Welcome back to the engaging and insightful Learn French with LearnningTree series.
Today, let's dive into the exciting world of tenses and extra verbs as we try to time travel through grammar! 📚
Past tense - The "passé composé" with "avoir"
In French grammar, the "passé composé" is a past tense that is commonly used to express actions that were completed in the past. When constructing the "passé composé" with the auxiliary verb "avoir," the past participle of the main verb is used in combination with the conjugated form of "avoir."
I have (got) | → | J'ai |
I have done | → | J'ai fait |
| "AVOIR" | PARTICIPE PASSÉ |
J' | ai | joué de la guitare. |
Tu | as | dormi chez ta grand-mère. |
Il/Elle | a | perdu son porte-monnaie. |
Nous | avons | travaillé un peu. |
Vous | avez | fait une réservation. |
Ils/Elles | ont | acheté une maison. |
Key points:
Avoir is the auxiliary verb used in these sentences, which is conjugated depending on the subject.
The participe passé doesn't agree with the subject in these cases because the verbs don't have a direct object that precedes them.
Regular -er verbs (like jouer, travailler) have the past participle ending in -é.
Irregular verbs (like dormir, perdre, faire) have unique past participles.
Memorize for regular verbs, For the rest, just learn this:
jouer, travailler, acheter... | → | joué, travaillé, acheté... |
dormir, sortir, réussir... | → | dormi, sorti, réussi... |
rendre, perdre, vendre... | → | rendu, perdu, vendu... |
Some of the most common irregulars are:
avoir (to have) → eu
être (to be) → été
faire (to do) → fait
boire (to drink) → bu
lire (to read) → lu
prendre (to take) → pris
voir (to see) → vu
dire (to say) → dit
Past tense - The "passé composé" with "être"
We use le passé composé to refer to events in the past.
Le passé composé is formed by the auxiliaries avoir or être + the past participle of the verb.
Nearly all verbs need avoir and very few form their passé composé with être. It's more about memorization than anything else.
Example:
Amadou est né en 1975 dans une petite ville en Algérie. À l'âge de 3 ans il est monté dans le bus pour aller à la maison de sa grand-mère Laurine. Elle était très heureuse et Amadou est resté dans sa maison pendant un an. Mais un jour Laurine...
We'll give you a list of verbs that you can use to finish the story. The special thing about these verbs is, you guessed it, that they all need the auxiliary verb être for the past tense.
né·e | → | naître (to be born) |
mort·e | → | mourir (to die) |
monté·e | → | monter (to go up/climb) |
descendu·e | → | descendre (to go down/get off) |
venu·e | → | venir (to come) |
allé·e | → | aller (to go) |
arrivé·e | → | arriver (to arrive) |
parti·e | → | partir (to leave) |
rentré·e | → | rentrer (to return, go home) |
retourné·e | → | retourner (to return, send back) |
resté·e | → | rester (to stay) |
tombé·e | → | tomber (to fall down) |
passé·e | → | passer (to pass) |
Note that these verbs involve:
- a change of state (naître, mourir)
- a change of location (except for rester)
What about the little ·e at the end of the word? Let us learn with example
masculine singular | - | préféré |
feminine singular | -e | préférée |
masculine plural | -s | préférés |
feminine plural | -es | préférées |
And the same goes for the verbs that use être.
Past tense - The "passé composé" with pronominal verbs
Now, there is another category of verbs that will need to use être in the past tense, those are the verbs of daily activities (reflexive verbs) → se + infinitive.
Il s'est douché à 7 heures du matin.
Dimanche, elle s'est réveillée à 10 heures.
Nous nous sommes levés tard mercredi.
We (masculine plural) got up late on Wednesday.
Nous nous sommes levées tard mercredi.
We (feminine plural) got up late on Wednesday.
Key Points:
When using reflexive verbs in the passé composé, the auxiliary verb être is used.
The past participle agrees with the subject in gender and number:
For masculine singular, there is no agreement (e.g., douché, réveillé).
For feminine singular, you add an -e (e.g., réveillée).
For masculine plural, you add an -s (e.g., levés).
For feminine plural, you add -es (e.g., levées).
Past tense - The auxiliary "être" or "avoir"?
The auxiliary "avoir" is used with pretty much every verb:
J'ai mangé de la soupe hier.
I ate soup yesterday.
Tu as fini tes devoirs de français.
You finished your French homework.
Nous avons pris notre ordinateur en vacances.
We took our computer with us on vacation.
The auxiliary "être" is only used with 2 types of verbs:
A handful (15) of verbs: arriver, partir, entrer, sortir, passer, rester, retourner, monter, descendre, naître, devenir, mourir, aller, venir, tomber.
Je suis arrivé·e lundi dernier.
I arrived last Monday.
Tu es allé·e au supermarché.
You went to the supermarket.
All the reflexive verbs: se lever, se maquiller, se raser, s'endormir, s'appeler, se brosser les dents, se laver...
Je me suis levé·e tard.
I woke up late.
Nous nous sommes endormi·es à 21h.
We fell asleep at 9pm.
Past tense - negation in passé composé
What do you remember about negation?
Its the "ne...pas-sandwiches".
Tu as travaillé le weekend dernier.
You worked last weekend.
But there are two verb forms, as and travaillé. Which one do you have to sandwich?
We'll give you a hint.. a helping hint.
Yes ,we mean the helping verb as?
Tu n'as pas travaillé le weekend dernier.
Nous ne sommes pas partis le weekend dernier.
Vous ne vous êtes pas rasés ce matin.
Elles ne se sont pas amusées hier.
To be hurt - How to use "avoir mal"
For example:
How to say "my legs hurt" in French, it's "J'ai mal aux jambes." But wait—doesn't this just mean "the legs" and not "my legs"? Good observation! In French, there's a subtle difference between English and French when it comes to body parts.
