Archive by Author
The French Imperative Posted by Elizabeth Schmermund on May 30, 2016
In my last post, one of my astute readers pointed out that, in a French si clause, the imperative can also result from “si+present tense” (in addition, of course, to the present and future tenses, as I discussed). I hadn’t included the imperative mood in my previous post because I wasn’t sure if readers…
French Grammar: Si Clauses Posted by Elizabeth Schmermund on May 23, 2016
Also known as conditional sentences, si clauses in French posit what will happen if something else happens first. In English, this would be something like: “If I go to the store, I will get you some dessert.” In conditional sentences, the possibility of the second part of the sentence (the second clause; in this example, “I will get…
Songs in French: Stephan Eicher Posted by Elizabeth Schmermund on May 16, 2016
Stephan Eicher is a Swiss singer-songwriter who sings in many languages, including French, German, Italian, English, Swiss-German, and Romanche (a Romance language spoken in some areas of Switzerland). While his earliest success began in German-speaking countries, Eicher has become well known in French-speaking countries as well. Eicher debuted his career as a techno-punk artist, then gradually…
Le Petit Journal Posted by Elizabeth Schmermund on May 9, 2016
A big announcement in French television occurred today when Yann Barthès, the host of Le Petit Journal, announced that he would be leaving the show after five years as its host. Le Petit Journal is often compared to The Daily Show in America, and Barthès was often compared to former Daily Show host Jon Stewart. Although Barthès…
Dual Gender Nouns Posted by Elizabeth Schmermund on May 2, 2016
I’ll never forget the moment my husband pointed at the tie he was wearing and said, “Do you think she’s too short?” He was just learning English at the time and was used to all nouns having a gender in French. I didn’t understand who he was talking about at first … me? Some other…
Ancient France: La Forêt de Brocéliande Posted by Elizabeth Schmermund on Apr 25, 2016
Brocéliande is a mythical forest that first appeared in chivalric tales in the twelfth century, most notably legends featuring King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table. (King Arthur is a mythic early sixth century king and scholars still debate over whether or not he actually existed, although it is likely he was based…
Le Monde: L’Atelier Diktée Posted by Elizabeth Schmermund on Apr 18, 2016
The French newspaper Le Monde has great resources for those who are trying to learn French. While Le Monde would certainly be useful for intermediate-advanced learners, it’s also a great way to learn not only about vocabulary, but about culture (including, of course, current events and politics!). In fact, Le Monde has several sections dedicated to French students…