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Problems in French?

PostPosted: Fri Nov 30, 2007 8:59 pm
by French Teacher
Do you have any problems in French?
Ask your questions...
...I will try to help you.

Re: Problems in French?

PostPosted: Sat Dec 15, 2007 1:00 am
by PIYUSH
hello teacher,
i'm Piyush gupta a french student and i face a lot of problems in section A because of inappropriate vocabulary.
section b also pose some problems because of the same reason .
if you could help me by anyway it would be a kind of bonus for me.hope you try to do so.
thank you.
piyush

Re: Problems in French?

PostPosted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 11:37 am
by sindhu
HAI,I am sindhu a french student can you give me some tips to improve my vocabulary.please :? :? :?

Re: Problems in French?

PostPosted: Sun Jan 20, 2008 11:37 am
by sindhu
sindhu wrote:HAI,I am sindhu a french student can you give me some tips to improve my vocabulary.please :? :? :?

Re: Problems in French?

PostPosted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 10:11 am
by French Teacher
Hi Piyush, hi Sindhu,

To improve your vocabulary, start reading!

Read dictionnaries, read texts from question papers (section A) and translate it. There's no secret... You have to read in French.
Use your text book ("Entre Jeunes2"), "Together with French" or the new "Cahier d'exercices, X" of Mahitha Ranjit.
Online, you can use the site of Laura Lawless :
http://french.about.com/
Check it out: http://french.about.com/library/weekly/ ... ub-voc.htm

Extract:
Parce que, Car, Puisque, Comme
Conjunctions of Conclusion


The French conjunctions parce que, car, puisque, and comme are commonly used to draw conclusions or otherwise relate a cause or explanation with a result or conclusion. These conjunctions have similar but not identical meanings and uses - this lesson explains the difference.


Parce que Because
Parce que is a subordinating conjunction and can begin a sentence. Parce que introduces a cause, explanation, or motive - it explains why something is done.
Je ne suis pas venu parce que mon fils est malade. I didn't come because my son is sick.
Parce qu'il n'a pas d'argent, il ne peut pas venir. Because he doesn't have any money, he can't come.

Car Because, for
Car is a coordinating conjunction, should not begin a sentence, and is mainly found in formal and written French. Car supports a judgment or indicates a reason.
La réunion fut annulée car le président est malade. The meeting was canceled because the chairman is sick.
David ne va pas venir, car il est à l'université. David isn't coming, for he is (away) at school.

Puisque Since, because
Puisque is a subordinating conjunction and can begin a sentence. Puisque gives an obvious explanation or justification, rather than a cause.
Tu peux partir puisque tu es malade. You can leave, since you're sick.
Puisque c'était son erreur, il m'a aidé. Since it was his mistake, he helped me.

Comme As, since
Comme is a subordinating conjunction and usually begins a sentence. Comme highlights the link between a consequence and its result.
Comme je lis le plus vite, j'ai déjà fini. As I read the fastest, I've already finished.
Comme il est faible, il ne pouvait pas le lever.

Re: Problems in French?

PostPosted: Wed Jan 23, 2008 11:38 am
by radhika
can u plz tell me the difference b/w ceci n celsa n how r they different from celui-ci n celui-la n also where r they used i.e. ceci cela :? :?

Re: Problems in French?

PostPosted: Fri Jan 25, 2008 6:58 pm
by French Teacher
Hi Radhika,

First, a small recap:

These words are named pronoms démonstratifs simples ou composés (Demonstrative pronouns):

1. Formes simples :
masculin singulier = celui
féminin singulier = celle
masculin pluriel = ceux
féminin pluriel = celles
neutre (neutral) = ce

2. Formes composées :
masculin singulier = celui-ci, celui-là.
féminin singulier = celle-ci, celle-là.
masculin pluriel = ceux-ci, ceux-là.
féminin pluriel = celles-ci, celles-là.
neutre (neutral) = ceci, cela, ça.

The pronom démonstratif often replaces a noun preceded by an adjectif démonstratif.
They are used to translate into French "the one(s) (that), "the one(s) (which), "the one(s) (who)" (do not use "l'un"). The plural forms, "ceux" and "celles," can also mean "those that," "those who," or "those which."
"Ci" express the closeness and "là" the distance. For comparisons "ci" refers to the last named and "" refers to the first
Demonstrative Pronouns are also used with "de" to indicate people or things possessed by someone or something.


To answer your question :

1. cela, ceci and ça are used to refer to an entire clause or to a general idea, but not to a specific word.
a) "Ceci" is generally used only in opposition to "Cela."
b) "Ça" is only used in conversation or in quoted conversation.
c) Replace "cela" with "ce" before the verb "être."

2. "ce" is used before "être" to say "It is" or "This (that) is." "Ce" can also be used before "devoir être" and "pouvoir être."
"cela" is used before all other verbs to say "It" or "This (that)."
Examples:
a. C'est elle (Pierre, le médecin) qui l'a dit.
b. Cela paraît te déranger.
c. Ce doit être vrai.

3. The French use "cela" and "ça" much less frequently than Americans use the equivalent pronouns, "this" and "that," especially in writing. The French prefer to replace "cela" and "ça" with the demonstrative adjectives "ce," "cet," "cette," or "ces" followed by a noun that resumes the entire idea. In this way they bind words more strongly to each other.
Example:
Il a pris le train?
That surprises me. = Cette action me surprend.

4. "It is" is translated "Il est" and not "C'est" when followed by an adjective and when introducing a new idea. But when "It is" refers back to an idea that has already been stated, it is translated "C'est."
NOTE: "Il est" + adjective is followed by "de" + infinitive,
whereas "c'est" + adjective is followed by "à" + infinitive.
Examples:
a. It is important to arrive on time. = Il est important d'arriver à temps.
b. Yes, that's (it's) important to do. = Oui, c'est important à faire.

Re: Problems in French?

PostPosted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 2:09 pm
by radhika
thank u soo much...
tht sure will help me..

Re: Problems in French?

PostPosted: Mon Jan 28, 2008 2:28 pm
by radhika
SIR I WUD LIKE U TO RECHECK MY WRITING SECTION THE ONE I DID IN MY 2ND PREBOARDS... AS MY TEACHER HAS OVERLUKED MANY MISTAKES OF MY FRNDS SO I THNK IT WILL B THE SAME CASE IN MINE... SHUD I POST IT UP HERE OR WILL U GIVE ME A SEPARATE EMAIL ID..
THNK U SOO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!
:D :D

Re: Problems in French?

PostPosted: Wed Jan 30, 2008 12:24 am
by French Teacher
Hi Radhika,
You can post it here :
viewtopic.php?f=10&t=84
8-)