French Lessons and Articles - 2012

Previous French lessons, quizzes, and articles, from your Guide to Learn French at About

12-31-12 - New Year's Eve
As in most countries, New Year's Eve calls for a big celebration in France. Learn about some French New Year's traditions and customs.

12-30-12 - New Year's Resolutions
Another new year is almost 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.

12-30-12 - Expressions with fois
The French word fois literally means "time" or "instance" and is also used in many idiomatic expressions. Learn how to say at the same time, just in case, to think twice before doing something, and more with this list of expressions with fois.

12-29-12 - Tout ce qui brille n'est pas or
What does the French proverb tout ce qui brille n'est pas or mean? Learn all about it here - especially if you think it should be "tout ce qui brille n'est pas d'or."

12-28-12 - Expressions with trouver
The French verb trouver literally means "to find" and is also used in many idiomatic expressions. Learn how to meet one's match, find one's way, be lost for words, and more with this list of expressions with trouver.

12-27-12 - Top French Searches
Looking for something? Here are links to the most common French search terms at Learn French at About.

12-26-12 - Kwanzaa
Kwanzaa is a week-long celebration of African identity and culture throughout the world, particularly in the United States. It takes place annually from 26 December to 1 January. Learn some French vocabulary related to Kwaanza.

12-25-12 - Christmas in France
In France, Christmas is a time for family and for generosity, marked by family reunions, gifts and candy for children, gifts for the poor, Midnight Mass, and le Réveillon. The celebration of Christmas in France varies by region.

12-24-12 - Meilleurs vœux
The French expression meilleurs vœux can be used all year, but it's particularly prevalent in late December and early January.

12-23-12 - Un ange passe
What does the expression un ange passe mean? Learn all about it here.

12-22-12 - Christmas fun and games
Practice your French even as you celebrate Christmas with these games and activities.

12-21-12 - Noël sous la neige
I'm dreaming of the French expression Noël sous la neige - click to learn all about it.

12-20-12 - Interrogative adverbs
Interrogative adverbs are used to ask for new information or facts. Learn about the French interrogative adverbs quand, où, pourquoi, comment, and combien.

12-19-12 - C'est cadeau
What does the French expression c'est cadeau mean? Learn all about it here.

12-18-12 - Expressions with France
Of course you know that la France means "France," but are you aware that this country's name is also used in some idiomatic expressions? Learn how to say ordinary people, the rich, and more with this list of expressions with France.

12-17-12 - 2013 Calendars
Keep track of your rendez-vous with one of these French-themed calendars, including a free printable calendar made by yours truly.

12-16-12 - Noël malin
If you do any shopping in France or on French websites in December, you'll probably run across the expression Noël malin.

12-15-12 - All about falloir
Falloir is an irregular impersonal French verb that is better known in its conjugated form: il faut. Falloir means "to be necessary" or "to need" and may be followed by the subjunctive, an infinitive, or a noun.

12-14-12 - 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.

12-13-12 - No in French
Saying "no" in French 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.

12-12-12 - Expressions with comprendre
The French verb comprendre literally means "to understand" and is also used in many idiomatic expressions. Learn how to say it has two parts, to catch on quickly, you don't have a clue, and more with this list of expressions with comprendre.

12-11-12 - Verbs with dans
The French preposition dans is required after certain verbs that need an indirect object.

12-10-12 - Avoir les chevilles qui enflent
I hope it's not too egotistical to say that this is a great lesson on the French expression avoir les chevilles qui enflent. Click to learn all about it.

12-8-12 - Hanukkah
Hanukkah is a Jewish festival of survival and freedom that lasts for eight days - this year, from 8 to 16 December. Learn some French vocabulary related to this annual celebration.

12-7-12 - Ce n'est pas la mer à boire
It's not the end of the world if you don't know the expression ce n'est pas la mer à boire, but you should read my lesson anyway.

12-5-12 - Expressions with chose
The French word une chose literally means "thing" and is also used in many idiomatic expressions. Learn how to say above all, at best, to take bad news well, and more with this list of expressions with chose.

12-4-12 - French and modal verbs
Modal verbs, also called modal auxiliaries or simply modals, are unconjugated English verbs (can, could, will, etc.) which express the mood of a verb, such as ability, possibility, condition, and necessity. French does not have modal verbs, which can make it difficult to figure out how to translate them.

12-3-12 - Faire (un) demi-tour
Learn how to make a U-turn and do an about-face with the French expression faire (un) demi-tour.

12-1-12 - 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. Learn more in my lesson all about prendre.

11-30-12 - A cause de
If you don't know what the French expression à cause de means, it's because you haven't read this lesson.

11-27-12 - Découvrir le pot aux roses
Discover the not so rosy meaning behind the idiomatic French expression découvrir le pot aux roses.

11-26-12 - AIL / AILLE - French pronunciation
Learn how to pronounce the letter combinations AIL and AILLE.

11-25-12 - Expressions with savoir
The French verb savoir literally means "to know" and is also used in many idiomatic expressions. Learn how to say knowledge is power, make up your mind, God only knows, and more with this list of expressions with savoir.

11-24-12 - Grâce à
Thanks to this lesson, you'll know how to use the French expression grâce à.

