verbs are action words. they tell you what is going on. for example… john plays football every...
TRANSCRIPT
VERBS AND THE PRESENT
TENSE
VERBS ARE ACTION WORDS. THEY TELL YOU WHAT IS GOING ON.
FOR EXAMPLE…
JOHN PLAYS FOOTBALL EVERY SUNDAY
SARAH LIKES THE CINEMA
THESE ARE VERBS
YOU HAVE DIFFERENT WORDS FOR DIFFERENT PEOPLE OR THINGS.
YOU SAY “HE PLAYS” BUT YOU DON’T SAY “I PLAYS”.
YOU CHANGE THE VERB TO FIT THE PERSON OR THING.
ME DOING IT
I EAT APPLES
I AM EATING APPLES
YOU DOING IT
YOU EAT APPLES
YOU ARE EATING APPLES
HIM DOING IT
HE EATS APPLES
HE IS EATING APPLES
US DOING IT
WE EAT APPLES
WE ARE EATING APPLES
IN FRENCH, AS IN ENGLISH, VERBS HAVE TO CHANGE SO IT IS RIGHT FOR THE PERSON OR THING YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT.
FOR EXAMPLE, IF YOU WANT TO SAY “I PLAY” IN FRENCH, YOU START BY LOOKING UP “PLAY” IN THE DICTIONARY. BUT YOU CAN’T JUST USE THE FIRST WORD YOU FIND – THERE IS MORE TO IT THAN THAT…
WHEN YOU LOOK UP A VERB IN THE DICTIONARY, YOU WILL GET SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
THIS IS CALLED AN INFINITIVE
AN INFINITIVE IN ENGLISH HAS THE WORD “TO” WITH IT.
MOST OF THE TIME YOU WON’T WANT TO USE THE VERB IN THE INFINITIVE.
YOU WILL HAVE TO CHANGE IT SO IT IS RIGHT FOR THE PERSON OR THING YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT
LETS LOOK BACK AT SOME OF THE EXAMPLE SENTENCES WE SAW EARLIER
JOHN PLAYS FOOTBALL EVERY SUNDAY
SARAH LIKES THE CINEMA
I AM EATING APPLES
WE ARE EATING APPLES
THESE SENTENCES DESCRIBE WHAT IS HAPPENING NOW. ANOTHER WAY TO DESCRIBE THINGS HAPPENING NOW, IS TO SAY THEY ARE HAPPENING IN THE PRESENT.
WHEN WE USE VERBS TO DESCRIBE THINGS THAT ARE HAPPENING NOW, OR SOMETHING THAT HAPPENS REPEATEDLY, WE SAY THAT WE ARE USING…
THE PRESENT TENSE
WE HAVE TO CHANGE AN INFINITIVE TO FORM THE PRESENT TENSE AND MAKE IT RIGHT FOR THE PERSON OR THING WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.
WE CAN FIND THE INFINITIVE OF A VERB IN THE DICTIONARY.
IN FRENCH, THERE ARE 3 TYPES OF INFINITIVE
INFINITIVES THAT END IN…
-ER-IR-RE
HERE IS AN EXAMPLE OF EACH TYPE OF INFINITIVE IN FRENCH AND ITS MEANING IN ENGLISH.
JOUER – TO PLAY
FINIR – TO FINISH
VENDRE – TO SELL
TO FORM THE PRESENT TENSE, WE HAVE TO CHANGE THE INFINITIVE. HERE IS WHAT WE DO…
REMOVE THE LAST TWO LETTERS FROM THE INFINITIVE
JOUFINVEND
ERIR
RE
WE ARE NOW LEFT WITH THE STEM.
ADD THE NEW ENDING TO THE STEM. THE ENDING WILL BE DIFFERENT DEPENDING
ON THE PERSON OR THING.
THE ENDINGS WILL ALSO BE DIFFERENT, DEPENDING ON WHETHER THE INFINITIVE ENDED IN
–ER, -IR OR –RE.
