Grammar Lessons

Substitute que

French conjunction queThere's a way to use the subordinating conjunction que that isn't often taught in school: as a substitute for another conjunction. This usage is neither informal nor unusual, but it is limited to a specific construction and for a specific reason.

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Vocabulary Lists

How are you? Fine.

How are you? Fine. French pleasantries
Before you dive into a conversation, it's nice to exchange a few pleasantries. Greetings are first, of course, and then if you know the person, it's typical to ask how they are.

   

Expressions

Tomber Expressions

Expressions with tomber
The French verb tomber, "to fall," is found in many idiomatic expressions, including to faint, to be lucky, and to hit the nail on the head. Learn these and dozens of other French expressions featuring tomber.

Listening Practice

Matisse

Matisse
Learn about Matisse, the painter and sculptor who launched the Fauvism movement, in this video visit of the Centre Pompidou exhibition.

   

Expressions

Bon marché

Bon marché
Here's a very inexpensive - indeed, free! - lesson on the French expression bon marché.

Mistakes and Difficulties

Rhythm

French rhythmThe rhythm of French is what makes it such a beautiful language. Thanks to liaisons and enchaînement, French words flow one into the next, and there is no stress on any particular syllable within each word. All of this combines to give French a certain musicality that sets it apart from other languages.

   

Grammar Lessons

Double Negatives

French double negativesIn English, two negatives are said to make a positive: that is, they cancel one another out, and this is grammatically unacceptable. In French, however, négation double is alive and well. Two negatives sometimes make a positive, while other times they combine to make the negation stronger or more specific.

   

   

   

   

Quizzes and Tests

Gender Quiz

French gender
Some categories of French nouns are always or nearly always either masculine or feminine. See if you've mastered them with this quiz.

   

Grammar Lessons

Passive Constructions

French passive constructionsThe best-known passive construction is the passive voice, which has a verb performing on a subject (e.g., he is seen). But did you know that French has several other passive constructions that are just as important to recognize and use?

   

Fun with French

Marie Curie

Marie Curie
Work on your French listening comprehension with this pop-up book about Marie Curie narrated by children.