In English, we say "my legs hurt," but in French, you use the expression "J'ai mal" (literally "I have pain") followed by the body part. However, French doesn’t always use the possessive "my" in the same way.
Instead of saying "my legs", you just say "les jambes", and the context implies it's yours. It's a bit different, but it's how French speakers express pain in a natural way.
Do you always use "J'ai mal" when you feel bad?
For the most part, yes! The phrase "J'ai mal" is commonly used in French to express pain or discomfort. However, the preposition changes depending on which body part you're referring to. Here are some more examples:
J'ai mal aux dents. – My teeth hurt.
Elle a mal au nez. – Her nose hurts.
Tu as mal à la main. – Your hand hurts.
Nous avons mal à l'œil droit. – Our right eye hurts.
As you can see, the preposition "à" or "aux" changes before each body part. It’s one of those small quirks of French that can be tricky, but with practice, it becomes second nature!
So next time you're feeling under the weather or just need to express a little pain, remember to use "J'ai mal" and adjust the preposition accordingly. Keep these phrases handy for when you need them!
To have to - How to use the verb "devoir"
When it comes to expressing obligations or necessities in French, one of the most important verbs to know is "devoir". Whether you're saying you have to do something or must do something, "devoir" is the go-to verb. But how exactly does it work? Let’s break it down!
How to Express "Have to" in French
In English, you might say something like, "I have to leave early today." The phrase "I have to" expresses a necessity or obligation. In French, this translates to "Je dois partir tôt", where "dois" is the form of "devoir" used for "je" (I).
Here’s how the conjugation works for "devoir":
Subject | Conjugation |
Je | dois |
Tu | dois |
Il/Elle/On | doit |
Nous | devons |
Vous | devez |
Ils/Elles | doivent |
So, using this table, you can say:
Je dois partir tôt. – I have to leave early.
Je dois partir à 15h. – I must leave at 3pm.
Tu dois boire plus d'eau. – You must drink more water.
Il doit se coucher tôt. – He has to go to bed early.
"Have to" vs. "Must" in French
In both English and French, "have to" and "must" are quite similar. In French, they’re both expressed using "devoir". So yes, "devoir" is the equivalent of both "have to" and "must" in French!
Giving Advice in French
What if you want to soften the tone a bit and give advice instead of a direct obligation? You can use the conditional form of "devoir", which expresses a suggestion or recommendation:
Tu devrais boire plus d'eau. – You should drink more water.
Il devrait se coucher tôt. – He should go to bed early.
The conditional form makes it sound less like a command and more like friendly advice.
A Simpler Way: "Il Faut"
There’s an even simpler way to express necessity without worrying about conjugation: "il faut". This phrase means "it is necessary" and is a great go-to for general statements about what must be done. The good news? You don’t have to conjugate anything!
Il faut boire plus d'eau. – It is necessary to drink more water.
However, "il faut" is more impersonal, so you can’t directly address someone with it (like "you must"). It’s like saying "one must" or "it’s necessary" in English.
Quick Recap
Use "devoir" to express obligations like "I have to" or "I must."
Use the conditional form of "devoir" to give advice or suggestions.
Use "il faut" for general necessities, but it’s impersonal and can’t be used to directly address someone.
Can and want - How to use "pouvoir" and "vouloir"
Let’s talk about the iconic French verbs vouloir (to want) and pouvoir (can). These two verbs are like the bread and butter of French conversation, and once you get the hang of them, you’re golden!
Here’s the quick conjugation breakdown:
Vouloir (to want):
Je veux (I want)
Tu veux (You want)
Il/elle/on veut (He/she/one wants)
Nous voulons (We want)
Vous voulez (You want - formal/plural)
Ils/elles veulent (They want)
Pouvoir (can):
Je peux (I can)
Tu peux (You can)
Il/elle/on peut (He/she/one can)
Nous pouvons (We can)
Vous pouvez (You can - formal/plural)
Ils/elles peuvent (They can)
These two verbs are modal verbs, meaning they modify the meaning of another verb. For example:
Je veux acheter une maison à Paris. (I want to buy a house in Paris.)
Je peux acheter une maison à Paris. (I can buy a house in Paris.)
And as for that iconic line from "Moulin Rouge," "Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir?" (Do you want to go to bed with me tonight?), the verb "coucher" actually means "to go to bed" in French—so it's more innocent than it sounds in pop culture!
Ready to start using vouloir and pouvoir in your own French conversations? It’s easier than you think!
To go out and to sleep - How to use "sortir" and "dormir"
Today we would like to show you how to build (to conjugate) the verb forms of two verbs that you mainly need when you are talking about your daily life.
Le samedi, je sors avec des amis.
I go out with friends on Saturdays.
Le dimanche, je dors beaucoup.
I sleep a lot on Sundays.
And if this isn't true for you, you could think of some examples that are valuable for your life.
Linguistic research indicates that the memorization process works better when you can link a word to your personal or emotional life.
| sortir | dormir |
je/j' | sors | dors |
tu | sors | dors |
il/elle/on | sort | dort |
nous | sortons | dormons |
vous | sortez | dormez |
elles/ils | sortent | dorment |
In terms of pronunciation, the first (je), second (tu) and third (il/elle) persons are the same, because of the silent final letter.
Other verbs that follow the same pattern are partir (to leave) and mentir (to lie), for example.
Verbs like sortir, dormir, partir, mentir... belong to the third group of French verbs.
In the third verb group, you find all the verbs that do not follow the patterns of the first (-er) and the second (-ir) group. It's basically a group of misfits.
You already know a few verbs from the third group:
faire, aller, être and avoir.
