This French 3 lesson explains French environment vocabulary step by step, with examples in French and English. Then practise with the worksheet on French environment vocabulary and check yourself with the quiz.
Quick answer: To talk about the environment in French, combine ecology vocabulary such as les déchets, le tri and le réchauffement climatique with il faut que. This expression states what must be done and is followed by the subjunctive: Il faut que nous recyclions le verre. For general advice, use il faut with an infinitive.
Level: French 3 (high school, ACTFL Intermediate Low) · Standards: ACTFL Intermediate Low, WL 1.1 Interpersonal, WL 1.2 Interpretive, WL 1.3 Presentational, WL 2.1 Cultural Practices
French environment vocabulary: the lesson
What vocabulary do you need to talk about the environment?
Eco-vocabulary appears in school clubs, news reports and everyday life in every francophone country. Start with these ten expressions, then add the verbs trier (to sort), recycler, réduire (to reduce), économiser (to save) and protéger (to protect).
| French | English |
|---|---|
| le réchauffement climatique | global warming |
| les déchets (m.) | waste, trash |
| le tri | sorting of waste |
| le gaspillage | wasting (food, water) |
| une gourde | a reusable water bottle |
| les transports en commun | public transportation |
| l’énergie solaire / éolienne | solar / wind energy |
| la sécheresse | drought |
| une canicule | a heat wave |
| la montée des eaux | rising sea level |
How do you say what must be done with il faut que?
Rule: il faut que + subjunctive
When a specific person or group must act, use il faut que + subject + subjunctive verb. To form the subjunctive of most verbs, take the ils form of the present, drop -ent, and add -e, -es, -e, -ions, -iez, -ent.
| Subject | recycler | éteindre |
|---|---|---|
| que je / j’ | recycle | éteigne |
| que tu | recycles | éteignes |
| qu’il / elle | recycle | éteigne |
| que nous | recyclions | éteignions |
| que vous | recycliez | éteigniez |
| qu’ils / elles | recyclent | éteignent |
Irregular verbs
faire → que je fasse · aller → que j’aille, que nous allions · être → que tu sois · avoir → qu’elle ait · pouvoir → que je puisse · savoir → que tu saches
For a general rule with no specific person, use il faut + infinitive: Il faut réduire le plastique. — Plastic must be reduced. For a person: Il faut que Daouda prenne le tram. — Daouda has to take the tram.
Common mistake
English speakers say “We have to recycle” and write Il faut que nous recyclons or Il faut que nous recycler. Both are wrong: que needs the subjunctive, so write Il faut que nous recyclions.
Culture note
In December 2015, Paris hosted the COP21 climate conference, which led to the Paris Agreement. In West Africa, Senegal is one of the countries involved in the Great Green Wall, a project to restore land and plant trees across the Sahel.
Zoé’s tip
Say ils in your head, drop -ent, and add the endings. Only nous and vous keep an -i- before the ending: -ions, -iez.
Key points to remember
- Il faut que is followed by the subjunctive when a specific person must act.
- Subjunctive endings are -e, -es, -e, -ions, -iez, -ent; the stem comes from the ils form.
- Faire, aller, être, avoir, pouvoir and savoir have irregular subjunctive stems.
- For general rules, use il faut + infinitive: Il faut trier les déchets.
- Key words: les déchets, le tri, le gaspillage, la gourde, la sécheresse, la canicule.
Saving the Planet in French: frequently asked questions
Why does il faut que take the subjunctive?
Il faut que expresses necessity, not a plain fact, and French uses the subjunctive after expressions of necessity. The mood shows that the action is required but not yet done.
When can I use il faut with an infinitive instead?
Use il faut + infinitive for general rules with no specific person, such as Il faut trier les déchets. Use il faut que + subjunctive when you name who must act.
How do I form the subjunctive of regular verbs?
Take the ils form of the present tense, remove -ent, then add -e, -es, -e, -ions, -iez, -ent. For recycler, this gives que je recycle and que nous recyclions.
Which verbs have irregular subjunctive forms?
The most useful are faire (fasse), aller (aille), être (sois), avoir (aie), pouvoir (puisse) and savoir (sache). Nous and vous forms of aller are allions and alliez.
What is the difference between le tri and le gaspillage?
Le tri is the sorting of waste into bins such as glass, paper and plastic. Le gaspillage is wasting something useful, such as food, water or energy.