The article with the list of important irregular verbs in French has just been updated. New information has been added. Errors have been corrected. If you haven’t already read it, it’s worth checking out. I suggest you memorise at least the first nine (9) verbs on the list. These are être, avoir, faire, aller, venir, devoir, pouvoir, vouloir and savoir.
Read the article at this link.
The English phrase “to get the better of” is an idiomatic expression that means to gain an advantage over someone or something, or to overcome a challenge or emotion. Translating this phrase into French requires understanding its context, as there is no direct word-for-word equivalent. 1. “Prendre le dessus” This is the most common translation…
The passé récent, or recent past, is a verb construction used to describe an action that happened a short time before the moment of speaking. It is the equivalent of the english structure “just did something” or “has just done something.” It is a common and useful alternative to the passé composé for emphasizing the…
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 idiom “faire long feu” literally translates as “to make long fire.” What it really means is “to drag on,” “to not have the desired effect,” “to last longer than expected” or “to miss your goal.” It comes from the era of of muzzle-loading rifles, before the invention of waterproof cartridges that enclosed the…
The French saying “tenir la jambe” means literally “to hold the leg.” What it means figuratively is “to hold someone back or to delay someone by saying lots of boring or irrelevant things to them.” This conjures up images of trying to get away from someone who insists on telling you something, even though you…
It’s important to know the days of the week in French. Each day has an English translation. Each day also has an original meaning, which may sometimes help you to remember it. French English Original French meaning lundi Monday Day of the Moon mardi Tuesday Day of Mars mercredi Wednesday Day of Mercury jeudi Thursday…
