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The ultimate source of information about French: a regularly-updated, alphabetical listing of every feature on the Learn French at About site: lessons, articles, tests, sound files, links, and more.
updated 02 September 2013
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
N - French Pronunciation
Lessons on French pronunciation: the letter N
Naître
Conjugations for the French verb naître
Narbonne
Narbonne is a little-known town with with a lot of history in the
Languedoc-Roussillon region of France. Learn about the past and present of this
beautiful town with this listening comprehension exercise.
Nasal Vowels - Pronunciation
Lessons on French pronunciation: French nasal vowels
National Foreign Language Week
It's National Foreign Language Week! Don't keep putting off your dreams of
learning a new language; this is your chance to get
started with free lessons online at About.com. There are also articles on
everything from setting up a bilingual home to
figuring out if you are fluent.
National French Week
Organized by the American Association of Teachers of French (AATF), National
French Week is a celebration of French language and francophone cultures. If you
are a French teacher, National French Week is the perfect opportunity to
organize in-class and/or extracurricular events for current or potential
students. Take a look at this page for some ideas with links to additional
information.
National
Holidays and Patriotism
In honor of the 4th of July (American Independence Day) and the 14th of July
(Bastille Day / French Independence Day), here is a list of French vocabulary
related to the French and American national holidays.
Nationalities and Languages in French
As much as I would like to list every language and nationality in the world,
it's simply not possible, so here are some you should definitely recognize.
Lesson includes sound files.
Ne explétif
The "non-negative ne" used after certain
verbs and conjunctions.
Ne explétif - Test
Test your understanding of the ne explétif.
Ne m'en veux pas - En vouloir à
quelqu'un
What does the French expression
ne m'en veux
pas mean? Learn all about it here.
Neuter Object Pronoun - Optional Le
The French pronoun le can be a neuter object pronoun in
certain constructions. The neuter object pronoun is optional; its usage is
formal and is most common in written French.
Negation
Summary of the different kinds of negation and negation-related grammatical
structures.
Negative Adjectives
Lesson and quiz on French negative adjectives.
Negative Adjectives - Test
Quiz on French negative adjectives.
Negative Adverbs
Learn to use French negative adverbs
Negative Adverbs - Test
Test on French negative adverbs
Negative Pronouns
Lesson and quiz on French negative pronouns.
Negative Pronouns - Test
Test on French negative pronouns.
Negritude - La Négritude
La Négritude was a literary and ideological movement led by francophone black intellectuals, writers, and politicians. The founders of la Négritude,
originally from three different French colonies, each had different ideas about the purpose and styles of la Négritude.
Neiger
Conjugations for the French verb neiger
Ne littéraire
What is the ne littéraire? Find out here.
N'est-ce pas ?
It's about
time you learned how to use the French expression
n'est-ce pas,
isn't it?
Ne
tirez pas sur le pianiste !
Don't shoot the messenger,
just click to learn about the French expression
ne
tirez pas sur le pianiste.
News and Media
Reading, listening to, and watching the news in French is the perfect way to practice and improve your language skills. Check out these links to online newspapers, magazines, radio, and television from the francophone world.
News and Politics (Listening)
A selection of listening comprehension exercises based on discussion about French politics, news,
and current events.
French News Vocabulary
The French you learn in classes and grammar books is not always enough when dealing with the
real world. This list of French vocabulary related to current events will help you understand
news in French.
Newsletter: About French
Sign up for the free twice-weekly About French newsletter to keep up to date with this
site.
Newsletter: Daily French
Practicing French every day is key to becoming fluent. This 14-day newsletter course offers dozens of ideas and links for daily French practice.
Newsletter: Learn French
If you are interested in learning French or just finding out a little more about this beautiful language, my Learn French course will teach you the basics in seven days.
Newsletter:
Travel French
Taking a trip to France or another francophone country? My six-week Travel French newsletter is just the thing - learn the essential French vocabulary and phrases you may need during your trip, from making reservations and eating at restaurants to getting around and dealing with emergencies.
Newspapers and Magazines
Newspapers and magazines from the francophone world
New Year's in France
As in most countries, New Year's calls for a big celebration in France. Learn
about some French New Year's traditions and customs.
New Year's Resolutions
Another new year is upon us - take advantage of this annual fresh start to make a New Year's resolution (une bonne résolution de nouvel an) regarding your French learning.
NG - French Pronunciation
Lessons on French pronunciation: the letters NG
NI - French Pronunciation
Lessons on French pronunciation: the letters NI
Nicolas Sarkozy for President
Nicolas Sarkozy is one of the front-runners in the 2007 French presidential election.
