French Lessons 1 Week Reflection

It has been a week. I have studied a lot  (Je suis etudie beaucoup). I still need to learn the incorporation of adverbs and proper verb tense. As of now, I am simply learning how to utilize pronouns, nouns and verb conjugation.

I'll complete a wrap up with a paragraph using some of the new skills I have learned this week, maybe a bit more than a paragraph if I don't use all the skills too quickly in the beginning of the writing piece.

Bonjour! Excuse-Moi, comment ca va? Ca va bien? Ca va tres bien. Enchante! Je m'appelle Carmelo Bono. Et toi? Comment tu t'appelles? Je suis etudie francais en Chine. J'habite a Chine. Et toi? Comment tu habites? Je suis Canadien. Et toi? Je travailles beaucoup! Je travaille a Chine. Je travaille avec des professeurs. Je travaille en l'école avec des étudiantes et professeurs. A Demain mes amis!

Salut,

Carm

_________________________________________________________________________________

Good Morning/Hello! Excuse me, how are you? Are you well. I am very well. Nice to meet you! My name is Carmelo Bono. And yours? What is your name? I am studying French in China. I live in China. And you? Where do you live? I am Canadian. And you? I work a lot. I work in China. I work with some teachers. I work in a school with some students and teachers. See you tomorrow!

Bye!

Carm

French Lesson Day 5- "A vs. En" in French Language

I checked out Quora.com and here is what I got (I needed to paraphrase a bit because this person thought it necessary to just through a history book at the answer-rather than give a straightforward answer).

a= a preposition in regards to location
a= also shows possession when spoken in western France (yes, similar to de)
au= is also a preposition in regards to location but will only be used with masculine non-personal names
en= "in" or "on"; "While"; it is also a distributive (preposition) for example in English, "into"; cut something INTO three parts.

This is a very small lesson that could actually become very complicated in a classroom if someone is trying to use it practically without guidance.

French Lesson 9-Knowing Plural and Singular form of French Nouns

Certainly had to consolidate my new found knowledge using dummies.com (fitting).

This was generally all pretty standard in regards to nouns but I think its important for learners to note that, the nouns listed below are the only times you need to do something to the ending-in all other cases, simply add an "s".

___________________________________________________________________

Create plural nouns in French by adding an s or x, or by substituting –aux for –al. Making French nouns plural, however, takes a different tack when it comes to family names and nouns that end in –s, –x, or –z. In French grammar, here’s how you turn a singular noun into a plural noun:

• For most nouns, you add –s to the end. For example: résultat (result) becomes résultats (results); fleur (flower) becomes fleurs (flowers).
• Nouns that end in –au take –x in the plural. For example: bateau (boat) becomes bateaux (boats), and manteau (overcoat) becomes manteaux (overcoats).
• Most nouns that end in –ou take –s in the plural, but some take –x. For example: chou(cabbage) becomes choux (cabbages), and bijou (jewel) becomes bijoux (jewels).
• Nouns that end in –al drop that ending and use –aux in the plural. For example: journal(newspaper) becomes journaux (newspapers); animal (animal) becomes animaux (animals).
• Nouns that end in –s, –x, or –z when they’re singular don’t change in the plural; you simply change the accompanying article. For example: un Français (a Frenchman) remains des Français (Frenchmen), and un virus (a virus) remains des virus (viruses).
• Family names aren’t pluralized in French. For example, the Martins lose the –s in French but keep the article: Les Martin.

French Lessons (8)-Bonus Material!

DES!

This is beyond my learning at the moment. I came across this while studying up on articles a few days ago. Without thinking about it, I passed by it. I went back to review out of curiosity though and "des" is similar to the Chinese word "Ge"个 or the English word "Some" which is pretty sweet to know that when I get to that portion of learning in Duolingo, I may be prepared for the lesson.

So I guess it would be used with countable nouns since it is a French article. For example,
"Des pommes" Some Apples
"Des hommes" Some Men
"Des Professeurs" Some Professors

I believe this is how one would use it. If I apply the same logical as "Un et Une" then I may be able to test out correctly in the statements,

"Des fille l'habite a Paris"
"Des femme l'etudie a Americaine"
"Je travailles avec des chiens et hommes"

I think I am getting the hang out, stay tuned for tomorrow's post for more on Easy French!

