This informal French is still very new to me. I understand written French fairly well. Indeed, if I speak French I use textbook grammar, most French will probably think I'm a silly man. But then when I hear French people speak among each other I hardly understand them due to all the contractions and the omitted words. French is to me, a native Dutch speaker, quite hard to learn.
I imagine it similar to spoken English phrases using “gonna” instead of “going to.” We all know “going to” is correct. No one ever writes “gonna” in an essay, or even in an informal letter (I would expect to see “gonna” in writing only in written dialogue for example in a movie script). And yet when we speak, I think it is far more common to hear “gonna” than to hear “going to.” Of course in any kind of formal or business setting I would expect to hear “going to.”
I guess as an American who will be spending 10 days in France, how much should I learn? Are basic phrases enough? I appreciate these leasons, but I got along in Germany with a few phrases. If I make the effort to have some phrases to show that I respect the culture and language, I believe I can get along.
I’m from America and just finished a 16 day stay in France. You’ll be just fine with basic phrases. It’s very likely that everyone you interact with will speak English (at least at hotels, restaurants, etc). 90% of the time, they would catch my accent and would start speaking English without even needing to ask.
I was in Netherlands and Belgium last year and spoke to a girl from Quebec (who only spoke French) and I was able to carry a rudimentary conversation, then used some French in Brussels. Two years of high school French as a drunken teenager, nearly 40 years ago held up surprisingly well.
I’m just glad I found the street French I was learning verbs and a lot of stuff il prob not need I can read and understand some written easier than speaking it I’m struggling due to a stroke and going to France soon heeeelllp
We’re so glad this lesson helped, @jsullivan4344! If you’re interested in more lessons like this, please join our mailing list to get a new lesson each week: www.commeunefrancaise.com/youtube-welcome?&source=youtubecom We wish you a speedy recovery! -Lyndsie Comme une Française Team
I disagree with this advice. First of all, using “ne” is grammatically correct and though nowadays considered a bit formal, it is more elegant and the way you will generally hear Macron speak. More importantly, you won’t get “bonjour” out of your mouth before being identified as an anglophone. Namely, you won’t fool anybody anyway. As my immersion teacher in France taught us, if you omit “ne”, people are much more likely to assume that you are entirely fluent and that they don’t need to slow down and speak clearly. You will naturally tend to drop the “ne” in spoken French as you progress but there are a lot of many more important things to tend to than this.
Et bien je Ne suis pas tout à fait d’accord… je mets un point d’honneur à toujours mettre le ne dans une phrase négative… je pense que toute la famille fait de même. Au travail si l’on échange avec des clients il est peu élégant d’enlever le NE. Donc c’est certainement une histoire de contexte…
Du coup j’ai appris qu’on écrit jamais le français colloquial et on parle jamais le français écrit :-/ Si on écrit le français colloquial tout le monde prostestera!
Hard to tell precisely. We know that people were taught to speak a much better french in the 60s. Now, it varies a lot. I easily speak "normal " french , like for example using "ne" as it is described in this video. But, because indeed many people nowadays speak often without it, i tend to mimic it not to look too snobish. But, it's not rare when i come back to a more standard french and in fact people don't really pay attention to the difference. So, one can speak a more pleasant french ( like it seems to me ) without having any problem. It's not necessary to speak this widely spread "less well behaved" french to be understood nor to be "accepted". I'm french, i use "ne" 😉.
@@gofieldsandsay English also has these form and is used in a similar context as you outlined above. eg. I do not know I don't know don't know dunno I listen to RTL on a daily basis and can hear the different forms that Geraldine talks about, but I think it is better to understand formal French, the informal will naturally follow. Cheers 🦘
@@continental_driftThanks for your precisions and ; You are doing ( very ) well and are absolutely right 🙌👌 ! Continuez ainsi (Changez pas ) ! Tous mes vœux de succès dans ce grand bain des discussions informelles croisées ( des soirées, bars etc) 🙂💪🌟 !!
Removing "ne" is very much more than "informal". It really sounds tacky - definitely a class marker, just like there are many english accents. Follow those instructions at your own risk. You want to sound like a rapper ? Go at it. You're in a business meeting - I wouldn't. This video is terrible advice.
Feliciations au monde francophone de devenir parasseux comme nous anglophones! Vivent les short cuts! ;-) Seriously, the first time, some years ago now, I heard colloquial French in a film it bristled my high school French training for a moment but it feels so natural and free and 21st century.
We’re so glad this lesson helped, @denisph.comedy! If you’re interested in more lessons like this, please join our mailing list to get a new lesson each week: www.commeunefrancaise.com/youtube-welcome?&source=youtubecom -Lyndsie Comme une Française Team
Hmm. I'd keep it in. When you're good enough to drop it, you'll drop it. Dropping it from spoken French will encourage you to drop it from written french and that's a no no.
