French grammar tips
Essential grammar tips to help you master the French language.
French Grammar Tip: How to use and understand 'verlan'
If you have spent any time around young French people, listening to French music or scrolling through French social media, you may have come across words such as 'meuf', 'ouf', 'chelou' or 'relou'.
French Grammar Tip: How to use the pronouns 'y' and 'en'
A lot of French learners hit a wall with two tiny words: 'y' and 'en'. They’re short and can be confusing - here's how to use them.
Beyond merci: All the ways to say 'thank you' in French
As most people will know, merci is the French word for 'thank you' - but there are many other ways to express your thanks or gratitude when speaking French.
French Grammar Tip: Pronouncing liaisons in French
The liaison is a crucial part of making your French sound natural and native - but why do some French words flow together while others don't?
French grammar tips: When to use 'amener', 'emmener' or 'apporter'
If you've ever struggled with knowing when to use amener, emmener, apporter or emporter - you're not alone. Selecting which version of 'to bring' is a struggle even for fluent French speakers.
French Grammar Tip: How to pronounce the Gs
If you hesitate over how to pronounce the G in French words - with a hard or soft sound - then we have great news for you. This is one example of the French language having a simple and consistent rule.
French Grammar Tip: When to write -tion, -sion, -ssion or -xion
French endings like -tion, -sion, -ssion or -xion all sound the same but when do you actually know which one to use?
What do French people mean by the 'second degree'?
Once you've mastered basic French, you move into the word of nuance, jokes, references and - the highest form of wit - sarcasm. Which is where the 'second degree' comes in.
French grammar tip: Se souvenir vs se rappeler
Both 'se souvenir' and 'se rappeler' are used to talk about remembering in French, but they are not used the same way grammatically - here's which one to use and some of the common mistakes to avoid.
French Grammar Tip: When to use the preposition 'en'
In the French language, prepositions can be confusing to use - here's how to figure out when to use 'en', as well as looking at the tricky mistakes even French native speakers make.
Chapeau: The French word that can mean hat, congratulations, an introduction and more
Just like a hat, the French word chapeau comes in all shapes and sizes - here's how to use it in everyday conversation.
French Grammar Tip: When and how to pronounce the 's'
The French language enjoys its silent letters, but the 's' ending to words is particularly complex - here's when and how to say it.
French Grammar Tip: Why does French have so many silent letters?
The French language is somewhat averse to pronouncing every letter in a word, especially the final one - here's a guide to how silent letters work, and which letters to pronounce.
Brut: The French word that can mean raw, rough or Champagne
This French word has many different meanings, from Champagne to salaries, via a well known media organisation.
The history of the French letter Ç
The letter ç (a cedilla or cédille in French) is a spelling detail with a long history.
French grammar tip: When to use the preposition à vs de
The French prepositions 'à' and 'de' are two of the most common (and confusing!) to use - here's how to figure out which one is appropriate when you are speaking French.
French grammar tip: Figuring out direct and indirect objects
Differentiation between COD (direct object) and COI (indirect object) can be tedious, but once you've understood the basic rules, things get a lot simpler!
French grammar tips: How to decipher dessous, dessus and dehors
Although these three French words may look similar, they do not mean the same thing.
Péter: the French word that can mean farting, breaking, being drunk and more
The French verb péter means either to burst or to fart - but it also appears in dozens of idioms covering everything from boasting to being drunk, via a violent temper.
French grammar tips: Car, parce que, puisque - all the ways to say 'because'
Getting to grips with French grammar is not easy - which is why this series offers tips and tricks for French learners. This week we are looking at how to use the many different French words for 'because'.
12 French expressions and their commonly used counterparts
From 'bonjour v. salut' to 'désolé v. pardon' the French language has many pairs of phrases that mean basically the same thing, but have important differences in context, tone and formality. Here are 12 of the most common.
French grammar tips: How to use contractions properly
Have you ever wondered why sometimes in the midst of conversation, when talking about certain cities, Le Mans becomes Mans?
French grammar tips: How best to translate French swear words
Of all the rich and varied parts of the French language, it is perhaps swearing that poses the biggest translation problem. Here's a look at some famous examples of translation issues and how best to express popular foul-mouthed phrases.