Finding Out Someone’s Nationality

2.3.1. The Main Idea

In French, you can ask someone’s nationality with de quelle nationalité.

This question uses the verb être, meaning to be.

2.3.2. Main Questions

2.3.3. Main Answer Pattern

2.3.4. Masculine and Feminine Forms

In French, many nationalities change depending on the person being described.

The masculine form is often used for a male person.

The feminine form is often used for a female person.

2.3.5. Examples

2.3.6. Mini Conversation: Informal

2.3.7. Mini Conversation: Formal

2.3.8. Key Vocabulary

2.3.9. Core Patterns

2.3.10. Practice

What nationality are you? informal |

What nationality are you? formal |

I am Canadian. masculine |

I am Canadian. feminine |

I am Chinese. masculine |

I am Chinese. feminine |

I am French. masculine |

I am French. feminine |

2.3.11. Answers

2.3.12. Short Dialogue

2.3.13. Checkpoint

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to ask someone’s nationality, answer with je suis + nationality, and recognize that many French nationality words have masculine and feminine forms.