dessus vs au-dessus
In French, “dessus” and “au-dessus” both relate to the idea of “above,” but they are used differently. 1. Dessus (noun/adverb) 2. Au-dessus (de) (preposition/adverb) Key difference More examples
aussitôt & aussitôt que possible
The French words aussitôt and aussitôt que possible are used to express immediacy or promptness. While they share similarities with English terms like “immediately” and “as soon as possible,” their usage follows specific grammatical patterns in French. 1. “Aussitôt” (immediately, right away) Aussitôt functions as an adverb meaning “immediately” or “right away.” It emphasizes that…
adverbs
In French, adverbs describe how an action is performed. They are often formed from adjectives and usually answer the question how? (comment ?). Most adverbs are formed in a regular way, but there are also special rules and exceptions. Basic Rule: Feminine Form + -ment In most cases, you form an adverb by taking the…
plus vs davantage
Plus The word “plus” is very common in French. It usually means “more” and can be used in comparisons, quantities, or to indicate an increase. 1. Comparisons 2. Quantities 3. Indicating an increase Note: When “plus” is used in a negative sentence, the “s” is silent: Davantage The word “davantage” also means “more,” but it…
depuis vs pendant
Understanding when to use “depuis” with the present tense versus “pendant” with the past tense is crucial for expressing time accurately in French. While both expressions deal with duration, they serve distinct purposes and convey different temporal relationships. “Depuis” with Present Tense When using “depuis” with the present tense, we describe an action or state…
là vs y
In French, the two words that mean “there” (“là” and “y”) are often confused by language learners, but they serve distinct grammatical functions and have different uses in sentences. Là (there) “Là” is primarily an adverb of place meaning “there” or “here.” It indicates a specific location and can be used to point out or…
Well, better, best
Understanding “Well,” “Better,” and “Best” in French Adverbs like “well,” “better,” and “best” are essential for describing actions and making comparisons in French. But what exactly is an adverb? Simply put, an adverb is a word that describes a verb. It answers the questions how, when, where, or to what extent. Adjectives describes nouns, while…
About
The word “about” in English can have several meanings, and translating it into French depends on the context. Let’s explore the main ways to express “about” in French, with examples to show how each form works. 1. À propos de – For Topics, Subjects, or Issues Use à propos de when referring to a subject…
alors
The French word alors is a versatile and commonly used word in everyday conversation. Though it appears simple, it can carry different meanings depending on the context. Alors is an adverb. 1. Basic Meanings of Alors Alors can have several meanings in English, including: 2. Usage Examples of Alors Here are some examples of how…
eventually, finally, possibly
The English adverbs “eventually,” “finally” and “possibly” are often translated wrongly into French by learners. People learn techniques like converting “normal” (normal, in English) into “normalement” (normally) and général (general, in English) into “généralement” (generally). So they imagine that “eventuel” would convert into “eventuellement” and “possible” would become “possiblement.” But that is not the case….