French Grammar: Necessity and Obligation with [DEVOIR]

… Identify: French Grammar: Necessity and Obligation with [DEVOIR] la grammaire française: la nécessité et l’obligation avec [devoir] There are many words and phrases in French that express necessity and obligation.  One of the most common ways to express this is by using the verb DEVOIR. Study: There are many words and phrases in French […]

French Grammar: Necessity and Obligation with [AVOIR BESOIN DE]

… Identify: French Grammar: Necessity and Obligation with [AVOIR BESOIN DE] la grammaire française: la nécessité et l’obligation avec [avoir besoin de] There are many words and phrases in French that express necessity and obligation.  One of the most common ways to express this is by using the phrase AVOIR BESOIN DE. Study: There are […]

French Grammar: Necessity and Obligation with [IL FAUT]

… Identify: French Grammar: Necessity and Obligation with [IL FAUT] la grammaire française: la nécessité et l’obligation avec [il faut] There are many words and phrases in French that express necessity and obligation.  One of the most common ways to express this is by using the phrase IL FAUT. Study: There are many words and […]

French Grammar: The Verbs [JOUER] vs. [FAIRE]

… Identify: French Grammar: The Verbs [JOUER] vs. [FAIRE] la grammaire française: les verbes [jouer] vs. [faire] The verbs JOUER and FAIRE are both used to describe hobbies, including playing or doing sports.  JOUER literally means to play.  FAIRE means to do / to make. There are some general rules that govern whether to use JOUER […]

French Grammar: Disjunctive Pronouns

… Identify: French Grammar: Disjunctive Pronouns la grammaire française: les pronoms disjoints Disjunctive pronouns (les pronoms disjoints) – also known as stressed pronouns or emphatic pronouns – are used to refer to people whose names have already been mentioned or whose identity is obvious from context. They are used in several different types of situations, most […]

French Grammar: The Conditional Mood

… Identify: French Grammar: The Conditional Mood la grammaire française: le mode conditionnel The Conditional Mood (le mode conditionnel) in French is used in much the same way as the Conditional Mood in English to discuss events that are not certain to occur. Often, these events depend on other conditions (hence, the term “Conditional” mood). […]

French Grammar: The Expression [IL Y A] + Time

… Identify: French Grammar: The Expression [IL Y A] + Time la grammaire française: [il y a] et le temps The expression IL Y A means there is / there are.  But IL Y A  can also be used to tell how long “ago” something happened! Review: LEAF French Grammar: The Expression “IL Y A” […]

French Grammar: The Imperfect Tense – Basics

… Identify: French Grammar: The Imperfect Tense – Basics la grammaire française: l’imparfait When speaking about the past in English, you choose which past tense to use depending on the context and the meaning you wish to convey. In French sentences, you choose which past tense you use depending on the meaning you wish to convey. Study: When speaking about the […]

French Grammar: The Imperfect Tense – Regular and Irregular Verbs

… Identify: French Grammar: The Imperfect Tense – Regular and Irregular Verbs la grammaire française: l’imparfait des verbes réguliers et irréguliers When speaking about the past in English, you choose which past tense to use depending on the context and the meaning you wish to convey. In French sentences, you choose which past tense you use depending on the meaning you […]

French Grammar : Passé Composé vs. Imperfect Tense

… Identify: French Grammar: Passé Composé vs. Imperfect Tense la grammaire française: le passé composé versus l’imparfait Hier, nous dînions quand Jean a téléphoné. Yesterday we were having dinner when Jean phoned. Je me suis levé, je me suis habillé, et j’ai pris le petit déjeuner. I got up, got dressed and ate breakfast. Ils […]