VERBcast: episode 3

Follow the links below to access the mp3 files. They can be downloaded and copied to your mp3 player, burned to CD, or listened to on your computer, but we would suggest that for best results you listen to each episode on headphones.

On today's show
This episode of the VERBcast introduces the concept of irregular verbs, and you'll come across four verbs which are among the most commonly used verbs in the French language: avoir, être, faire and aller. You need to know these verbs, so let the VERBcast teach you them!

Downloads:
VERBcast 03 High quality (broaband users)
VERBcast 03 Low quality (dialup users)

Please remember to add your comments by clicking on the Comments link below.

Comments

[Heather]

Tu vends des chips?
Elles parlent francais.
Je finis mon cahier.
:-P

[Sheila]

Samedi, je travaille au magasin.

J'obeis mes parents.

Reconnaissez-vous cette musique?

[Sheila]

Mark, was showing this to my French teacher and she asked me to find out if it would be possible to get a copy of all the episodes on cd if we sent you a stamped, addressed envelope??

Merci beaucoup!
Sheila

[Mark]

Sheila, not a problem, and no need for a stamped, addressed envelope. I'll contact you directly about this.

[Mark]

Sorry I got a bit mixed up with where to post the comments! Anyway, today we're looking for 4 sentences posted here, one each for avoir, être, faire and aller. Note that I'd like these sentences all in the present tense, no using avoir or être as a part of the perfect tense, and no aller + infinitive please either! Just plain old "I"m going to the cinema" or whatever. Look forward to reading them!

[gavin]

tu as un stylo?
je fais du voile aujourd'hui.
vous n'ettes pas cool.

[Laurin]

Je vais au college tous les jours sauf le samedi et dimanche.
Il a un chat qui s'appelle Tom.
Elles sont tres timide.
Nous faisons du sport.

[Mark]

Bien fait. Just a couple of wee things.

Gavin, it's "de la voile", and watch the spelling of "êtes" - I know it's tricky imagining spelling while you're listening to the podcasts.

Laurin, très bien, but just watch the agreement of "timide" - if they're very shy it's plural, so it should be "timides".

Otherwise, très bien!

[Alison]

J'ai un lapin gris

Nous allons au cinema samedi soir

Elle n'est pas tres douee

Ils font du velo

:)

[Vivien]

Très bien Alison!

[Andrea]

J'ai deux chats
Il est grand
Tu va au college en train
Nous faisons du sport

[Tamsin]

Elle est un chien.
Je suis tres fatigue.
Nous allons au college sur l'autobus.
Ils font des voitures.

c ya!

[Vivien]

Well done girls - just a couple of points:

Andrea, it should be 'tu vas'.

Tamsin, you have used the wrong verb in your first sentence - it should be 'elle a un chien'. Your other verbs are fine, but you would say 'en autobus' - 'sur l'autobus' suggests that you are sitting on the roof of the bus! You would not use 'faire' with 'voitures' - the verb 'to make' in that sense is 'fabriquer'. You cuold have said 'Ils font leurs devoirs'. Hope this helps!

[Lisa]

im a bit confused i hope im putting these in the right place!
j'ai un chien
il est tres beau
vous allez en espagne
tu fais la natation

[Vivien]

Very good Lisa, but I think I'd say 'tu fais de la natation'

[Eilidh]

J'ai dix-sept ans.
Il fait beau.
Ils vont au cinéma.
Elle est très intelligente.

I'm a bit behind! I was away this weekend so I'm trying to catch up! Hope these are ok!

[Vivien]

These are fine Eilidh - well done!

[Scott Mcglynn]

je veux un chien
je peux joue au tennis
je sais francais