Unit 3 Labo-langue Position and agreement of adjectives Impersonal structures Verb + preposition + infinitive

Position and agreement of adjectives Unit 3: Labo-langue Position and agreement of adjectives In French, most adjectives go after the noun, for example colour adjectives: mon smartphone bleu, ma tablette noire. However, there are some that go in front of the noun, such as nouveau (new) and vieux (old): mon nouveau portable, mon vieux portable. Adjectives of size go in front of the noun too: un grand écran, un petit écran. Masculine singular Before vowel or silent h Feminine singular Masculine plural Feminine plural old vieux vieil vieille vieilles new nouveau nouvel nouvelle nouveaux nouvelles big grand – grande grands grandes blue bleu bleue bleus bleues © Oxford University Press 2015

Impersonal structures Unit 3: Labo-langue Impersonal structures Impersonal structures are invariable (they don’t change). They are followed by a preposition (such as de) and an infinitive, or just by an infinitive. Il est nécessaire de comprendre ... It is necessary to understand ... Il est essentiel de limiter ... It is essential to limit … Il faut traiter les autres ... You must treat others … Impersonal structures that begin with il est can also begin with c’est. C’est is less formal than il est and is usually used when speaking; il est is usually used in writing. (Usual) written form Il est important de se protéger sur Internet. (Usual) spoken form C’est important de se protéger sur Internet. © Oxford University Press 2015

Verb + preposition + infinitive Unit 3: Labo-langue Verb + preposition + infinitive Some verbs are followed by a preposition: passer du temps à to spend time arrêter de to stop The verb that follows the preposition is always in the infinitive: Je passe du temps à écouter de la musique en ligne. I spend time listening to music online. J’ai arrêté de jouer à des jeux en ligne. I have stopped playing games online. © Oxford University Press 2015