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Basic French in 12 weeks - New

Alain Bertocchi

This work is copyright.

Apart from any use permitted under the copyright act, no part may be reproduced by any process,

Or any other exclusive right exercised, without the permission of

Alain Bertocchi, Brisbane Australia

Foreword p3

Introduction p4

How to use this manual p4

Pronunciation p5

The 12 weeks plan p5

Structures p7

Positive statements p7

Negative Statements p8

Questions p8

General rules p11

Gender p11

Articles p12

It is, it is not p12

There is, there is not, ago p12

Word ending p13

“Sophisticated words” p13

Being polite p13

Position of adjectives p13

Exercises & Answers p13

Exercise 1 p13

Exercise 2 p14

Exercise 3 p15

Exercise 4 p16

Exercise 5 p16

Exercise 6 p17

Exercise 7 p18

Exercise 8 p19

Exercise 9 p19

Exercise 10 p20

Exercise 11 p21

Exercise 12 p22

Appendix p23

Numbers and measurements p23

Date and time p24

Pronouns p25

Verbs p28

To be = Être p29

Can = Pouvoir p30

To come = Venir p31

To do = Faire p32

To finish =Finir p33

To go = Aller p34

To have = Avoir p35

To know = Savoir p35

To like = Aimer p36

Must = Devoir p37

To remember = Se rappeler p38

To say = Dire p39

To sleep = Dormir p40

Someone’s name to be = S’appeler p41

To speak = Parler p42

To take = Prendre p43

To understand = Comprendre p44

To want = Vouloir p45

English – French p45

French – English p65

Further sources of information and support

http://alain.com.au

Foreword

Welcome to “learn French in 12 weeks”.

The purpose of this book is to help you create your own personal phrase book.

Instead of giving you a couple of thousand readymade sentences, I help you understand the mechanism of the French language.

Once the mechanism of a language is understood all you have to do is get the parts you need, put them together in the correct order (which is taught in this book) “et voila” (there you are).

Can you remember when you were little, did you learn to say perfect sentences and then say them or did you just communicate with just the words you had at the time?

If you are like most of us you probably used the latter option because any communication is better than none. Well! I think so anyway.

If you think that you need to speak perfectly a language to be able to communicate this book is not for you. Just put it back and select another one.

If you are still reading this book I have a feeling that all you want to do is to pick up the basic skills to be able to really communicate in French. You can always learn more vocabulary as the need arises.

Did the method you used to learn your mother language work? I have a feeling it did!

* * * * * * * *

This book is made of four parts.

General rules: this part will give you a general idea of the pronunciation of the French language and its grammar.

Structures: the key to understand how the French language is built. With this part you can start building French sentences instantly.

Appendix: use it as a reference for vocabulary and common phrases, verbs, pronouns, numbers, date and time.

Exercises: each exercise is set to be done within a week. If at the end of a week you have not finished your exercise, it is more important to get onto the following week than to stagnate on the one week. The way the exercises are set you will benefit more by moving on than by trying to finish the previous week.

The idea is to understand how to build a sentence in French. There are only a few basic structures, once you are familiar with them, all you need to do is start building (ie. You learn : “i want some bread” when you are familiar with it start replacing words “you want some bread”, “he wants some water”, “they need some water”, “i need lots of water” “I have lots of bread”...

Before you know it you will have learnt the sentences and vocabulary that you need for basic conversation.

If you want to learn French with a minimum of effort follow this simple advice.

Read thoroughly all the english text within this manual from start to finish at least once. This will make you aware of how much information is made available to you and it will be much easier for you to find what you need later.

Get a little note pad and a pen that will remain with you day and night.

Anytime you think of something that you would like to know how to say in French write it down immediately on your little pad in English .it could be a word or a sentence.

Leave some room in the pad so when you get the opportunity you can translate that word or sentence in French using this manual, internet, a friend, ...

