Let’s learn some more transition words and expressions that help connect ideas in paragraphs in French.
We’ll start with premièrement, which means firstly. When do you use it? If you’re listing a series of facts, opinions, explanations, or steps in a process, you’ll want to use premièrement.
Premièrement, nous allons amener (bring) nos valises à l’hôtel. Premièrement, nous allons nous reposer à l’hôtel.
Can you figure out what the transition deuxièmement means? It means secondly. It is used for the second item in a list, if the first transition was premièrement.
Deuxièmement, nous irons à l’office du tourisme. Deuxièmement, nous déciderons quels monuments nous voulons voir.
Here’s another time-related transition: en même temps que. It means at the same time. We use it when talking about events that happen simultaneously.
Ex. En même temps que j’achèterai des souvenirs, tu prendras des photos du Vieux Port. Il neigera (will snow) en même temps que nous marcherons.
What about the time-related transition word bientôt? It means soon. We use it to talk about something that will happen in a near future.
Bientôt, nous pourrons voir la Basilique Notre-Dame à Montréal. Nous mangerons bientôt de la poutine.
En attendant is another handy transition. It means meanwhile. It’s also used to talk about simultaneous events.
En attendant, tu dormiras à l’hôtel et j’irai faire du shopping. Je prendrai des photos; en attendant, tu regarderas la carte (the map).
And finally, there is finalement, which means finally. It is used at the end of a list, usually one that contains other transitions like premièrement and deuxièmement.
Finalement, nous rentrerons à l’hôtel pour faire nos bagages. Finalement, nous prendrons l’avion pour rentrer.
Let’s practice using these transitions.
Which one?
Which transition is used to signal the start of a list?
It’s translated by firstly in English.
It’s translated by firstly in English.
It’s translated by firstly in English.
Which transition is used to signal the end of a list?
It means finally.
It means finally.
It means finally.
Which transition means at the same time?
It’s used for events happening simultaneously.
It’s used for events happening simultaneously.
It’s used for events happening simultaneously.
Which transition signals the second item in a list?
It’s translated by secondly in English.
It’s translated by secondly in English.
It’s translated by secondly in English.
You got # out of # correct. Click the Retry button for another attempt.
You got a perfect score. Great job!
Are transitions in French starting to make sense? Let’s practice some more. Listen very carefully to the audio. Then, listen again while you read the text below. Pay attention to the order of events, signaled by transition words and expressions. Finally answer the questions that follow. This activity includes a couple of transition words from the last lesson.
1) D’abord, je vais aller à l’office du tourisme. 2) Ensuite, nous irons visiter la ville de Montréal. 3) Je prendrai beaucoup de photos, et tu chercheras (will look for) un monument sur la carte en même temps. 4) En attendant que j’achète une carte postale, tu achèteras un drapeau (flag) canadien. 5) Puis nous irons prendre le métro pour aller visiter un autre monument. 6) Avant de rentrer, nous irons faire du shopping dans Montréal souterrain. 7) Finalement, nous prendrons l’avion pour rentrer à la maison.
Which transition could replace d’abord in the first sentence?
- en même temps
- finalement
- premièrement
- deuxièmement
They are both made to start a list or series.
They are both made to start a list or series.
They are both made to start a list or series.
They are both made to start a list or series.
In the third sentence, which transition is used to signal simultaneous events?
- en même temps
- sur
- même
- There are no transitions in that sentence.
Its translation is at the same time.
Its translation is at the same time.
Its translation is at the same time.
Its translation is at the same time.
What does the transition puis mean in the fourth sentence?
- before
- at the same time
- meanwhile
- next
It’s the same translation as ensuite.
It’s the same translation as ensuite.
It’s the same translation as ensuite.
It’s the same translation as ensuite.
Which transition can replace finalement in the last sentence?
- pendant
- enfin
- en attendant
- deuxièmement
You studied it in the last lesson, and it has the same meaning.
You studied it in the last lesson, and it has the same meaning.
You studied it in the last lesson, and it has the same meaning.
You studied it in the last lesson, and it has the same meaning.
Summary
Questions answered correctly:
Questions answered incorrectly:
How did you do with this activity? Make sure to review the connectors you learned in the previous lesson as well as in this one.