Imperative
Ever been asked for directions? When you do, you're probably using the imperative form of verbs—those commands or instructions that tell people what to do. In French, just like in English, we don't use the pronoun "you" when giving these instructions.
For example:
Allez tout droit. (Go straight.)
Tournez à droite. (Turn right.)
In French, there’s a difference between the formal/plural "vous" and the informal "tu." Here's how it works:
For -er verbs, you drop the -s from the tu form:Tu tournes → Tourne ! (Turn!)
For other verbs, just drop the tu pronoun:Tu viens → Viens ! (Come!)
And être (to be) is a special case:
Tu es → Sois ! (Be!)
Vous êtes → Soyez ! (Be!)
So next time you're giving directions in French, remember: no pronouns, and adjust based on the verb type.
Regular -ir verbs
Tu réussis toujours !
You always succeed!
Vous choisissez la salade de tomates ?
Do you choose the tomato salad?
As we mentioned earlier, there are three main types of verbs:
- the -ER verbs, like parler
- the -IR verbs, like finir
- and all other verbs, like faire, devoir, boire...
Today we'll talk more about the regular -IR verbs.
If you look at the example below, the regular conjugation of the -IR verbs differ from the conjugation of the -ER verbs:
| parler (speak) | choisir (choose) |
je | parle | choisis |
tu | parles | choisis |
il, elle, on | parle | choisit |
nous | parlons | choisissons |
vous | parlez | choisissez |
ils/elles | parlent | choisissent |
Note that the -is and -it endings are both pronounced "ee" as in "feet" (that's /i:/ for you linguists).
To put - How to use "mettre"
The English word put is mettre in French. But mettre and put aren't used in exactly the same contexts. However, the general meaning is the same.
Pourquoi mets-tu du sucre dans ta soupe ?
Why do you put sugar in your soup?
Tu mets la chemise dans la valise.
You put the shirt in the suitcase.
Elle met son manteau pour sortir.
She puts on her coat to go out. BUT ...
Je mets la table.
I'm setting the table.
Wait a minute... The last example has a completely different meaning right?
Ha ha, you're right. But this one is a bit particular, because mettre la table is also a set expression. Let's have a look at the conjugation of the verb:
| mettre |
je | mets |
tu | mets |
il/elle/on | met |
nous | mettons |
vous | mettez |
elles/ils | mettent |
The verbs promettre (to promise) and permettre (to allow) follow the same pattern!
We've seen a few regular verbs up until now and have learned how to conjugate them (-ER, -IR). -
RE verbs belong to the 3rd and final group of French verbs. They form the smallest category of irregular French verbs.
Table Etiquette in France
Table manners can vary from country to country and remember the French are not only unique in their language (and their eyebrows-raising skills), they are also very fond of table etiquette. Don't worry, we've got you covered!
You should tear your bread into a bite-sized piece before eating it.
A French dinner often consists of a salad for the starter, main course, cheese course, dessert, and coffee.
It is acceptable to eat frites with your fingers.
The agreement of past participles with "être"
When forming the passé composé in French, you use either avoir or être + the past participle of the verb. But when do you use être? Simple! It’s for the verbs from “la maison du verbe être”, plus reflexive verbs.
Here are the verbs you’ll find in “la maison du verbe être”:
entrer, sortir, passer, rester, arriver, partir, monter, descendre, tomber, naître, mourir, devenir, venir, aller, retourner.
For example:
Je suis tombée hier matin. (I fell yesterday morning.)
Il est allé au restaurant jeudi dernier. (He went to the restaurant last Thursday.)
Elles sont restées à la maison. (They stayed at home.)
Key Tip: When you use être in the passé composé, you need to make sure the past participle agrees with the subject in gender and number.
For example:
Je suis montée. (I [feminine] went up.)
Il est monté. (He went up.)
Elles sont montées. (They [feminine plural] went up.)
So, remember: Je and tu can be masculine or feminine, and on, nous, and vous can also be masculine or feminine, singular or plural. The past participle must match!
With this in mind, conjugating verbs with être in the passé composé becomes easier!
To have just - How to use "venir de"
In French, the verb "venir" is incredibly versatile! Not only can it be used to ask about someone's origin, like in the question "Tu viens d'où ?" (Where are you from?), but it also has a special use when paired with the preposition "de" to talk about recent actions.
1. Expressing Origin
To answer the question "Tu viens d'où ?", you simply say where you're from, like:"Je viens des États-Unis." (I come from the United States.)
2. Talking About Recent Actions
But "venir de" can also be used with an infinitive verb to express something you’ve just done. For example:
"Je viens de finir mon livre." (I have just finished my book.)
"Vous venez de manger le gâteau." (You [plural/formal] have just eaten the cake.)
3. Combining Both Uses
You can even use both forms of "venir" in one sentence! For example:"Je viens des États-Unis et je viens de manger un hamburger." (I come from the United States and I’ve just eaten a hamburger.)
Conjugating "Venir"
Here’s a quick refresher on how to conjugate "venir":
Je viens (I come)
Tu viens (You come)
Il/Elle/On vient (He/She/One comes)
Nous venons (We come)
Vous venez (You come - formal/plural)
Ils/Elles viennent (They come)
Now you’re all set to use "venir" in both contexts—whether it’s about where you’re from or what you’ve just done
Imperfect
When learning French, the passé composé often steals the spotlight as the go-to past tense. But don't forget about l'imparfait! This past tense is just as important, and today we’ll focus on one of its key uses.
What is L’Imparfait Used For?
L’imparfait is used to express habits or repeated actions in the past. It’s perfect for talking about things you used to do regularly, like:
"À 10 ans, je jouais au football tous les jours." (At 10 years old, I played football every day.)
It’s similar to saying something like: I used to play football every day or I would play football every day.
How Do You Conjugate Verbs in L’Imparfait?
