Explaining a Grammar Pattern | Learn French in English

French lesson set in a contemporary Paris everyday setting: In a language classroom, two adults discuss a grammar pattern, why a verb form changes, and how to make another example..

EN → FR / Level: A2

About This Lesson

Use Explaining a Grammar Pattern to practice French conversation, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, and quizzes.

Dialogue

A

Pouvez-vous m'expliquer cette structure grammaticale encore une fois ?

poo-vay-VOO mayks-plee-KAY set struk-TUR grah-mah-TEEK-al on-KOR oon FWAH Could you explain this grammar pattern again?
B

Cela montre qu'une action est déjà terminée.

suh-LAH MOHN-truh koon ak-SYOHN eh day-ZHAH tair-mee-NAY It shows that an action is already complete.
A

Pourquoi est-ce que le verbe change dans cette phrase ?

poor-KWAH ess-kuh luh VAIRB shonzh dahn set FRAHZ Why does the verb change in this sentence?
B

La forme change parce que l'événement est terminé.

lah FORM shonzh parss-kuh lay-vay-nuh-MAHN eh tair-mee-NAY The form changes because the event is finished.
A

Pouvez-vous me donner un autre exemple ?

poo-vay-VOO muh doh-NAY uhn NO-truh eg-ZAHNPL Can you give me another example?
B

Quelqu'un a ouvert le livre avant le cours.

kel-KUN ah oo-VAIR luh LEEVruh ah-VAHN luh KOOR Someone opened the book before class.
A

Cela rend la structure plus facile à comprendre.

suh-LAH RAHN lah struk-TUR ploo fah-SEEL ah kom-PRON-druh That makes the pattern easier to understand.
B

Maintenant, essayez de faire votre propre phrase.

mahn-tuh-NAHN eh-say-YAY duh FAIR votr PROPR FRAHZ Now try making your own sentence.

