14 GUIDE TO FRENCH PRONUNCIATION.

4th, It is silent in fort (adjective): fort et grand, but articulated in fort (adverb): fort aimable.

X. The final x is always articulated, 1st, like ks in Greek and Latin words: Styx, préfix, in the word Cadix; like z in Aix, like double s in Aix-la-Chapelle; and like gz when followed by a vowel, as in exercice, exempt.

Z is silent before a vowel only in the word nez; it is frequently suppressed at the end of other words in conversation; but these and similar licenses, though tolerated, can never be enforced as rules.

CONCLUDING OBSERVATIONS.

Ent, when representing the end syllable of the Third person plural of verbs, is equal to e mute, ils parlent, ils finissent; ils parlaient, ils finissaient: ils parlèrent, ils finirent.

Es, ending words of two or more syllables, is equal to e mute: traces, belles, parles.

E, before a or o, is not sounded: Jean, George.

N. B. The e called mute, being faintly pronounced in conversation only when euphony will permit it, has to be avoided twice in succession. Examples:

IN FRENCH, THE STRESS OF THE VOICE REPOSES ON THE LAST SYLLABLE.-To AMERICAN STUDENTS THE OBSER VATION OF THIS RULE IS VERY PARTICULARLY RECOMMENDED.

WHEN DIVIDING WORDS INTO SYLLABLES, observe, that a compound syllable must begin with a consonant. Example: par-ler, fi-nir, re-ce-voir, a-voir, a-mi, mai-son, A-mé-rique, A-mé-ri-cain, Fran çais, etc.

Have you?
Are you?

Avez-vous ?

Êtes-vous ?

Yes, sir, I have. Oui, Monsieur, j'ai.
Yes, sir, I am. Oui, Monsieur, je suis.

OBS. Je corresponds with the pronoun I; but when the next word begins with a vowel, or an h mute, an apostrophe is substituted for the letter e; and instead of je ai, I have, j'ai is used.

Have you the paper? Yes, sir, I have the paper.-Have you the dictionary? Yes, sir, I have the dictionary. Have you the pencil? Yes, sir, I have the pencil. Have you the atlas? Yes, sir, I have the atlas.— Have you the penknife? I have the penknife.-Have you the volume? Yes, sir, I have the volume.—Have you the exercise-book? - Yes, sir, I have the exercise-book.--Have you the inkstand? Yes, sir, I have the inkstand. Have you the exercise? I have the exercise. Have you the book? Yes, sir, I have the book.-Have you the exercise-book? Yes, sir, I have the exercise-book (copy-book.)

Have you my umbrella? Yes, sir, I have your umbrella.-Have you my glove? Yes, sir, I have your glove.-Have you my shoe? I have your shoe. Have you your hat? Yes, sir, I have my hat.-Have you your waistcoat? I have my waistcoat.-Have you your apron? Yes, sir, I have my apron.-Have you your fan? I have my fan.-Have you your parasol? I have my parasol.—Have you your comb? I have my comb.— Have you my necklace? I have your necklace.-Have you your ribbon? I have my ribbon.-Have you my cloak? Yes, sir, I have your cloak.

Which book have you? I have my book.-Which pencil have you? I have your pencil.—Which glove have you? I have your glove.-Which paper have you? I have my paper.-Have you your dictionary? Yes, sir, I have my dictionary.-Have you the fan? Yes, sir, I have the fan.Which fan have you? I have your fan.-Have you my penknife? Yes, sir, I have your penknife.-Which exercise have you? I have my exercise. Have you your exercise-book? Yes, sir, I have my exercise-book.— Have you my apron? I have your apron.-Have you your ribbon? I have my ribbon.Which ribbon have you? I have my ribbon.-Which veil have you? I have my veil.-Have you my razor? I have your razor. Have you my umbrella? Yes, sir, I have your umbrella.-Which thimble have you? I have my thimble.—Which waistcoat have you? I have your waistcoat.-Have you my waistcoat? Yes, sir, I have your waistcoat. Have you my fan? I have your fan.-Have you your cloak? Yes, sir, I have my cloak.

RULE 2. When the subject of an interrogative proposition is a noun, it must stand in French before the verb, and the pronoun be repeated after the verb.

Has he?

A-t-il !

Has my father?

Yes, Sir, he has, Oui, Monsieur, il a.

Mon père a-t-il ?

OBS. A. Il he, a has; but in the question has he, a-t-il, a t between two hyphens is placed between the verb and the pronoun, for the sake of euphony.

OBS. B. In negative sentences, the verb alone, and in an interrogative sen

tence, both verb and pronoun stand between ne and pas. lowed by a word beginning with a vowel, the e is suppressed.

When ne is folSee Obs. Less. 1. You have not, Vous n'avez pas. Have you not? N'avez-vous pas ? N. B. Observe the hyphen between verb and pronoun in every interrogative sentence.