To conjugate regular -er verbs like parler (to speak) in the imparfait, follow this pattern:
Parler (to speak)
Je parlais (I was speaking / I used to speak)
Tu parlais (You were speaking / You used to speak)
Il/Elle parlait (He/She was speaking / He/She used to speak)
Nous parlions (We were speaking / We used to speak)
Vous parliez (You were speaking / You used to speak)
Ils/Elles parlaient (They were speaking / They used to speak)
Even though the conjugations look different, je parlais, tu parlais, il parlait, and others are pronounced the same! So, don’t worry about those tricky spellings when you're speaking.
In French, we don’t just have one past tense, but two! You might wonder why that is. Can’t we just pick one and use it for everything? Unfortunately, no. Both le passé composé and l’imparfait are essential, and each one serves a different purpose when talking about the past.
Think of l’imparfait as the background information in a story. It describes habits, ongoing actions, or sets the scene by giving details about a person, place, or situation. For example:
"Quand il était enfant, il détestait l'école." (When he was a child, he hated school.)
"Monique était grande et blonde." (Monique was tall and blond.)
"Il faisait beau et la ville resplendissait." (It was sunny and the city was glowing.)
In contrast, passé composé is used for specific actions or events that happened in the past.
L’Imparfait: The Background Information
Imagine you’re watching a movie with a friend who keeps asking questions about what’s happening. To keep them updated, you pause the film and fill in the gaps with background details. That’s exactly what l’imparfait does—it gives you the context or description of the past action.
So, while passé composé moves the plot forward with completed actions, l’imparfait provides the setting.
In French, both tenses work together to tell a complete story of the past. L’imparfait gives the background, while passé composé tells the actual events. It’s like the difference between watching a movie and reading a novel—each tense plays a unique role.
If you thought l'imparfait was only for talking about habits and describing the past, think again! There’s more to this past tense than meets the eye, and once you grasp these concepts, it will feel like second nature.
1. Simultaneous Actions in the Past
L'imparfait is perfect when you want to talk about two or more actions happening at the same time in the past. For example:
"Pendant que Sylvain faisait la vaisselle, Emilie passait la serpillère."
(While Sylvain was doing the dishes, Emilie was mopping the floors.)
2. Actions Without a Time Limit
L’imparfait also describes situations that don’t have a specific start or end time, either in the past or present. For example:
"Chez moi on ne parlait pas français."
(At home, we didn’t speak French.)
Why Not Use Passé Composé?
You might wonder: Why can’t I just use passé composé here? Well, l’imparfait is used to set the stage or provide background information, while passé composé is for specific actions or events. Think of l’imparfait as the scenery to your story—helping build context but not driving the plot forward.
While l’imparfait can seem tricky at first, with practice, it becomes much easier to use. It's all about giving context and describing the background of past actions, making it a key part of storytelling in French! Soon enough, you’ll see why French narrators love this tense.
Past tenses
Understanding When to Use Passé Composé and L'Imparfait in French
In French, we often use two past tenses together to describe actions or events: le passé composé and l'imparfait. If you're feeling unsure about when to use which one, don't worry—here’s a simple way to understand it!
The Theatre Analogy: A Simple Way to Remember
Think of passé composé as the action happening on stage—the things you can see and follow. These are the main events that move the story forward.
Now, imagine l’imparfait as what’s happening in the background—like the decor, costumes, or setting in a play. These are important details that help you understand the story but aren’t necessary for the action to continue.
Let’s break it down using an example:
Quand je suis entré, mes enfants faisaient des crêpes dans la cuisine.(When I entered, my children were making crêpes in the kitchen.)Here, faisaient (were making) is in imparfait because it describes the ongoing action happening in the background.
Il y avait de la farine partout.(There was flour everywhere.)This is also imparfait, describing the scene—what the place looked like, the setting, or the situation.
Nous avons mangé les crêpes ensemble et ils ont nettoyé la cuisine pendant que je lisais sur le canapé.(We ate the crêpes together and they cleaned while I was reading on the sofa.)Here, avons mangé (ate) and ont nettoyé (cleaned) are in passé composé, which indicates the main actions that moved the story forward. Meanwhile, lisais (was reading) is in imparfait, showing an ongoing action happening in the background.
Key Takeaways:
Passé composé = main actions/events (what moves the story forward).
Imparfait = background actions/details (what sets the scene or provides context).
Future Tenses
Are you ready to talk about the future in French? Good news—conjugating verbs in the future tense is one of the easiest things to do!
To form the future tense, all you need to do is add the future endings to the infinitive form of the verb.
Here’s a quick look at how it works:
étudier → j'étudierai (I will study)
finir → je finirai (I will finish)
se promener → je me promènerai (I will walk)
So simple, right?
The Endings:
je → -ai
tu → -as
il/elle/on → -a
nous → -ons
vous → -ez
ils/elles → -ont
Examples in Context:
Ce weekend, j'étudierai le français.
(This weekend, I’ll study French.)
Je finirai mon livre.
(I’ll finish my book.)
Je me promènerai au parc.
(I’ll walk in the park.)
Watch Out for Irregular Verbs:
While most verbs follow the easy formula above, a few common ones are irregular. Here are the most important ones:
Être → je serai (I will be)
Avoir → j'aurai (I will have)
Aller → j'irai (I will go)
Notice that the endings for the future tense are very similar to the present tense of avoir (to have). It’s a simple trick that can help you remember!
To know - How to use the verb "savoir"
If you’re learning French, there’s one verb you’re bound to encounter early on: savoir. It’s an essential verb, and lucky for you, it's a very versatile one! In English, savoir means "to know," but just like in other languages, knowing how to use it correctly can be tricky, especially because it's an irregular verb. That means it doesn't follow the usual pattern of conjugation that most verbs do. But don’t worry—let’s break it down step by step.
