Grammar

The present subjunctive is not mainly about time; it marks the speaker's stance towards an action. It usually appears after que when the first clause expresses uncertainty, necessity, emotion, judgement or a set expression such as bien que. Many regular forms sound identical to the present indicative, so the high-value work is learning triggers and irregular forms.

Fast rule

Use the subjunctive after expressions like il faut que, je doute que, je suis content que, il est possible que, bien que, avant que and pour que.

Fast examples

Il faut que tu fasses attention. — You need to pay attention. / Je ne pense pas qu'il soit prêt. — I do not think he is ready.

Common mistake

Je veux que vous êtes plus attentifs.

Correction

Je veux que vous soyez plus attentifs.

Deep explanation

The present subjunctive is not mainly about time; it marks the speaker's stance towards an action. It usually appears after que when the first clause expresses uncertainty, necessity, emotion, judgement or a set expression such as bien que. Many regular forms sound identical to the present indicative, so the high-value work is learning triggers and irregular forms.

Recall prompt

Complete: Il faut que nous ___ (faire) attention. Answer: fassions

present-subjunctive · 1 exercise

Useful families: necessity (il faut que), doubt (je doute que), emotion (je suis content que), judgement (il est important que), concession (bien que). Affirmative penser/croire normally take the indicative, while negative or interrogative forms often invite the subjunctive.

Fast rule

Doubt, emotion, necessity and judgement often trigger the subjunctive after que.

Fast examples

Je suis content que tu viennes. — I am happy that you are coming. / Il est possible que ce soit utile. — It is possible that this is useful.

Common mistake

Bien qu'il fait froid, on sort.

Correction

Bien qu'il fasse froid, on sort.

Deep explanation

Useful families: necessity (il faut que), doubt (je doute que), emotion (je suis content que), judgement (il est important que), concession (bien que). Affirmative penser/croire normally take the indicative, while negative or interrogative forms often invite the subjunctive.

Recall prompt

Choose the mood: Je crois qu'elle ___ raison. Answer: a

subjunctive-triggers · 1 exercise

The contrast is not simply 'short versus long'. Passé composé presents an event as complete or advancing the story. Imparfait sets the scene, describes states, repeated habits or what was in progress.

Fast rule

Use passé composé for bounded events and imparfait for background, habits or ongoing states.

Fast examples

Quand j'étais au lycée, j'ai noué une amitié importante. — When I was at secondary school, I formed an important friendship.

Common mistake

Hier, j'étais au cinéma et je regardais un film entier.

Correction

Hier, je suis allé au cinéma et j'ai regardé un film entier.

Deep explanation

The contrast is not simply 'short versus long'. Passé composé presents an event as complete or advancing the story. Imparfait sets the scene, describes states, repeated habits or what was in progress.

Recall prompt

Background or event? Quand j'___ petit, je jouais dans la cour. Answer: étais

passe-compose-vs-imparfait · 1 exercise

Use savoir before an infinitive or with a clause: je sais conduire, je sais qu'il vient. Use connaître for people, places, books, films, neighbourhoods and familiarity gained through experience.

Fast rule

Savoir is for facts and abilities; connaître is for familiarity with people, places and works.

Fast examples

Je connais cette expression, mais je ne sais pas l'utiliser naturellement. — I know this expression, but I do not know how to use it naturally.

Common mistake

Je sais Paris.

Correction

Je connais Paris.

Deep explanation

Use savoir before an infinitive or with a clause: je sais conduire, je sais qu'il vient. Use connaître for people, places, books, films, neighbourhoods and familiarity gained through experience.

Recall prompt

Translate: I know how to set up the activity. Answer: Je sais mettre en place l'activité.

savoir-vs-connaitre · 1 exercise

Use depuis with present tense for something still true now: J'apprends le français depuis plusieurs années. Pendant answers 'for how long' for a completed or bounded period.

Fast rule

Depuis links a continuing situation to its starting point; pendant gives a duration.

Fast examples

Je travaille ce point depuis deux semaines. — I have been working on this point for two weeks. / Pendant le cours, on a révisé les pronoms. — During the lesson, we revised pronouns.

Common mistake

J'apprends le français pendant trois ans.

Correction

J'apprends le français depuis trois ans.

Deep explanation

Use depuis with present tense for something still true now: J'apprends le français depuis plusieurs années. Pendant answers 'for how long' for a completed or bounded period.

Recall prompt

Complete: Je connais ma prof ___ 2023. Answer: depuis

depuis-vs-pendant · 1 exercise

Both mean roughly 'what/that which'. Choose by grammar, not translation. If the next verb needs a subject, use ce qui. If it already has a subject and needs an object, use ce que.

Fast rule

Use ce qui as the subject of the following verb; ce que as its object.

Fast examples

Ce qui me gêne, c'est le registre. — What bothers me is the register. / Ce que je veux dire, c'est plus nuancé. — What I mean is more nuanced.

Common mistake

Ce que m'intéresse, c'est la nuance.

Correction

Ce qui m'intéresse, c'est la nuance.