Learn about his platform and pro-American stance in this listening comprehension exercise from Champs-Élysées audiomagazine (read my review).
N'importe... - Expressions
The indefinite expression n'importe can be followed by an interrogative in order to designate an unspecified person, thing, or
characteristic: n'importe qui, n'importe quel, n'importe où... Learn these
expressions and more with this lesson.
N'importe quoi
What does the French expression n'importe quoi mean? Learn all about it here.
Noël au balcon, Pâques au tison
Whether you're on the balcony or in front of a wood stove, you should take a
moment to learn the French proverb
Noël au balcon, Pâques au tison.
Noël malin
What does the French expression Noël malin mean? Learn all about it here.
Noël nouvelet
Noël nouvelet is a traditional French Christmas carol.
Noël sous la neige
I'm dreaming of the French expression
Noël sous la neige
- click to learn all about it.
Non
Saying no is pretty simple, but there are quite a few synonyms and precisions to be aware of. Check out this lesson to learn how to say no, not a chance, I don't think so, and more.
Non-Fiction about French and France
You've probably glanced through dozens of French travel guides
and grammar books, but what about the human side of learning French and visiting
France? There is some great non-fiction out there - humorous yet helpful, fun
but not frivolous. Here's a list of my favorite non-fiction books related to
French and France - enjoy!
Non-Net
Resources
Links to all of the different non-internet resources, including software,
tapes/CDs, books, books on tape, and more.
"Notre anniversaire"
What's wrong with saying c'est notre anniversaire? Learn about this French mistake.
Notre Dame
Notre Dame is one of the largest and most visited cathedrals in France. Learn about the history and maintenance of this famous Parisian monument.
Nouns
Introduction to French nouns.
Nouns with Two Genders
The gender of nouns tends to be a sticky grammar point for French students, and there are a number of French nouns which are identical in
pronunciation (and often spelling as well) but which have different meanings
depending on whether they are masculine or feminine.
Nouveau vs Neuf
English speakers sometimes find it difficult to translate "new" into
French, due to confusion over the French words nouveau and neuf.
In fact, the French adjectives have distinctly different meanings; the problem
is actually caused by the fact that the English "new" has more than
one meaning. Fortunately, this is an easy problem to remedy. Read over this
lesson, learn the difference between nouveau and neuf, and you
won't have any more trouble saying new in French.
Le nouveau est arrivé
What does the French expression le nouveau est arrivé mean? Learn all about it here.
Number Expressions - Confusing Pairs
There are quite a few confusing pairs and difficult expressions related to
numbers in French: second/deuxième, en premier/au premier/de premier,
tiers/troisième....
Numbers - French for Beginners
French for beginners: numbers
Number Practice
Learning to count in French is one thing - it's fairly easy to memorize un,
deux, trois. It's another matter entirely to be able to think
of a number without counting up to it, or to understand individual numbers when you
hear them. Fortunately, practice makes perfect, and these sound files
can help you to get better at understanding and using French numbers.
French Numbers with Decimals
Learn how to say French numbers with decimals and then practice your
comprehension with a series of random numbers.
Number/Plurals
What is grammatical number? When does it matter?
Numerical Adjectives - Adjectifs numéraux
Numerical adjectives aren't as
complicated as they might sound - numerical adjective is simply the grammatical term for
numbers. There are three types of numerical adjectives, each of which is used
for a different purpose. Learn about the types, placement, and agreement of
numerical adjectives.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
O - French Pronunciation
Lessons on French pronunciation: the letter O
Object Pronouns
Lesson and quiz on French object pronouns
Object Pronouns - Advanced Topics
Direct vs indirect and placement of object pronouns
OE - French Pronunciation
Lesson on French pronunciation: the letters OE
Œil - French pronunciation
Learn how to pronounce the letter combination
œil in this lesson with sound
files.
Official Language Act defined
What was the Official Language Act?
Official Languages Act defined
What was the Official Languages Act?
Office Vocabulary
For beginners, with sound files.
Offrir
Conjugations for the French verb offrir.
Oh là là
What does the French expression oh là là mean? Learn all about it here.
OI - French Pronunciation
Lessons on French pronunciation: the letters OI
On
- Indefinite subject pronoun
On is the indefinite French subject pronoun, used mainly in colloquial French.
Learn to use it here and discover the grammatical debate surrounding it.
"On est allés"
Is there anything wrong with writing "on est allés"? Check out this lesson to learn about this potential mistake.
