1 - A Start to French1 - A Start to French

This guide helps Beginners with speaking French. It covers basic

conversation, verbs and adjectives.

1.1F – Basic Conversation1.1F – Basic Conversation

This section covers an example This section covers an example short conversation in Frenchshort conversation in French

Basic ConversationBasic ConversationWhen two people meet in the street, they often say ‘Bonjour’. This is a commonly used greeting when you don’t know the person well.

New Word: Bonjour – Good Day or Hello (a commonly used greeting)

BonjourBonjour

Basic ConversationBasic ConversationHowever if the two people are good friends, they may say ‘Salut!’ instead. This is less formal, like ‘Hi’ in the English language.

Salut!Salut!

New Word: Salut – Hi (a less formal greeting used between friends)

Basic ConversationBasic ConversationIn an extended conversation, people may say ‘Ça va?’. This phrase has a variety of meanings. It can be used as a question and as a response.

New Word: Ca va? – How are you?

New Word: Ca va bien merci – I’m fine, thanks

Salut! Ça va?

Ça va bien merci

Basic ConversationBasic ConversationTo finish a conversation, the French use the word Au revoir to say goodbye.

New Word: Au revoir – Goodbye

Au revoir!

ReviewReviewNew Word: Bonjour – Good Day or Hello (a commonly used greeting)

New Word: Salut – Hi (a less formal greeting used between friends)

New Word: Ca va? – How are you?

New Word: Ca va bien merci – I’m fine, thanks

New Word: Au revoir – Goodbye

New Word: Bonsoir – Good Evening (used in the afternoon and evening)In the evening, the French say ‘Bonsoir’

Directly translated (word for word) Ça va means ‘it goes’

Activities

1. Practice saying these words out loud. Your teacher will help you with pronunciation.

2. In your exercise books, write out a conversation between two people, and practice reading it and memorising it.