French Lessons Day 6-" l', Le, et La"

Well, just when you think you know something-you don't. This is seemingly happening a lot in my studies of French and I don't find it the least bit discouraging but I certainly know how ELL in my class feel during verb tense and word form lessons.

These are all articles that translate into "the". The differences are in the masculinity and femininity of different nouns.

When the following noun begins with a vowel, le or la becomes l'.

HOWEVER, when the word begins with an "h" it also drops the "e", "es" or "a" as well.

Now I want to know, when do I know if a noun is Fem. or Mas.?

Apparently some words, are always that gender (regardless of the context). For example in crime reports, a victim is "victime" and person is "personne" based on the lessons and experience with the language thus far, one understands that they are feminine. Based on the experience so far as well, one would think to change them to masculine form if the "personne" or "victime" were a man. This is an incorrect assumption though. These words remain as is (in feminine form). Why? Its just the way it is-or as the French say, "C'est La Vie!"

Well, a good teacher will always find a way to make the materials resonate best with their students. In some cases-its impossible. Students would need to develop a way to identify which nouns are mas. or fem. on their own-and even STILL in the 21st century, they have proven unsuccessful.

This is the closest attempt at identifying the gender of a noun...using the endings-Note: the percentages are "in 90% of words with these endings, they are mas./fem..."

Typically masculine noun endings (+90%)

• -an, -and, -ant, -ent, -in, -int, -om, -ond, -ont, -on (but not after s/c¸)
• -eau, -au, -aud, -aut, -o, -os, -ot
• -ai, -ais, -ait, -es, -et
• -ou, -out, -out, -oux
• -i, -il, -it, -is, -y
• -at, -as, -ois, -oit
• • -u, -us, -ut, -eu
• -er, -é after C (C=t)
• -age, -ege, – ème, -ome, -aume, -isme
• -as, -is, -os, -us, -ex
• -it, -est
• -al, -el, -il, -ol, -eul, -all
• -if, -ef
•  -ac, -ic, -oc, -uc
• -am, -um, -en
• -air, -er, -erf, -ert, -ar, -arc, -ars, -art, -our, -ours, -or, -ord, -ors, -ort, -ir, -oir, -eur
  (if animate)
• -ail, -eil, -euil, -ueil
• -ing

Typically feminine noun endings (+90%)

•  -aie, -oue, -eue, -ion, -te, – ée, -ie, -ue
• -asse, -ace, -esse, -ece, -aisse, -isse/-ice, -ousse, -ance, -anse, -ence, -once
•  -enne, -onne, -une, -ine, -aine, -eine, -erne
• -ande, -ende, -onde, -ade, -ude, -arde, -orde
• -euse, -ouse, -ase, -aise, -ese, -oise, -ise, -yse, -ose, -use
•  -ache, -iche, -eche, -oche, -uche, -ouche, -anche
• -ave, -eve, -ive
•  -iere, -ure, -eure
• -ette, -ete, – ête, -atte, -otte, -oute, -orte, -ante, -ente, -inte, -onte
• -alle, -elle, -ille, -olle
• -aille, -eille, -ouille
• -appe, -ampe, -ombe
• • -igue

French Lesson 4-Conjugating Verbs

So, just when you think you are hot stuff and you have a language figured out-curve ball. Turns out I know a lot less than I thought I did in regards to French. I was cleaning up the leader board (cause its more fun when its a competition on time spent playing games), when suddenly I am introduced to the English verbs "eat" and "eating".

Mange vs. Manges from the word Manger...how to and when to conjugate.

I took to Bing.com and searched for a basic explanation. I found this on Qoura.com

I have taken Certificate Course in French in Panjab University , Chandigarh. So from what it has been taught in our class.,

Mange and Manges are conjugated forms of Verb MANGER which literally means to eat.

So when talking about Present Tense in French Language.