ON - Pronunciation
Lessons on French pronunciation: French nasal vowels - ON
On
vs L'On
On is the French impersonal subject pronoun, and normally shouldn't be preceded by l'
- neither the direct object nor the
definite article. However, if you've been studying French for a while,
particularly written French, you've probably seen l'on where you expected to find
on and wondered what that l' was doing there. Here's everything
you need to know.
On ne sait jamais
What does the French expression
on ne sait jamais mean? Learn all about it here.
On peut se tutoyer ?
What does the French expression on peut se tutoyer mean? Learn all about it here.
On the Phone - French for Beginners
French phone phrases.
On y va
What does the French expression
on y va mean? Learn all about it here.
Online Dictionary - Collins English-French / French-English
Collins English-French online dictionary includes 80,000 references and 120,000 translations.
Online Translation
Use this online translator to get the gist of a French message, or to get an
idea about how to translate something into French ( but remember that automatic
translation is not an exact science.
Online
Translation - French Class Project
Online translators can be a blessing or a curse. If you don't speak a word of a
foreign language, an online translator can give you the gist of a web page's
meaning. However, the translation will likely be full of errors and strange
wording. French students may be uninformed about these online translation
problems and may try to get away with using one in order to lessen their
workload. This project can help them understand why it's not a good idea from a
linguistic point of view, and also - for teachers who are looking for a way to
discourage online translator usage - let them know that you won't tolerate it.
Online Translators - Machine Translation
While
machine translation is an interesting concept and considerably cheaper and
faster than professional translators, the results are less exciting. This
article put the top four online translators to the test - see how they hold up
against one another and against a real person.
Only / Not Only - Ne... que, Seulement, and their negatives
There are two common French equivalents for the restrictive only in English: ne... que and
seulement. These two terms mean essentially the same
thing, but their negative forms are a bit more complicated.
Opening Business Letters
Tips and formulas for writing commercial correspondence.
Opening Job Letters
French job applications require very formal language - find it here!
Opération
escargot
What does the French expression opération escargot mean? Learn all about it here.
Opinions
If you want to have a debate in French or discuss your opinions, you need to
know the relevant vocabulary and expressions. This page offers suggestions for
offering, supporting, asking for, and avoiding opinions in French.
Orders in French
- Les Ordres
You probably know that the imperative is commonly used to give orders, but what
about other constructions? Have you ever seen another verb form used and figured
it was a mistake? It probably wasn't - in fact there are four different ways to
give orders in French.
Ordinal Numbers and Fractions
The majority of French ordinal numbers (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc.) and fractions are the same word, but there are a few exceptions. Take a look (and listen) at this lesson for a complete explanation.
Organizations
Francophone organizations that can help you learn, teach, or translate French
Organizations for French Teachers
Organizations for French teachers
Organizations on Francophonie
Organizations devoted to promoting francophonie throughout the world.
OU - French Pronunciation
Lessons on French pronunciation: the letters OU
OU vs U
The letter u is one of the most difficult sounds in the French language, at
least for English speakers. In addition, English speakers often find it
difficult to distinguish between u and ou. Here are some tips and numerous sound
files to help you hear and say the difference.
Oui
Saying yes is pretty simple, but there are quite a few synonyms and precisions to be aware of. Check
out this lesson to learn how to say yes, yeah, sure, and more.
Ouil - Ouille - French pronunciation
Do you know how to say ouil and ouille in words like
fenouil and grenouille? If you pronounce them [wi] as in oui, you're mistaken - learn the correct
pronunciation for
ouil and ouille.
Ouvrir
Conjugations for the French verb ouvrir
Overcoming speaking anxiety
Shyness apart, if you feel nervous when speaking French, it's probably due
to a lack of confidence in your skills: you don't feel you have the grammar,
vocabulary, and/or pronunciation needed in order to express yourself. The
obvious solution is to improve your French, and this site is filled with
resources to help you do just that. Beyond lessons and learning, however,
there are other ways to increase your confidence and feel more comfortable
speaking French.
Overused French Verbs
You probably learned the verbs conduire, écrire, and nager
in French class, and have used them ever since to talk about driving, writing,
and swimming. However, these are not necessarily the verbs that native French
speakers use. Learn about five verbs that tend
to be overused by French students, contrasted with their more typical synonyms.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z
P - French Pronunciation
Lessons on French pronunciation: the letter P
Pain - French expressions
The French word pain means "bread" and is
also used in numerous
idiomatic expressions. Be sure to look at page 2: translations of all different
kinds of French breads.
Par
All there is to know about the French preposition par.