Review your little note pad often, starting from page one. You will be surprised how much time you have on your hands. For example while on transit, during a break, waiting to be picked up, waiting in a queue, ... If you were to invest daily a part of this “waiting time” in learning French, you would make quick progress and it wouldn’t cost you much of your time because you would be using “wasted time” in the first place.

You might wonder how you can remember what you learnt if you don’t use it often. The answer is very simple. Use it over and over for a short period of time and you will never forget it. For example if you learn the word “bird” and for a couple of days whenever you see a bird you say the French word for it, you won’t forget it, will you?

You deal with numbers all day long why not use your French numbers every now and then, the same goes with telling the time. I am sure you will find a lot of opportunities to practice your French through your day whether spoken or just in thoughts.

The words that you find difficult to remember, associate them with words that you already know in English, French ... It works the same as if you meet a new person called “Sue” if you associate the new person to a “sue” that you already know, how can you forget? It makes sense, doesn’t it? Always associate the new things with the old ones.

The start will be slow but as your little note pad starts filling up, you will soon gain the confidence to start communicating whenever you have the opportunity.

Always remember to trust your instinct when you speak French. If you have a gut feeling about a word in French but not quite sure about it just say it, to the worst you might say the wrong word. I still believe it is more important to say something wrong than nothing at all. By saying something, the conversation goes on and you give the opportunity to the other person to help you progress.

Here is a little anecdote about me as a waiter speaking Spanish to a customer in a restaurant. I know basic Spanish but I am far from fluent.

As I gave bread to a customer i put a little dish of butter on the table and said “burro”. The customer laughed and said “burro” means donkey, “mantequilla” is the correct word. I laughed too and was grateful for the lesson.

Have fun learning and speaking French and like we say in French “bonne chance”.

Alain Bertocchi

****************************************

Introduction

The potential of this book goes beyond imagination. It is a powerful tool put at your disposition to build your own conversation book and to master the basic skills enabling you to communicate with the locals when you are over there or when they are visiting Australia.

There is no need for heavy studying

Just a daily commitment to write on a note pad the English vocabulary or sentences that you would like to know in French -ions that note pad near you 24 hours a day.
Write the French translation on your note pad when you get the time or the opportunity.
Read through your little note pad whenever possible.
Practice what you know whenever possible. For example, you are counting why not try in French, any French speaking people around you? Practice with them...
Do your weekly exercises.

To practice with others you have to be bold. Leave behind any fear of being ridiculous. Who will look ridiculous when you are able to speak French?

How to use this manual

For example you want to say: where are the chips?

Go to the "structures" section, get the structure that fits this sentence “questions part 2” (p9). Use the example using "where".
Go to the "vocabulary" section, get the word "chips = pommes frites" (p25).
Go to the "verbs" section, get the word “are = sont”.
Go to the "articles" section (p 6) get the word “the = les” (chips is feminine because there is an "(f)" after the word in the vocabulary list).
Use the French structure to put the words together “ = où sont les pommes frites?".

Remember to keep your sentences as short and simple as possible, this is the key to success.

Pronunciation

To help you with your pronunciation, i recommend that you get one of the self-teaching tapes that are already on the market. Check your local library if you don’t want the extra expense.

Remember that i recommend these tapes just for you to get familiar with the sounds and the melody of the language, not to learn vocabulary.

To help you with the pronunciation I have included what i call “funny English”. You read it as you would read English. Just a few letters had to be added to get close to some French sounds.

a like letter a ; Å = mango; ü = super; ä = entourage; ĵ = vision; ö = song; é = latte; œ = stir.

For the rest I have used the regular English alphabet.

- “a”, “e” and “i” used on its own or with an apostrophe is to be pronounced the same way as in the English alphabet.

- The letter “u” used on its own or with an apostrophe sounds the same as the “ir” in “sir”.

- The letter “o” used on its own or with an apostrophe sounds the same as the “o“ in “pot”.

- rr (double r) is to be pronounced the French way (clearing the throat, a light throaty growling dog imitation or a light gargle should do the trick).