Deep explanation

Both mean roughly 'what/that which'. Choose by grammar, not translation. If the next verb needs a subject, use ce qui. If it already has a subject and needs an object, use ce que.

Recall prompt

Complete: ___ je trouve difficile, c'est l'ordre des pronoms. Answer: Ce que

ce-qui-vs-ce-que · 1 exercise

Y can point to a place or an à phrase: j'y pense. En can replace de phrases and quantities: j'en parle, j'en ai trois. They sit before the conjugated verb, or before the infinitive in many two-verb structures.

Fast rule

Y often replaces à + place/thing; en often replaces de + thing or quantities.

Fast examples

J'y pense souvent, mais je n'en parle pas toujours. — I often think about it, but I do not always talk about it.

Common mistake

Je pense de ça.

Correction

J'y pense.

Deep explanation

Y can point to a place or an à phrase: j'y pense. En can replace de phrases and quantities: j'en parle, j'en ai trois. They sit before the conjugated verb, or before the infinitive in many two-verb structures.

Recall prompt

Replace de cette erreur: J'ai appris quelque chose de cette erreur. Answer: J'en ai appris quelque chose.

y-and-en · 1 exercise

Il faut + infinitive is general and often softer. Il faut que + subjunctive introduces a subject. Devoir is conjugated with the person who has the obligation and can feel more direct.

Fast rule

Il faut is impersonal necessity; devoir attaches obligation to a subject.

Fast examples

Il faut réviser les corrections en priorité. — The corrections need to be revised first. / Je dois réviser mes corrections avant le prochain cours. — I must revise my corrections before the next lesson.

Common mistake

Il faut je révise.

Correction

Il faut que je révise.

Deep explanation

Il faut + infinitive is general and often softer. Il faut que + subjunctive introduces a subject. Devoir is conjugated with the person who has the obligation and can feel more direct.

Recall prompt

Complete: Il faut que tu ___ (prendre) des notes. Answer: prennes

il-faut-vs-devoir · 1 exercise

Most adjectives add -e for feminine and -s for plural, but many common adjectives have spelling or pronunciation changes. Agreement also matters in past participles with être and sometimes with preceding direct objects.

Fast rule

French adjectives usually agree in gender and number with the noun they describe.

Fast examples

Ce sont des nuances importantes. — These are important nuances.

Common mistake

Une erreur important.

Correction

Une erreur importante.

Deep explanation

Most adjectives add -e for feminine and -s for plural, but many common adjectives have spelling or pronunciation changes. Agreement also matters in past participles with être and sometimes with preceding direct objects.

Recall prompt

Correct: des expressions utile Answer: des expressions utiles

adjective-agreement · 1 exercise

Some are literally reflexive, some are reciprocal, and some are idiomatic. In passé composé they normally use être, with agreement depending on the role of the reflexive pronoun.

Fast rule

Reflexive verbs use a pronoun that refers back to the subject.

Fast examples

Ils se sont bien entendus dès le début. — They got on well from the beginning.

Common mistake

Je entends bien avec lui.

Correction

Je m'entends bien avec lui.

Deep explanation

Some are literally reflexive, some are reciprocal, and some are idiomatic. In passé composé they normally use être, with agreement depending on the role of the reflexive pronoun.

Recall prompt

Complete: Nous ___ ressemblons beaucoup. Answer: nous

reflexive-verbs · 1 exercise

Le, la, les are direct. Lui and leur are indirect for people. Pronoun order matters, and the pronoun usually comes before the conjugated verb. With a following infinitive, it often comes before the infinitive.

Fast rule

Direct object pronouns answer whom/what; indirect ones often replace à + person.

Fast examples

Je la comprends, mais je ne lui réponds pas tout de suite. — I understand her, but I do not reply to her straight away.

Common mistake

Je lui comprends.

Correction

Je la comprends.

Deep explanation

Le, la, les are direct. Lui and leur are indirect for people. Pronoun order matters, and the pronoun usually comes before the conjugated verb. With a following infinitive, it often comes before the infinitive.

Recall prompt

Replace à mon professeur: Je parle à mon professeur. Answer: Je lui parle.

object-pronouns · 1 exercise

English new can describe both a newly acquired object and an unused object. French separates these meanings. Nouveau/nouvelle often means new to the speaker, recent or different. Neuf/neuve describes condition: brand new, unused or nearly unused.

Fast rule

neuf/neuve = brand new or unused; nouveau/nouvelle = new, recent, different or new to me.

Fast examples

J'ai acheté une veste presque neuve. — I bought an almost new jacket. / C'est une nouvelle veste, mais elle n'est pas neuve. — It is a new jacket to me, but it is not brand new.

Common mistake

J'ai acheté une veste près de nouveau.

Correction

J'ai acheté une veste presque neuve.

Deep explanation

English new can describe both a newly acquired object and an unused object. French separates these meanings. Nouveau/nouvelle often means new to the speaker, recent or different. Neuf/neuve describes condition: brand new, unused or nearly unused.