Paraître
Paraître is a very common and useful French verb. It is irregular in
conjugation, can be impersonal, and means "to appear" or "to seem."
Paraître - Expressions
The French verb paraître literally means to appear or to
seem, and is used in a number of idiomatic expressions. Learn how to say
apparently, to die, to publish, and more with this list of expressions with
paraître.
Parce que, Car, Puisque, Comme - Conjunctions of Conclusion
The French conjunctions parce que, car, puisque, and comme are commonly used to draw conclusions or otherwise relate a cause or explanation with a result or conclusion. These conjunctions have similar but not identical meanings and uses - this lesson explains the difference.
Par contre
What does
the French expression
par contre mean - and is it ok to use it? Click to learn all about
this expression and the great par contre debate.
Par exemple
What do the French expressions par exemple and ça par exemple mean? Learn all about
them here.
Paris, France
I recently spent 3 days in Paris - read about my adventures.
Paris Restaurants
In February 2006, some friends and I spent four days eating our way around Paris. Here are the restaurants we liked.
Parler
Conjugations for the French verb parler.
Parler - French Expressions
The French verb parler means to talk or
to speak, and is used in many idiomatic French expressions. Learn how to speak fluently, talk shop, use sign language, and meet one's match with this list of expressions with parler.
Parler le français comme une vache espagnole
What does the idiomatic French expression parler le français comme une vache espagnole mean? Learn all about it here.
"Parlez-vous Français ?"
What's wrong with writing "parlez-vous Français"? Learn about this French mistake.
Partir
Partir is one of the most common French verbs. It is irregular in
conjugation, requires être in the compound tenses, and has different meanings
depending on the preposition that follows.
Partir,
S'en aller, Sortir, Quitter, Laisser - To Leave
There are five verbs that mean to leave in
French - learn to tell them apart
Partir,
S'en aller, Sortir, Quitter, Laisser - Test on French verbs
There are five verbs that mean to leave in
French - learn to tell them apart
Partitive Article
Learn to use the French partitive article
Parts of Speech
Learning French is hard, and it's even harder if you don't understand the basics
of grammar in your own language. If your mind boggles when people start talking
about nouns, adjectives, and other parts of speech, this lesson is for you.
Party ideas,
French-style
For Francophiles, any time is a good time to celebrate French, but there
is one holiday in particular that cries out for a French-themed party:
Bastille Day. Here are some ideas for a party with some French panache.
Pas ~ French Negative Adverb
The French negative adverb pas is often
used in conjunction with ne, but pas can also be used all on its own. The
main difference is that ne... pas is used to negate a verb, while pas
without ne is used to negate an adjective, adverb, noun, or some other
non-verbal construction. Pas can also be used to confirm a
statement.
Pas without Ne - Informal
Negation
If you've ever watched French movies or television, or chatted with native
speakers, you have almost certainly heard pas (or another negative
adverb) without ne, as this is a typical characteristic of informal and
familiar French. Although it is nearly always written, ne is often
dropped in spoken French.
Pas - French Expressions
The French word pas has a number of meanings and is found in many
French expressions. Learn about making blunders, taking the initiative,
advancing at leaps and bounds, and more with this lesson.
Pas de problème
Don't know how to use this French expression? Pas de problème ! Just click to learn all about it.
Pas du tout
What does the French expression pas du tout mean? Learn all about it
here.
Passé composé - Present Perfect
The passé composé is the most common French past tense,
often used in conjunction with the imparfait and used to express actions
completed in the past.
Passé
composé - French Present Perfect - Test
Guide to the French tense passé composé
Passé simple
The passé simple is the literary equivalent of the passé composé, used only in formal writing
and speech. Although you will probably never need to actually use the passé simple, it is
important and easy to recognize it. Take a look at this lesson for passé simple
conjugations of regular and irregular verbs.
Passer
Passer is a very common and useful French verb. It is a regular -ER verb
but may be conjugated with avoir or être in the compound tenses,
depending on whether it is transitive or intransitive.
Passer - French Expressions
The French verb passer usually means to
pass, and is also used in many idiomatic expressions.
Passer à l'heure d'été
What does the French expression passer à l'heure d'été mean? Learn all about it here.
Passer à l'heure d'hiver
What does the French expression passer à l'heure d'hiver mean? Learn all about it here.
Passer du coq à l'âne
What does the French expression passer du coq à l'âne mean? Learn all about it here.
Passive Impersonal ~ Impersonnel passif
The passive impersonal is commonly used in place of the passive voice. In this
construction, a non-reflexive verb is used reflexively in order to demonstrate the
passive nature of the action, as in ça se voit - That's obvious.