The Two Forms of "Savoir"
Savoir has two different roots in its conjugation, depending on the subject. Let’s take a look at how this plays out:
With the root "SAI":Je sais – I knowTu sais – You know (informal)Il/Elle/on sait – He/She/One knows
With the root "SAV":Nous savons – We knowVous savez – You know (formal/plural)Ils/Elles savent – They know
Pretty neat, right? But wait—how do we actually use this in real life? Here are a few examples to get you feeling confident:
Examples in Sentences:
Je sais marcher sur les mains.I know how to walk on my hands.(Show off those acrobat skills!)
Tu sais où est le Louvre ?Do you know where the Louvre is?(A must-ask when in Paris!)
Vous savez parler français.You know how to speak French.(Impress your friends with your language skills!)
Elles savent comment je m'appelle.They know my name.(So, no more forgetting your name, right?)
Now that we know how to conjugate it, let’s talk about how important this verb is in everyday conversations. In addition to meaning "to know," savoir is also used to express the ability to do something, like in the example "Je sais marcher" (I know how to walk). This is different from connaître, another verb that also means "to know," but is used when talking about being familiar with a person, place, or thing.
To know - How to differentiate "savoir" and "connaître"
In French, the verb "to know" has two distinct meanings, and each one is expressed using a different verb. This can be a little tricky at first, but once you get the hang of it, it will make your French sound more natural. Let’s break down the two verbs you need to know: savoir and connaître.
1. Savoir – To Know How to Do Something
When you want to talk about things you know how to do (your skills, abilities, or things you've learned by heart), you use savoir. For example:
Je sais parler anglais et un peu français.I know how to speak English and a little French.(Nice job showing off your language skills!)
Je sais nager.I know how to swim.(A useful skill for the pool!)
Est-ce que tu sais peindre ?Do you know how to paint?(Maybe a fun hobby?)
Vous savez conduire ?Do you know how to drive?(Perfect for a road trip!)
Notice that savoir is always followed by an infinitive verb (like parler, nager, peindre). It’s pretty straightforward, right? No need to worry about translating “how to” as you would in English—it’s already built into the structure.
2. Connaître – To Know a Person, Place, or Thing
On the other hand, when you’re talking about knowing a person, a place, or an object, you use connaître. This is more about being familiar with something or someone, or having factual knowledge.
Here are some examples:
Je connais Delphine.I know Delphine.(Maybe she’s a friend, or perhaps you’ve heard of her.)
Est-ce que tu connais bien Paris ?Do you know Paris well?(Maybe you’ve visited or lived there!)
Est-ce que vous connaissez ce livre ?Do you know this book?(Perhaps it's a popular novel or something you've read.)
So, connaître is all about familiarity or knowing something on a deeper level, like being acquainted with a place, a person, or a piece of knowledge.
How to Tell Which Verb to Use?
It all comes down to context:
Use savoir when you’re talking about your abilities or things you’ve learned—like skills or facts you’ve memorized.
Use connaître when you’re referring to someone or something you are familiar with, like a person, place, or object.
Quick Recap:
Savoir = To know how to do something (skills or facts learned by heart).
Connaître = To know a person, a place, or something you’re familiar with.
Irregular verbs (-IR, -OIR, -RE)
When learning French, you’ll quickly discover that verbs fall into two main categories: regular and irregular. Understanding these categories will help you navigate French conjugations much more easily, so let’s dive into what makes them different!
Regular Verbs: The Easy Track
Regular verbs follow predictable patterns, which makes them easier to conjugate. Most verbs in French belong to one of three main groups, determined by their endings:
-ER verbs (like manger or parler): These are by far the most common in French.
-IR verbs (like finir or choisir).
-RE verbs (like vendre or cuire).
When you learn the pattern for one verb in a group, you can apply that pattern to many others. For example:
Je parle français.I speak French.
Je finis ma soupe.I finish my soup.
The Conjugation Patterns for Regular Verbs
Each group has its own set of endings. Here's a breakdown of how they work:
-ER verbs (like parler):
Je parle (I speak)
Tu parles (You speak)
Il/Elle parle (He/She speaks)
Nous parlons (We speak)
Vous parlez (You speak)
Ils/Elles parlent (They speak)
-IR verbs (like finir):
Je finis (I finish)
Tu finis (You finish)
Il/Elle finit (He/She finishes)
Nous finissons (We finish)
Vous finissez (You finish)
Ils/Elles finissent (They finish)
-RE verbs (like vendre):
Je vends (I sell)
Tu vends (You sell)
Il/Elle vend (He/She sells)
Nous vendons (We sell)
Vous vendez (You sell)
Ils/Elles vendent (They sell)
Notice that the endings change depending on the verb group, but once you know the pattern, you can apply it to hundreds of verbs!
Irregular Verbs: A Little More Work, but Worth It
Now, let’s talk about irregular verbs—they don’t follow the same predictable patterns. But don’t worry, you don’t need to memorize every single irregular verb all at once. In fact, many irregular verbs share similar conjugation patterns. Once you learn a few key verbs, you can apply their patterns to others.
For instance:
Vendre (to sell), prendre (to take), apprendre (to learn), comprendre (to understand), attendre (to wait), entendre (to hear) all follow the same conjugation pattern.
Ils vendent des téléphones.
They sell phones.
Mettre (to put), permettre (to allow), remettre (to put back), promettre (to promise) all share a similar pattern.
Nous partons en Suisse pour les affaires.
We go to Switzerland for business.
Ouvrir (to open), offrir (to offer), souffrir (to suffer) follow their own pattern.
Elles ouvrent les lettres de tous leurs collègues.
They open the letters of all their colleagues.
