Subject Pronouns, the verb être, adjective agreement, and nationality Leçon 1B – Structure Subject Pronouns, the verb être, adjective agreement, and nationality
Subject Pronouns Subject pronouns replace a noun that is the subject of the verb. The French subject pronouns are: je = I nous = we tu = you (sing, informal) vous = you (pl, formal) il = he/it ils = they (mas.) elle = she/it elles = they (fem.)
The subject pronoun “on” On refers to people in general, just as the English subject pronouns one, they, or you sometimes do. On can also mean we in a casual style. On always takes the same verb form as il and elle. Example: En France, on parle français.
The verb être Être (to be) is an irregular verb; its conjugation (set of forms for different subjects) does not follow a pattern. Je suis (I am) nous sommes ( we are) Tu es (you are) vous êtes (you are, pl. or formal) Il est (he is) ils sont (they are) Elle est (she is) elles sont (they are) On est (one is)
C’est and Ce sont Use c’est (or it’s plural form ce sont) plus a noun to identify who or what someone or something is. examples: C’est un téléphone. C’est Mme. Renton Ce sont des photos. Ce sont les profs.
Il/elle est and ils/elles sont Use the phrases il/elle est and ils/elles sont to refer to someone or something previously mentioned. Examples: La bibliothèque? Elle est moderne. Les livres? Ils sont intéressants.
Adjectives are words that describe people, places and things. Here are some French adjectives that are cognates – words that are similar to English words. agrèable pleasant intelligent(e) intelligent amusant(e) fun intéressant(e) interesting brillant(e) bright occupé(e) busy charmant(e) charming optimiste optimistic Désagréable unpleasant patient(e) patient différent(e) different pessimiste pessimistic difficile difficult poli(e) polite égoïste selfish réservé(e) reserved élégant(e) elegant sincère sincere impatient(e) impatient sociable sociable important(e) important sympathique (sympa) nice indépendant(e) independent timide shy
In French, most adjectives agree in number and gender with the nouns they describe. Most adjectives form the feminine by adding a silent –e (no accent) to the end of the masculine form, unless one is already there. Adding a silent –s to the end of the masculine and femine forms gives you the plural forms of both.
Examples: Henri est amusant. Patricia est amusante. Henri et Patricia sont amusants. Patricia et Marie sont amusantes.
Adjectives of Nationality algérian(ne) Algerian japonais(e) Japanese allemand(e) German marocain(e) Moroccan anglias(e) English martiniquais(e) from Martinique américain(e) American mexicain(e) Mexican canadien(ne) Canadian québécois(e) from Quebec espagnol(e) Spanish sénégalais(e) Senegalese français(e) French suisse Swiss italien(ne) Italian vietnamien(ne) Vietnamese
Partner Practice - Introductions Write out the following French sentences and fill in the blanks with your partner’s information (this can go in your notebooks,). Practice saying the sentences aloud to your partner several times. Be ready to present this information! Voici ___________. Il/elle est un/une__(noun)__. Il/elle est ___(adjective). ll/elle est __(nationality)__.