Passive index
Passive constructions are those in which a verb's action is performed on the
subject, rather than the subject performing the action as in active (normal)
constructions. The passive voice is the most common French passive construction, but
there are a couple of others to watch out for as well.
Passive Infinitive
Even though the French infinitive translates as "to + verb," the French sometimes
needs to be preceded by a preposition. This is the case with the passive infinitive, which is commonly used with indefinite and negative words.
Passive Voice
Learn all about the French passive voice
Passive Voice - Test
Learn all about the French passive voice
Passive Voice - Usage
Learn all about the French passive voice
Password - French Classroom
Game
Some days students just aren't in the mood to learn, which can make French
classes frustrating for them as well as for the teacher. Playing games in French
is one technique that can help recapture students' interest while helping them
learn or review French. This game, called Password, is a fun way to practice
descriptions.
Past Anterior
Learn all about the French past anterior tense (le passé antérieur).
Past Imperative
A rare French verb mood, used to give a command for something that must be done before a certain
time.
Past Infinitive
Learn all about the French past infinitive.
Past Infinitive - Test
Learn all about the French past infinitive.
Past Infinitive - Usage
Learn all about the French past infinitive.
Past Participle ~ Le participe passé
The participe passé is the French equivalent of the -ed form of English verbs. It is used in compound tenses, in the passive voice, and as an adjective.
Past Subjunctive
Lesson and quiz on the French past subjunctive
Past Subjunctive - Test
Test on the French past subjunctive
Past Tense
One of the most striking differences between French and English is in verb tenses.
Learning how to use the various past tenses can be very tricky, because English has several tenses which either do not exist
in or do not
translate literally into French - and vice versa.
Past Tense - Test
Test yourself on the difference between le passé composé and
l'imparfait
Past Tenses - Advanced
The difference between the two main French past tenses, the passé composé and
the imparfait, is a constant struggle for many French students. In the basic
lesson on le passé, you learned about the fundamental differences between
these two tenses. In this more advanced lesson, you will learn about the
particularities of certain verbs, including those that are usually in the
imperfect and those that have different meanings depending on which tense is
used.
Et patati et patata
What does the French expression et patati et patata mean? Learn all
about it here.
Payer
Conjugations for the French verb payer (and other -yer verbs)
Payer - Expressions
The French verb payer literally means to pay (for). It is also used in a number of idiomatic expressions. Learn how to pay in kind, pay for the damages, pay out of one's own
pocket, and more.
Pays du monde - Countries of the World
A list of the countries of the world in English and French.
Pédaler dans la choucroute
What does the French expression pédaler dans la choucroute mean? Learn all about it here.
Peindre
Conjugations for the French verb peindre
Pendant vs Depuis
Learn the difference between French prepositions depuis and pendant
Pen pals
Writing to pen pals is a great way to practice your French and meet other French-speakers at the same time. Take a look at these links to various French pen pal sites and make some new friends!
Penser
Penser is a regular -ER verb and means "to think." Penser is
commonly used like its English counterpart, but there are a few aspects that
make it a little tricky. This lesson explains which verb mood to use with penser,
the difference between penser à and penser de, the meaning of penser
followed by an infinitive, and a few essential expressions with penser.
Penser - Expressions with Penser
The French verb penser means "to think" and is used in many expressions. Learn how to say remind me, it's well thought out, not likely, and more with this list of
expressions with penser.
People Quiz
How much do you know about some of the important people in francophone countries? Take this quiz from your About.com Guide to find out.
Perdre
- Expressions
The verb perdre literally means "to lose."
It is also used in a number of idiomatic expressions which must be memorized.
Learn how to talk about losing consciousness, losing interest, losing one's
mind, and much more.
Perfect Participle
Learn all about the French perfect participle (le passé composé du participe présent).
Perfect Participle - Test
Test on the French perfect participle
Personal Correspondence
Writing letters in French can be somewhat tricky, because it requires special
formulas. This lesson on personal correpondence will help you find the correct
formulas when writing to
family, friends, or non-commercial acquaintances.
Personality
Learn how to describe your friends and family with this list of personality vocabulary and sound files.
Personality Quiz
Your study habits may be worthy of an A, B, C, or even, gasp, a D. Take this
quiz to find out your French student personality!
Péter les plombs
What does the French expression péter les plombs mean? Learn all about it here.