Word by Word

Pouvez-vous Pouvez-vous means “could you” or “can you” in this polite request for an explanation. It appears at the beginning of a question before an action, as in Pouvez-vous m'expliquer. A learner can use it when politely asking a teacher or another adult to do something.
m'expliquer m'expliquer means “explain to me” in this dialogue. The m' identifies the person receiving the explanation, and expliquer names the action being requested. Pouvez-vous m'expliquer is a reusable way to ask someone to explain something.
cette cette means “this” before the feminine noun structure. It points to a particular structure being discussed in the classroom. Use cette before a feminine noun, as in cette structure.
structure structure means “structure” or “pattern” here, specifically the grammar pattern under discussion. It is the thing identified by cette and described by grammaticale. Cette structure is a useful phrase when referring to a particular pattern.
grammaticale grammaticale means “grammatical” and describes structure in cette structure grammaticale. Its form agrees with the feminine noun structure. Use structure grammaticale when talking about a grammar pattern in class.
encore encore means “again” in encore une fois, showing that the explanation has been given before and should be repeated. The expression encore une fois is a common way to request repetition. A learner can use it when asking someone to repeat an explanation.
une une means “a” or “an” before the feminine noun fois in une fois. It introduces one time or occasion in the expression encore une fois. Use une before a feminine noun.
fois fois means “time” or “occasion” in encore une fois. Together, encore une fois means “again” or “one more time.” Use une fois when referring to one occurrence or occasion.
Cela Cela means “that” or “it” and refers here to the grammar idea just discussed. In Cela montre qu'une action est déjà terminée, it is the subject of what is being shown. Cela montre que is a reusable pattern for saying that something shows a fact or result.
montre montre means “shows” in Cela montre qu'une action est déjà terminée. It states what Cela demonstrates. Use Cela montre que before the information being demonstrated.
qu'une qu'une means “that an” or “that a” in qu'une action est déjà terminée. It combines que, which introduces the following statement, with une, which comes before action. The pattern montre qu'une action... introduces what is being shown.
action action means “action” in qu'une action est déjà terminée. It names the event whose completion is being discussed. Use une action when referring to an action in a grammar explanation.
est est means “is” and links action with the description déjà terminée. It states the condition of the action in the explanation. Est + a describing word is a reusable way to describe a state.
déjà déjà means “already” and shows that the action is complete by the relevant point. It appears before terminée in est déjà terminée. Use déjà when saying that something has happened or reached a state earlier than expected or by a particular point.
terminée terminée means “finished” or “complete” and describes action in est déjà terminée. Its form matches the feminine noun action. Use être terminée to describe a feminine action or event as complete.
Pourquoi Pourquoi means “why” and asks for the reason the verb changes. It begins the question Pourquoi est-ce que le verbe change dans cette phrase ? Use Pourquoi when asking for an explanation or reason.
est-ce que est-ce que is a question-forming expression in Pourquoi est-ce que le verbe change dans cette phrase ? Est-ce introduces the question frame, and que links it to the statement that follows; together they form a direct question. It is useful when asking a question with a normal-looking subject and verb order.
le le means “the” before the masculine noun verbe in le verbe. It identifies the particular verb being discussed. Use le before a masculine noun when referring to a specific thing.
verbe verbe means “verb” in le verbe change. It identifies the grammar item whose form is being discussed. Le verbe is a useful classroom expression when talking about a verb.
change change means “changes” in le verbe change. It describes what happens to the verb in the sentence being examined. Use le verbe change to say that the verb changes.
dans dans means “in” and locates the change inside the sentence: dans cette phrase. It is followed here by a noun phrase. Use dans + a place, text, or sentence when saying where something occurs.
phrase phrase means “sentence” in dans cette phrase. It identifies the sentence where the verb changes. Use cette phrase when referring to a particular sentence under discussion.
La La means “the” before the feminine noun forme in La forme change. It identifies the particular grammatical form being discussed. Use La before a specific feminine noun.
forme forme means “form” in La forme change. It refers to the form of the verb and explains why that form is different. La forme change is a useful expression when discussing changes in grammatical form.
parce que parce que means “because” in La forme change parce que l'événement est terminé. Parce begins the reason, and que links that reason to the clause that follows; together they give the cause of the change. Use parce que to explain why something happens.
l'événement l'événement means “the event” in l'événement est terminé. The l' is used before événement, and the expression identifies the event whose completion explains the form change. Use l'événement est terminé when describing a finished event.
terminé terminé means “finished” in l'événement est terminé. It describes the event as complete and supplies the reason for the change in form. Its form matches the masculine noun événement.
me me means “me” in Pouvez-vous me donner un autre exemple ? It identifies the person who is to receive the example. Pouvez-vous me donner... is a reusable polite request for someone to give you something.
donner donner means “give” in the request Pouvez-vous me donner un autre exemple ? It names the action being requested. Donner un exemple is a common pattern for asking someone to provide an example.
un un means “a” or “an” before the masculine noun exemple in un autre exemple. It introduces one example. Use un before a masculine noun.
autre autre means “another” or “other” in un autre exemple. It asks for an additional example beyond the one already available. Un autre exemple is a useful phrase when requesting one more illustration.
exemple exemple means “example” in donner un autre exemple. It refers to a concrete sentence or case that illustrates the grammar pattern. Donner un exemple is useful when asking someone to illustrate an explanation.
Quelqu'un Quelqu'un means “someone” and identifies an unspecified person in Quelqu'un a ouvert le livre avant le cours. It is used when the person is not named or is not important to the explanation. Use Quelqu'un a... when reporting that an unknown or unspecified person did something.
a a means “has” in a ouvert le livre and works with ouvert to report that someone opened the book. The sequence Quelqu'un a ouvert... is a reusable way to describe a completed action by someone. A learner can use it when the person is known only as someone.
ouvert ouvert means “opened” in Quelqu'un a ouvert le livre. Together with a, it reports the completed opening of the book. Use a ouvert + an object, as in a ouvert le livre, to say that someone opened something.
livre livre means “book” in le livre, the object that someone opened. It is introduced by le because the dialogue refers to a specific book. Use ouvrir or a ouvert le livre when talking about opening a book.
avant avant means “before” in avant le cours. It places the opening earlier than the class. Use avant + a noun or time expression to say that something happens earlier.
cours cours means “class” or “lesson” in avant le cours. It provides the time reference for when the book was opened. Avant le cours is a useful expression for something that happens before class.
rend rend means “makes” in Cela rend la structure plus facile à comprendre. The construction says that something causes the structure to become easier to understand. Cela rend ... plus facile is reusable for describing something that makes an activity or idea easier.
plus plus means “more” in plus facile à comprendre. It forms the comparison that says understanding the structure is easier than before. Use plus before a describing word, as in plus facile.
facile facile means “easy” in plus facile à comprendre. It describes understanding the structure as requiring less difficulty. Facile à + an action is a reusable pattern, as in facile à comprendre.
à à means “to” in facile à comprendre. It links facile with the action comprendre and completes the expression meaning “easy to understand.” Use an adjective followed by à and an action when describing how easy something is to do.
comprendre comprendre means “understand” in facile à comprendre. It names the action that becomes easier in the sentence. Facile à comprendre is a useful expression for saying that an explanation, text, or idea is easy to understand.
Maintenant Maintenant means “now” and moves the lesson from explanation to an instruction for immediate practice. It appears at the beginning of Maintenant, essayez de faire votre propre phrase. Use it when telling someone what to do at the current point.
essayez essayez means “try” in the instruction essayez de faire votre propre phrase. It asks the learner to make an effort to complete the following action. Essayez de + an action is a reusable pattern for encouraging someone to attempt something.
de de means “to” in essayez de faire. It links the instruction to the action the learner should attempt. The pattern essayez de + an action is used when telling someone to try doing something.
faire faire means “make” or “do” in faire votre propre phrase. Here it names the action of producing a sentence. Faire une phrase or faire votre propre phrase is useful when asking a learner to create a sentence.
votre votre means “your” before propre phrase in votre propre phrase. It connects the sentence to the person being addressed. Use votre before a singular noun when referring politely or to more than one person’s possession.
propre propre means “own” in votre propre phrase. It emphasizes that the sentence should be created by the learner. Votre propre + a noun is a reusable pattern for emphasizing personal ownership.