- Double consonants (tt, ss...) Are to be pronounced like when placed at the end of English words, ie: let, less...

- All the other consonants or words are to be pronounced the same way as when reading an English text.

The letter “h” is usually silent.

The 12 weeks plan

Follow this program and you will build a solid base for your French. I recommend to stick to the 12 weeks program. It should take you a week to assimilate each session. Don’t forget that if you haven’t completed a week in time, still go onto the next one.

If Wednesday is a relatively quiet day for you then make it the start of your studying week and stick to it for the next 12 weeks. If sunday is a better day, so be it. It doesn't really matter which day you choose as long as it stays that ways for the following 12 weeks.

Each exercise should be done on the day one of "your week" and again on day six or seven. Learning a language is made easier if you understand how it is built. By this I mean the structure of sentences but as well how words are built. There are patterns all the way through any language, identify them and you are almost there. Always look for similarities among groups of words.

Week 1

Study

- Introduction to the course, Read the “Introduction Section”

- Get familiar with the contents of the manual. Study the table of contents so that you know what is covered in this manual

- To be (Verbs Section)

Homework

- Learn by heart the first person of each tense of “to be”: je suis, j'étais... (Verbs Section)

- Do exercise #1 (Exercises and Answers Section)

Week 2

Study

- Structures: positive statements (Structures Section)

- Numbers & measurements (Numbers and Measurements Section)

- To have (Verbs Section)

Homework

- Learn by heart 3 examples of the positive statements (Structures Section)

- Learn by heart the first person of each tense of “to have”: j'ai, j'avais... (Verbs Section)

- Learn numbers from 1 to 100 (Numbers and Measurements Section)

- do exercise #2 (Exercises and Answers Section)

Week 3

Study

- Structures: negative statements (Structures Section)

- Date and time (Date and Time Section)

- Must (Verbs Section)

Homework

- Learn by heart 3 examples of the negative statements (Structures Section)

- Learn the first person of each tense of “must”: je dois, je devais... (Verbs Section)

- Learn to tell the time (Date and Time Section)

- Do exercise #3 (Exercises and Answers Section)

Week 4

Study

- Structures: questions (Structures Section)

- Pronouns (Pronouns Section)

- “can”, “to want” (Verbs Section)

Homework

- Learn by heart 4 examples of questions (Structures Section)

- Learn the first person of each tense of “can” and “to want” (Verbs Section)

- Learn the pronouns on table 1 & 2 (Pronouns Section)

- Do exercise #4 (Exercises and Answers Section)

Week 5

Study

- Numbers & measurements (Numbers and Measurements Section)

- “To like” and “to speak” (Verbs Section)

Homework

- Learn the first person of each tense of “to like” and “to speak” (Verbs Section)

- Learn the numbers from 100 to 1 million (Numbers and Measurements Section)

- Do exercise #5 (Exercises and Answers Section)

Week 6

Study

- Date and time (Date and Time Section)

- “to go” and “to know” (Verbs Section)

Homework

- Learn the first person of each tense of “to go” and “to know” (Verbs Section)

- Learn to tell the date (Date and Time Section)

- Do exercise #6 (Exercises and Answers Section)

Week 7

Study

- Pronouns (Pronouns Section)

- “To remember” and “someone’s name is” (Verbs Section)

Homework

- Learn the first person of each tense of “to remember” and “someone’s name is” (Verbs Section)

- Learn the pronouns on table 3 & 4 (Pronouns Section)

- Do exercise #7 (Exercises and Answers Section)

Week 8

Study

- Numbers & measurements (Numbers and Measurements Section)

- “To take” and “to understand” (Verbs Section)

Homework

- Learn the first person of each tense of “to take” and “to understand” (Verbs Section)

- Learn numbers from 1 to 1 million (Numbers and Measurements Section)

- Do exercise #8 (Exercises and Answers Section)

Week 9

Study

- Date and time (Date and Time Section)

- “To finish” and “to say” (Verbs Section)

Homework

- Learn the first person of each tense of “to finish” and “to say” (Verbs Section)

