The French word “soutenu” is means “formal” in relation to language. It refers to a style of speech or writing that is used in formal settings such as academic discourse, literature, official speeches, and formal correspondence. 1. What Does “Soutenu” Mean? In French, the adjective “soutenu” literally means “sustained” or “supported.” However, when used to…
The French alphabet is the same as the English alphabet, but most letters are pronounced quite differently. You need to know the French alphabet for several reasons: Letter Pronunciation Like A AH Saying “AAH” for a doctor examining your throat B BAY C SAY D DAY E ER The “u” in “fur” F EFF Same…
Indicating Ownership or Possession in French Using “à moi,” “à toi,” “à lui,” “à elle,” “à nous,” “à vous,” “à eux,” and “à elles” and How They Differ from Possessive Pronouns In French, indicating ownership or possession can be done in various ways, two of which include using the phrases “à moi,” “à toi,” “à…
Regular vs. Irregular Verbs: A Brief Overview In French, as in many other languages, verbs are categorised as either regular or irregular based on their conjugation patterns. Conjugation refers to how a verb changes in form to match different subjects, tenses, and moods. Regular verbs follow predictable patterns, making them relatively easy to conjugate once…
The French verb “s’attendre à” means “to expect” or “to anticipate.” “S’attendre à” vs. “Attendre” The primary difference between “s’attendre à” and “attendre” is that “s’attendre à” is reflexive (or “pronominal” as we say in French) and “attendre” is not. While “attendre” means “to wait for” or “to await,” “s’attendre à” means “to expect” or…
An affirmative statement is a normal statement like “I go to the shop.” A negative statement is the opposite: “I don’t go to the shop.” Affirmation = positive, while Negation = negative. Let’s look at the various ways to make a verb negative in French. 1. Ne…pas “Ne…pas” is the most common negation form in…
In French, adjectives can be positioned either before or after the noun they describe. Each placement has a different meaning. While most adjectives come after the noun, certain adjectives are usually placed before it. Adjectives Placed Before the Noun French has several categories of adjectives that are commonly placed before the noun. These include: 1….
Many common French expressions make use of the verb “avoir,” but are not translated with the English verb “to have,” which would normally be a direct translation of “avoir.”
Many irregular French verbs are used in compound form to make new verbs with new meanings. The compound versions follow the same conjugation method as the original verb. Homologues are verbs that resemble the original verb in spelling and are conjugated in the same basic way. venir to come tenir to hold, keep advenir to…
Here are the 19 most important irregular verbs to know in French. They are important because they are very frequently used. They are also important to know because many exist in compound form (eg, venir is used in the compound forms revenir, devenir, prévenir, provenir, convenir, survenir and advenir, among others). Since these 19 verbs…