowels are shown here both with and without accent marks, an important part of French spelling.

The sounds of French vowels are clear and short, generally placed forward in the mouth. With few exceptions, final consonants of French words are silent.

Semi-Vowels

Semi-vowels are written vowel combinations that are pronounced in a single syllable.

Nasal Vowels

French has several nasalized vowels, spelled with the letter combinations a, e, i, y, o plus the letters n or m (examples: fin, manteau, mon, symbole).

The nasalized combinations appear at the end of a syllable or a word, or are followed by a silent or sounded consonant (examples: flan, montagne, lent).

Pronounce the nasal vowels as a single sound through your mouth and nose at the same time.

The letters n or m are not pronounced in a nasal combination. But they are pronounced when immediately followed by a vowel (examples: fine, guano) or when the n or m is doubled (examples: homme, bonne).

Consonants

Many French consonant sounds (for example: b, c, d, f, k, l, m, n, p, t, v, z) closely resemble their English counterparts.

Pronounce the consonants forward in your mouth, and always try to avoid making plosive sounds (puffs of air), particularly with b, p, and t.

Here are several consonant sounds specific to French. Some variants are the same as in English (for example, hard c [k], hard g [g], and qu [k]. Sounds not listed here are pronounced nearly like English.

Pronunciation Tips

•  When you speak, remember to keep vowel sounds and all syllables short and clear.

•  Syllables in French are considered part of an utterance, not part of a word. Syllables start with a consonant: les idées [lay-zee-day], vous allez [voo-zah-lay]. Words in a phrase and successive words in a sentence are usually linked.

•  French sounds, except for the gargled sound of r [R], are farther forward in the mouth than English.

•  There is a slight fall or descending intonation on the last word of a sentence or syllable of a word.

•  In yes/no questions, intonation rises slightly (Tu arrives?). It tends to fall slightly at the end of information questions (Comment allez-vous?).

Greetings

I

First Elements of French

1

Nouns, Articles, and Descriptive Adjectives

Gender and Number of Nouns and Articles

A noun is a person, place, or thing. In French, all nouns are masculine or feminine (gender) and singular or plural (number). The French definite article is used more frequently than the is used in English.

The Definite Article

The French definite article agrees with the noun in gender and number.

Masculine Nouns

Masculine singular nouns take the definite article le. The genders of French nouns are hard to guess. You will learn them as you go along. Pronounce the following nouns with their article. Refer to the Guide to Pronunciation as needed.

Feminine Nouns

Feminine singular nouns take the definite article la.

Many feminine nouns end in -e, but please don't consider this a general rule. The nouns in the following list do not end in -e; however, they are all feminine.

Most final consonants are silent in French. In the list below, only the final -r is sounded.

Masculine and Feminine Articles Before a Vowel Sound or Mute h

The definite article l' is used before all singular nouns, maculine and feminine, starting with a vowel or a mute (non-aspirate) h. The -e or -a of the definite article is dropped (elided). When the noun starts with h, pronounce the vowel that follows the h.

Learn the gender (m. or f.) in parentheses for each noun. When you begin to attach adjectives to nouns, it will be easier to remember their gender.

Singular Nouns and the Definite Article

The definite article indicates a specific person, place, thing, or idea. It also precedes nouns that are used in a general sense.

Le, la, and l'

Remember: Le is used with masculine singular nouns beginning with a consonant; la is used with feminine singular nouns beginning with a consonant; and l' is used with both masculine and feminine singular nouns beginning with a vowel and for most nouns beginning with the letter h.

The Initial Letter h

The letter h is always silent in French. Words starting with the letter h— l'homme, for example—are pronounced beginning with the first vowel sound. This is called a mute h.

However, in front of some French words starting with h, for historical reasons, the article does not elide the -e or -a. For example:

This is called an aspirate h. This h is also a silent letter; it is not pronounced. French dictionaries show the aspirate h with a diacritical mark. In this book, words beginning with an aspirate h are indicated by an asterisk (*).

Learning the Gender of Nouns

Gender is linked to the noun word, rarely to the physical thing or the person. Always learn the gender of a noun with its article: le livre (the book), la fenêtre (the window). Genders of nouns starting with a vowel need to be memorized separately: l'âge (m.) (age), l'hôtel (m.) (the hotel), l'horloge (f.) (the clock).

Several rules can help you guess if a French noun is masculine or feminine:

•  Nouns that refer to males are usually masculine; nouns that refer to females are usually feminine: l'homme (m.) (the man); la femme (the woman).

• The ending of a noun can be a clue to its gender. Here are some common masculine and feminine endings. Be aware of cognate nouns, which are close to English in spelling and meaning.

Watch out for exceptions: l'eau (f.) (water), la peau (skin), le silence (silence).

•  Nouns adopted from other languages are usually masculine: le jogging, le tennis, le jazz, le basket-ball. Exception: la pizza.

•  Some nouns referring to people indicate gender by their ending. The feminine form often ends in -e.

Note that final d, n, s, and t are silent in the masculine form, as in the examples above. When followed by -e in the feminine form, d, n, s, and t are pronounced.

•  Some nouns that end in -e and the names of some professions have only one singular form, used to refer to both males and females. In this case, the article remains the same whether the actual person is male or female.

Evolving Style

In contemporary Canadian French and among some other French speakers, you may also see or read a feminine form for a few traditional professions (la professeure, l'écrivaine, l'auteure).

For learners, however, it's best to continue using the masculine forms of these nouns to refer to both males and females.

•  For certain nouns referring to people, the gender of the individual is sometimes indicated by the article alone. Such nouns most often end in -e; the spelling of the noun does not change when the gender changes.

Exercise 1.1

Write the appropriate singular definite article for each of the nouns. Pronounce each word in French as you write the answer, making sure you know its meaning.

