Discussing Plots and Characters in French: Talking About Surprising Endings and Recommendations
Learn to say 'The ending was surprising' and recommend narrative media in French. Elementary level, focusing on plot and characters.
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In this lesson, you will learn how to talk about the plot and characters of a story, say that the ending was surprising, and recommend a narrative medium such as a film, book, or series. This differs from discussing music because narrative media have plots, characters, and endings, which require specific vocabulary and structures. You will practice key phrases and a short dialogue to help you converse about stories in French.
By the end, you can…
- describe a plot and characters in French.
- say that an ending was surprising.
- recommend a narrative medium to someone.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
La fin était surprenante.
The ending was surprising.
lah fan ay-tay sewr-pruh-nahnt
Use this to express that the conclusion of a story was unexpected. 'Fin' is feminine, so use 'surprenante'.
L'intrigue est captivante.
The plot is captivating.
lan-treég ay kap-tee-vahnt
Use this to talk about how engaging the plot is. 'Intrigue' is feminine.
Les personnages sont bien développés.
The characters are well developed.
lay pair-soh-nazh son byan duh-vloh-pay
Use this to compliment the depth of characters. 'Personnages' is masculine plural.
Je te recommande ce film.
I recommend this movie to you.
zhuh tuh ruh-koh-mahnd suh feelm
Use this to recommend a film to a friend. 'Te' is informal; use 'vous' for formal.
Tu devrais lire ce livre.
You should read this book.
tew duh-vreh leer suh leevruh
Use this to suggest a book. 'Devrais' is conditional, meaning 'should'.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
To describe a plot or characters, use 'être' + adjective. For example, 'La fin est surprenante' (The ending is surprising) or 'Les personnages sont intéressants' (The characters are interesting). Remember to make the adjective agree in gender and number with the noun. 'Fin' is feminine, so 'surprenante' ends in -e. 'Personnages' is masculine plural, so 'intéressants' ends in -s.
When to use it
Use these phrases when discussing a film, book, or series with friends. For example, after watching a movie, you might say, 'La fin était surprenante, non?' (The ending was surprising, wasn't it?). To recommend, say 'Je te recommande...' followed by the title. If you're talking to someone formally, use 'Je vous recommande...'. This pattern works for any narrative medium.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
Tu as vu le film 'Inception' ?
Have you seen the movie 'Inception'?tew ah vew luh feelm in-sep-syonOui, la fin était surprenante !
Yes, the ending was surprising!wee, lah fan ay-tay sewr-pruh-nahntEt les personnages ?
And the characters?ay lay pair-soh-nazhIls sont complexes. Je te recommande ce film.
They are complex. I recommend this movie to you.eel son kom-pleks. zhuh tuh ruh-koh-mahnd suh feelmA little context goes a long way
In French-speaking cultures, discussing films and books is a common social activity. When recommending, it's polite to give a brief reason, such as 'parce que l'intrigue est captivante' (because the plot is captivating). In formal situations, use 'vous' instead of 'te'. In Quebec, people might use 'film' similarly, but pronunciation can differ slightly.
One thing to watch for
Saying 'La fin était surpris' instead of 'surprenante'.
Try this instead: The adjective must agree with the feminine noun 'fin', so use 'surprenante'. For example, 'La fin était surprenante.'
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1How do you say 'The ending was surprising' in French?
Show a sample answer
La fin était surprenante.
This uses the feminine adjective 'surprenante' to agree with 'fin'. Alternatively, you could say 'La fin était étonnante' with a similar meaning.
2Translate: 'The characters are well developed.'
Show a sample answer
Les personnages sont bien développés.
This uses the masculine plural adjective 'développés' to agree with 'personnages'. You could also say 'Les personnages sont bien construits'.
3How would you recommend a book to a friend informally?
Show a sample answer
Je te recommande ce livre.
This uses the informal 'te'. For formal, use 'Je vous recommande ce livre.' You could also say 'Tu devrais lire ce livre.'
Use 'La fin était surprenante' to comment on a surprising ending, and 'Je te recommande...' to recommend a narrative medium. Remember adjective agreement.
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