Although the word "grammar" may make you as nervous now as it did when you were in grammar school, you can relax your grip on that number 2 pencil: Grammar is merely the school glue that holds your French [more…]
Small talk usually takes place at the beginning of a conversation with a stranger you have just met, after introducing yourselves and finding out where each of you comes from. Small talk allows you to [more…]
A basic, singular noun refers to just one of something: a book, the cheese, my house. In English, that's about all there is to know about singular nouns. French, however, adds a little more to it: Every [more…]
Mastering typical French expressions that almost everyone who speaks a little French knows and uses is a great way to start building your conversation skills. The phrases here go a few steps beyond those [more…]
Everyone makes mistakes, but you can avoid many, if not most, of them by paying extra attention to typical problem areas. Following are three things you should avoid doing if you want to write French like [more…]
What better way to enjoy what you are going to eat than to start with an empty stomach. Then you can say, "J'ai faim"(zheh fan) (I'm hungry) or "J'ai soif [more…]
French has many ways a nonnative speaker can mix up verbs or use them incorrectly. The mix-ups are a result of these three problems: [more…]
If you don't know where to start or even if you don't have the slightest idea of what you want to bring back, un grand magasin (ewn grahN mah-gah-zaN) [more…]
Verbs are divided into various moods. Linguistically, the mood of a verb is a way of expressing oneself, or a way of speaking. A mood shows the speaker's attitude toward an event. The French language has [more…]
Articles are small words that you use only with nouns. They both present a noun and indicate the gender and number of a noun. French has definite, indefinite, [more…]
Develop a French shopping vocabulary to gain a new cultural experience when traveling. Whether you're shopping for clothes, food, or souvenirs, you can use the following phrases in any French-speaking [more…]
Making small talk in French is just the same as in English. Touch on familiar topics like jobs, sports, children — just say it in French! Small talk describes the brief conversations that you have with [more…]
Knowing how to order food in French is essential, whether you're on a short visit to a French-speaking country or planning to live there. Eating out at French restaurants and cafes can be a lot of fun, [more…]
When making plans, appointments, and travel arrangements in French-speaking countries, you need to be able to state dates and other calendar terms in French. Knowing how to say and understand dates, the [more…]
When it comes to numbers and counting, the French follow most of the same patterns that the English do (at least from 0 to 20). After that there are a few differences, but don’t worry learning numbers [more…]
Speaking French at work and school doesn't have to be complicated. Whether you’re looking for a job in a French-speaking country or just need to talk with coworkers there, you'll need to know some key [more…]
The trick to making appointments in French is being prepared for the questions and answers you’ll hear. As long as you know French vocabulary for the who [more…]
How do you ask basic questions in French? Well, French interrogative words mean the same as they do for English: who, what, when, where, why, and how. By knowing basic French interrogatives, you'll be [more…]
By mastering the basics of conversation in French, you put yourself and the person you're talking to at ease. Everyone should learn essential French conversational words and phrases before traveling to [more…]
Knowing some common French greetings and good-byes will be indispensable when traveling in French-speaking countries. Saying hello and good-bye in French will quickly become second nature because you'll [more…]
Traveling in French-speaking countries can be confusing if you can't read the signs or understand the instructions you're given. Learn some useful travel-related words and phrases in French before you [more…]
Exploring French-speaking countries can be quite an adventure, but you need to know how to ask for directions in French and to understand what you're told. After all, if you don't understand the directions [more…]
Know how to ask for help in French before you have an actual emergency. Save valuable time in a crisis by knowing simple French words and phrases to cover emergencies with illness or theft. [more…]
Learning the proper way to make introductions in French can help you get off to the right start. The French language tends to be a bit more formal than American English. Consequently, introductions in [more…]
Traveling is expensive, so it's crucial to have a good understanding of French phrases for money and banking. While in a French-speaking country, the best way to ensure that you get the most for your money [more…]