Enfreindre (formal) – to infringe, to break
Simple and compound conjugations for the irregular French verb enfreindre.
formalities
Formal French
Français formel
This index includes a variety of French words, expressions, pronunciations, and grammatical and structures required in formal communciation.
For an explanation of the difference between formal and literary, see What is register?
conjugation tables • formalities
Enjoindre (formal) – to enjoin, charge (s.o. to do s.t.)
Simple and compound conjugations for the irregular French verb enjoindre.
conjugation tables • formalities
ENT
The third person plural verb ending -ent is often not pronounced. The rules for when and how to pronounce it are fairly straightforward: it has to do with two completely different issues.formalities • verbs
Éterniser – to drag out; (literary) to immortalize, perpetuate
Simple and compound conjugations for the regular -er French verb éterniser.
conjugation tables • formalities
Étreindre (formal) – to embrace, hug; to clutch, seize, grasp
Simple and compound conjugations for the irregular French verb étreindre.
conjugation tables • formalities
Falloir Expressions
Feindre – to feign, pretend to; (formal) to dissemble, dissimulate
Simple and compound conjugations for the irregular French verb feindre.
conjugation tables • formalities
Formal Negation
French has three negative constructions that are reserved for formal (usually written) French like literature and historical accounts.B2 - Upper-Intermediate French • formalities • negation
Gager – (formal) to wager, bet; to guarantee (a loan)
Simple and compound conjugations for the spelling change French verb gager.
conjugation tables • formalities
Greetings
A1 - Beginning French • formalities • informalities • lesson plans • politeness • travel French
Illustrer – to illustrate; (literary) to bring fame to, make illustrious
Simple and compound conjugations for the regular -er French verb illustrer.
conjugation tables • formalities
Indefinite Demonstrative Pronouns
Indefinite demonstrative pronouns (ce, ceci, cela, ça) do not agree with the nouns they replace in gender or number.B1 - Intermediate French • demonstratives • formalities • indefinition • informalities • pronouns
Inversion
The normal word order in French and English is subject + verb, as in vous êtes - you are. Both languages also have what is known as inversion, where the verb and subject pronoun switch places, resulting in êtes-vous - are you. In English, inversion is used only to ask questions, but in French it has several different purposes.A2 - Low-Intermediate French • formalities • word order
Inversion with je
Inversion with the first person singular je is a little trickier than with other subject pronouns. It's also very formal and therefore rare, so one of those grammar concepts you need to recognize but not necessarily use.accents • C1 - Advanced French • formalities • pronouns • verbs • word order
Inversion with Nouns
Inversion is not limited to pronouns - it can also be done with nouns and proper names, though this is a bit more complicated.B1 - Intermediate French • formalities • nouns • word order
