French for Kids

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What Should We do? — Qu'est-ce qu'on va faire?

Doing Sports — Faire du sport by Dawn-Michelle Baude, Ph.D.

French kids love to do sports as much as American kids, but some sports are more popular in France than they are in America. The French love “fencing” (l'escrime), which has been around since the Middle Ages, when knights in armor defended their castles. Another sport, archery (le tir à l'arc), has also been around for centuries. Of modern sports, the French love “soccer” (le foot), but practically never play baseball or football. Oddly enough, the kids' word for “soccer” in French is more le foot. Here's a list of some of the other sports you know:

FUN FACTS Pour s'amuser

One of France's favorite sports is pétanque or boules (“balls”), which is played with heavy metal balls on a flat dirt surface. The idea is to aim your ball so that it rolls as close as possible to the marker. Many villages in France have several boules or pétanque teams .

<tgroup cols="2"> <colspec align="left" colname="col1" colnum="1" colsep="0" colwidth="50%"/> <colspec align="left" colname="col2" colnum="2" colsep="0" colwidth="50%"/> <thead> <tr> <td><p><B>English</B></p></td> <td><p><B>French</B></p></td> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td><p>basketball</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>le basket</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>archery</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>le tir à l'arc</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>swimming</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>la natation</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>wrestling</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>la lutte</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>cycling</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>les courses cyclistes</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>fencing</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>l'escrime</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>horseback riding</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>l'équitation</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>golf</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>le golf</emphasis></p></td> </tr> </tbody> </tgroup> </table> <h2>The Plural You — <emphasis>Le “vous” du pluriel</emphasis></h2> <p>Remember how we learned to use the friendly you, <emphasis>tu</emphasis>, in the last chapter? Now it's time to learn to work with the plural “you,” <emphasis>vous</emphasis>. Because sports are often played in teams. So you need to comfortable with the plural “you.”</p> <p>Here you will find sentences in English that you already know how to make in French. (If you can't remember a word, all you need to do is check back on the chapters you've done so far.) Now change each sentence from the <emphasis>tu</emphasis> form to the <emphasis>vous</emphasis> form. Use the plural verb forms: <emphasis>vous aimez</emphasis>… (“you like…”) and <emphasis>vous voulez</emphasis>… (“<emphasis>you want</emphasis>…”).</p> <ul> <li><p><emphasis>Tu aimes faire de l'équitation</emphasis>. .</p></li> <li><p><emphasis>Tu veux faire du ski</emphasis>. .</p></li> <li><p><emphasis>Tu veux faire des courses de vélo</emphasis>. .</p></li> <li><p><emphasis>Tu aimes faire de l'escrime</emphasis>. .</p></li> <li><p><emphasis>Tu aimes faire du golf</emphasis>. .</p></li> <li><p><emphasis>Tu aimes faire du tir à l'arc</emphasis>. .</p></li> </ul> <h2>Encouraging the Team — <emphasis>Encourager son équipe</emphasis></h2> <p>Can you imagine going to a sporting event and not being able to cheer? Shouting to the team to run faster is part of the fun!</p> <p>When you tell someone to do something, you give what's called a “command.” That means there's no named subject. You just say “Go!” and it's clear who you're talking to. The verb is enough — you don't need the subject. But in French you can say “Go!” like <emphasis>Allez</emphasis>! or <emphasis>Va</emphasis>! You remember what the difference is, don't you?</p> <p><emphasis>Allez</emphasis> goes with <emphasis>vous</emphasis> and <emphasis>va</emphasis> goes with <emphasis>tu</emphasis>. That means you can tell if the subject is singular or plural, a friend or a stranger. In fact, the verb in French tells you a lot more than the verb in English.</p> <p>Instead of having one way to give commands, you have three options in French. You can tell the friendly “you,” <emphasis>tu,</emphasis> to score a point if you say <emphasis>Marque un point!</emphasis> But you can also tell the formal “you,” <emphasis>vous</emphasis>, to score a point if you say, <emphasis>Marquez un point!</emphasis> And to the team you'd also say, <emphasis>Marquez un point!</emphasis></p> <p>Here are some commands you can give to the players in French:</p> <table frame="none" width="100%"> <title/> <tgroup cols="3"> <colspec align="left" colname="col1" colnum="1" colsep="0" colwidth="30%"/> <colspec align="left" colname="col2" colnum="2" colsep="0" colwidth="35%"/> <colspec align="left" colname="col3" colnum="3" colsep="0" colwidth="35%"/> <thead> <tr> <td><p><B>English</B></p></td> <td><p><B>French Tu</B></p></td> <td><p><B>French Vous</B></p></td> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td><p>Be careful!</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>Fais attention!</emphasis></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>Faites attention!</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>Run faster!</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>Cours plus vite!</emphasis></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>Courez plus vite!</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>Watch on your right/left!</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>Regarde sur ta droite/gauche!</emphasis></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>Regardez sur votre droite/gauche!</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>Keep going!</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>Continue!</emphasis></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>Continuez!</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>Stop!</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>Arrête!</emphasis></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>Arrêtez</emphasis>!</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>Catch!</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>Attrape!</emphasis></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>Attrapez!</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>Slow down!</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>Ralentis!</emphasis></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>Ralentissez!</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>Throw!