|
To Know People and Facts
| connaître-to know people (koh-net-truh) |
|
savoir-to know facts (sahv-wahr) |
| connais |
koh-neh |
connaissons |
koh-nezz-ohn |
|
sais |
say |
savons |
sah-vohn |
| connais |
koh-neh |
connaissez |
koh-nezz-ay |
|
sais |
say |
savez |
sav-ay |
| connaît |
koh-neh |
connaissent |
koh-nezz |
|
sait |
say |
savent |
sahv |
Note: Connaître is used when you know people or places, savoir is used when you know facts. When savoir is followed by an infinitive it means to know how.
Je connais ton frère. I know your brother.
Je sais que ton frère s'appelle Jean. I know that your brother is named John.
Connaissez-vous Grenoble? Do you know (Are you familiar with) Grenoble?
Oui, nous connaissons Grenoble. Yes, we know (are familiar with) Grenoble.
Tu sais où Grenoble se trouve. You know where Grenoble is located.
Ils savent nager. They know how to swim.
Formation of Plural Nouns
| To make a noun plural, you usually add an -s. But there are some exceptions: |
Sing. |
Plural |
| If a noun already ends in an -s, add nothing. |
bus |
le bus |
les bus |
| If a noun ends in -eu or -eau, add an x. |
boat |
le bateau |
les bateaux |
| If a masculine noun ends in -al or -ail, change it to -aux. |
horse |
le cheval |
les chevaux |
| Some nouns ending in -ou add an -x instead of -s. |
knee |
le genou |
les genoux |
There are, of course, some weird exceptions: un oil (eye) - des yeux (eyes); le ciel (sky) - les cieux (skies); and un jeune homme (a young man) - des jeunes gens (young men).
Possessive Adjectives
|
Masc. |
Fem. |
Plural |
| My |
mon (mohn) |
ma (mah) |
mes (may) |
| Your |
ton |
ta |
tes |
| His/Her/Its |
son |
sa |
ses |
| Our |
notre (noh-truh) |
notre |
nos (noh) |
| Your |
votre |
votre |
vos |
| Their |
leur (luhr) |
leur |
leurs (luhr) |
Note: Possessive pronouns go before the noun. When a feminine noun begins with a vowel, you must use the masculine form of the pronoun for ease of pronunciation. Ma amie is incorrect and must be mon amie, even though amie is feminine.
C'est ma mère et mon père. This is my mother and my father.
Ce sont vos petits-enfants? These are your grandchildren?
Mes parents sont divorcés. My parents are divorced.
Sa grand-mère est veuve. His grandmother is a widow.
Notre frère est marié, mais notre sour est célibataire. Our brother is married, but our sister is single.
Ton oncle est architecte, n'est-ce pas? Your uncle is an architect, isn't he?
Leurs cousines sont hollandaises. Their cousins are Dutch.
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