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French expression: La question ne se pose pas

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 06:00:04 +0000

What does la question ne se pose pas mean in French? Click the link above to learn all about it, and then come back here to share your thoughts.
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La Capte, Hy�res

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 05:00:00 +0000

La Capte est une fraction d'Hy�res situ�e du c�t� est du double tombolo de la presqu'�le de Giens. Avec une belle plage qui s'�tend de 4 kilom�tres et de l'eau limpide et peu profonde, La Capte est une station baln�aire populaire. Le petit port re�oit quelque 300 bateaux � moteur de petite taille par an, et c'est aussi un bon endroit o� apprendre � faire de la voile et planche � voile et � piloter un catamaran.

La plupart de ses 102 hectares est urbanis�e : la grande majorit� des r�sidences sont des locations saisonni�res et le petit village est touristique. La population de La Capte passe de 600 habitants en hiver � des milliers en �t�. Pour ceux qui se lassent de la mer, les presque 20 hectares de la pin�de des Pesquiers est une Zone naturelle d'int�r�t �cologique, faunistique et floristique (ZNIEFF). Il y a aussi un march� aux puces et un march� proven�al hebdomadaires.

Le nom � La Capte � provient du canal de captage de l'eau de mer qui �tait en service � l'�poque de l'exploitation des salins tout pr�s.

Lire plus : Hy�res - Provence - France

Plage de La Capte © LKL

English translation

La Capte, Hy�res

La Capte is a fraction of Hy�res located on the eastern coast of the double tombolo of Giens peninsula. With a beautiful, 4-kilometer (2� mile) beach and clear, shallow water, La Capte is a popular seaside resort. The small port welcomes some 300 small motorboats a year, and it's also a good spot to learn how to sail, windsurf, and pilot a catamaran.

The majority of the 102 hectares (252 acres) is built up: the great majority of the residences are vacation rentals and the small village is touristy. La Capte's population goes from 600 in the winter to thousands in the summer. For those who get tired of the sea, the nearly 20 hectares (49 acres) of Pesquiers pine forest is a ZNIEFF (Natural Zone of Animal and Plant Ecological Interest). There are also weekly flea markets and Proven�al markets.

The name "La Capte" comes from the canal that used to harness seawater during the mining of the nearby salt marshes.

Read more: Hy�res - Provence - France

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Side-by-side translation

La Capte, Hy�res

Le nom � La Capte � provient du canal de captage de l'eau de mer qui �tait en service � l'�poque de l'exploitation des salins tout pr�s.

Lire plus : Hy�res - Provence - France

La Capte, Hy�res

The name "La Capte" comes from the canal that used to harness seawater during the mining of the nearby salt marshes.

Read more: Hy�res - Provence - France

I invite you to post comments related to this article below, but please post unrelated comments in the forum.

Mot du jour: causer

Fri, 03 Jul 2009 03:00:00 +0000

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French vocabulary: Astronomy

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 12:00:51 +0000

Learn French vocabulary related to astronomy to talk about planets, stars, and other celestial objects.
More: Specialized French vocabulary

French verb of the week: rentrer

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 06:00:00 +0000

Learn simple verb conjugations, see similarly conjugated verbs (if any), and learn more with links to related lessons for this common French verb.
French verb conjugator

Mot du jour: boustifaille
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French Quiz: Clothing vocabulary

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 06:00:00 +0000

If you love shopping for clothes, you'll definitely want to make sure you know your French clothing vocabulary. Test yourself with this little quiz or take a look at the lesson to review.
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Mot du jour: biberon
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French grammar: Demonstrative Adjectives

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 12:00:29 +0000

Demonstrative adjectives (this, that, these, those) are words which indicate a specific noun. In French, they must agree in gender and number with the noun they modify (ce, cet, cette, ces). Learn about these essential adjectives and then take the test.
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D�ner en ville moins cher

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 05:00:43 +0000

En 2002, lors de sa campagne de r��lection, le pr�sident d'alors, Jacques Chirac, a promis de r�duire le TVA (taxe � la valeur ajout�e) dans les restaurants de 19,6 % � 5,5 %. Il n'a pas pu tenir cette promesse � cause de la r�glementation europ�enne. Sept ans plus tard, le pr�sident Nicolas Sarkozy a r�ussi son coup : le 1er juillet 2009 - juste � temps pour la saison touristique - le TVA dans les restaurants fran�ais va passer � 5,5 % (une baisse de 14,1 %) pour tout sauf les boissons alcoolis�es. Autre bonne nouvelle, pour les d�neurs au moins, dans chaque restaurant, les prix d'au moins sept produits sur une liste de dix* doivent baisser de 11,8 %.

