1The country and its citiesLe pays et ses villes
2Politics, sport, tourists and fun factsPolitique, sport, touristes et anecdotes
3Watch again: the details (1)Regardez encore : les détails (1)
4Watch again: the details (2)Regardez encore : les détails (2)
5True or false?Vrai ou faux ?
True or false?Vrai ou faux ?
Did you know? The video uses American English: trash is rubbish in Britain, and a movie is a film. A pound is about four hundred and fifty grams, so four point four pounds is about two kilos.Le saviez-vous ? La vidéo est en anglais américain : trash se dit rubbish en Grande-Bretagne, et un movie est un film. Une livre (pound) pèse environ quatre cent cinquante grammes : quatre livres et demie, c'est environ deux kilos.
6Watch again and completeRegardez encore et complétez
Drag each word into the right gap (or click a word, then a gap). Click a gap to take the word out.Faites glisser chaque mot dans le bon trou (ou cliquez sur un mot, puis sur un trou). Cliquez sur un trou pour retirer le mot.
Famous for its politics, movies, music, , its power, its landscapes… the list goes on and on. Love it or hate it, it's hard to argue that the US is the most famous in the world. Also known as “the Land of the ”, “the US” and “the Land of Opportunity”, America famously shares land with Canada to the north and Mexico to the , and is the third most populated country, with more than three hundred and thirty-three million . The US has a racially and ethnically diverse . The is Washington DC, which is also home to the most famous political residence in the world: the White House. The most populated is New York, the shopping mecca of the West! Often called “the Big ”, New York is famous for its elegant , bright lights and Broadway shows, and is, of course, home to the Statue of . Around four point five million visit this amazing landmark every year. — America is separated into fifty . The country has long operated under a two-party ; that is to say, the Democratic Party and the Republican Party are the two dominant leaders. Americans are very and are known for their competitive attitude in all aspects of life. American football is the most popular spectator , and the US has impressively hosted eight Olympic Games, more than any other country in . The number of international tourists visiting the US is around eighty million, and the most popular are the Grand Canyon, Niagara Falls (despite it being most famous in Canada), the Statue of Liberty, the White House, Disney theme parks and Las Vegas. Just remember, though: whatever in Vegas stays in Vegas! — And to finish, a few interesting pieces of about the good ole U.S. of A. The name “Uncle Sam” originates from a meat packer, Samuel Wilson, who supplied barrels of to the army during the War of eighteen twelve, stamping the barrels with the “U.S.” (for United States), but the soldiers recycled those initials to mean “Uncle Sam's”. According to environmental studies, Americans throw out about four point four pounds of every day. That is equal to around one point four billion pounds total per day. Wowzers! The Star-Spangled Banner is the national of the USA and was written in eighteen fourteen. Approximately ninety per cent of fellow Americans say they know all the to the anthem! Do you know your national anthem?
7Grammar: the superlative (the most famous, the biggest)Grammaire : le superlatif (the most famous, the biggest)
“The US is the most famous country in the world.” To say that something is number one in a group, we use the superlative:
- short adjectives: the + adjective + -est: old → the oldest, large → the largest, big → the biggest
- long adjectives: the most + adjective: the most famous, the most popular, the most populated
- irregular: good → the best, bad → the worst
- the group or the place comes after in: the most famous country in the world
- a ranking: the third most populated country (number three)
Compare with the comparative: eight Olympic Games, more than any other country.
« The US is the most famous country in the world. » Pour dire qu'une chose est numéro un dans un groupe, on emploie le superlatif :
- adjectifs courts : the + adjectif + -est : old → the oldest, large → the largest, big → the biggest
- adjectifs longs : the most + adjectif : the most famous, the most popular, the most populated
- irréguliers : good → the best, bad → the worst
- le groupe ou le lieu vient après in (et non « of ») : the most famous country in the world
- un classement : the third most populated country (le troisième pays le plus peuplé)
À comparer avec le comparatif : eight Olympic Games, more than any other country (plus que tout autre pays).
Choose the right form.Choisissez la bonne forme.
The full lesson and more practice →Le cours complet et d’autres exercices →
8Pronunciation: -teen or -ty? (eighteen, eighty)Prononciation : -teen ou -ty ? (eighteen, eighty)
In the video: eighteen twelve, eighty million, fifty states… Don't mix them up!
- -teen (thirteen to nineteen): the stress is at the end, with a long « ee » and a clear t: thirTEEN, eighTEEN.
- -ty (twenty, thirty… ninety): the stress is at the start, and the end is short: THIRty, EIGHty. In American English, the t often sounds like a quick d.
- A year is said in two parts: 1812 = eighteen twelve, 1814 = eighteen fourteen.
Dans la vidéo : eighteen twelve, eighty million, fifty states… Ne les confondez pas !
- -teen (de 13 à 19) : l'accent est à la fin, avec un « i » long et un t bien net : thirTEEN, eighTEEN.
- -ty (20, 30… 90) : l'accent est au début, et la fin est brève : THIRty, EIGHty. En anglais américain, le t ressemble souvent à un d rapide.
- Une année se dit en deux parties : 1812 = eighteen twelve, 1814 = eighteen fourteen.
Listen to the numbers in the video, then to a few more. Say them out loud.Écoutez les nombres dans la vidéo, puis quelques autres. Répétez-les à voix haute.
Listen and choose the number you hear.Écoutez et choisissez le nombre entendu.
9The words in the videoLes mots de la vidéo
All the useful words in the video, sorted by theme, with their French translation and a ▶ button to hear them. Hide one language and test yourself!Tous les mots utiles de la vidéo, classés par thème, avec leur traduction et un bouton ▶ pour les entendre. Cachez une langue et testez-vous !
Open the word list →Ouvrir la liste de mots →