Partir (to leave), sortir (to go out), servir (to serve), dormir (to sleep) share another common pattern.
Vous dormez à l'hôtel en voyage ?
Do you sleep at a hotel when traveling?
Why Are Irregular Verbs Important?
While it may seem like there are more irregular verbs than regular ones, don’t panic! The regular -ER verbs are by far the most frequent in everyday French. In fact, once you learn how to conjugate a few common irregular verbs, you’ll be able to use many others with similar patterns. That’s why knowing a handful of key irregular verbs will get you far!
Key Takeaways
Regular verbs follow a predictable pattern and are relatively easy to conjugate once you know the rules.
Irregular verbs don’t follow the same rules, but they often share conjugation patterns that make them easier to learn.
Some common irregular verb families include: vendre, prendre, apprendre, comprendre and partir, sortir, servir, dormir.
The superlative II
When you're learning French, expressing things like "the best" or "the worst" can make your sentences sound more precise and impactful. The superlative form is key here, and it's just as important to understand in French as the comparative (which you might already be familiar with). Let’s break down how to use it correctly!
The Superlative: Saying "The Best" and "The Worst"
To express the best or the worst in French, you often use the definite article (like le, la, les) combined with an adjective in a superlative form. It’s pretty straightforward once you know the rules.
Talking About "The Best"
When you want to say something is "the best," you need to use "le meilleur" (for masculine singular), "la meilleure" (for feminine singular), or "les meilleurs" (for plural) instead of just "plus bon." This rule also applies to adjectives that describe the quality of something.
For example:
Why "Plus Bon" Isn't Correct
In French, when we express that something is better or best, "plus bon" or "plus bien" is not used. Instead, we replace bon with meilleur (and bien with mieux) in the superlative.
So, instead of saying:
Plus bon → You say meilleur (the best).
Plus bien → You say mieux (the best at doing something).
Here’s the structure:
Le plus bon → Le meilleur (the best)
La plus bonne → La meilleure (the best)
Le plus bien → Le mieux (the best at doing something)
Saying "The Worst"
To talk about the worst, we can use either le pire or le plus mauvais. Both are acceptable, but le pire is often used in everyday conversation, while le plus mauvais can be used in more formal or specific contexts.
For example:
C’est le pire gâteau jamais goûté !This is the worst cake I’ve ever tasted!(Here, we use le pire to express "the worst.")
C’est le plus mauvais gâteau jamais goûté !This is the worst cake I’ve ever tasted!(This is more formal, but still grammatically correct.)
Quick Recap of Superlative Forms:
Le meilleur (the best - masculine singular)
La meilleure (the best - feminine singular)
Les meilleurs (the best - masculine plural)
Les meilleures (the best - feminine plural)
Le mieux (the best at doing something)
Le pire (the worst)
Le plus mauvais (the worst - a bit more formal
Putting It All Together
Now that you’ve got the basics down, you can confidently talk about what’s the best and the worst in French. Just remember: "meilleur" replaces "plus bon" and "mieux" replaces "plus bien" in the superlative, making your French sound much more natural.
The subjunctive with the verbs of feelings
Ready for some hardcore French? 🧠💥 Let's talk about one of the most challenging yet fascinating aspects of French grammar: the subjunctive. If you've been cruising along with the indicative and the imperative moods, it’s time to level up. The subjunctive may seem intimidating, but once you understand its core concepts, it will start to make sense—and trust me, you'll use it more often than you think!
What Is the Subjunctive?
First things first: The subjunctive is all about subjectivity. It conveys doubt, possibility, uncertainty, or emotion. It's not about stating facts (that’s what the indicative is for), but rather expressing how we feel or think about something happening. This is why you’ll find it in sentences that express things like emotions, desires, doubts, or hypothetical situations.
So, what does it look like in action? Let’s break it down with an example:
Je suis heureux que tu manges avec nous ce soir.
I am happy that you’re eating with us tonight.
(Here, “manges” is in the subjunctive because it follows an expression of emotion—“être heureux” or “to be happy.”)
How Do You Spot the Subjunctive?
You may notice that manges looks like the present tense of manger (to eat), and you’re right! The subjunctive conjugation is very similar to the present indicative, especially with regular -ER verbs. In fact, for most regular verbs, the conjugation in the subjunctive and indicative is nearly identical. The only difference is in the nous and vous forms.
Here’s a quick comparison of how the regular -ER verb manger is conjugated in both tenses:
Indicatif présent | Subjonctif présent | |
Je | mange | mange |
Tu | manges | manges |
Il/Elle/On | mange | mange |
Nous | mangeons | mangions |
Vous | mangez | mangiez |
Ils/Elles | mangent | mangent |
See the subtle difference? For nous and vous, the endings change a little bit in the subjunctive (we go from -eons to -ions and from -ez to -iez). But otherwise, it looks almost the same!
When Do You Use the Subjunctive?
The subjunctive doesn’t pop up in every sentence—there are specific conditions for its use. Here's when you need to break it out:
After verbs expressing feelings or emotions: The subjunctive often follows verbs that express how someone feels or reacts. Some common examples include:
être heureux/heureuse (to be happy)
être triste (to be sad)
être étonné(e) (to be surprised)
être ravi(e) (to be delighted)
être choqué(e) (to be shocked)
être fâché(e) (to be angry)
être content(e) (to be content)
After the conjunction "que": The subjunctive is typically used after "que" (meaning "that"). You’ll notice that the second part of the sentence (the clause that follows que) is in the subjunctive, while the first part (the main clause) will use the indicative.
When there are two different subjects: You’ll need to use the subjunctive when there are two different subjects in your sentence. For example, in the sentence "Je suis heureux que tu manges avec nous ce soir", we have je (I) as the subject of the first verb (suis) and tu (you) as the subject of the second verb (manges).