JOU-FIN-VEND-
THESE ARE THE ENDINGS FOR –ER VERBS…
JE JOUE = I PLAY / I AM PLAYINGTU JOUES = YOU PLAY / YOU ARE PLAYING
IL JOUE = HE / IT PLAYS // HE / IT IS PLAYINGELLE JOUE = SHE / IT PLAYS // SHE / IT IS PLAYING
ON JOUE = ONE PLAYS / ONE IS PLAYING
NOUS JOUONS = WE PLAY / WE ARE PLAYINGVOUS JOUEZ = YOU PLAY / YOU ARE PLAYINGILS JOUENT = THEY PLAY / THEY ARE PLAYING
ELLES JOUENT = THEY PLAY / THEY ARE PLAYING
THESE ARE THE ENDINGS FOR –IR VERBS SUCH AS “FINIR”, “CHOISIR”…
JE FINIS = I FINISH / I AM FINISHINGTU FINIS = YOU FINISH / YOU ARE FINISHING
IL FINIT = HE / IT FINISHES // HE / IT IS FINISHINGELLE FINIT = SHE / IT FINISHES // SHE / IT IS FINISHING
ON FINIT = ONE FINISHES / ONE IS FINISHING
NOUS FINISSONS = WE FINISH / WE ARE FINISHINGVOUS FINISSEZ = YOU FINISH / YOU ARE FINISHINGILS FINISSENT = THEY FINISH / THEY ARE FINISHING
ELLES FINISSENT = THEY FINISH / THEY ARE FINISHING
THERE ARE 2 DIFFERENT SETS OF ENDINGS FOR –IR VERBS
THESE ARE THE ENDINGS FOR –IR VERBS SUCH AS “DORMIR”, “SORTIR”…
JE DORS = I SLEEP / I AM SLEEPINGTU DORS = YOU SLEEP / YOU ARE SLEEPING
IL DORT = HE / IT SLEEPS // HE / IT IS SLEEPINGELLE DORT = SHE / IT SLEEPS // SHE / IT IS SLEEPING
ON DORT = ONE SLEEPS / ONE IS SLEEPING
NOUS DORMONS = WE SLEEP / WE ARE SLEEPINGVOUS DORMEZ = YOU SLEEP / YOU ARE SLEEPINGILS DORMENT = THEY SLEEP / THEY ARE SLEEPING
ELLES DORMENT = THEY SLEEP / THEY ARE SLEEPING
THESE ARE THE ENDINGS FOR –RE VERBS
JE VENDS = I SELL / I AM SELLINGTU VENDS = YOU SELL / YOU ARE SELLING
IL VEND = HE / IT SELLS // HE / IT IS SELLINGELLE VEND = SHE / IT SELLS // SHE / IT IS SELLING
ON VEND = ONE SELLS / ONE IS SELLING
NOUS VENDONS = WE SELL / WE ARE SELLINGVOUS VENDEZ = YOU SELL / YOU ARE SELLINGILS VENDENT = THEY SELL / THEY ARE SELLING
ELLES VENDENT = THEY SELL / THEY ARE SELLING
NOTE THAT FOR “IL”, “ELLE” AND “ON”, THERE IS NO ENDING ADDED, JUST THE STEM REMAINS.
VERBS ARE SET OUT THIS WAY FOR A REASON. IT IS BECAUSE THE DIFFERENT “PERSONS” ARE GIVEN SPECIAL NAMES…
JE JOUE = I PLAY TU JOUES = YOU PLAY
IL JOUE = HE / IT PLAYS ELLE JOUE = SHE / IT PLAYS
ON JOUE = ONE PLAYS
NOUS JOUONS = WE PLAY VOUS JOUEZ = YOU PLAY ILS JOUENT = THEY PLAY
ELLES JOUENT = THEY PLAY
SINGULAR
PLURAL
1ST PERSON
2ND PERSON
3rd PERSON
1ST PERSON
2ND PERSON
3rd PERSON
SO THE WORD “JE” IS KNOWN AS “FIRST PERSON SINGULAR”,“TU” IS SECOND PERSON SINGULAR, “ILS” IS THIRD PERSON PLURAL, ETC.
YOU MAY HAVE NOTICED THAT THERE ARE 2 WORDS FOR “YOU” IN FRENCH. “TU” AND “VOUS”.
THE WORD “TU” IS USED IF YOU ARE TALKING TO ONE PERSON YOU KNOW, SUCH AS FRIENDS AND FAMILY. THIS IS KNOWN AS “FAMILIAR”.
“VOUS” IS USED IN 2 WAYS. ONE WAY IS WHEN YOU SPEAK TO SOMEONE YOU DO NOT KNOW SO WELL OR A PERSON IN AUTHORITY. THIS IS KNOWN AS “FORMAL”.
IT IS ALSO USED WHEN YOU ARE SPEAKING TO MORE THAN ONE PERSON, KNOWN AS “PLURAL”.
IT IS NOT JUST THE WORDS “I”, “YOU”, “HE” ETC THAT ARE USED WITH VERBS.
