Basics 2
Verbs
English verbs don't change that much. For example, we say I run, you run, he runs, and so on. But French verbs change a lot!
| subject | verb (parler) |
| je I | parle speak |
| tu you | parles speak |
| il / elle he / she | parle speaks |
But don't be fooled! The s in parles is actually silent, so all these forms are pronounced the same!
Je parle. Tu parles.
I speak. You speak.
Gender
In French, adjectives can look different depending on the gender of what they describe. Normally, feminine adjectives end in e.
Gabriel est espagnol.
Gabriel is Spanish.
Sarah est espagnole.
Sarah is Spanish.
Il est américain.
He is American.
Elle est américaine.
She is American.
Sometimes the extra e changes the sound a little, so listen carefully!
Use your nose!
Some French sounds are nasal, meaning the air goes through the nose! With these, the n after the vowel isn't pronounced. It's just there to let you know to use your nose!
an
mange, enchanté (nasal "ah")
in
jardin, intelligent (nasal "eh")
on
non, garçon (nasal "oh")
un
un, lundi (nasal "uh")