The French adverb toujours is a deceptively simple word that learners encounter early in their studies. It is most often translated as “always,” but depending on context, it can also mean “still.” These two meanings are not interchangeable, and understanding when toujours means one or the other is essential for mastering everyday French. 1. Toujours…
The French phrase “pas mal” is a common expression that translates literally to “not bad” in English. However, its meaning can vary depending on context, tone, and situation. It can express anything from mild approval to genuine admiration, and sometimes even sarcasm. 1. Literal Meaning: “Not Bad” When used neutrally, “pas mal” simply means something…
The phrase ça fait rien is a common expression in French that translates literally to “that does nothing” or “that makes nothing.” However, its actual meaning in conversation is more nuanced and idiomatic. It is used to convey indifference, forgiveness, or to downplay the importance of something, much like “it doesn’t matter,” “never mind,” or…
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
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…
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…
The French causative construction, known as faire causatif, is a grammatical structure used to express that someone causes another person or thing to perform an action. Examples in English are phrases like “I’ll have him do that” or “She’s getting her dress dry cleaned.” It is formed using the verb faire (to make or to…
These compound relative pronouns provide precision in French, particularly when referring to nouns with prepositions. They agree in gender and number with their antecedents and are essential for formal, written French. 1. Lequel / Laquelle / Lesquels / Lesquelles (Which, That, Whom – After Most Prepositions) Used after prepositions like sur, sous, avec, pour, dans,…
French auxiliary verbs, also known as helper verbs, are used alongside main verbs to express tense, mood, or voice. Some of the most common auxiliary verbs in French include aller, vouloir, devoir, savoir, and pouvoir. These verbs modify the meaning of the main verb and are essential for constructing various grammatical structures. Aller (To Go)…
Demonstrative pronouns in French—celui, celle, ceux, celles—replace specific nouns while indicating gender and number. They correspond to English pronouns like “this one,” “that one,” “these,” and “those.” Unlike demonstrative adjectives (which modify nouns), demonstrative pronouns stand alone, referring to something previously mentioned or implied. Rules for Using French Demonstrative Pronouns Celui – Masculine singular Celle…