French for English speakers Zoo · Lesson 2

Climate change

Unexpected sightings in French — Des perroquets verts ! (Green parrots!) — and Comme ceux à Rome (Like the ones in Rome).

Conversation

  1. Cassian Cassian

    Oh ! des perroquets verts !

    Oh! Green parrots!

    Tip: <des> = this indicates the sense of there being "some" of something.

  2. PX296 PX296

    Commes ceux à Rome.

    Like the ones in Rome.

    Tip: <commes ceux> = lit. like those

  3. Cassian Cassian

    Il y a des perroquets verts à Rome ?

    Are there parrots in Rome?

    Tip: <il y a> is one phrase meaning "there is/there are"

  4. PX296 PX296

    Oui, c'est un peu bizarre, mais il y a des perroquets.

    Yes, it is strange, but there are parrots.

Common questions

Quick answers about this lesson's grammar and vocabulary.

What is un perroquet?

'A parrot'. Plural: des perroquets. Une perruche = a parakeet (smaller). Both can be green and exotic-looking.

How do you say 'like the ones in X'?

Comme ceux + à/en + place. Comme ceux à Rome = 'like the ones in Rome'. Ceux = those/the ones (masculine plural).

Where are wild parrots found in Europe?

Naturalized populations exist in Paris, London, Madrid, Rome and Brussels — usually escaped or released pets that adapted.

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