OBJECTS, PEOPLE AND THINGS CAN ALL USE VERBS. FOR EXAMPLE…
THE DOG IS PLAYING MY PARENTS ARE SELLING
WHEN YOU NEED TO PUT THESE WORDS WITH A VERB IN FRENCH, WHICH ENDING DO YOU USE?
THINK WHICH WORD THE OBJECT OR THING CAN REPLACE. IS “THE DOG” “I”? NO. IS IT “YOU”? NO. IS IT “HE”? YES. SO USE THE ENDING FOR “IL”
THE DOG IS PLAYING = LE CHIEN JOUE
“MY PARENTS” = “I”, “YOU”, “HE”, “SHE”, “IT”, “ONE”, “WE”, “YOU” OR “THEY”?
MY PARENTS CAN REPLACE THE WORD “THEY”, SO…
MY PARENTS ARE SELLING = MES PARENTS VENDENT
THIS TABLE IS A QUICK REFERENCE GUIDE TO ALL THE DIFFERENT ENDINGS FOR VERBS IN THE PRESENT TENSE.
-ER -IR -IR -RE
I JE E IS S S
YOU TU ES IS S S
HE/IT IL E IT T
SHE/IT ELLE E IT T
ONE ON E IT T
WE NOUS ONS ISSONS ONS ONS
YOU VOUS EZ ISSEZ EZ EZ
THEY ILS ENT ISSENT ENT ENT
THEY ELLES ENT ISSENT ENT ENT
LETS HAVE A LOOK AT THESE STEPS IN ACTION…
JOUER
-ER
E
ES
E
E
E
ONS
EZ
ENT
ENT
I JE
YOU TU
HE/IT IL
SHE/IT ELLE
ONE ON
WE NOUS
YOU VOUS
THEY ILS
THEY ELLES
SO WE WILL USE THE –ER VERB ENDINGS
WE WILL USE THE INFINITIVE “JOUER” – TO PLAY
REMOVE THE LAST 2 LETTERS FROM THE INFINITIVE.
ADD THE RIGHT ENDING FOR THE PERSON OR THING.
JE E= I PLAY / I AM PLAYING
IL= HE PLAYS / HE IS PLAYING
ILS ENT= THEY PLAY / THEY ARE PLAYING
NEXT WE WILL SEE HOW THIS WORKS WITH “-IR” VERBS
WE WILL USE THE INFINITIVE “FINIR” – TO FINISH
SO WE WILL USE THE –IR VERB ENDINGS
I JE
YOU TU
HE/IT IL
SHE/IT ELLE
ONE ON
WE NOUS
YOU VOUS
THEY ILS
THEY ELLES
-IR
IS
IS
IT
IT
IT
ISSONS
ISSEZ
ISSENT
ISSENT
FINIR
REMOVE THE LAST 2 LETTERS FROM THE INFINITIVE.
ADD THE RIGHT ENDING FOR THE PERSON OR THING.
TU IS= YOU FINISH / YOU ARE FINISHING
ELLE IT= SHE FINISHES / SHE IS FINISHING
VOUS ISSEZ= YOUFINISH / YOU ARE FINISHING
LASTLY, WE WILL LOOK AT HOW THIS WORKS WITH “-RE” VERBS
WE WILL USE THE INFINITIVE “VENDRE” – TO SELL
VENDRE
SO WE WILL USE THE “-RE” ENDINGS
I JE
YOU TU
HE/IT IL
SHE/IT ELLE
ONE ON
WE NOUS
YOU VOUS
THEY ILS
THEY ELLES
-RE
S
S
ONS
EZ
ENT
ENT
REMOVE THE LAST 2 LETTERS FROM THE INFINITIVE.
ADD THE RIGHT ENDING FOR THE PERSON OR THING.
JE S= I SELL / I AM SELLING
IL= HE SELLS / HE IS SELLING
ILS ENT= THEY SELL / THEY ARE SELLING
THAT IS HOW TO FORM THE PRESENT TENSE.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU DO NOT THINK THAT THE PRESENT TENSE IS EASY. ALWAYS THINK CAREFULLY ABOUT WHAT ENDINGS BELONG WHERE, LEARN THE
ENDINGS SO THAT YOU DO NOT NEED TO ALWAYS LOOK AT THE TABLE.
VERBS THAT FOLLOW THESE RULES ARE KNOWN AS REGULAR VERBS.
