Learn French, lesson by lesson
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
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
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
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
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
These adverbs express degree and quantity in French. They modify adjectives, verbs, or other adverbs to indicate intensity. Understanding when to use each one and their position in the sentence is essential for natural expression. The Adverbs French IPA English Modifies très [tʁɛ] very adjectives, adverbs beaucoup [bo.ku] a lot, much, many verbs, nouns peu … Read more
Adverbs describe how or how often actions are done. They typically follow the verb in French. Bien (Well) and Mal (Badly) French IPA English Il parle bien français. [il paʁl bjɛ̃ fʁɑ̃.sɛ] He speaks French well. Je vais bien. [ʒə vɛ bjɛ̃] I’m doing well. Je dors mal. [ʒə dɔʁ mal] I sleep badly. Ça … Read more
Prepositions show where things are. French has basic prepositions (à, de, dans, sur, sous) and position prepositions (devant, derrière, entre, etc.). Basic Prepositions French IPA Main Meanings à [a] to, at, in de [də] of, from, about dans [dɑ̃] in, inside sur [syʁ] on, on top of sous [su] under, beneath Je vais à Paris. … Read more