</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>Lance!</emphasis></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>Lancez!</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>Hit!</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>Frappe!</emphasis></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>Frappez!</emphasis></p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>Look!</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>Regarde!</emphasis></p></td> <td><p><emphasis>Regardez</emphasis>!</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>Wait!</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>Attends</emphasis>!</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>Attendez</emphasis>!</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p>Win!</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>Gagne</emphasis>!</p></td> <td><p><emphasis>Gagnez</emphasis>!</p></td> </tr> </tbody> </tgroup> </table> <p>Now it's time to practice figuring out the subject from the verb. Look at the following verbs, and write in the line if the subject is <emphasis>tu</emphasis> or <emphasis>vous</emphasis>. It's easy!</p> <ul> <li><p><emphasis>Lance!</emphasis> </p></li> <li><p><emphasis>Gagnez!</emphasis> </p></li> <li><p><emphasis>Attendez!</emphasis> </p></li> <li><p><emphasis>Attrape!</emphasis> </p></li> <li><p><emphasis>Frappez!</emphasis> </p></li> <li><p><emphasis>Arrête!</emphasis> </p></li> </ul>  <div id="pagination"><ul><li class="prev"><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/what-should-we-do-quest-ce-quon-va-faire/at-the-museum-au-muse.htm" title="At the Museum — Au musée">At the Museum — Au musée</a></li><li class="next"><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/what-should-we-do-quest-ce-quon-va-faire/at-the-movies-au-cinma.htm" title="At the Movies — Au cinéma">At the Movies — Au cinéma</a> </li></ul></div></div> <div id="coda"> <div id="rel"><div class="n5">Related Articles</div><ul> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/what-should-we-do-quest-ce-quon-va-faire/doing-sports-faire-du-sport.htm" zT="18/1YL/Zn"> Doing Sports — Faire du sport - French for Kids </a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/social-life-la-vie-sociale/greeting-friends-saluer-les-amis.htm" zT="18/1YL/Zn"> Greeting Friends — Saluer les amis - French for Kids </a></li> <li><a href="http://french.about.com/od/grammar/ss/subjectpronouns_3.htm" zT="18/1YL/Zn"> French Subject Pronouns - Pronoms sujets </a></li> <li><a href="http://french.about.com/od/vocabulary/a/avoirlebeurreetlargentdubeurre.htm" zT="18/1YL/Zn"> Avoir le beurre et l'argent du beurre - French Expression </a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/im-hungry-jai-faim/at-the-restaurant-au-restaurant.htm" zT="18/1YL/Zn"> At the Restaurant — Au restaurant - French for Kids </a></li> </ul></div> <div id="sec"><div class="n5">Read More What Should We do? — Qu'est-ce qu'on va faire?</div><ul><ul class="col1"><li ><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/what-should-we-do-quest-ce-quon-va-faire/riding-a-bike-faire-du-vlo.htm">Riding a Bike — Faire du vélo</a></li> <li ><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/what-should-we-do-quest-ce-quon-va-faire/playing-games-jouer-des-jeux.htm">Playing Games — Jouer à des jeux</a></li> <li ><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/what-should-we-do-quest-ce-quon-va-faire/at-the-park-au-parc.htm">At the Park — Au parc</a></li> </ul><ul class="col2"><li ><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/what-should-we-do-quest-ce-quon-va-faire/at-the-museum-au-muse.htm">At the Museum — Au musée</a></li> <li class="btO">Doing Sports — Faire du sport</li> <li ><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/what-should-we-do-quest-ce-quon-va-faire/at-the-movies-au-cinma.htm">At the Movies — Au cinéma</a></li> </ul></ul></div> </div> <script>if(zSbL<1)zSbL=3;zSB(2);zSbL=0</script> </div> <div id="widgets"><script type="text/javascript">if(z336>0){w('<div id="adB">'+ap[0]+at[4]+as[0]);adunit('','','about.com',ch,gs,336,280,'1','bb',3);w('</div>')}if(z155>0){w('<div id="adP">'+ap[0]+at[4]+as[0]);adunit('','','about.com',ch,gs,336,155,'1','ps',4);w('</div>')}</script> <div id="pg" class="pane"><div class="n3">Shopping</div><div class="cntnr"><a href="http://shop.everything.com/product/the-everything-kids-learning-french-book"><img src="http://0.tqn.com/d/np/kids-french/Cover.jpg"></a><h4><a href="http://shop.everything.com/product/the-everything-kids-learning-french-book">THE EVERYTHING KIDS' LEARNING FRENCH BOOK</a></h4><p><a href="http://shop.everything.com/product/the-everything-kids-learning-french-book">By Dawn-Michelle Baude, Ph.D.</a></p><div id="fp"><a href="http://shop.everything.com/product/the-everything-kids-learning-french-book">Buy This Book</a></div></div></div> <div id="toc" class="pane"><div class="n3">French for Kids Sections</div><ul><li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/lets-get-started-allons-y/">Let's Get Started! — Allons-y!</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/time-and-dates-lheure-et-les-dates/">Time and Dates — L'heure et les dates</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/all-about-me-tout-sur-moi/">All About Me — Tout sur moi</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/social-life-la-vie-sociale/">Social Life — La vie sociale</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/what-should-we-do-quest-ce-quon-va-faire/">What Should We do? — Qu'est-ce qu'on va faire?</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/im-hungry-jai-faim/">I'm Hungry! — J'ai faim!</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/going-to-town-aller-en-ville/">Going to Town — Aller en ville</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/lets-go-outdoors-allons-dehors/">Let's Go Outdoors — Allons dehors</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/getting-along-bien-sentendre/">Getting Along — Bien s'entendre</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/appendix-a-english-french-dictionary/">English-French Dictionary</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/appendix-b-glossary/">Glossary</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/appendix-c-puzzle-answers/">Puzzle Answers</a></li> <li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/appendix-d-exercise-answers/">Exercise Answers</a></li> </ul></div></div> <script type="text/javascript">zCi();validateForms();</script> <div id="abf" style="padding-right:0"><ol class="crumbtrail"><li class="home"><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/">Home</a></li><li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/">French for Kids</a></li><li><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/kids-french/what-should-we-do-quest-ce-quon-va-faire/">What Should We do? 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