Peter
Mayle - Fiction and Non-Fiction
Anyone interested in France or French is certain to have read Peter Mayle's best-selling "A Year in Provence." Did you know that he has written about other things too? In addition to two Provence sequels, Peter Mayle has written three novels set in Provence and a couple of books on other topics. If you're looking for something funny and interesting to read, any of these books will fit the bill.
Petit - Synonyms
If you want to make your French sound more, well, French, one place to
start is with your vocabulary. The adjective petit is a very common
French word that can be
replaced by any number of
synonyms. Take a look
at this lesson to learn some different ways to say "small" and
"short," and be sure
to note the different nuances.
Le Petit Larousse
Le Petit Larousse celebrated its 100th anniversary this year. Learn
about the beginnings and evolution of this famous French dictionary.
Le Petit Prince - Audiobook
Le Petit Prince is the wonderfully touching and creative story of a
man who meets an extraordinary boy and relearns what it means to be a child. It
is a French classic in children's literature, as well as an
excellent book for beginning-to-intermediate French students and for
anyone who is tired of acting like « une grande personne ».
"Peut-être il a faim"
What's wrong with saying peut-être il a faim? Learn about this French mistake.
PH - French Pronunciation
Lessons on French pronunciation: the letters PH
On the Phone - French for Beginners
French phone phrases.
Phonetics and Phonology
French phonology and phonetics links
Phone Vocabulary - French for Beginners
French for beginners: on the phone.
Photo Gallery: Albi, France
Albi is a medieval city located about 50 miles north-east of Toulouse. Known for
its Toulouse-Lautrec museum and spectacular Cathédrale Sainte-Cécile and located
on the banks of the Tarn River, Albi is a pleasant place to spend the day.
Photo Gallery: Carcassonne,
France
Carcassonne, located about 60 miles southeast of Toulouse, is a beautiful
medieval city with two sites on Unesco's World Heritage list (the Canal du Midi
and la Cité de Carcassonne). Even in the winter, there can be quite a few
tourists around, because this charming town is well worth a visit at any time of
year.
Photo Gallery: Carnaval de Nice
Nice Carnaval is the largest winter event on the French Riviera. In 2009,
Carnaval de Nice took place from 13 February to 1 March, and the theme was Roi
des Mascarades (King of Masquerades). With 20 tall floats (up to 14 meters / 46
feet high); 20 flower floats; 200 "big heads"; and countless dancers, musicians,
and other participants - not to mention tens of thousands of spectators, it was
a fun and crazy celebration.
Photo Gallery: Fête des
fleurs, Hyères, France
On 5 and 6 April 2008, the southern French city of Hyères hosted its annual
flower festival with an open day event at SICA (Société d'intérêt collectif
agricole) / Marché aux fleurs d'Hyères. 500 growers produce over 180 million
flowers a year, making it the largest flower market in France and the fourth
largest in Europe. With information booths, wine and flower tasting, and a
flower parade, it was a fascinating look at this colorful aspect of the Hyérois
community.
Photo Gallery: Floral'Hyères
In 2010, the first Floral'Hyères was held in downtown Hyères, France. The most spectacular aspect of this biannual celebration was the flower parade, with 10 flower bedecked floats accompanied by singers, dancers, and other performers.
Photo Gallery: Toulouse
Toulouse, also known as la Ville rose (Pink Town), is the fourth largest city in
France. Located in the southwest of France, within a few hours of the Atlantic
Ocean, the Mediterreanean Sea, and the Spanish border, Toulouse is a beautiful
town filled with friendly people and interesting architecture.
Phrases - Most
Common French Phrases
Take a look at this list to learn some of the most useful and common French
phrases, with links to more detailed information and sound files.
Phrases - Social Niceties
When traveling to France - or anywhere else, for that matter - it's important to follow the local customs. A big part of this is knowing what to say in different social situations. Take a look at these essential French phrases related to social niceties.
Physical Descriptions
French vocabulary used to describe someone physically: height, weight,
eye color, etc.
Plaire
Conjugations for the French verb plaire
Pleasure - Lettres commerciales - French Business Letters
Tips and formulas for writing commercial correspondence. French job applications require very formal language - find it here!
Pleuvoir
Conjugations for the French verb pleuvoir
Il pleut des cordes
What does the idiomatic French expression il pleut des cordes mean? Learn all about it here.
Pluperfect
Lesson and quiz on the French pluperfect
Pluperfect - Test
Quiz on the French pluperfect
Pluperfect Subjunctive
Learn to recognize the literary verb form
pluperfect subjunctive
Plurals/Number
What is grammatical number? When does it matter?
