The French indefinite relative pronoun “ce qui” serves as a subject pronoun referring to an unspecified or general idea. It translates to “what” or “that which” in English and is used when the antecedent is not a specific noun but rather an entire concept or situation. Grammatical function “Ce qui” always functions as the subject…
French culture places great importance on proper greetings and farewells, with different expressions used depending on the time of day, formality level, and relationship between speakers. Here is a comprehensive guide to common French salutations. Standard daytime greetings These greetings are appropriate for most daytime situations: Time-specific greetings French has distinct greetings for different times…
In French, several terms are used to refer to people who are homeless. Some are neutral and administrative, while others are older or more colloquial, and may carry connotations of pity or stigma. The two most commonly encountered terms are SDF and clochard. Other related terms include sans-abri, sans domicile, and marginal. SDF SDF is…
French learners often encounter the particle ne used in contexts where it does not indicate negation. This usage can be confusing, as it diverges from the more familiar negation structure ne…pas. Two forms of this non-negative ne are worth distinguishing: the ne explétif and the ne littéraire. Though both are considered stylistic or optional in…
French learners often come across two verbs related to dressing: vêtir and s’habiller. At first glance, they may seem interchangeable, but they have distinct meanings, uses, and levels of formality. This article explains the difference between the two and provides clear examples to help you use them correctly. Vêtir: to dress someone The verb vêtir…
The French word malgré is a preposition meaning “despite” or “in spite of.” It is used to express contrast or opposition between two ideas. Malgré is always followed by a noun, pronoun, or noun phrase, and it is commonly used in both written and spoken French. Basic usage of malgré Malgré introduces a circumstance that…
Adjectives are describing words that modify nouns. French adjectives agree in gender and number with the noun they modify. Most adjectives are placed after the noun, though some common ones go before. Adjectives have regular and irregular forms, and many can be used in comparisons. Basic adjective agreement A typical masculine adjective adds -e for…
In English, the phrase “on time” can refer to something happening at the expected or scheduled time, without delay. In French, there are two main ways to translate “on time”: à temps and à l’heure. They are not interchangeable. The correct choice depends on the context. À l’heure The phrase à l’heure is used when…
In French, there are two ways to say “you”: tu and vous. Choosing between them is not just a matter of grammar, but also of culture, etiquette, and social context. The distinction can feel unfamiliar to English speakers, where “you” is used in nearly every situation, but in French, the choice between tu and vous…
In French, there are two types of “h”: the h muet (mute h) and the h aspiré (aspirated h). Both are silent in pronunciation, but they behave differently in grammar. This distinction is important for correct French grammar and pronunciation and must be learned word by word. Words starting with an h aspiré come from…