The weather

Introduction to Weather Vocabulary and Time Prepositions in French

This lesson focuses on discussing weather and using time prepositions in French, perfect for A1 beginners. You will learn common expressions about the weather, natural meteorological phenomena, and how to talk about time using prepositions such as en, à, avant, and après.

Key Weather Expressions

Start by becoming familiar with simple phrases to describe the weather conditions: Il fait beau (The weather is nice), Il pleut (It is raining), Il fait chaud (It is hot), Il fait froid (It is cold), and Le vent (The wind). These expressions help you communicate basic weather observations effectively.

Meteorological Phenomena

Learn the vocabulary for natural weather events like La pluie (rain), La neige (snow), and L'orage (storm). Recognizing these will enrich your ability to understand and talk about different weather conditions in French.

Prepositions of Time

Mastery of time prepositions is crucial for expressing when events happen. This lesson covers:

• En — used for months and seasons, e.g., En hiver, il neige souvent en France.
• À — to indicate specific clock times or moments, e.g., À midi, il y a souvent des nuages dans le ciel.
• Avant — meaning "before," e.g., Je préfère sortir avant qu'il fasse froid.
• Après — meaning "after," e.g., Après la pluie, le soleil revient toujours.

Example Sentences

• Il fait beau aujourd'hui, allons au parc à trois heures.
• En hiver, il neige souvent en France.
• Après la pluie, le soleil revient toujours.
• Je préfère sortir avant qu'il fasse froid.
• Le vent souffle fort en automne.
• À midi, il y a souvent des nuages dans le ciel.

Useful Phrases for Everyday Weather Conversations

Practice short dialogues discussing the current weather, weekly forecasts, or weather for special events. This improves both your speaking and listening skills. Some practical phrases include:

• Quel temps fait-il aujourd’hui ? (What is the weather like today?)
• Il fait beau et il y a du soleil. (The weather is nice and there is sun.)
• En juillet il fera soleil tous les jours. (In July, it will be sunny every day.)
• Je vais faire une promenade avant la pluie. (I will take a walk before the rain.)

Important Language Notes

Unlike English, French often uses the verb faire (to make/do) to describe weather conditions instead of an impersonal verb like "to be." For example, Il fait chaud translates literally as "It makes hot," while in English we say "It is hot."

Time prepositions in French have specific uses that may not align directly with English. For instance, en is used with seasons and months (en été, en avril) but not with days or parts of days, where le or à might be preferred. Also, à specifically indicates clock times (à midi), which is a bit different from how English prepositions of time work.