HOWEVER, THERE ARE SOME VERBS THAT DO NOT FOLLOW THESE RULES. THEY ARE
KNOWN AS IRREGULAR VERBS.
SOME OF THE MOST COMMON AND USEFUL VERBS ARE IRREGULAR. THEY NEED TO BE LEARNT
BUT HOW DO YOU KNOW IF A VERB IS REGULAR OR IRREGULAR?
A DICTIONARY IS THE BEST THING TO USE…
THIS IS A SECTION FROM A PAGE IN A DICTIONARY…
THIS TELLS US THE VERB IS IRREGULAR
THIS TELLS US THE VERB IS REGULAR
HOWEVER, NOT ALL DICTIONARIES GIVE THE INFORMATION IN THIS WAY, BUT THEY WILL ALL HAVE SOMETHING CALLED A VERB TABLE.
THEY LOOK SOMETHING LIKE THIS…
THIS IS JUST A SECTION OF A VERB TABLE, BUT IT SHOWS US THE INFINITIVE, THE PRESENT TENSE AND OTHER TENSES.
A VERB TABLE WILL ALSO SHOW AN EXAMPLE OF THE REGULAR VERBS. VERY HELPFUL IF YOU FORGET AN ENDING!
SO IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO CHECK A VERB TABLE EVERY TIME YOU USE A VERB
FOR THE FIRST TIME. IF IT IS NOT IN THE VERB TABLE, THEN IT WILL FOLLOW THE RULES OF REGULAR VERBS. YOU WILL
SOON BEGIN TO REMEMBER WHICH VERBS ARE REGULAR, AND WHICH
ONES ARE IRREGULAR.
HERE ARE SOME IMPORTANT AND USEFUL IRREGULAR VERBS…
ÊTRE – TO BE
I AM = JE SUISYOU ARE = TU ES
HE IS = IL ESTSHE IS = ELLE ESTONE IS = ON EST
WE ARE = NOUS SOMMESYOU ARE = VOUS ÊTESTHEY ARE = ILS SONT
THEY ARE = ELLES SONT
AVOIR – TO HAVE
I HAVE = J’AIYOU HAVE = TU AS
HE HAS = IL ASHE HAS = ELLE AONE HAS = ON A
WE HAVE = NOUS AVONSYOU HAVE = VOUS AVEZ
THEY HAVE = ILS ONTTHEY HAVE = ELLES ONT
FAIRE– TO DO / TO MAKE
I DO / MAKE = JE FAISYOU DO / MAKE = TU FAIS
HE DOES / MAKES = IL FAITSHE DOES / MAKES = ELLE FAITONE DOES / MAKES = ON FAIT
WE DO / MAKE = NOUS FAISONSYOU DO / MAKE = VOUS FAITES
THEY DO / MAKE = ILS FONTTHEY DO / MAKE = ELLES FONT
ALLER– TO GO
I GO = JE VAISYOU GO = TU VASHE GOES = IL VA
SHE GOES = ELLE VAONE GOES = ON VA
WE GO = NOUS ALLONSYOU GO = VOUS ALLEZTHEY GO = ILS VONT
THEY GO = ELLES VONT
POUVOIR– TO BE ABLE TO / CAN
I CAN = JE PEUXYOU CAN = TU PEUX
HE CAN = IL PEUTSHE CAN = ELLE PEUTONE CAN = ON PEUT
WE CAN = NOUS POUVONSYOU CAN = VOUS POUVEZTHEY CAN = ILS PEUVENT
THEY CAN = ELLES PEUVENT
VOULOIR– TO WANT
I WANT = JE VEUXYOU WANT = TU VEUXHE WANTS = IL VEUT
SHE WANTS = ELLE VEUTONE WANTS = ON VEUT
WE WANT = NOUS VOULONSYOU WANT= VOUS VOUVEZTHEY WANT = ILS VEULENT
THEY WANT = ELLES VEULENT
DEVOIR– TO HAVE TO / MUST
I HAVE TO / MUST = JE DOISYOU HAVE TO / MUST= TU DOIS
HE HAS TO / MUST = IL DOITSHE HAS TO / MUST = ELLE DOITONE HAS TO / MUST = ON DOIT
WE HAVE TO / MUST = NOUS DEVONSYOU HAVE TO / MUST = VOUS DEVEZTHEY HAVE TO / MUST = ILS DOIVENT
THEY HAVE TO / MUST = ELLES DOIVENT
SAVOIR– TO KNOW
I KNOW = JE SAISYOU KNOW = TU SAISHE KNOWS = IL SAIT
SHE KNOWS = ELLE SAITONE KNOWS = ON SAIT
WE KNOW = NOUS SAVONSYOU KNOW = VOUS SAVEZTHEY KNOW = ILS SAVENT
THEY KNOW = ELLES SAVENT
AS WELL AS REGULAR AND IRREGULAR VERBS, THERE IS ONE MORE GROUP OF VERBS WE NEED TO KNOW ABOUT…
THEY ARE CALLED REFLEXIVE VERBS.
