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Dictionaries are very useful tools for foreign language students. They give us instant access to
vocabulary words and the various contexts in which they are used. Using a dictionary, though,
is a skill. In order to properly use a dictionary, we must have at least a basic understanding of
the symbols they use and the different parts of speech. Once we master these skills, we will
end up better readers and writers in French!
nf. ______ feminine noun ______ : _________ any noun which takes “la”_________________
vtr. _____transitive verb________:_can have a direct object (just recognize that this is a verb!)
vi. _____ intransitive verb_______: can’t have a dir. object (just recognize that this is a verb!)_
things, but when looking at the sentence, you can figure out which meaning (context) is being
used. Sometimes words are used in idiomatic expressions. Idiomatic expressions are phrases
that do not translate literally from one language to the next (for instance, in English we say “to
be hungry,” but in French we say “avoir faim,” which means “to have hunger.”) Also, if we
look up “medicine” in the dictionary, we have an entry for the actual field of medicine (la
médecine) and one for the type that is given to patients (les médicaments). This is why it is
form. If the adjective is describing a feminine and/or plural noun, you must change it to
When you look up a verb you will find the infinitive form (not conjugated, ends in –er,
-ir, or –re in French and starts with “to” in English). If the verb needs to be conjugated
in the context of the sentence, you must do so! Wordreference.com has a great verb
conjugator!
Paired Practice
With a partner, use a dictionary to determine the meaning in French of the underlined words
in the sentence.
4. Carlos came back home after school. (a) rentré (came back)
Now find the English meaning of these French words! Use the surrounding words as clues!
6. Sortez une feuille de papier, s’il vous plaît. sheet (of paper)