Pour les restaurateurs, cette loi a du bon et du mauvais. Ces deux r�ductions risquent** d'attirer plus de clients, mais les prix baiss�s sur les sept produits peuvent endommager le r�sultat financier. De surcro�t, la restauration doit augmenter les salaires et cr�er 40 000 emplois en deux ans.

*Les dix choix :

une entr�e
un plat chaud
un plat du jour
un menu entr�e-plat
un menu plat-dessert
un menu enfant
un dessert
un jus de fruits ou un soda
une eau min�rale
un caf�, un th� ou une infusion

**Ce mot est un faux ami partiel. Risquer veut dire �tre possible et n'est pas limit� aux mauvaises choses.

Tuyaux : Lire une carte fran�aise - Acronymes

Lire plus : Le Figaro - France Soir - Le Parisien

English translation

Eat Out for Less

In 2002, during his re-election campaign, then-president Jacques Chirac promised to reduce VAT (value-added tax) in restaurants from 19.6% to 5.5%. He was unable to keep that promise due to European regulations. Seven years later, president Nicolas Sarkozy has pulled it off. On July 1 2009 - just in time for tourist season - VAT in French restaurants will fall to 5.5% (a decrease of 14.1%) on everything except alcohol. More good news, at least for diners, is that every restaurant must reduce the prices of at least seven products out of a list of ten* by 11.8%.

For restaurant owners, there are pros and cons. The two reductions may** attract more customers, but the lower prices on the seven products might hurt the bottom line. In addition, the restaurant industry has to increase wages and create 40,000 jobs in two years.

*The ten choices:

one appetizer
one hot main course
one daily special
one appetizer + main course menu
one main course + dessert menu
one kids menu
one dessert
one fruit juice or one soda
one mineral water
one coffee, one tea, or one herbal tea

**This is a semi-false cognate. Risquer means "to be possible" and isn't limited to bad things.

Tips : How to read a French menu - Acronyms

Read more: Le Figaro - France Soir - Le Parisien

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Please scroll down for the side-by-side translation.

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Note: I cannot record these messages, for various reasons. But I have dozens of long sound files by native French speakers here: French listening comprehension

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Side-by-side translation

D�ner en ville moins cher

*Les dix choix :

une entr�e
un plat chaud
un plat du jour
un menu entr�e-plat
un menu plat-dessert
un menu enfant
un dessert
un jus de fruits ou un soda
une eau min�rale
un caf�, un th� ou une infusion

**Ce mot est un faux ami partiel. Risquer veut dire �tre possible et n'est pas limit� aux mauvaises choses.

Tuyaux : Lire une carte fran�aise - Acronymes

Lire plus : Le Figaro - France Soir - Le Parisien

Eat Out for Less

*The ten choices:

one appetizer
one hot main course
one daily special
one appetizer + main course menu
one main course + dessert menu
one kids menu
one dessert
one fruit juice or one soda
one mineral water
one coffee, one tea, or one herbal tea

**This is a semi-false cognate. Risquer means "to be possible" and isn't limited to bad things.

Tips : How to read a French menu - Acronyms

Read more: Le Figaro - France Soir - Le Parisien

I invite you to post comments related to this article below, but please post unrelated comments in the forum.

Mot du jour: bouffer

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 03:00:13 +0000

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French vocabulary: Expressions with Coup

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 12:00:00 +0000

The French noun un coup literally refers to a shock or blow. It is also used in dozens of idiomatic expressions, noun clauses, and prepositional phrases. Learn how to talk about luck, glances, surges of anger, love at first sight, and much more with this list of expressions with coup.
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Mot du jour: b�guin

Mon, 29 Jun 2009 03:00:57 +0000

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10 years... and counting

Sun, 28 Jun 2009 06:00:02 +0000

Today, the Learn French at About site is ten years old - can you believe it? I share quite a bit about myself in my blog and bio, and now I'd love to know more about all of you. Please visit these polls to give me some idea about who you are, why and how you are learning French, and how you use this site - you can respond to any number of them and then see the results for each individual poll. And as always you're welcome to leave comments.

