In the 3rd and last part of this series to introduce the French subjunctive, I’ll explain how some verbs are sometimes used in the indicative mood and sometimes in the subjunctive mood (and what’s the difference in meaning!). Lastly, l’ll give you a list of more expressions that always trigger the subjunctive in a free cheat sheet. Note: So many students of French are afraid of learning the subjunctive; it’s now time to remove the fear around it! No, the French subjunctive is not hard ; you just need to understand how and when to use it because it doesn’t translate the same as in English … Read More →
FYW 085 : 10 common false friends (= faux amis) in French and English
Many words in French and English are similar or look similar. That’s lucky because it helps with learning vocabulary faster. However, these words sometimes means something very different in the two languages! In this case, they are called “faux amis”, false friends, or false cognates. Here’s a list of the 10 common false friends that came to my mind first! Vocabulary and Spelling of the French Words mentioned in this episode Actuellement = currently Les actualités = the news, the current affair En fait = actually Finalement / un jour = eventually Éventuellement = potentially Une … Read More →
FYW 084 : A few French punctuation rules… and why I’ve been inconsistent! (sorry)
Have you ever noticed that there is a space in French before the question mark sign? One of my listeners did and asked about it so I thought this was the perfect opportunity to go over a few major differences between the French and English punctuation rules. Also, if you’ve read some of my articles (www.frenchyourway.com.au), you may have noticed some inconsistencies, with my use of the quotation marks for instance. I’m going to tell you everything about them and why I’ve been making mistakes! Vocabulary and Spelling of the French Words mentioned in this episode Point = period, full … Read More →
FYW 083 : Introduction to the Subjunctive (Part 2)
In this episode I’ll give you more expressions that trigger the use of the subjunctive. They all express a subjective thought – which is what I’d like you to feel and get familiar with! Note: So many students of French are afraid of learning the subjunctive; it’s now time to remove the fear around it! No, the French subjunctive is not hard ; you just need to understand how and when to use it because it doesn’t translate the same as in English (that is the main difficulty). So, get on board and discover the basics about the subjunctive in this 3-part series! Vocabulary and Spelling of the … Read More →
FYW 082 : The Difference Between Deuxième and Second in French
As I caught myself thinking about World War II (yes, I really have the most relaxing thoughts during my breaks sometimes…), a doubt suddenly crept in: do we actually call it "la deuxième guerre mondiale", or "la seconde guerre mondiale" in French ? The more I was thinking, the less I could remember! So, after a little refresher about the difference between deuxième and second in French, I decided to share it with you ;-) Please let me know if you get confused with other French words! Vocabulary and Spelling of the French Words mentioned in this episode Please see my article – "What is the … Read More →
FYW 081 : The History Behind the Names of French Meals… with a Pinch of Grammar!
Find out what "déjeuner" means in French and why we say "petit-déjeuner". You’ll also understand why these meals are taken at different times of the day in some places, which can be a bit confusing! I'll also draw your attention to a couple of common mistakes often made by students: how to translate “to have a meal” in French and the use of definite articles in some expressions! Vocabulary and Spelling of the French Words mentioned in this episode Prendre un repas = to have a meal Prendre un café = to have a coffe, to drink a coffee jeûner = to fast, to abstain from eating le … Read More →
FYW 080 : Introduction to the subjunctive (Part 1)
So many students of French are afraid of learning the subjunctive; it’s now time to remove the fear around it! No, the French subjunctive is not hard ; you just need to understand how and when to use it because it doesn’t translate the same as in English (that is the main difficulty). In this episode, I want you to understand the basic rules about using the subjunctive – we’ll practice translating some examples together before exploring deeper. I’ve also prepared a free download with the irregular verbs in the subjunctive to help you. Vocabulary and Spelling of the French Words mentioned in … Read More →
FYW 079 : Pronouns (Part 1): How to Choose Between “je” and “moi”
French pronouns are a common source of confusion for students so I’ll go over them – stay tuned! In this episode, I’ll explain the difference between the subject pronouns and the stress pronouns, which can be put more simply as the difference between using “je” and “moi”. If you’re not sure how to choose between these pronouns, listen right now! Vocabulary and Spelling of the French Words mentioned in this episode Subject pronouns: je, tu, il, elle, on, nous, vous, ils, elles Stress pronouns : moi, toi, lui, elle, nous, vous, eux, elles Moi aussi = me too Et toi ? Et lui ? = And me ? And … Read More →
FYW 078 : How to Use Your French Dictionary Efficiently
A dictionary is an indispensable tool that everyone should have on a shelf...on in their pockets. But you need to use it well: you wouldn't believe how many times I've seen students say (or write) things that were not understandable - or worse: very, very embarrassing !- because of an improper choice of word! Understand when and how to use you French dictionary to help you with French language! This episode is an adaptation of my article "How to use your French dictionary efficiently", which comes with a free practice worksheet. Vocabulary and Spelling of the French Words mentioned in this … Read More →
FYW 076 : What’s the Difference Between Jour and Journée in French?
Find out the rules behind when to use jour and journée in French, as well as the difference between soir and soirée, an and année, matin and matinée. This is especially important as they are translated with one same word in English, so learn the subtleties of French language. As usual you’ll also get to learn a few common French expressions to top it all up! Vocabulary and Spelling of the French Words mentioned in this episode Le jour, la journée = the day Le matin, la matinée = the morning Le soir, la soirée = the evening Un an, une année = a year Une soirée = a party, soirée, … Read More →
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