sur & sous
Sur and sous are common French prepositions. They often translate as on and under. Start with place, then learn a few key extended uses. Sur Alternatives to sur Sous Alternatives to sous Sur vs sous side by side Summary
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ce que vs ce qui
One of the most persistent stumbling blocks in French grammar is the distinction between ce qui and ce que. Even advanced learners hesitate here—not because the concept is complicated, but because it’s structural rather than intuitive. 1. The core rule (everything flows from this) Both ce qui and ce que mean “what” or “that which”….
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to be supposed to
The English “to be supposed to” has several meanings. It can express duty, expectation, plan, or belief. French does not use one single form for all of these. The choice depends on the sense in context. obligation or duty When “supposed to” means that someone has a duty or rule to follow, French often uses…
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de + noun vs adjective ending in -al
French often offers two ways to link a noun to another idea. One uses de plus a noun. The other uses a single adjective, often from Latin. The two forms overlap, but they do not feel the same. The de form is plain and common. The adjective form is tighter, often more formal, and sometimes…
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futur proche dans le passé
The futur proche dans le passé is a common French verb form used to speak about something that was about to happen at a past moment. It is built with the imperfect of aller plus an infinitive. In English, it often matches “was going to” or “were going to.” how it is formed The structure…
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Thanks
French has a small set of core words and patterns to give thanks. The choice depends on formality, strength, and grammar. Some forms are set phrases. Others change with the object or person. Merci merci is the basic word for “thanks.” It does not change form. Use it on its own or with additions. With…
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ils vs elles
French uses the masculine plural as the default when a group includes at least one male. This applies to pronouns, adjectives, and past participles. the basic rule If a group has both males and females, the pronoun is ils, even if there is only one male. This rule is standard in modern French. when to…
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dissatisfaction
The English noun dissatisfaction can be translated into French in several ways, depending on context. The most common translations are insatisfaction, mécontentement, and déception. Each carries a slightly different feel, but all relate to a sense of unhappiness or displeasure. Insatisfaction Insatisfaction is a direct translation of dissatisfaction and is used in formal or neutral…
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relever & un relevé
The French verb relever is versatile. Its core idea is to lift, raise, or pick up. From this base meaning, it can describe physical actions, recovering from a fall, correcting or improving something, noticing, responding to a challenge, or adding flavor. The noun relevé is related and often used in formal or practical contexts. Below…
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fille & famille VS ville & mille
French words ending in -ille have two possible pronunciations: Understanding why both exist helps make the pattern easier to remember. 1) The usual pronunciation: [ij] In most words, -ille is pronounced [ij]: This is the regular modern outcome in French. 2) The smaller group: [il] (pronounced “l”) A smaller set of words keeps a clear…