Recall prompt

Correct: J'ai acheté une veste près de nouveau. Answer: J'ai acheté une veste presque neuve.

neuf-vs-nouveau · 1 exercise

Accéder takes à before the thing being accessed: accéder à un site, accéder aux réseaux sociaux. When replacing the à phrase, use y: y accéder.

Fast rule

Use accéder à quelque chose. Pronoun replacement: y accéder.

Fast examples

Les jeunes peuvent accéder aux réseaux sociaux. — Young people can access social media. / Ils trouveront un moyen d'y accéder. — They will find a way to access it.

Common mistake

accesser les réseaux sociaux

Correction

accéder aux réseaux sociaux

Deep explanation

Accéder takes à before the thing being accessed: accéder à un site, accéder aux réseaux sociaux. When replacing the à phrase, use y: y accéder.

Recall prompt

Correct: une route pour accesser les réseaux sociaux Answer: un moyen d'accéder aux réseaux sociaux

acceder-a · 1 exercise

Parce que is the neutral default for because. Comme means since/as and often comes at the start of the sentence. Puisque means since/given that when the reason is already known or accepted. Car is more written or formal. Grâce à introduces a positive cause, while à cause de usually introduces a negative one. Étant donné que and du fait que are more formal; sous prétexte que often suggests the reason is questionable.

Fast rule

parce que / car + clause; à cause de / grâce à + noun; comme often starts the sentence; puisque = since/given that.

Fast examples

Je ne peux pas sortir à cause de la pluie. — I cannot go out because of the rain. / Comme tu connais la ville, tu peux nous guider. — Since you know the city, you can guide us.

Common mistake

parce que la pluie

Correction

à cause de la pluie

Deep explanation

Parce que is the neutral default for because. Comme means since/as and often comes at the start of the sentence. Puisque means since/given that when the reason is already known or accepted. Car is more written or formal. Grâce à introduces a positive cause, while à cause de usually introduces a negative one. Étant donné que and du fait que are more formal; sous prétexte que often suggests the reason is questionable.

Recall prompt

Choose the connector: ___ les réseaux sociaux, certains jeunes se sentent isolés. Answer: À cause des réseaux sociaux

connectors-of-cause · 1 exercise

Pour and afin de are followed by an infinitive. Pour que and afin que are followed by the subjunctive and are especially useful when the subject of the purpose clause is different. Dans le but de is more formal. De peur que expresses a feared result to be avoided. De sorte que can express purpose in careful usage, depending on context.

Fast rule

pour / afin de + infinitive; pour que / afin que + subjunctive.

Fast examples

Je travaille pour progresser. — I work in order to improve. / Je parle lentement pour que tout le monde comprenne. — I speak slowly so that everyone understands.

Common mistake

pour que tout le monde comprend

Correction

pour que tout le monde comprenne

Deep explanation

Pour and afin de are followed by an infinitive. Pour que and afin que are followed by the subjunctive and are especially useful when the subject of the purpose clause is different. Dans le but de is more formal. De peur que expresses a feared result to be avoided. De sorte que can express purpose in careful usage, depending on context.

Recall prompt

Complete: Il faut créer des règles pour que les jeunes _____ protégés. Answer: soient

connectors-of-purpose · 1 exercise

Donc and alors are common in speech. C'est pourquoi and par conséquent are more explicit and useful in structured argumentation. Tellement que and si bien que link an intensity or situation to its result. De sorte que can express result as well as purpose, depending on the sentence.

Fast rule

Use donc, alors, c'est pourquoi, par conséquent, si bien que, tellement… que.

Fast examples

Il a oublié son parapluie, donc il est trempé. — He forgot his umbrella, so he is soaked. / J'ai tellement skié que j'étais épuisé. — I skied so much that I was exhausted.

Common mistake

Par conséquence, il faut une loi.

Correction

Par conséquent, il faut une loi.

Deep explanation

Donc and alors are common in speech. C'est pourquoi and par conséquent are more explicit and useful in structured argumentation. Tellement que and si bien que link an intensity or situation to its result. De sorte que can express result as well as purpose, depending on the sentence.

Recall prompt

Translate: I skied so much that I was exhausted. Answer: J'ai tellement skié que j'étais épuisé.

connectors-of-consequence · 1 exercise

Avant que, pour que, afin que, bien que and de peur que are useful B1/B2 triggers. They do not simply translate English tense patterns; they signal how the speaker frames the event. Purpose clauses with pour que / afin que and a different subject are especially common in argumentation.

Fast rule

Use the subjunctive after avant que, pour que, afin que, bien que and de peur que.

Fast examples

Il faut que tu fasses attention. — You need to pay attention. / Je ne pense pas qu'il soit prêt. — I do not think he is ready.

Common mistake

Je veux que vous êtes plus attentifs.

Correction

Je veux que vous soyez plus attentifs.

Deep explanation

Avant que, pour que, afin que, bien que and de peur que are useful B1/B2 triggers. They do not simply translate English tense patterns; they signal how the speaker frames the event. Purpose clauses with pour que / afin que and a different subject are especially common in argumentation.

Recall prompt

Complete: Il faut agir avant que ce ___ trop tard. Answer: soit

subjunctive-after-conjunctions · 1 exercise