The subjunctive is a verb mood that expresses actions or ideas that are subjective or uncertain. It can indicate doubt, necessity, emotion, or a desire rather than a straightforward statement of fact. Although it can seem complicated at first, the subjunctive is a normal and frequent part of everyday French. There are four moods in…
French reflexive verbs, also called pronominal verbs, are used when the subject of a sentence is also the object—when someone does something to themselves. These verbs are very common in everyday French and often describe actions related to daily routines, personal care, emotions, and social interactions. Many have both reflexive and non-reflexive forms, depending on…
In French, several verbs convey the idea of “leaving” in English, but they are not interchangeable. The verbs quitter, partir, and laisser each carry distinct meanings, grammatical constructions, and emotional nuances. Understanding their differences is essential for accurate and idiomatic usage. Quitter: To Leave (Someone or Something) The verb quitter is a transitive verb, meaning…
Why does “dû” have a circumflex accent, but not “eu”, “pu”, “su”, “vu”, or “voulu”? If you’ve studied French verbs, you’ve probably noticed that the past participle of devoir is dû, with a circumflex accent over the u. That might seem unusual when you compare it to other common past participles: None of these take…
French often uses different verbs of perception, depending on whether it’s passive or active, or whether it’s literal or figurative. Discover some of the most commonly confused pairs: voir vs regarder, écouter vs entendre, sentir vs se sentir, and sentir vs avoir bon goût. Voir vs Regarder The verbs “voir” and “regarder” both relate to…
The French verb “agrémenter” means to embellish, enhance, or enrich something to make it more pleasant or attractive. Meanings of “Agrémenter” 1. To Embellish or Decorate The primary meaning of agrémenter is to adorn something, making it more visually appealing. 2. To Enhance or Spice Up (Food, Stories, etc.) Agrémenter can also mean adding extra…
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…
The French verb tromper and its reflexive counterpart se tromper have distinct meanings and uses. While tromper generally means “to deceive” or “to cheat,” the reflexive form se tromper means “to make a mistake.” Meaning and Usage of “Tromper” 1. “Tromper” as “To Deceive” The most common meaning of tromper is “to deceive” or “to…
In French, one of the most common ways to express purpose or intention is by using “pour” followed by an infinitive verb. This structure is equivalent to “in order to” in English and is widely used in both spoken and written French. In everyday English, the words “in order” are often omitted. 1. Basic Structure…
The French verb couler has a range of meanings, from the literal “to flow” or “to sink” to the figurative “to cast,” “to pass” (time), or “to go smoothly.” Meanings and Usage of Couler Conjugation of Couler in the Present and Passé Composé Tenses Present Tense Pronoun Conjugation Je coule Tu coules Il/Elle/On coule Nous…