Questions about you

What is your relationship to French (e.g., student, teacher)?

Where are you from?

Do you live in France?

More polls...

Questions about your French learning

Why are you learning French?

How long have you been learning French?

How well do you speak French?

What are your French learning methods/tools?

What is your primary French learning method/tool?

Questions about you and the About French site

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How often do you visit this site?

French expression: Changer de cap

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 06:00:56 +0000

What does the French expression changer de cap mean? Click the link above to learn all about it, and then come back here to share your thoughts.
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Les Borrels, Hy�res

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 05:00:02 +0000

Dans le nord-est de la commune d'Hy�res, la fraction des Borrels se subdivise en trois parties : les premi�res, deuxi�mes et troisi�mes Borrels. Cet espace naturel prot�g� est une vall�e situ�e sur la rive gauche du Gapeau dans le massif des Maures. Constituant une seule entit� g�ographique, climatique et g�ologique, les Borrels est un des lieux les mieux prot�g�s d'Hy�res.

Deuxi�mes Borrels © LKL

Depuis le XVI si�cle, les Borrels est presque enti�rement agricole. La premi�re culture de bl� et d'oliviers a c�d� � la r�colte des ressources naturelles foresti�res - le li�ge, le charbon de bois et la gemme. Aujourd'hui, il y a de nombreux vergers et p�pini�res et, bien entendu, des vignobles qui produisent des vins class�s en AOC (C�tes de Provence), dont plusieurs sont prim�s � de divers concours.

Proposant 20 hectares de sentiers de d�couverte de la nature et de randonn�e, le CRAPA (Centre rustique d'activit� de plein air), dans les deuxi�mes Borrels, est un point de d�part pour de bonnes promenades � pied, � cheval et en VTT.

Lire plus : Hy�res - Provence - France

English translation

Les Borrels, Hy�res

In the northeastern part of Hy�res, the fraction of les Borrels is further divided into three parts: the first, second, and third Borrels. This protected natural space is a valley located o the left bank of the Gapeau River in the Maures massif. Constituting a single geographical, climactic, and geological entity, les Borrels is one of the best protected parts of Hy�res.

Les Borrels has been almost entirely agricultural since the 16th century. The original cultivation of wheat and olive trees gave way to the harvesting of the forest's natural resources: cork, charcoal, and pine sap. Today there are numerous orchards, nurseries, and of course vineyards which produce AOC (C�tes de Provence) wines, many of which have won awards at various competitions.

Offering 20 hectares (about 50 acres) of nature and hiking trails, CRAPA (country center for outdoor activities), in the second Borrels, is a departure point for nice walks, horseback rides, and mountain biking trips.

Read more: Hy�res - Provence - France

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Side-by-side translation

Les Borrels, Hy�res

Lire plus : Hy�res - Provence - France

Les Borrels, Hy�res

Read more: Hy�res - Provence - France

I invite you to post comments related to this article below, but please post unrelated comments in the forum.

Mot du jour: auparavant

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 03:00:53 +0000

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French grammar: Invariable Adjectives

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 12:00:11 +0000

In French, adjectives normally have to agree with the nouns they modify in gender and number. However, there are numerous adjectives which don't agree - they have a single form that does not change to reflect the gender or number of the noun. Many colors and most adjectives borrowed from other languages are invariable adjectives.
More: French adjectives | French agreement

French verb of the week: voir

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 06:00:00 +0000

Simple verb conjugations, similarly conjugated verbs (if any), and links to related lessons for this common French verb.
French verb conjugator

Mot du jour: aupr�s
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French vocabulary: National Holidays and Patriotism

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 12:00:20 +0000

In honor of Saint-Jean-Baptiste Day (24 June), Canada Day, the 4th of July, and Bastille Day, here is a list of French vocabulary related to the Qu�b�cois, Canadian, American, and French national holidays.
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French quiz: To Teach

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 06:00:00 +0000

There are several different French verbs that mean "to teach" - do you know the difference?
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Mot du jour: b�gayer
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French verbs: Imperfect - l'Imparfait

