Est-ce que…? / Yes/no questions

There are three ways to ask yes/no questions in French. Est-ce que is the most common and versatile method, working in both formal and informal contexts. Three Ways to Ask Yes/No Questions 1. Intonation (Informal) Simply raise your voice at the end: Tu parles français? [ty paʁl fʁɑ̃.sɛ ↗] — You speak French? C’est bon? … Read more

Les mots interrogatifs / Question Words

Question words (mots interrogatifs) are essential for asking open-ended questions. They can be used with est-ce que, inversion, or at the end of a sentence (informal). The Question Words French IPA English Asks about qui [ki] who person que / quoi [kə] / [kwa] what thing où [u] where place quand [kɑ̃] when time pourquoi … Read more

Accord et place des adjectifs / Adjective agreement and placement

French adjectives must agree in gender and number with the noun. Most go after the noun, but a small group of common adjectives go before. Agreement: The Basic Pattern Singular IPA Plural IPA Masculine petit [pə.ti] petits [pə.ti] Feminine petite [pə.tit] petites [pə.tit] Add -e for feminine, -s for plural. If already ending in -e, … Read more

Les couleurs / Colors

Colors in French are adjectives that usually come after the noun they describe. Most colors agree in gender and number with the noun, but some are invariable. Learning colors is essential for describing objects, clothes, and the world around you. Plural agreement: add -s to the color, just like any adjective: un pull vert → … Read more

Grand, petit, bon, mauvais / Common adjectives

These four adjectives are among the most frequently used in French. They all go before the noun (BANGS adjectives) and have some irregular feminine forms. Mastering them will greatly improve your ability to describe things in everyday conversation. Forms and Pronunciation Masculine IPA Feminine IPA Masc. Plural IPA Fem. Plural IPA grand [ɡʁɑ̃] grande [ɡʁɑ̃d] … Read more