…
Breakdown of Je chante, et ensuite je lis un livre.
je
I
et
and
chanter
to sing
lire
to read
le livre
the book
ensuite
then
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“How does grammatical gender work in French?”
Every French noun is either masculine or feminine, and this affects the articles and adjectives used with it. "Le" is used with masculine nouns and "la" with feminine ones. Adjectives also change form to match — for example, "petit" (masc.) becomes "petite" (fem.).
Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor
Start learning FrenchMaster French — from Je chante, et ensuite je lis un livre to fluency
All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods.
- ✓ Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
- ✓ Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
- ✓ Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
- ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions
More from this lesson
Questions & Answers about Je chante, et ensuite je lis un livre.
What does ensuite mean?
Ensuite means “then” or “afterwards” in English. It indicates what happens next in a sequence of actions.
Why do we say je lis un livre instead of je lis livre?
In French, you almost always need an article in front of a noun. Here, un is the indefinite article for masculine nouns, so “I read a book” is je lis un livre, not je lis livre.
Is the comma before et always necessary in French?
Usually, a comma before et in French isn’t mandatory. However, sometimes writers place it there to show a pause or for clarity. It can be a stylistic choice.
How do we pronounce chante?
You pronounce it like “shont,” with a nasal “an” sound (similar to “on” but through the nose). The final -e is silent.