Capitalization of Titles

French title capitalizationUnlike most areas of French grammar, the capitalization of French titles of books, movies, etc. does not follow a clearly defined set of rules. Instead, French title capitalization is inconsistent, with competing systems used by writers, publishers, and other authoritative sources.

   

Ci- Prefix

French prefix ci-The French prefix ci- can be added to various parts of speech to indicate the location or inclusion of something mentioned in a document (ci-joint, ci-inclus...)

   

   

Dictées

Dictées
Dictées are a classic way to practice French, even for native speakers. For them, dictées are a test of grammar (particularly agreement) and spelling - sort of like super-charged spelling bees. For French students, dictées are an excellent form of combined listening and writing practice.

   

   

   

   

Elision

French elisionAn elision is a type of contraction that occurs when two words are combined: one or more letters are dropped and replaced with an apostrophe. In French, written elisions are required, regardless of the register you're speaking or writing in.

   

   

   

Formal Negation

French formal negationFrench has three negative constructions that are reserved for formal (usually written) French like literature and historical accounts.

   

Friday French Fix

Friday French fixLessons and quizzes are great for improving your French, but it's always helpful and fun to add some variety. If you're ready to try something different, check out the PwLF Weekend Workout. This weekly feature consists of a set themed exercises - one for each level, so there's always something for everyone. Many subscribers say that this is their very favorite PwLF feature.

   

How to Type Accents in Any OS

Typing French accents
It's just as important to include accents when writing in French as it is to spell words correctly. It drives me kind of crazy when people say, sorry, I can't type accents on my computer / tablet / smartphone. Yes, you can type accents - yes! even on your old computer. Check out these instructions for Windows, Mac, Linux, iPhone, iPad, and Android.