Unité 3 Au Café

In this unit you will be able to: Invite Accept and refuse an invitation Order food and beverages Ask for a price State prices Ask what time it is Tell time on the hour Ask how someone is Tell how you are

Indefinite articles First, let’s remember the indefinite articles. They correspond to “a”, “an” or “some” in English. –Un-singular masculine –Une-singular feminine –Des-plural for both masculine and feminine Je voudrais un coca. I would like a coke. Not a specific coke, just a coke. Donnez-moi une pomme. Give me an apple. Je voudrais des frites. I would like some french fries.

Definite articles Now, let’s discuss the definite articles. –Le-singular masculine –La-singular feminine –Les-plural for both masculine and feminine –L’-before a word (masculine or feminine) that begins with a vowel.) Le dessert est délicieux. The dessert is delicious. La glace au chocolat coûte trois euros. The chocolate ice cream costs 3 euros.

Definite articles Les frites sont pour toi. The French fries are for you. L’ omelette est pour Caroline The omelet is for Caroline. So, we now know that le, la, les and l’ mean “the” and we will use them when we want to convey the meaning of “the.” However, there are also other times when the French use definite articles that do not correspond to the English times.

Uses of definite articles To express “the” To talk about a noun in a general sense. –J’aime la quiche. I like quiche. Notice the “the” does not translate. With verbs of like or preference, we always use “the.”

Uses of definite articles Je préfère la limonade. –I prefer lemon lime drink (like 7-up) Il aime la pizza. –He likes pizza. Tu aimes le chocolat? –Do you like chocolate?

Subject Pronouns Do you remember the subject pronouns il, elle, ils and elles? They means he, she and they. In French, they can also mean “it” or “they” (not referring to people). These pronouns may take the place of things, not just people.

Subject Pronouns Consider the following examples. La salade est fraîche. The salad is fresh. Elle est fraîche. It is fresh.

Subject Pronouns Le jus d’orange coûte deux euros. The orange juice costs two euros. Il coûte deux euros. It costs two euros.

Subject Pronouns Les hamburgers sont chers. The hamburgers are expensive. Ils sont chers. They are expensive.

Subject Pronouns Les salades coûtent onze euros. The salads cost eleven euros. Elles coûtent onze euros. They cost eleven euros.

Subject Pronouns La limonde et l’eau minérale sont pour vous. The 7-up and mineral water are for you. Elles sont pour vous. They are for you.

Subject Pronouns Le sandwich au jambon et le sandwich au fromage sont pour les étudiants. The ham sandwich and the cheese sandwhich are for the students. Ils sont pour les étudiants. They are for the students.