A direct object is an important part of sentence structure as it receives the action from verbs. To avoid repeatedly using the same word as a direct object, many languages commonly use direct object pronouns. French and English both use them to replace nouns when we know what’s being referred Keep reading...
French subjunctive conjugation: How to conjugate le subjonctif présent
Le subjonctif, or French subjunctive, is probably the most notorious verb-related topic among French learners. So while English speakers may need some time to know when to use the subjunctive mood, the good news is that French subjunctive conjugation is actually pretty straightforward. This post is not about when to use Keep reading...
What does C’est la vie mean? A cultural exploration
A small smile, a shrug, and the phrase c’est la vie. You may have experienced this exact scene, but what does c’est la vie mean? It’s clearly a well-known expression worldwide in pop culture, as we show in another fun post where we review every C’est La Vie song we Keep reading...
Nous vs On for We in French, and how to use the French pronoun On
Have you seen or heard the French pronoun on? Do you wonder what does on mean in French, or when and why we use this unique pronoun? And what about nous vs on: what’s the best way to say we in French? Technically, the French pronoun nous means we. In written Keep reading...
Avoir meanings: To Have in French, and more
The French verb avoir is one of the most important words in the French language. You’re probably familiar with the common avoir meaning of to have, and probably know that it’s used as an auxiliary verb in compound verb tenses. But what about the other avoir meanings and uses? In this post Keep reading...
French subject pronouns: Everything you need to know
French subject pronouns are the most common French pronouns. Simply put, they are the French pronouns that can be used to replace the subject of a sentence. They tell us who or what is performing the action of a verb. In French, they’re known as les pronoms personnels sujets. The French Keep reading...
Avoir expressions: French expressions built around the verb Avoir
Avoir is one of the most important words in the French language. In other dedicated posts we’ve looked specifically at the various meanings of avoir as both a verb and a noun, as well as covering all of the avoir conjugations. In this post we’re introducing the most important avoir expressions in French. Keep reading...
Variants of “to have to” in French: How to express obligation
We have many variants of the concept of to have to in French. From things that you should do to things you are obligated to do, how can you tell how imperative the task at hand is? In this post, we’ll cover the different expressions for obligation in French, including situations where these Keep reading...
“Est-ce que” and more: How to ask questions in French
Have you been wondering how to form questions in French? And what about this est-ce que phrase that appears in so many French questions? These two topics are very closely related! There are three options for forming questions in French. The most common form uses the expression “est-ce que” to introduce Keep reading...
Avoir: Conjugation, Meaning, and Uses
The French verb avoir is the equivalent of the English verb to have. One of the most important verbs in the French language, avoir is used constantly in both spoken and written French. Becoming familiar with avoir conjugation, in addition to the verb’s meaning and uses, is therefore a must for all Keep reading...