Examples of the Subjunctive in Action:
Here’s a look at some real-life examples of the subjunctive in sentences:
Je suis heureux que tu manges avec nous ce soir.I am happy that you’re eating with us tonight.(The verb manges is in the subjunctive because it follows an emotion—"être heureux.")
Tu es triste que je voyage sans toi.You are sad that I’m traveling without you.(Again, "triste" triggers the subjunctive!)
Il est étonné que tu joues aux jeux vidéo.He is surprised that you play video games.(The verb joues is in the subjunctive after "être étonné.")
Nous sommes ravis que tu arrives demain.We are pleased that you’re arriving tomorrow.(The verb arrives is in the subjunctive after "être ravi.")
Key Takeaways for the Subjunctive:
The subjunctive expresses subjectivity—feelings, doubts, and uncertainty.
Use the subjunctive after emotional verbs and after "que".
Make sure you have two different subjects in the sentence.
-ER verbs in the subjunctive are very similar to their present indicative forms, with small changes for nous and vous.
Mastering the subjunctive is a big step in your French learning journey, but don't worry—you’ll get the hang of it with practice! Keep an eye out for emotional expressions, doubts, and possibilities in your conversations, and you'll start using the subjunctive without even thinking.
I like it - How to use the verb "plaire"
When you're learning French and start talking about your likes and dislikes, you might be tempted to translate the verb plaire directly as "to like." But... hold up—there’s more to it than that! Understanding how plaire works will save you from making embarrassing mistakes and help you sound more natural. Let’s dive into this unique verb and why it's so different from what you might expect!
Why Plaire Isn’t Just “To Like”
Plaire is one of those verbs that makes French a little more fun and a lot less complicated—because it’s lazy. Well, not lazy in the sense that it doesn't do its job, but lazy in terms of conjugation. Unlike most verbs, plaire doesn't change much, which is a blessing for learners. You don’t have to stress about conjugating it for each subject. Instead, you just have to remember a few basic rules!
But here’s the twist: the subject of plaire is not the person who likes something—it’s the thing being liked. Yep, the object that pleases someone else. It’s as if the thing is doing the liking!
How Plaire Works in Sentences
Let’s start with the basics. When you say “I like this jacket,” you don’t actually say "J’aime cette veste" (though that’s fine too)—instead, you’d say:
La veste me plaît
The jacket pleases me.
Notice the phrasing? It's like the jacket is the one doing the pleasing. Here’s how the conjugation works:
La veste me plaît (I like the jacket)
La chemise te plaît (You like the shirt)
Le tee-shirt lui plaît (He/She likes the t-shirt)
Le jean nous plaît (We like the jeans)
Le pantalon vous plaît (You like the pants)
Le chapeau leur plaît (They like the hat)
Singular vs. Plural: Plaît vs. Plaisent
Now, there’s a small twist to this lazy verb. If you’re talking about something plural, you need to use plaisent instead of plaît. Here’s an example:
Singular: Cette écharpe me plaît.I like this scarf.
Plural: Ces chaussures me plaisent.I like these shoes.
It’s simple, right? Plaît is used for one thing, and plaisent is used for multiple things.
Going Beyond Grammar: Useful Phrases
Sometimes, the easiest way to learn is to forget the grammar and just memorize practical phrases. Here’s a handy set of phrases that you can use in everyday conversations:
I like it. → Ça me plaît.
You like it. → Ça te plaît.
He/She/It likes it. → Ça lui plaît.
We like it. → Ça nous plaît.
You (plural/formal) like it. → Ça vous plaît.
They like it. → Ça leur plaît.
These simple phrases are incredibly useful when you're speaking French and they’ll help you express your preferences without needing to think too much about conjugation.
The Weirdness of Plaire: How It Works Differently
The reason plaire is different from most other verbs is that the subjects of this verb aren’t people. They’re inanimate objects or things that are doing the pleasing! It’s almost as if the pizza or the jacket is in charge of making you happy, which is pretty cool if you think about it. It’s like saying, “The pizza pleases me” instead of “I like the pizza.”
For example:
La pizza me plaît.
The pizza pleases me (or, more casually, "I like the pizza").
Or even:
Je plais à la pizza.
I please the pizza. (Which, trust me, sounds way more French!)
Fun Fact: "S'il Vous Plaît" and "S'il Te Plaît"
If you’ve ever been to France, you’ve probably heard the famous phrase "S'il vous plaît!" It’s one of the most common expressions in French, and it literally means "If it pleases you" or "If you like." It’s a polite way to say “please,” and vous makes it formal.
S'il vous plaît → If it pleases you (formal)
In informal situations, use the casual version with tu:
S'il te plaît → If it pleases you (informal)
This is a perfect example of how plaire works in everyday French. Instead of just asking, “Please,” you’re literally saying, “If it pleases you.”
Quick Recap: Mastering Plaire
Plaire doesn’t mean just “to like” — it’s the thing doing the pleasing, not the person!
Use plaît for singular objects and plaisent for plural ones.
Memorize useful phrases like Ça me plaît (I like it) and Ça te plaît (You like it).
Don’t overthink it—plaire is lazy, and that's a good thing!
Imperative II
In French, the imperative mood is used to give commands, make requests, or offer advice. Whether it's directing someone to go straight or warning them not to smoke, knowing how to form both positive and negative commands will make you sound fluent and confident. Let’s break it down!
Positive Commands: Keep It Simple!
In French, the imperative is very straightforward. To give a positive command, simply use the verb in its present form—but without the subject pronoun. Here are some examples:
Tournez à droite !Turn right!
Allez tout droit !Go straight!
Parlez plus fort !Speak louder!
Écoutez-moi !Listen to me!