Plural French Nouns
In both French and English, many nouns can be singular or plura. But there are quite a few French nouns that can only be plural, including some related to religion and material possessions.
Plurals and Singulars
Nouns are not always singular in both French and English. Here is a list of words that are singular or uncountable in English but plural or countable in French.
Plus
The French word plus is used as different kinds of adverbs - learn all about it here.
Plus - Expressions
The French word plus is used in many essential expressions - learn all about it here.
Plus -
Test
The French word plus is used in many essential expressions and as an adverb - test your understanding.
Plus ça change
What does the French expression plus ça change mean? Learn all about it here.
Poetry Podcast
Easy French Poetry Podcast is a French conversation podcast about poetry.
This unique project combines listening practice with an analysis of French
poetry and is ideal for high-intermediate French students, though any level
student from low-intermediate to advanced can benefit from listening to French
poetry read by a native French speaker.
Politeness - French for Beginners
French for beginners: politeness
A selection of listening comprehension exercises based on discussion about French politics, news, and current events.
Polls
The About French site is now seven years old, and I'd love to know more
about the people who use it. I've created a series of 10 polls with questions
about your French learning and your use of this site - you can respond to any
number of them and then see the results for each individual poll.
Les Portes tordues -
Bilingual Audio Book
A unique book aimed at upper beginning and intermediate students: bilingual
story, grammar review, and audio book all rolled into one. The audio has only
been recently been published, so take a moment to read my updated review.
Les Portes tordues - Teacher's Guide
Les portes tordues is an upper-beginning-to-intermediate-level,
bilingual audio/grammar book (read
my review). Author Kathie Dior has kindly shared some ideas for using it in
the classroom - please feel free to print this out and use it in your French
class.
Position of Adjectives
Lesson on placement of French adjectives
Position of Adjectives - Test
Quiz on placement of French adjectives
Possession in French
Master the different ways to express possession in French.
Possession - Test
Test on the different ways to express possession in French.
Possessive à
Master the different ways to express possession in French.
Possessive Adjectives
Learn how to use possessive adjectives in French: mon, ma, mes, ton, ta tes, etc.
Possessive Adjectives - Test
Test on using French possessive adjectives.
Possessive de
The possessive de is used in front of a noun or a name in place of the 's
or s' in English.
Possessive Pronouns
Learn to use French possessive pronouns
Possessive Pronouns - Test
Test on using French possessive pronouns: mien, tien, sien, etc.
Pour
The definitive lesson on the French preposition pour: learn what it means, which
verbs require it, and how to use it.
Pour et contre
What does the French expression pour et contre mean? Learn all about it here.
"Pour un an"
When is it wrong to say pour un an to mean "for a year"? Learn about this potential French mistake.
Pour - French expressions
The French preposition pour usually means "for," and is also used in many
expressions. Learn how to say my mistake, a waste of time, so to speak, and more
with this list of expressions with pour.
Pouvoir
Conjugations for the French verb pouvoir
Pouvoir - All About Pouvoir
The verb pouvoir has a number of different
meanings, depending mainly on
the tense and mood it is conjugated into. This lesson explains the various uses and meanings of this
common French verb.
Pouvoir - Expressions
The French verb pouvoir means "to be able to" and is also used in
various idiomatic expressions.
Practice your French
I live in a non-francophone country and I'm losing my French. What can I do?
Prefixes
Learn about re-, a-, and more French prefixes.
Prendre
Conjugations for the French verb prendre
All about Prendre
Prendre, which means "to take," is one of the most common French verbs. It is irregular in
conjugation and is found in a number of idiomatic expressions.
Prendre - Expressions
The French verb prendre has several different meanings, and is also used in a
number of idiomatic expressions which must be memorized.
Prendre l'eau
What does the French expression prendre l'eau mean? Learn all about it here.
Prendre une
décision
If you want to know what the French expression
prendre une
décision means, you need to make the decision to click this
link.
Preposition Lessons
Prepositions are words which link two related parts of a sentence. There are
many French prepositions and it is important to recognize and know when and when
not to use them. These lessons include specific information about meaning, usage,
and more.
Prepositions
A list of the most common French prepositions.
Prepositions with Cities and Islands
Learn which French prepositions to use with cities and islands.
Prepositions with Countries and Continents
Learn which French prepositions to use with countries and continents.
Prepositions with Geographical Names
Learn which French prepositions to use with countries, cities, and other geographical names.
Prepositions with Geographical Names - Test
Test on using French prepositions with countries, cities, and other geographical names.
Prepositions with States and Provinces
Learn which French prepositions to use with states and provinces.
