This lesson is on the culture of France. The culture of France is diverse, reflecting regional differences as well as the influence of recent immigration. Also, try and reflect on how your culture is similar and different to French culture.
General Verbs Review
Most verbs in French are regular -er verbs. Others are regular -ir or -re verbs or are simply irregular.
Formation
French Grammar • Culture Regular Verbs  Les verbes réguliers | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| -er Verbs | -ir Verbs | -re Verbs | ||||
| Stem: | parl… | fin… | vend… | |||
| Subject | Ending | Example | Ending | Verb | Ending | Example |
| Je | -e | parle | -is | finis | -s | vends |
| Tu | -es | parles | -is | finis | -s | vends |
| Il | -e | parle | -it | finit | – | vend |
| Nous | -ons | parlons | -issons | finissons | -ons | vendons |
| Vous | -ez | parlez | -issez | finissez | -ez | vendez |
| Ils | -e | parlent | -issent | finissent | -ent | vendent |
Irregular Verbs Ending in -er
- aller
Common -ir Verbs
- Finir
Irregular Verbs Ending in -ir
acquérir | avoir | s’asseoir | devoir | dormir | falloir | ouvrir | partir | pleuvoir | pouvoir | recevoir | savoir | servir | venir | voir | vouloir
Common -re Verbs
- attendre – to wait (for)
- répondre – to answer
Irregular Verbs Ending in -re
boire | conduire | connaître | croire | dire | écrire | être | faire | lire | mettre | prendre | rire | suivre | vivre
Croire & Voir
Croire is an irregularly conjugated -re verb.
French Verb • Present Indicative croire to believe(past participle – cru) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | Plural | |||||
| first person | je crois | jeuh crah | I believe | nous croyons | noo croy oh | we believe |
| second person | tu crois | too crah | you believe | vous croyez | voo croy ay | you believe |
| third person | il croit | eel crah | he believes | ils croient | eel crah | they believe (masc. or mixed) |
| elle croit | ell crah | she believes | ||||
| on croit | oh crah | one believes | elles croient | ell crah | they believe (fem.) | |
Voir is an irregularly conjugated -re verb.
French Verb • Present Indicative voir to see(past participle – vu) | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Singular | Plural | |||||
| first person | je vois | jeuh vwah | I see | nous voyons | noo vwahyoh | we see |
| second person | tu vois | too vwah | you see | vous voyez | voo vwah ay | you see |
| third person | il voit | eel vwah | he sees | ils voient | eel vwah | they see (masc. or mixed) |
| elle voit | ell vwah | she sees | ||||
| on voit | oh vwah | one sees | elles voient | ell vwah | they see (fem.) | |
Religion
| la religion | religion |
| le Christianisme | Christianity |
| l’Islam | Islam |
| le Judaïsme | Judaism |
| le Chrétien/la Chrétienne | Christian |
| le Musulman/la Musulmane | Muslim |
| le Juif/la Juive | Jew |
| l’athée (m.) | atheist |
| Le Père noël | Santa Claus |
| le 14 juillet | Bastille Day |
Birthday
| Birthdays | |
|---|---|
| l’anniversaire (m) | birthday |
| Tu as quel âge? | How old are you? |
| J’ai ____ ans. | I am ____ years old. [lit: I have ___ years.] |
| le gâteau | cake |
| le cadeau | gift |
| la bougie | candle |
| la fête | party |
| inviter | to invite |
| donner une fête | to throw a party |
Marriage
| Marriage | |
|---|---|
| Le mari | Husband |
| La femme | Wife |
Holidays
| French Vocabulary • Culture Holidays Les jours fériés | ||
|---|---|---|
| New Year’s Day | le Nouvel An | 1 janvier |
| Labor Day | La Fête du Travail | |
| Memorial Day ; Armistice Day | jour de l’Armistice | |
| Independance Day | la Fête Nationale | 4 juillet |
| Christmas Eve | le Réveillon | 24 décembre |
| Christmas ; Yule | Noël | 25 décembre |