We use

•Je mange (I eat)

•Tu manges ( You eat)

•Il mange (he eats), Elle mange(she eats)

•Nous mangeons(we eat/plural form)

•Vous mangez (You eat)

“Vous” is used in 2 scenarios-

i) when talking about plural form

ii) when talking to someone in polite manner or with respect; say talking to someone in higher position (teacher, father,etc)

• Ils mangent(they eat/plural form)

Elles mangent(they eat/plural form)

So Mange is used when I am talking about myself that I eat I’ll say ‘Je mange’ and if I want to say He/She (in singular form)eats I’ll say ‘Il mange, Elle mange’

And Manges will be used when I am talking about another person, that you eat, I’ll say ‘Tu manges’.

Thanks

I hope this clears your doubt!

_______________________________________________________________

This is also helpful to my question yesterday in regards to Tu vs. Vous. Now I see the connections, now I understand and as I prepare to continue with the leaderboard clean up tomorrow. I concentrate on the dictionary? Well, maybe not yet-not studying that hardcore at the moment, first going to dummy Duolingo-cause it is possible (done it to Chinese Skill) and then study for the big leagues- DELF.

All the best!

French as a Second Language Lesson 3

Well I have now taken on a goal-7 days of back to back learning.

I am hooked on Duolingo-only wish I was being paid to advertise it as much as I am though -__-

It seems to be working-I have reached a new learning module in which I am learning when to and when NOT to use linking verbs. I am also learning (through trial and error) the present tense word forms/conjugations.

As I said before I will be writing (typing) a paragraph in French using two pronouns (I and You-Je et Tu)

Je suis Carmelo Bono et je suis un enseignant en Chine. Je vous parle francais parce que j'ai besoin de pratiquer. Vous Pouvez probablement a peine me comprendre parce que je ne suis pas réellement aussi couramment encore.

Now what I am finding is that Tu is incorrect unless, it is a single person and informal. Basically one can always use vous and never be incorrect. If you really want to be that informal you also need to consider who you are that informal with (I guess)-similar to Chinese (nin vs. ni) when thanking someone. Example in Chinese where formal vs. informal matters: Xie Xie Ni vs. Xie Xie Nin. "Nin" is praising and saying the person you are thanking is to be honoued, maybe even commended on their relationship/good doing for you. You will almost never here "nin" used in a regular day.

I read about it in this quick fix language site for French learners.

https://www.lawlessfrench.com/grammar/subject-pronouns-tu-vs-vous/

French as a Second Language Lesson 2

Hey there folks,

I started on Duolingo to learn French. This was not my first choice, I wanted to try the trial versions of other "paid for" programs/software applications-however I couldn't find "mindsnacks" (not sure if they were bought out); "Modoly"*? (not sure how to say the name), was garbage; "Bravolol" is simply a dictionary and as a teacher I use Memrise far too much to want to use it myself. Rosetta stone is promising and actually quite comparable to software I have used to learn Chinese (which I think got pretty good pretty fast), however there is not much to learn without paying for it.

Duolingo is built on a reward system and bright colours as well as "tokens" you achieve for participating in the app actively.

Tomorrow we will try the duolingo app again and see what the progress is like on the app versus what I have learned through another typed paragraph using two pronouns (I and You-Je et Tu).

All the best!

French L1

Today I am officially starting my studies in the French language...again. Starting with something basic, I will tell you about myself using the French that I know, plus some translation. Afterwards I will create a short blurb in English explaining what I did and did not about the language as I was translating and writing.

Je M'appelle Carmelo Bono. Je Suis professeur en Chine. J'enseigne l'anglais. Je veux apprendre francais pour pouvoir enseigner ca aussi. C'est mon but d'être en mesure de tenir au moins une conversation de bas dans francais. J'espère atteindre cet objectif d'ici la fin de l'annee.

Using this verb dictionary I was able to fill in some of the blanks I was drawing in regards to the language.

https://www.linguasorb.com/french/verbs/most-common-verbs/

Using this website, I will next need to begin working on my grammar

http://grammar.reverso.net/