Present Participle
Formation and uses of the French present participle.
Present Participle - Adjective and Noun
Formation and uses of the French present participle.
Present Participle - Spelling Changes
Formation and uses of the French present participle.
Present Participle - Test
Test on using the French present participle.
Present Participle and Gerund
Formation and uses of the French present participle.
Present Perfect - Passé composé
The passé composé is the most common French past tense,
often used in conjunction with the imparfait and used to express actions
completed in the past.
Present Tense
The French present tense, called le présent
or le présent de l'indicatif, is quite
similar in usage to the English present tense.
Learn how to use it with this lesson.
Presentatives ~ Les Présentatifs
French presentatives are terms which introduce something at the same time that
they emphasize it. They are not a single part of speech, but rather a category
of terms which includes various prepositions, conjunctions, adverbs, and
expressions used in this particular way.
Presidential Elections - 2007
In April and May 2007, France will choose a new president, but at the moment there are some problems with the normal electoral process, including an important candidate not yet meeting the requirements to be on the ballot. Learn more in this listening comprehension exercise.
Professional and Academic Journals - French Linguistics and Literature
Professional and academic journals on French linguistics and literature
Professions in French
Learn to say doctor, teacher, lawyer, and about 20 other job titles in French. Lesson includes sound files.
Proficiency in French - Standards and Tests
Links to recognized standards of French profiency as well as on- and off-line proficiency tests.
Proficiency Test - Beginning
Test yourself on beginning French vocabulary and grammar - fill in the blanks, choose the best translation, or answer each question.
Proficiency Test - Intermediate
Test yourself on intermediate French vocabulary and grammar.
Profs de français
This forum is especially for French teachers and tutors to find information and support from
our virtual colleagues. On this forum, you can trade lesson plans, discuss teaching ideas,
share tips and strategies, request activity suggestions, find ways to motivate students,
and commiserate with other teachers. The internet is an amazing tool for teachers - let's
use it!
Pronominal Verbs
What on earth are pronominal verbs and why do they need a pronoun? Find out with this French lesson and quiz.
Pronominal Verbs - Test
Test your understanding of French pronominal verbs.
Pronouns
A summary of all the different kinds of stressed pronouns.
Pronunciation Links
Activities and resources to work on your French pronunciation. Most of these sites provide audio to help you improve your accent.
Pronunciation Mistakes and Difficulties
Many students find that pronunciation is the hardest part of learning French. The new sounds, the silent letters, the liaisons... they all combine to make speaking French very tricky. By listening to French as much as possible, and by studying and practicing the pronunciation aspects that you find most difficult, you can do a lot to improve your pronunciation. Here is a list of the top French pronunciation difficulties and mistakes, with links to detailed lessons and sound files.
Pronunciation - Tips on improving your French pronunciation
Learning French is one thing; speaking with a great accent is another. While it's not the easiest thing in
the world, it's certainly not impossible to develop a decent French accent. Here are some ideas to help you improve your French pronunciation.
Pronunciation Tools
Pronunciation tends to be the most difficult aspect of learning French. It takes a lot of practice to pronounce French correctly, but if you want to speak
well, good French pronunciation is essential. Nothing will kill
a conversation faster than an inability to make yourself understood. The
following resources include detailed explanations of French sounds and some audio
tools for listening and speaking practice.
Proofreading and Editing Tips
Whether you're checking over homework, proofreading
a paper, or verifying a translation, there are certain key problem areas to
watch out for. This is not a definitive list by any means, but it indicates
areas of confusion and common mistakes caused by differences between French and
English and includes links to more detailed explanations and examples.
Before you turn anything in, check the following areas of your work.
Propositions
conditionnelles
If-then clauses, also known as si clauses, conditionals, or
conditional sentences, are sentences with one clause stating a condition or
possibility, and a second clause naming a result which is dependent upon that
condition. There are different types of si clauses, but they all have two things
in common - and the use of the conditional mood is not one of them.
"Provençe"
What's wrong with this? Learn about this French mistake.
Proverbs
Learn more ways to express yourself with this growing list of French expressions, proverbs, and clichés.
Public holidays - Jours fériés
There are a lot of holidays in France, but only 11 public holidays (bank
holidays), called jours fériés in French. On jours fériés, public
servants and many public sector employees have the day off from work.
Punctuation
Although French and English use nearly all of the same punctuation marks,
some of their uses in the two languages are considerably different. Rather than
an explanation of the rules of French and English punctuation, this lesson is a simple
summary of how French punctuation differs from English.