- Learn to tell the date and the time (Date and Time Section)

- Do exercise #9 (Exercises and Answers Section)

Week 10

Study

- Pronouns (Pronouns Section)

- “To be”, “to come” and “to have” (Verbs Section)

Homework

- Learn the first person of each tense of “to be”, “to come” and “to have” (Verbs Section)

- Learn the pronouns on table 5 & 6 (Pronouns Section)

- Do exercise #10 (Exercises and Answers Section)

Week 11

Study

- Structures: positive and negative statements (Structures Section)

- “Can”, “to do”, must”, “to want” (Verbs Section)

Homework

- Learn the first person of each tense of “can”, “to do”, must”, “to want” (Verbs Section)

- Do exercise #11 (Exercises and Answers Section)

Week 12

Study

- Structures: questions (Structures Section)

- “To like”, to sleep” and “to speak” (Verbs Section)

Homework

- Learn the first person of each tense of “to like”, to sleep” and “to speak” (Verbs Section)

- Do exercise #12 (Exercises and Answers Section)

Structures

When translating from English to French use short and simple sentences. The following chapters demonstrate positive statements, negative statements and questions.

Positive statements

English structure: Word(s) + verb + word(s)

French structure: Word(s) + verb + word(s)

English: I want a bicycle

English with French structure: I + want + a bicycle

French: Je + veux + une bicyclette [j'u/ vœ/ ü nn/ bee see kl'a tt]

English: I am australian

English with French structure: I + am + Australian

French: Je + suis + australien [j'u/ sü e/ or strr are lee å]

English: The cake is good

English with French structure: The + cake + is + good

French: Le + gateau + est + bon [l'u/ g'are t'or/ a/ bö]

English: It is my dog

English with French structure: "c'" + is + my dog

French: C" + est + mon chien [s'a/ mö/ she å]

English: I come from australia

English with French structure: I + come + from Australia

French: Je + viens + de l’Australie [j'u/ vee å/ d'u/ l'or strr'are lee]

English: It is a house

English with French structure: “c’” + is + a house

French: C’ + est + une maison [s'a/ t'ü nn/ m'a zö]

Negative statements

English structure: Word(s) + neg verb + word(s)

French structure: Word(s) + “ne” + verb + "pas"+ word(s)

English: I don’t want a bicycle

English with French structure: I + “ne" + want + "pas" + a bicycle

French: Je + ne + veux + pas + une bicyclette [j'u/ n'u/ vœ/ p'are/ ü nn/ bee see kl'a tt]

English: I am not Australian

English with French structure: I + “ne" + am + "pas" + Australian

French: Je + ne + suis + pas + australien [j'u/ n'u/ sü e/ p'are/ or strr are lee å]

English: The cake is not good

English with French structure: The cake + “n'” is + "pas" + good

French: Le gateau + n' + est + pas + bon [l'u/ g'are t'or/ n'a/ p'are/ bö]

English: It is not my dog

English with French structure: "ce'" + “n'” + is + "pas" + my dog

French: Ce + n' + est + pas + mon chien [s'u/ n'a/ p'are/ mö/ she å]

English: I don’t come from Australia

English with French structure: I + “ne" + come + "pas" + from Australia

French: Je + ne + viens + pas + de l’Australie [j'u/ n'u/ vee å/ p'are/ d'u/ l'or strr'are lee]

English: It isn’t a house

English with French structure: “ce’” + "n'" + is + "pas" + a house

French: Ce + n' + est + pas + une maison [s'u/ n'a/ p'are/ z'ü nn/ m'a zö]

Questions

As per in English there are two types of questions.

1. By turning a statement into a question simply by using a questioning tone. It is the same in English. (Do I want a bicycle? Or I want a bicycle?)

English structure: Word(s) + verb + word(s)

French structure: Word(s) + verb + word(s)

English: Do i want a bicycle?

English with French structure: I + want + a bicycle?