As you can see, the verb is in its regular form (except without the subject pronoun like "je," "tu," or "nous"). It's just as simple as that!
Negative Commands: Just Add "Ne" and "Pas"
Now, what if you want to tell someone not to do something? For negative commands, you just need to add the words "ne" and "pas" around the verb. It’s a very clear way to say “don’t” in French.
Here are some examples of negative commands:
Ne fumez pas !Don’t smoke!
Ne parle pas !Don’t speak!
Ne mangez pas de chocolat !Don’t eat chocolate!
Ne traverse pas la rue !Don’t cross the street!
N’utilisez pas votre téléphone au cinéma !Don’t use your phone at the cinema!
The structure is simple: just place "ne" before the verb and "pas" after it to make a negative command. You may notice that in spoken French, sometimes the "ne" is dropped, especially in informal conversations (e.g., "Fume pas !"), but for formal or correct written French, keep both parts.
Quick Recap:
Positive commands: Use the verb in its present form without the subject pronoun.
Example: Mangez ! (Eat!)
Negative commands: Add "ne" before the verb and "pas" after the verb.
Example: Ne mangez pas ! (Don’t eat!)
Why You Should Master the Imperative
Being able to give commands in French is useful in so many situations. Whether you're navigating the streets of Paris and need to tell someone to stop or you’re organizing an event and need to give instructions, the imperative comes in handy. Plus, mastering the negative command structure helps you avoid misunderstandings when you want to politely or firmly tell someone not to do something.
So next time you're in a situation where someone is doing something they shouldn’t (like smoking on the metro!), you can confidently tell them, "Ne fumez pas !" and they’ll get the message loud and clear.
We - How to use "on"
Learning French involves mastering a lot of little details, and one of those details that often confuses new learners is the use of the subject pronoun "on." This little word can replace three different subjects in French, making it incredibly versatile and useful. So, if you haven’t been using it yet, now's the time to embrace it!
Let’s break it down:
What Does "On" Replace?
In French, on can replace the following:
Nous (we)
Quelqu’un (someone)
Les gens (people)
Seems a little odd, right? But once you get the hang of it, you’ll see that using on is often a more natural and simpler way to speak or write, especially when you don’t want to go into unnecessary details.
Let’s look at a few examples to make it clearer:
1. Replacing "Nous" (We)
In many cases, on can be used instead of nous, which means "we" in English. You’ll notice that on makes the sentence sound a little more casual and less formal. So instead of saying:
Sandra, Marc, Lucie et moi partons à Bali demain.
Sandra, Marc, Lucie and I are leaving for Bali tomorrow.
You can simplify it by saying:
On part à Bali demain.
We’re leaving for Bali tomorrow.
This is a common and natural way to express "we" in everyday spoken French. Even though it’s technically a third-person singular subject (it’s like saying “he/she”), it’s used with plural meaning and conjugated like nous.
2. Replacing "Quelqu’un" (Someone)
Now, let’s look at how on can replace quelqu’un (someone). This can be useful when you don’t want to specify who the subject is, or when the person is just general or unknown. For example, instead of saying:
Quelqu’un dans le bus m’a volé mon sac.
Someone on the bus stole my bag.
You can make it more general and sound more natural by saying:
On m’a volé mon sac.
Someone stole my bag.
In this case, on is used in the same way you'd use someone in English, without needing to be specific. It makes your sentence more fluid and casual.
3. Replacing "Les Gens" (People)
Want to talk about people in general? On is your best friend here too. Instead of saying:
Les Belges mangent des frites en Belgique.
Belgians eat fries in Belgium.
You could say:
On mange des frites en Belgique.
People eat fries in Belgium.
This usage of on is super helpful because it allows you to make general statements about groups of people without needing to focus on who exactly is involved. It’s great for casual conversations or when you just want to express general facts.
Why is "On" So Convenient?
It simplifies sentences: Instead of repeating nous, quelqu’un, or les gens, you can just use on.
It sounds more natural: French speakers, especially in informal situations, use on a lot. It’s part of the rhythm and flow of everyday speech.
It’s easier to conjugate: For verbs in the present tense, on is conjugated just like the third-person singular (il/elle/on), which is easier than switching between nous and vous all the time.
A Quick Warning: Be Careful with Conjugation
One thing you need to keep in mind is that on is always conjugated like the third-person singular. This is different from nous, which is conjugated in the plural form.
For example:
Nous partons en France à Noël.
We are leaving for France at Christmas.
But with on, it would be:
On part en France à Noël.
We are leaving for France at Christmas.
The conjugation stays in the singular, even though you’re talking about a group.
Quick Recap:
On can replace nous (we), quelqu’un (someone), and les gens (people).
It’s used informally and is very common in everyday spoken French.
Remember, on uses third-person singular conjugation, even when you’re referring to a group.
Why You Should Start Using "On" Right Away
Using on can make your French sound more natural and less stiff. It's how native speakers often communicate, especially when talking casually about general actions, people, or groups. Plus, it saves you time and effort by simplifying your sentences. So, whether you're talking about your upcoming trip, describing something that people do, or just expressing a general thought, on is your shortcut to smoother French!
Next time you want to say "we’re going to Mexico" or "people eat poutine in Canada", you can just use on and sound like a true French speaker!
That's enough for today! We've just dived into some advanced French concepts, and it’s perfectly normal for it to take time to grasp everything. From using "on" to replace nous, quelqu’un, and les gens, to understanding how to form negative commands with l’impératif, and learning how to use the subjonctif for expressing doubt and subjectivity, you're really building your skills!
Remember, learning French is a journey, and these concepts might take a little while to fully sink in, but with consistent practice, you'll get there. Keep going, stay patient with yourself, and soon enough, all of this will feel natural. We'll be back with more soon to keep you progressing. À bientôt!
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