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 12:00:58 +0000

The French imperfect (imparfait) is a descriptive past tense which indicates an ongoing state of being or a repeated or incomplete action. The beginning and end of the state of being or action are not indicated, and the imparfait is very often translated into English as "was" or "was ___-ing."
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F�te de la musique

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 05:00:43 +0000

Le 21 juin est une journ�e musicale � travers la France (et apparemment dans beaucoup d'autres pays aussi). Ce festival gratis en plein air regroupe tous genres de musique dans toutes ses formes : des groupes et des solistes, les jeunes comme les vieux. Les lieux de concerts sont aussi vari�s que la musique - il y a quelques salles et estrades provisoires, mais la plupart des musiciens jouent dans la rue.

Nous avons surtout appr�ci� deux groupes locaux. Mme Oleson jouait devant une pharmacie dans la vieille ville. Les trois guitaristes (ou parfois deux guitaristes et un contrebassiniste) s'appellent tous Francis et nous ont fait penser aux Fr�res Jacques. (Une contrebassine [jeu de mots : contrebasse + bassine] est un instrument construit d'une bassine en m�tal ou en plastique, un manche � balai et un morceau de corde � linge.)

Kami, qui interpr�tait sur l'estrade de la rue Gambetta, est un groupe de quatre musiciens : chanteur/guitariste, guitariste/joueur de synth�tiseur, bassiste et batteur. Ils sont tous fran�ais mais chantent en anglais, croyant que cette langue est la plus adapt�e � la musique pop-rock.

Les �v�nements de la F�te de la musique varient de ville en ville ; � Paris, par exemple, on a f�t� le 50e anniversaire du minist�re de la culture et de la communication sous le th�me � 50 ans de chanson fran�aise �.

Site officiel : F�te de la musique

Lire plus : Hy�res - PACA - France - Musique

English translation

Music Festival

June 21st is a musical day across France (and apparently in a lot of other countries as well). This free, outdoor festival brings together all kinds of music in all of its forms: groups and soloists, young and old. The concert venues are as varied as the music - there are some rooms and temporary stages, but most of the musicians play in the street.

We especially enjoyed two local groups. Mme Oleson played in front of a pharmacy in the old town. The three guitarists (or at times two guitarists and a washtub bassist) are all named Francis and made us thing of the Fr�res Jacques. (A contrebassine [word play: contrebasse {bass} + bassine {basin}] is an instrument built from a metal or plastic tub, a broomstick, and a length of clothesline.)

Kami, who performed on the Gambetta Street stage, is a group of four musicians: singer/guitarist, guitarist/keyboardist, bassist, and drummer. They are all French but sing in English, believing that language to be the most appropriate for pop/rock music.

Music festival events vary from town to town; in Paris, for example, the 50th anniversary of the ministry of culture and communication celebrated under the them of "50 years of French song."

Official site: F�te de la musique

Read more: Hy�res - PACA - France - Music

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Note: I cannot record these messages, for various reasons. But I have dozens of long sound files by native French speakers here: French listening comprehension

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You can also follow this French blog via RSS, Twitter, and Facebook.

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Side-by-side translation

F�te de la musique

Site officiel : F�te de la musique

Lire plus : Hy�res - PACA - France - Musique

Music Festival

Music festival events vary from town to town; in Paris, for example, the 50th anniversary of the ministry of culture and communication celebrated under the them of "50 years of French song."

Official site: F�te de la musique

Read more: Hy�res - PACA - France - Music

I invite you to post comments related to this article below, but please post unrelated comments in the forum.

Mot du jour: appui

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 03:00:00 +0000

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French vocabulary: Expressions with arriver

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:00:12 +0000

The French verb arriver literally means "to arrive" and is also used in many idiomatic expressions. Learn how to arrive safe and sound, to manage to do something, to not be able to hold a candle to, and more with this list of French expressions with arriver.
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Mot du jour: arroser

Mon, 22 Jun 2009 03:00:13 +0000

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French expression: Robe des champs

Fri, 19 Jun 2009 06:00:25 +0000

What does the idiomatic French expression en robe des champs mean? Click the link above to learn all about it, and then come back here to share your thoughts.
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