French: Je + veux + une bicyclette? [j'u/ vœ/ ü nn/ bee see kl'a tt]

English: Am i Australian?

English with French structure: I + am + Australian?

French: Je + suis + australien? [j'u/ sü e/ or strr are lee å]

English: Is the cake good?

English with French structure: The + cake + is + good?

French: Le + gateau + est + bon? [l'u/ g'are t'or/ a/ bö]

English: Is it my dog?

English with French structure: "c'" + is + my dog?

French: C" + est + mon chien? [s'a/ mö/ she å]

English: Do I come from Australia?

English with French structure: I + come + from Australia?

French: Je + viens + de l’Australie? [j'u/ vee å/ d'u/ l'or strr'are lee]

English: Is it a house?

English with French structure: “c’” + is + a house?

French: C’ + est + une maison? [s'a/ t'ü nn/ m'a zö]

2. By using a questioning word like "how", "when"…

English: How

French: Comment

Notes and examples: Comment ça va? [co m ä s’are v’are?]  how are you?

English: How many

French: Combien

Notes and examples:

- Combien de bieres? [c'ö mm bee å/ d'u/ bee a rr?] --how many beers?

- Combien? [c'ö bee å?] -- how many?

English: How much

French: Combien

Notes and examples:

- Combien? [c'ö bee å?] -- how much?

- Combien coute la chemise? [c'ö bee å/ coo tt/ l'are/ sh'u me zz?]-- how much does the shirt cost?

English: What

French:

- Quoi

- Que

- Qu'

Notes and examples:

- Quoi? [coo are?]- what? (what is only translated by "quoi" mostly when used alone)

- Que dites vous? [k'u/ d'e tt/ voo?] -- what are you saying?

- Qu'est ce que c'est? [k'a/ ss/ k'u/ s'a ?] - what is it?

English: When

French: Quand

Notes and examples: Quand arrive l'avion?[k'ä/ are ree vv/ l'are vee ö?] -- when does the plane arrive?

English: Where

French: Oû

Notes and examples: Oû est la gare? [oo/ a/ l'are/ g'are rr?]-- where is the station?

English: Who

French: Qui

Notes and examples: Qui? [k'e ?]- who?

English: Who

French: Qui

Notes and examples: Qui c'est? [k'e/ s'a?]- who is it?

English: Why

French: Pourquoi

Notes and examples: Pourquoi? [poo rr coo are?]- why?

3. By using the “est-ce que…”“qu’est-ce que…” structures

English: Is it that…

French: Est-ce que…

Notes and examples:

- Est-ce que c’est bon? [a sku s’a bö?] is it that… It is good?

- Est-ce que qu’elle gentille ? [a sk ale a ĵ ä tee?] Is it that… she is nice?

English: What is it that…

French: Qu’est-ce que…

Notes and examples:

- Qu’est-ce que tu fais ? [k’a sku tü f’a?]  What is it that you are doing? = What are you doing?

- Qu’est-ce que c’est ? [k’a sku s’a?] ?]  What is it?

Based on these structures you can build any sentences you want. Just replace any word by a word of the same group. For example, replace a verb with a verb, a noun with a noun or a pronoun...

With that system, all you have to do is to get familiar with a few of these structures, then choose the one that’s appropriate to what you want to say, and finally put the words where they belong.

Keep it simple and avoid at all cost English expressions they will be meaningless once translated.

All the verbs combined with in, out, of… become usually unintelligible if literally translated. I.e.: get in, get out, take off, put on… so instead of using "get out" use exit.

Check the following examples:

Instead of: They are driving me up the wall

Use: I am angry (Je suis en colère) [j'u/ sü e/ z'ä/ c'o l'a rr]

Instead of: She looks good

Use: She is pretty (elle est jolie) [a'l/ a/ j'o lee]

Instead of: Would you be able to tell me where the train station is?

Use: Please, where is the train station? (s'il vous plait, oû est la gare?) [seal/ voo/ pl'a/ oo/ a/ l'are/ g'are rr]

Instead

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