REFLEXIVE VERBS ARE ACTIONS THAT ARE DONE TO YOURSELF.
FOR EXAMPLE, “I WASH MYSELF” , “I GET MYSELF UP”
IN ENGLISH, WE DON’T ALWAYS NEED TO INCLUDE THE REFLEXIVE PRONOUN SUCH AS THE WORD“MYSELF” FOR THE
VERB TO MAKE SENSE.
THE WORD “MYSELF” IS CALLED A REFLEXIVE PRONOUN.
IN FRENCH, IF A VERB IS A REFLEXIVE VERB, IT MUST INCLUDE A REFLEXIVE PRONOUN. HERE IS HOW THIS WORKS…
THIS IS AN EXAMPLE OF A REFLEXIVE VERB…
SE LAVER = TO WASH (ONESELF)
THE INFINITIVE WHEN FOUND IN THE DICTIONARY WILL HAVE THE REFLEXIVE PRONOUN “SE” OR “S’” IN FRONT OF IT. THIS EXAMPLE IS ALSO A REGULAR VERB WHICH ENDS IN “-ER”. IT WILL ALSO FOLLOW
THE RULES FOR REGULAR “-ER” VERB ENDINGS.
JE ME LAVE – I WASH (MYSELF)TU TE LAVES – YOU WASH (YOURSELF)
IL SE LAVE – HE WASHES (HIMSELF)ELLE SE LAVE – SHE WASHES (HERSELF)ON SE LAVE – ONE WASHES (ONESELF)
NOUS NOUS LAVONS – WE WASH (OURSELVES)VOUS VOUS LAVEZ – YOU WASH (YOURSELVES)
ILS SE LAVENT – THEY WASH (THEMSELVES)ELLES SE LAVENT – THEY WASH (THEMSELVES)
YOU MUST USE THE CORRECT REFLEXIVE PRONOUN WITH THE RIGHT PERSON
CHECK IF THE VERB IS REGULAR OR IRREGULAR, THEN FOLLOW THE SAME RULES AS BEFORE.
THERE ARE LOTS OF REFLEXIVE VERBS, HERE ARE 6 USEFUL ONES TO KNOW…
S’AMUSER – TO ENJOY ONESELF EG IL S’AMUSE = HE ENJOYS HIMSELF
SE COUCHER – TO GO TO BED EG JE ME COUCHE À DIX HEURES = I GO TO BED AT 10 O’CLOCK
SE LEVER – TO GET UPEG JE ME LÈVE À SEPT HEURES = I GET UP AT 7 O’CLOCK
SE SENTIR – TO FEELEG NOUS NOUS SENTONS MAL = WE ARE FEELING ILL
S’APPELER – TO BE CALLED (LITERALLY “TO CALL ONESELF”)EG JE M’APPELLE JOHN = I AM CALLED JOHN (LITERALLY “I CALL MYSELF JOHN”)
S’INTÉRESSER À – TO BE INTERESTED INEG ELLE S’INTÉRESSE AU TENNIS = SHE IS INTERESTED IN TENNIS
THERE IS A LOT OF INFORMATION AND RULES TO TAKE IN AND LEARN IN ORDER TO USE THE PRESENT TENSE ACCURATELY.
IT IS THEREFORE A GOOD IDEA TO ALWAYS GO BACK OVER THE INFORMATION TO CHECK EVERY TIME TO BEGIN WITH. WITH PRACTICE YOU WILL NEED TO CHECK BACK LESS OFTEN AS YOU LEARN.
ALWAYS REMEMBER TO GO THROUGH THESE STEPS…
1. FIND THE INFINITIVE IN A DICTIONARY2. CHECK THE VERB TABLE, IS IT A REGULAR OR IRREGULAR VERB?3. IF IT IS REGULAR, REMOVE THE –ER, -IR OR –RE.4. ADD THE CORRECT ENDING FOR THE CORRECT PERSON.5. IF THE VERB IS REFLEXIVE, USE THE CORRECT REFLEXIVE PRONOUN