non plus

non plus

The French phrase “non plus” serves as a negative equivalent to “aussi” (also/too), functioning similarly to the English “neither” or “not… either”. It is exclusively used in negative constructions to indicate that a statement applies equally to someone else. Basic structure “Non plus” typically appears at the end of a negative sentence, following this pattern:Subject…

être en train de

être en train de

In French, there is no direct equivalent to the English present continuous (“I am eating”) or past continuous (“I was eating”). Instead, French speakers use the construction “être en train de” + infinitive to emphasize that an action is (or was) in progress. This guide will cover how to use it in both the present…

il reste

il reste

The French verb rester (“to remain”) gives rise to several useful impersonal constructions that express what is left or remaining. An impersonal construction means the subject of the verb is “il,” which normally means “he,” but instead translates to “it.” So instead of meaning “he remains,” it means “it remains” or “there remains.” 1. The Basic…

tard vs en retard

tard vs en retard

If you’re learning French, you’ve probably come across both tard and en retard in contexts related to time. At first glance, they seem similar—after all, both suggest some kind of lateness—but they are not interchangeable. The Key Difference In short: Examples of tard Use tard to describe actions that happen late in the day or…

je vous en prie

je vous en prie

The French phrase “je vous en prie” means “you’re welcome,” but it carries several additional meanings depending on the context. Meanings of “Je vous en prie” The phrase “je vous en prie” is a polite expression that can serve several functions in French. Here are the main uses: 1. You’re welcome This is the most…

de la part

de la part

The French phrase “de la part” is a versatile expression that appears in many contexts in everyday French conversation and writing. Its basic meaning is “on behalf,” although it can be translated in other ways. Meanings “De la part de” essentially means “on behalf of,” “from,” or “from the side of.” The complete phrase is…

tant bien que mal

tant bien que mal

Literal Meaning The French phrase “tant bien que mal” literally translates to “as well as badly” in English. This may sound strange at first, but it makes sense when you consider that it describes a situation where something is done with both success and difficulty at the same time. Figurative Meaning In everyday use, “tant…

se faire mal

se faire mal

Se faire mal: Meaning, Uses, and Etymology The French phrase “se faire mal” means “to hurt oneself,” but its meaning can vary depending on the context. It has both literal and figurative meanings. Literal Meaning of “Se faire mal” Literally, “se faire mal” means “to hurt oneself” or “to get hurt.” It’s used to describe…

tout à fait

tout à fait

Tout à fait: Meaning, Uses, and Examples The French phrase “tout à fait” is a versatile expression that can mean “exactly,” “absolutely,” “quite so,” or “indeed,” along with a few other possible translations. Literal Meaning of “Tout à fait” Literally, “tout à fait” translates to “entirely” or “completely.” It’s composed of three words: Together, it…

il y a tenses

il y a tenses

The French phrase “il y a” is one of the most commonly used expressions in the language, meaning “there is” or “there are” in English. However, unlike English, “il y a” is derived from the verb “avoir” (to have) and must be conjugated according to the tense in which it appears. Present Tense: Il y…