French Language Listening and Spoken Conversation Flashcards

24 sample cards from the Listening and Spoken Conversation deck

Sampled from the end of the deck, so these are different cards from the ones shown on the syllabus page.

1. After a verb of opinion in the negative or a question, what mood does French often require, and why does it matter for listening?

   The subjunctive. "Je ne pense pas qu'il vienne" (vs. affirmative "je pense qu'il vient," indicative). Recognizing the subjunctive signals doubt/negation of the opinion — an important comprehension cue.

2. Explain the core rule for choosing "tu" vs "vous" in French.

   "Tu" (tutoiement) is singular and informal — used with friends, family, children, peers. "Vous" (vouvoiement) is the polite/formal singular AND the plural for everyone. When in doubt with an adult stranger, use "vous."

3. What do the verbs "tutoyer" and "vouvoyer" mean, and what phrase invites switching to "tu"?

   "Tutoyer" = to address someone with "tu"; "vouvoyer" = to address with "vous." To propose switching: "On peut se tutoyer ?" or "On se dit tu ?"

4. Why is the conditional (conditionnel) central to polite requests in French? Give examples.

   The conditional softens requests, making them less direct and more courteous. "Je voudrais…" (vs. "je veux"), "Pourriez-vous…?" (vs. "pouvez-vous"), "Auriez-vous…?", "J'aimerais…" All sound more polite than the present tense.

5. Give the standard formula for a polite request in a shop or restaurant in French.

   "Je voudrais + noun/infinitive, s'il vous plaît" (e.g., "Je voudrais un café, s'il vous plaît") or "Est-ce que je pourrais avoir… ?" Adding "s'il vous plaît" and using "vous" is essential politeness.

6. How do you apologize in French, from mild to sincere? Give a range.

   Mild: "Pardon" / "Excusez-moi." Standard: "Je suis désolé(e)." Stronger/formal: "Je vous prie de m'excuser" or "Toutes mes excuses." "Je m'excuse" exists but is considered less correct than "excusez-moi."

7. How do you make a complaint politely in French (e.g., in a restaurant or hotel)?

   Open softly: "Excusez-moi, il y a un problème…", state the issue "…ce n'est pas ce que j'ai commandé" / "la chambre n'est pas propre," and request a fix "Pourriez-vous… ?" or "J'aimerais parler au responsable."

8. Give three negotiation/bargaining phrases in French.

   "Vous pouvez me faire un prix ?", "C'est un peu cher, vous pouvez baisser ?", "On peut trouver un arrangement ?" And to concede: "Bon, d'accord, je prends," or "Disons 20 euros ?"

9. What are "discourse markers" (marqueurs de discours), and why do they matter in listening?

   They are words/phrases that organize speech and signal the speaker's intent or structure (e.g., "alors," "donc," "en fait," "du coup," "bref"). They cue transitions, conclusions, or contrasts and help a listener follow the flow even without every word.

10. What do the fillers "euh," "ben," "bah," and "hein" signal in spoken French?

    "Euh" = hesitation (like "um"); "ben"/"bah" = filler at start of a reply, mild hesitation ("well…"); "hein" = a tag seeking confirmation or asking for repetition ("right?"/"huh?"). They carry little literal meaning.

11. Explain the very common fillers "du coup," "en fait," and "quoi" in casual French.

    "Du coup" = "so/as a result" (consequence); "en fait" = "actually/in fact" (correction or clarification); "quoi" at the end of a sentence is an emphatic filler ("…you know?/that's it"). Very frequent in informal speech.

12. What is "circumlocution" (périphrase) and why is it a key speaking skill?

    Circumlocution is describing or talking around a word you don't know using words you do ("le truc pour ouvrir les bouteilles" for "tire-bouchon"). It keeps a conversation flowing without stalling on missing vocabulary.

13. Give three French phrases useful for circumlocution when you forget a word.

    "C'est un truc/machin qui…", "C'est une sorte de…", "C'est le mot pour dire quand on…", or "Comment on dit… ? C'est quelque chose qu'on utilise pour…" These buy time and describe the concept.

14. What is self-correction (autocorrection) in speech, and how is it signaled in French?

    Self-correction is fixing a mistake mid-utterance. It is signaled with markers like "enfin," "je veux dire," "pardon," "plutôt," or "non attends" (e.g., "C'était mardi, enfin non, mercredi"). Recognizing these helps a listener catch the corrected information.

15. In French storytelling about the past, what is the core contrast between the imparfait and the passé composé?

    The imparfait describes background, ongoing states, descriptions, and habitual actions ("il faisait beau," "je lisais souvent"). The passé composé narrates completed, punctual events that move the story forward ("soudain, il est tombé").

16. Give three connectors used to sequence events when telling a story in French.

    "D'abord" (first), "ensuite/puis" (then), "après" (after), "enfin/finalement" (finally). Also "tout à coup"/"soudain" (suddenly) to introduce a dramatic event and "alors" (so/then).

17. How do you describe a past experience or say "I have already/never done X" in French?

    Use the passé composé with "déjà" (already) or "jamais" (never): "J'ai déjà visité Paris," "Je n'ai jamais mangé d'escargots." To describe how it was, add the imparfait: "C'était incroyable / génial."

18. Give three phrases to react and show active listening while someone tells a story in French.

    "Ah bon ?" (really?), "C'est pas vrai !" (no way!), "Et alors ?" (and then?/so what happened?), "Sans blague ?", "Ah oui, je vois." These backchannel signals keep the speaker going.

19. How do you interrupt politely or take the floor in a French conversation?

    "Excuse-moi de t'interrompre, mais…", "Je peux ajouter quelque chose ?", "Attends, juste une chose…", "Si je peux me permettre…" (formal). These soften the interruption.

20. What is the informal "est-ce que"-less way French speakers form yes/no questions in speech, and how do you hear it?

    In casual speech, questions are formed by rising intonation on a statement: "Tu viens ?" (instead of "Est-ce que tu viens ?" or "Viens-tu ?"). Listeners must rely on rising pitch, since word order stays the same as a statement.

21. How does "on" function in spoken French, and why is it important for listening comprehension?

    In everyday speech "on" usually means "we" (replacing "nous"): "On y va !" = "Let's go / We're going." It can also mean "one/people in general." The verb stays in the third-person singular, which can confuse learners expecting a plural form.

22. Give three ways to express future plans in spoken French and note which is most common casually.

    Futur proche "aller + infinitive" ("Je vais partir") is most common in speech; simple future ("Je partirai") is more formal/written; and present tense with a time marker ("Je pars demain") is also frequent for near-certain plans.

23. How do you politely end a conversation and say goodbye in French?

    Wind down: "Bon, il faut que j'y aille" (I have to go) or "Je vais devoir te laisser." Then: "À bientôt," "À plus (tard)," "À demain," "Bonne journée," and "Au revoir." Informal: "Salut, ciao."

24. Give three phrases to express thanks and respond to thanks in French.

    Thank: "Merci (beaucoup)," "Merci infiniment," "C'est très gentil." Respond: "De rien," "Je vous en prie" (formal), "Avec plaisir," "Pas de quoi" (casual).

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