1.  ______  ami

2.  ______  homme

3.  ______  lampe

4.  ______  fenêtre

5.  ______  hôtel

6.  ______  réalisme

7.  ______  ingénieur

8.  ______  publicité

9.  ______  comédie

10.  _____  différence

11.  _____  médecin

12.  _____  sculpture

13.  _____  prononciation

14.  _____  gâteau

The Indefinite Article

The singular indefinite article in French, corresponding to a (an) in English, is un for masculine nouns and une for feminine nouns. The plural of both forms is des, roughly equivalent to some (though it's usually not translated as some). Depending on the context, un/une can also mean the number one.

Masculine Nouns

Pronounce the examples, learning the gender of each noun along with its article. The indefinite article is the same for nouns beginning with a consonant or a vowel.

Feminine Nouns

Pronounce the following examples and learn the meaning of words new to you. A practical way to learn the gender of a noun is to link it with un or une.

Note that l'héroïne (f.) (unlike le *héros) is pronounced with a mute h and elides its definite article. The h of le *héros is an aspirate h (no elision).

Plural Nouns

The plural definite article of all nouns is les; the plural indefinite article is des. Most French nouns are made plural by adding an -s to the singular. In addition, note the following plural endings:

•  Nouns that end in -s, -x, or -z in the singular stay the same in the plural.

•  Some plural noun endings are irregular.

• The masculine form is always used to refer to a group (two or more people) that includes at least one male.

Pronouncing the Plural

The final -s is usually not pronounced in French:

les touristes [lay too-Reest]

Spoken French distinguishes most singular and plural nouns by the pronunciation of the definite article:

le touriste [luh too-Reest] versus les touristes [lay too-Reest]

When the -s of a plural article (les or des) is followed by a vowel sound, it is pronounced [z] and begins the following syllable; this is called a liaison:

les exercices (m.) [lay-zehg-zehR-sees]; des hommes (m.) [day-zuhm]

There is no liaison with the aspirate h. Pronounce the nasal vowel un [In] before un *héros [In ay-Roh], and do not make the liaison with -s in les *héros [lay ay-Roh]. Pronounce the following out loud:

NOTE: The word les (or des) *hors-d'œuvre is invariable in the plural; it has no final -s.

Exercise 1.2

Write the plural form of each singular noun. Make sure you know its meaning.

1.   une artiste___________________________

2.  un *hors-d'œuvre______________________

3.  le milieu_____________________________

4.  l'étudiante___________________________

5.  un Français__________________________

6.  un café______________________________

7.  le chapeau (hat)_______________________

8.  l'eau________________________________

9.  la fenêtre___________________________

10.  un choix___________________________

11.  une préférence______________________

12.  le travail___________________________

13.  le nez_____________________________

14.  un cours___________________________

Exercise 1.3

Pronounce the nouns with their articles, then write the English equivalent. If the gender is not clear from the spelling, show it by writing m. or f.

1.  la fenêtre________________________

2.  le cyclisme______________________

3.  les hôpitaux______________________

4.  une sentinelle_____________________

5.  les écrivains______________________

6.  les amies__________________________

7.  des chapeaux_____________________

8.  le travail________________________

9.  des choix_______________________

10.  un cours______________________

11.  des *hors-d'œuvre_______________

12.  des hommes__________________

13.  la peau______________________

14.  l'Allemande__________________

15.  les livres_____________________

16.  un lieu______________________

17.  des histoires_________________

18.  une horloge________________

19.  des gâteaux__________________

20.  la femme_____________________

Descriptive Adjectives

Descriptive adjectives are used to describe nouns. In French, descriptive adjectives usually follow the nouns they modify. Descriptive adjectives may also follow forms of the verb être (to be): il/elle est… (he/she/it is …); ils/elles sont… (they are …). See Chapter 2 for the conjugation of the verb être.

Agreement of Adjectives in Gender and Number

In French, adjectives agree in both gender and number with the nouns they modify. The feminine form of adjectives usually ends in -e. The regular plural adds an s.

•  If the masculine singular form of the adjective ends in an unaccented or silent -e, the ending remains the same in the feminine singular.

•  If the singular form of an adjective ends in -s or -x, the plural ending remains the same.

•  If a plural subject or group contains one or more masculine items or people, the plural adjective is masculine.

•  Invariable adjectives or adjectival phrases do not change in gender or number.

•  Some descriptive adjectives have irregular forms.

Other descriptive adjectives with irregular forms include the following examples:

Adjectives of Color

Adjectives of color normally follow the noun and agree with it in gender and in number.

•  Two adjectives of color, blanc and violet, have irregular feminine forms.

•  Adjectives of color ending in silent -e are spelled the same in both masculine and feminine.

• Two adjectives of color, marron and orange, are invariable in gender and number.

•  The names of colors are masculine when used as nouns.

Adjectives That Precede the Noun

Most descriptive adjectives follow the noun, but these adjectives usually precede it:

•  The adjectives beau (beautiful, handsome), nouveau (new), and vieux (old) are irregular. In addition, each has a second masculine singular form that is used before a vowel sound or mute h.

Pronounce the examples below, and practice by substituting other nouns for maison and homme. What changes do you need to make in the articles and adjectives?

•  When a plural adjective precedes a plural noun, the indefinite article des usually shortens to de/d', as you may have noticed in the previous chart.

However, colloquial French often retains des before the plural.

•  A few adjectives that usually precede nouns can also follow them. This change of position causes a change in meaning. For example:

Key Vocabulary

Learn these common adjectives to answer the question: Comment est… ? (What is … like?) when you want to describe something or someone. Answer with Il est…/Elle est… (He/She/It is …).

Les adjectifs descriptifs (Descriptive Adjectives)

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