Lesson 12 Flashcards Preview

In indirect discourse, the conditional is used when the verb in the main clause is in the past tense (either the passé composé or the imperfect).

Note how in the present conditional, the verb devoir indicates obligation or necessity; it is best translated as “should” rather than “would.”

If a si clause is in the present or passé composé, the main verb can be in either the present, future, or imperative.

If a si clause is in the imperfect tense, the main verb should be in the present conditional. Constructions like this indicate what would happen (present conditional) if something else happened (imperfect). In other words, the conditions are presented in the imperfect.

Notice how the si clause is in the present, which means the main verb can be in either the future or the present.

Note the first-person plural in the present conditional of lire. The si clause is in the imperfect, which means the main verb must be in the conditional.

Note that the future/conditional stem for savoir is saur-. Savoir is conjugated in the conditional because the si clause is in the imperfect.

in case - au cas où, dans le cas où. These conjunctive phrases are usually followed by the conditional.

so - si

that, as - si. Note the use here of si in a comparison.

that, as - si. Another way of putting this is “It wasn’t as hard as that.”

even if - même si

as if, as though - comme si. Note how si is shortened to s’ before il.

The imperfect tense can be paired with si to express suggestions or wishes. Another example: Et si on sortait ce soir? means “What if we went out tonight?”

how about, what if - et si. This construction is used at the beginning of suggestive questions posed in the imperfect.

The irregular future/conditional stem for vouloir is voudr-. Note how the conditional is used for requests, desires, or commands. Using the conditional for these purposes is polite and serves to soften the statement.

The irregular future/conditional stem for pouvoir is pourr-. Also note how the conditional is used here to soften a request. Another translation of this question is simply, “Could you help me tomorrow?”

The verb vouloir is often used in the conditional to politely request something. It’s softer than “I want some bread.”

The verb aimer is often used in the conditional to indicate a desire.

Savoir can be used in the conditional for formal requests of a person’s knowledge. In this context, it is like pouvoir in that it means “to be able to.”

a head - une tête. Note the expression être à la tête, which means “to lead” or “to head.”

eyes - les yeux. Definite articles are typically used with body parts (instead of possessive adjectives). In this case, les is used instead of ses. The singular form is un oeil. Finally, note that the expression “in the eyes of” is translated by aux yeux de.

a hand - une main. Reflexive verbs are frequently used with body parts.

to comb one’s hair - se peigner les cheveux

to hurt - avoir mal. Note that avoir mal is used when something is hurting, whereas the action of causing pain is expressed with faire mal.

to hit (body part on something) - se cogner (quelque chose contre quelque chose)

teeth - les dents. This is a feminine noun.

to brush one’s teeth - se brosser les dents. Se brosser by itself means “to brush (oneself).”

to raise, to rise - lever. Recall that the reflexive se lever means “to get up.”

In the first sentence, the reflexive pronoun s’ is the direct object, so the participle brossée agrees with it. In the second sentence, the reflexive pronoun is no longer the direct object, so there is no agreement (brossé). In the third sentence, les dents (a feminine plural noun) is replaced by the object pronoun les, which serves as the preceding direct object, so the participle agrees.

a foot - un pied. Recall that possessive adjectives are almost never used when talking about body parts.

to throw - lancer, jeter. Note that jeter often means “to throw away.” Also recall the use of the gerund to say “by ___ing.”

a leg - une jambe. Note how casser requires a reflexive pronoun in this context.

a finger - un doigt. Note that you could also say Ses doigts sont très longs – “Her fingers are very long.”

a toe - un orteil

the nose - le nez. Note that you could change the order and say Il a le nez le plus grand du monde.

the mouth - la bouche

health - la santé

to feel sick - se sentir mal

sick, ill - malade. This word can be used as a noun, meaning “a patient” or “a sick person.” Also note that “to become sick” is tomber malade.

a sickness, an illness - une maladie

pain - la douleur. Note the masculine noun for “arm,” bras, as well as the construction douleur à…

the belly, the stomach - le ventre, l’estomac. Note that “to have a stomach ache” is avoir mal au ventre.

the neck - le cou. Note that “the throat” is la gorge.

a cell phone - un (téléphone) portable. Note that acheter has a slightly irregular stem in the future and conditional: achèter-.

a laptop - un (ordinateur) portable. Recall that nouveau becomes nouvel when it is followed by a vowel sound.

volume - le volume. Note how augmenter, “to increase,” is used here. You can also say monter le son, “turn up the sound.” (For the opposite action, use baisser le son.) Finally, deux secondes is a common expression, meaning “hold on” or “one sec.”

on one hand… on the other - d’une part… de l’autre. An alternative is the construction d’un côté… de l’autre.

to have a way/the means to - avoir (un) moyen de

to have the chance to - avoir l’occasion de. Note how un becomes l’un here. This is a common practice, usually done when un is used as a pronoun.

(to have) nothing to do with - (n’avoir) rien à voir avec

instead of, in place of - au lieu de, plutôt que, à la place de

to suit, to be suitable to - convenir à. Note the feminine noun liste.

as - en tant que. Note the adverb effectivement, which means “actually” or “indeed.” An alternative to effectivement is en effet.