Verbs

  • proposer

    The French Verb Proposer: Meanings, Usage, and Conjugation The French verb proposer is a commonly used verb that translates to “to propose” or “to suggest” in English. It is a regular -er verb, making its conjugation straightforward. It also exists in a pronominal (or reflexive) form, se proposer. Meanings of Proposer The verb proposer has…

  • part vs partie

    The French nouns “la part” and “la partie” both relate to the idea of a portion or a part of something, but they are used in different contexts and have distinct meanings. 1. La Part 2. La Partie Key Differences Aspect La Part La Partie Meaning A share, portion, or slice. A section, component, or…

  • mal, maux

    The French word “mal” is versatile and can function as a noun, an adjective, or an adverb. Its meanings vary depending on how it is used, but they generally revolve around the idea of something being wrong, bad, or difficult. Its plural is “maux.” 1. Mal as a Noun 2. Mal as an Adjective 3….

  • dormir, endormir, rendormir

    The French verbs dormir, endormir, and rendormir all relate to sleep but have distinct meanings and uses. They can be used in their transitive, intransitive, or pronominal forms. 1. Dormir (to sleep) Conjugation: Examples: 2. Endormir (to put to sleep, to fall asleep) Conjugation: Examples: 3. Rendormir (to put back to sleep, to fall back…

  • I do my best

    The most common French translation of the phrase “I do my best” is “je fais de mon mieux,” but there are some variations and alternative translations that you should know about. “I do my best” in French: je fais de mon mieux The phrase “je fais de mon mieux” translates directly to “I do my…

  • habituer

    The French verb “habituer” means “to accustom” or “to get used to.” Its reflexive or pronominal form, “s’habituer,” means “to get used to” something or someone. “habituer” (regular form) The regular form “habituer” is a transitive verb, meaning it usually requires a direct object. It is used when one person or thing causes another to…

  • Countries I

    In French, the names of countries are always preceded by a definite article (meaning “the”). This article agrees in gender and number with the name of the country. In English, you just say “France,” but in French, you need to say the equivalent of “The France,” if you want to talk about a country. Let’s…

  • passer in the past

    The French verb “passer” can be conjugated in the passé composé with either “avoir” or “être,” depending on how it is used in a sentence. This dual usage is a common feature of some verbs in French and often confuses learners. Here’s a simple guide to understanding when to use “avoir” and when to use…

  • douter

    The verb “douter” means “to doubt” while its reflexive form “se douter” means “to suspect” or “to have an inkling.” These two forms have distinctly different meanings despite their shared root. Regular form: douter When using “douter,” you express uncertainty or skepticism about something. It is typically followed by “de” when used with a noun…

  • se faire de la peine

    Literal and figurative meanings The expression “se faire de la peine” literally translates as “to make pain/sorrow for oneself.” However, it’s used to express feeling sad or sorry about something. The reflexive construction (“se faire”) emphasizes that one is generating these feelings within oneself. Common uses 1. Feeling sad about a situation: 2. expressing sympathy:…