Quiz: Review of Previous Lessons

  1. What is the French word for "beach"?
  2. Form the passé composé of "manger" for "I ate" (using avoir).
  3. Replace "Marie" with the correct COD pronoun in "Je vois Marie."
  4. Which verb is commonly conjugated with être in the passé composé: "aller" or "manger"?

Cultural: Christmas Markets in France

What Can You Find at a Christmas Market?

  • Handcrafted Gifts: Unique, handmade ornaments, candles, and toys—perfect for presents.
  • Delicious Food: Traditional treats such as bretzels, vin chaud (hot spiced wine), châtaignes (roasted chestnuts), and pain d’épices (gingerbread).
  • Festive Music and Performances: Holiday music and live shows enhance the joyful atmosphere.

The History of Christmas Markets

Originating in the late Middle Ages in Germany, Christmas markets became popular throughout Europe, including France. The first French Christmas market was held in Strasbourg in 1570, earning it the nickname “Capital of Christmas.”

Popular Christmas Markets in France

  • Strasbourg: The oldest market in France with around 300 stalls, attracting millions of visitors annually.
  • Colmar: A picturesque town with a fairy-tale atmosphere.
  • Paris: Markets at iconic locations like the Champs-Élysées and Tuileries Garden, offering views of landmarks such as the Eiffel Tower.

Fun Fact: The inviting smell of vin chaud, made with red wine, spices, and citrus fruits, is a hallmark of these markets. Many run from late November until Christmas Eve or New Year’s.

Strasbourg: The Capital of Christmas

Strasbourg’s unique blend of French and German cultures is on full display during its Christmas market. Amid half-timbered houses and the iconic Strasbourg Cathedral, enjoy vibrant stalls, gourmet treats like bretzels, vin chaud, tarte flambée, and cultural performances. Tip: Arrive early or on a weekday to avoid the crowds, dress warmly, and greet locals with “Bonjour” and “Merci.”

Lesson: Le Passé Composé – Understanding the French Past Tense

Structure of the Passé Composé

The passé composé is formed with two elements:

  • Auxiliary Verb: Either avoir or être, depending on the main verb.
  • Past Participle: The form of the main verb indicating the completed action.

Formula: Subject + Auxiliary Verb + Past Participle

Examples:

  • J'ai mangé (I ate) – using avoir.
  • Elle est allée (She went) – using être.

Choosing the Auxiliary Verb

Most verbs use avoir (e.g., Nous avons étudié). However, verbs of movement or change (e.g., aller, venir, arriver, partir, naître, mourir) use être (e.g., Ils sont partis).

Agreement of Past Participles

With être, the past participle agrees in gender and number with the subject (e.g., Elle est allée vs. Ils sont allés). With avoir, agreement occurs only if a direct object precedes the verb (e.g., Les pommes que j'ai mangées).

Examples in Context: Hier, j'ai visité un musée and Nous sommes allés au cinéma.

Pronunciation of "gn" in French

How to Pronounce "gn"

To produce the "gn" sound, place the tip of your tongue against the roof of your mouth near the front and let air flow through your nose.

Examples:

  • Ligne (line) – pronounced /liɲ/
  • Gagner (to win) – pronounced /ɡaɲe/
  • Montagne (mountain) – pronounced /mɔ̃taɲ/
  • Saigner (to bleed) – pronounced /sɛɲe/

Practice with sentences such as: La ligne est droite. and Nous allons gagner le jeu.

The Plural of Nouns in French

Most French nouns form their plural by adding -s, with some exceptions:

  • Nouns ending in -s, -x, -z remain unchanged.
  • Nouns ending in -au, -eu, -eau usually add an -x (e.g., bureau → bureaux).
  • Nouns ending in -al typically become -aux (e.g., animal → animaux), with a few exceptions.
  • Nouns ending in -ail often add an -s, though some become -aux.

Examples: Les chats sont mignons. and Les bureaux sont ouverts.

Understanding COD and COI in French

What are COD and COI?

COD (Complément d’Objet Direct) answers “what?” or “who?” about the action. For example: Je mange une pomme.

COI (Complément d’Objet Indirect) answers “to whom?” or “for whom?” For example: Je parle à Marie.

Replacing with Pronouns

COD pronouns: me, te, le, la, nous, vous, les. For instance, Je vois Marie becomes Je la vois.

COI pronouns: me, te, lui, nous, vous, leur. For example, Je parle à Paul becomes Je lui parle.

When both are present, the order is: me, te, nous, vous, then le, la, les, followed by lui, leur.

Public Places and Shops in French

Vocabulary for Public Places

  • Le parc – The park
  • La plage – The beach
  • La bibliothèque – The library
  • Le musée – The museum
  • La piscine – The swimming pool
  • Le cinéma – The cinema
  • L’hôpital – The hospital
  • La gare – The train station
  • L’aéroport – The airport
  • Le centre commercial – The shopping mall

Vocabulary for Shops

  • Le supermarché – The supermarket
  • La boulangerie – The bakery
  • La pâtisserie – The pastry shop
  • La boucherie – The butcher shop
  • La poissonnerie – The fish market
  • Le magasin de vêtements – The clothing store
  • La pharmacie – The pharmacy
  • La librairie – The bookstore
  • Le marché – The market
  • Le café – The café

Useful Phrases

  • Où est… ? – Where is…?
  • Je voudrais aller à… – I would like to go to…
  • Quel est le meilleur magasin pour… ? – What is the best shop for…?
  • Combien ça coûte ? – How much does it cost?
  • Avez-vous… ? – Do you have…?

Examples: Je vais au cinéma ce soir. and Nous avons acheté des croissants à la boulangerie.

Devoirs - Homeworks A1 Lesson 7

Assignment 1: Vocabulary Matching

Create a matching exercise for the public places and shops vocabulary.

Assignment 2: Plural Noun Practice

Choose five nouns, write their plural forms, and use each in a sentence.

Assignment 3: Pronunciation Practice

Record yourself pronouncing the "gn" sound in words such as montagne, ligne, and gagner.

Assignment 4: Write a Short Paragraph

Describe your favorite public place or shop using at least three vocabulary words and one plural noun.

Assignment 5: Duolingo Proof

Complete your daily Duolingo exercises and submit screenshots to your teacher.