Grammar Points

Pouvez-vous + infinitif

Pouvez-vous m'expliquer la structure grammaticale ?

poo-vay-VOO mayks-plee-KAY lah struk-TUR grah-mah-TEEK-al

Can you explain the grammatical structure to me?

French uses pouvoir followed by an infinitive to express ability or a polite request. Inversion makes the question more formal.

terminé / terminée : accord au féminin

L'action est déjà terminée.

lahk-SYOHN eh day-ZHAH tair-mee-NAY

The action is already finished.

Terminée takes -e because action is feminine. The form of the adjective or past participle agrees with the noun.

French Vocabulary

action noun
ak-SYOHN action

une action

déjà adv
day-ZHAH already

une action est déjà terminée

encore une fois phrase
on-KOR oon FWAH again; once more

Pouvez-vous m'expliquer cette structure grammaticale encore une fois ?

est-ce que phrase
ess-kuh question marker

Pourquoi est-ce que le verbe change dans cette phrase ?

expliquer verb
ex-plee-KAY to explain m'expliquer

Pouvez-vous m'expliquer cette structure grammaticale encore une fois ?

grammatical adj
grah-mah-tee-KAHL grammatical grammaticale

cette structure grammaticale

montrer verb
MOHN-TRAY to show montre

Cela montre qu'une action est déjà terminée.

pourquoi adv
poor-KWAH why

Pourquoi est-ce que le verbe change dans cette phrase ?

pouvoir verb
poo-VWAHR can; to be able to Pouvez-vous

Pouvez-vous m'expliquer cette structure grammaticale encore une fois ?

structure noun
struk-TUR structure

cette structure grammaticale

terminer verb
tair-mee-NAY to finish; to complete terminée

une action est déjà terminée

verbe noun
VAIRB verb

le verbe

Quiz

Spelling

Tap the letters to spell the word.

grammatical

Show Answergrammaticale

already

Show Answerdéjà

to finish; to complete

Show Answerterminée

to show

Show Answermontre