KPG French flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

ne...que

Restrictive negation meaning 'only'. Je n'ai que dix euros = I have only ten euros. It is not a true negative and does not trigger the partitive-to-de shift.

False friend: actuellement

In French, actuellement means 'currently' or 'at present', not 'actually'. The English 'actually' is en fait or en réalité.

Main idea question

A reading question asking for the idée principale, the passage's central point. The answer must cover the whole text, not one supporting detail.

Liaison

Pronouncing a normally silent final consonant before a word starting with a vowel or mute h, as in les_amis ('lé-zami') or vous_avez ('vou-zavé').

Enchaînement

Linking a pronounced final consonant to the following vowel so syllables flow across word boundaries, as in elle_est pronounced 'è-lè'.

Acte de parole

The communicative function of an utterance, such as proposing, refusing, complaining, or advising. Listening questions often ask which act is performed.

Discourse marker: bref

A spoken and written connector meaning 'in short' or 'to sum up'. It signals the speaker is concluding or summarizing what was just said.

Passé composé agreement

The past participle agrees with a preceding direct object, not with the subject, when the auxiliary is avoir: les lettres que j'ai écrites.

Imparfait stem

Take the nous form of the present tense, drop -ons, and add -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient. Exception: être gives ét-.

Futur simple irregular stems

Être→ser-, avoir→aur-, aller→ir-, faire→fer-, pouvoir→pourr-, savoir→saur-, venir→viendr-. Add -ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont.

Partitive after negation

Du, de la, de l', and des become de (or d') in a negative sentence: Je ne bois pas de café. Exception: contrast with ce...ci.

Relative pronoun dont

Replaces de + antecedent, used with verbs and expressions built on de: le livre dont je parle, l'homme dont j'ai peur.

Si-clause sequence

Si + présent → futur simple; si + imparfait → conditionnel présent; si + plus-que-parfait → conditionnel passé. Never use futur or conditionnel directly after si.

Subjunctive triggers

Il faut que, bien que, avant que, pour que, je veux que, and expressions of doubt or emotion require the subjunctive: Il faut que tu viennes.

Contraction au, aux, du, des

À + le = au; à + les = aux; de + le = du; de + les = des. À + la and de + la stay separate, as in à la gare.

Collocation: prendre une décision

French uses prendre, not faire, with décision: prendre une décision. Likewise prendre une douche, prendre un rendez-vous, prendre froid.

Avoir beau

An idiom meaning 'to do something in vain'. J'ai beau chercher = however hard I look, I can't find it. Followed by an infinitive.

Paronym: éminent / imminent

Éminent means 'distinguished' or 'eminent'; imminent means 'about to happen'. Similar forms, unrelated meanings; a common vocabulary trap.

Suffix -able / -ible

Forms adjectives expressing possibility or capacity from verbs: laver→lavable, lire→lisible, comprendre→compréhensible, manger→mangeable.

Il s'agit de

An impersonal expression meaning 'it is about', 'it concerns', or 'one must'. Il s'agit d'un problème = it is a problem. Never takes a personal subject.

Register pair: boulot / travail

Boulot is informal for 'work/job'; travail is the neutral or formal term. Match the register to the context of the text or task.

Formal letter closing

Standard closing: Je vous prie d'agréer, Madame, Monsieur, l'expression de mes salutations distinguées. Register must stay formal throughout.

Concession structure

An argumentative move acknowledging the opposite view before countering: Certes..., mais... or Bien que + subjunctive. Raises the quality of written French.

Word count: hyphenated forms

In French word counts, hyphenated compounds such as peut-être, c'est-à-dire, and rendez-vous count as one word, as do contracted forms like du and c'est.

Plus-que-parfait

Formed with avoir or être in the imparfait plus the past participle. Expresses an action completed before another past action.

Cohesion in written French

Using pronouns, connectors, and time markers to link sentences: celui-ci, donc, cependant, ensuite. Prevents repetitive, choppy writing.

Tutoiement vs vouvoiement

Tu is used with peers, family, and children; vous with strangers, superiors, and formal contexts. Mixing them within one exchange is an error.

Polite request: Pourriez-vous

Conditional form used to make polite requests: Pourriez-vous m'aider ? Softer than Pouvez-vous and standard in formal spoken French.

Softening disagreement

Phrases that disagree politely: Je comprends, mais..., Certes, cependant..., Je ne suis pas tout à fait d'accord. Avoid blunt 'Non, c'est faux'.

Telephone: Ne quittez pas

A standard telephone phrase meaning 'Hold on' or 'Don't hang up'. Used when asking the caller to wait while transferring the call.

Nasal vowels

French has four nasal vowels: on (bon), an (ban), in (vin), and un (brun). Distinguishing them is essential for oral comprehension and production.

u vs ou

The vowel u (tu, rue) requires rounded lips and a forward tongue; ou (tout, roue) is a back vowel. Confusing them changes meaning entirely.