Overview
This lecture covers key intermediate French grammar and vocabulary points, focusing on adverbs (encore, toujours, très, trop, beaucoup), the differences between sortir and partir, expressions of position (sur, sous, dessus, dessous), and the varied uses of the word si.
Encore vs. Toujours
- Encore usually means "again," e.g., Je me suis encore perdue (I got lost again).
- Toujours usually means "always," e.g., Je suis toujours contente (I'm always happy).
- Both can mean "still," e.g., Elle est encore/toujours chez elle (She is still at home).
- Toujours can mean "anyway" (Je vais toujours prendre un parapluie—I'll take an umbrella anyway) and "forever" in "pour toujours."
- Encore can mean "even more/less" (encore plus/encore moins) or "even worse" (encore pire).
- In the negative, "pas encore" means "not yet" or "not again."
Avoir l’air
- Avoir l’air means "to seem" or "to look like" and is more common than sembler/paraître.
- Used with "de" + verb (Il a l'air de vouloir sortir), "de" + noun (Elles ont l'air de boulangères), or adjective (Tu as l'air triste).
- Follows the conjugation of "avoir"; "l'air" never changes.
- Negative form: ne/n’... pas l'air (Vous n'avez pas l'air heureux); in spoken French, "ne" is often dropped.
- For infinitive verbs, put "ne pas" before the verb: Elles ont l'air de ne pas aimer...
Sortir vs. Partir
- Sortir (to go out/get out) refers to leaving a specific place for a short time.
- Partir (to leave) means leaving indefinitely or for a long time.
- Use "sortir" for temporary exits (Je sors faire les courses); "partir" for more permanent departures (Je pars de chez moi...).
- Both are irregular in the present: je sors/je pars, tu sors/tu pars, il sort/il part, etc.
- "Sortir" can take a direct object (sortir le gâteau), "partir" cannot.
- Idioms: sortir avec des amis (go out with friends), partir en vacances (go on holiday), le train part (the train leaves).
Expressions of Position: Sur, Sous, Dessus, Dessous
- Sur = on; sous = under; both followed by a noun or pronoun.
- Dessus = on it/on top; dessous = under it; used alone, no complement.
- Au-dessus = above (not touching); au-dessous = below/underneath; can use "de" + complement.
- Use "par-dessus" (over) and "par-dessous" (underneath) for actions/movement.
Très, Trop, Beaucoup
- Très (very): before adjectives/adverbs/needs, e.g., très beau, très bien, j'ai très faim.
- Beaucoup (a lot): after verbs (je t'aime beaucoup), or with "de" before a noun (beaucoup de chats).
- Place "beaucoup" after verb it modifies; with compound tenses, between auxiliary and past participle (j'ai beaucoup mangé).
- Trop (too much/too many): used like très or beaucoup; with adjectives/adverbs or after a verb (trop jeune, tu manges trop).
- Trop in colloquial speech means "so" (je suis trop contente = I'm so happy).
- "Beaucoup trop" means "way too much/many."
Uses of Si
- Si answers negative questions affirmatively: Tu n'as pas faim ? Si ! (Yes, I am hungry).
- Si means "if" to form conditional sentences:
- Si + present, present/future (Si je gagne, j’achète une voiture).
- Si + imparfait, conditionnel (Si j'étais riche, j’achèterais...).
- Common expressions: même si (even if), si seulement (if only), comme si (as if), si heureux (so happy).
- "Tellement" can replace "si" for "so much."
Key Terms & Definitions
- Avoir l’air — to seem or look like.
- Encore — again, still, even more/less.
- Toujours — always, still, anyway, forever.
- Sortir — to go/get out.
- Partir — to leave (indefinitely/for long).
- Sur/Sous — on/under (with noun).
- Dessus/Dessous — on it/under it (alone).
- Très — very.
- Beaucoup — a lot, lots of.
- Trop — too much, so (colloquial).
- Si — if, or yes to a negative question.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the present tense and conditional forms of irregular verbs sortir and partir.
- Practice using très, trop, and beaucoup in sentences.
- Write example sentences with sur, sous, dessus, and dessous.
- Check conjugation and grammar books for more on "le conditionnel."
- Memorize common expressions with si and their meanings.