11-23-12 - Top French Gifts
It's officially the first day of Christmas shopping (in the US, at least), so here are my top gift picks for the French lovers on your list, whether they are kids; beginning, intermediate, or advanced students; translators; or teachers. Each list has an assortment of different kinds of resources, including dictionaries, grammar books, audio resources, software, movies, and interesting non-fiction.

11-22-12 - French Thanksgiving Vocabulary
Thanksgiving is not celebrated in France, so here is some French vocabulary related to the American holiday, which occurs each year on the fourth Thursday in November.

11-21-12 - Expressing Gratitude
'Tis the season to be grateful, so it's a good time to review the many different ways to express gratitude in French. Take a look at this lesson to learn the formulas.

11-20-12 -là - French suffix
The French suffix -là literally means "there" and can be added to nouns or demonstrative pronouns to mean "that," "those," or "the former."

11-19-12 - Je n'en reviens pas
What does the French expression je n'en reviens pas mean? Learn all about it here.

11-18-12 -ier verbs
French verbs that end in -ier are conjugated according to the same rules as regular -er verbs, but there is a letter combination in certain conjugations that makes -ier verbs seem strange.

11-17-12 - Expressions with tour
The French word tour different meanings depending on whether it's masculine or feminine, and both words are found in idiomatic expressions. Learn how to say acrobatics, to play a trick on someone, Bob's your uncle, and more with this list of expressions with tour.

11-16-12 - Bien entendu
It must be understood that bien entendu is a very common French expression, so learn all about it here.

11-15-12 - Ne explétif
The ne explétif is used after certain verbs and conjunctions. I call it a "non-negative ne" because it has no negative value in and of itself. It is used in situations where the main clause has a negative (either negative-bad or negative-negated) meaning, such as expressions of fear, warning, doubt, and negation.

11-15-12 - Beaujolais Nouveau
Learn a bit about the famous young wine, Beaujolais Nouveau, in French or English.

11-14-12 - Le nouveau est arrivé !
The third Thursday of November is two days away, which means that at the stroke of midnight Wednesday, the triumphant cry le nouveau est arrivé ! will be heard around the wine-loving world. Click to learn all about this annual expression.

11-13-12 - Wine tasting vocabulary
There is a whole science devoted to wine, called oenology, that analyzes everything from making it to tasting it. The latter is the most important part for consumers, so here are some wine tasting terms to help you talk about what you're drinking.

11-12-12 - Improve your French verb conjugations
Conjugating French verbs in a workbook or letter is one thing, but remembering individual verb conjugations when you're speaking is another matter entirely. Here are some tips to help you get better at conjugating French verbs.

11-11-12 - Expressions with tomber
The French verb tomber literally means "to fall" and is also used in many idiomatic expressions. Learn how to fall in love, be gullible, knock something over, and more with this list of expressions with tomber.

11-9-12 - Bien sûr
Of course you need to know what the French expression bien sûr means - click to learn all about it.

8-14 November - National French Week
Organized by the American Association of Teachers of French (AATF), National French Week is an annual 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.

11-8-12 - French affective accent
English speakers can emphasize one word in a sentence just by pronouncing it with more stress or by saying it more loudly, but this is not the case in French. Instead, the affective accent can be used to emphasize what the speaker wants to say.

11-7-12 - Trouver son bonheur
Find happiness by learning about the French expression trouver son bonheur.

11-6-12 - Expressions with français
Français is French for "French" and is found in a number of idiomatic expressions. Learn how to speak terrible French, buy French wine, and perfect your French with this list of expressions with français.

11-2-12 - Cas de force majeure
Do I need to make a major case about the French expression cas de force majeure? Learn all about it here.

11-1-12 - Faire un temps de Toussaint
What does the French expression faire un temps de Toussaint mean? Learn all about it here.

10-31-12 - Telling Time
Learn how to tell time in French. This multi-part lesson includes notes, sound files, and practice exercises to help master telling time in French.

10-31-12 - Halloween in France
What is Halloween? Where did it come from? Why and how is it celebrated in France?

10-30-12 - Eating and Shopping in France
Eating in France can be an adventure. There is a staggering range of food choices, from different types of restaurants to specialty food shops, not to mention that most French of food places, le marché. For those of us not lucky enough to be born into the wonderful world of French cuisine, new help is at hand in the form of a French audiobook.

10-29-12 - French Negative Pronouns - Pronoms négatifs
French negative pronouns, sometimes called indefinite negative pronouns, are made up of two parts which surround the verb, and are used to negate, refuse, or cast doubt on the existence of the noun that they replace.

10-28-12 - "French" Expressions
There are dozens of expressions in English which contain the word "French," like French cleaners, French drain, and French leave, but are these things actually French? Take a look at this list with the French equivalents and the literal translations - you might be surprised.

10-27-12 - Expressions with n'importe
The French indefinite expression n'importe, which literally means "no matter," can be followed by an interrogative adjective, adverb, or pronoun in order to designate an unspecified person, thing, or characteristic. Learn all of these expressions with n'importe.

10-26-12 - A la fois
It's time to learn what the French expression à la fois means - click to read my lesson.

10-25-12 - Perfect Participle - Passé composé du participe présent
The French perfect participle is used to describe a condition existing in the past or an action that took place right before another action. It means the same thing as après + l'infinitif passé, with one difference: the perfect participle can have a different subject than the main clause. Having studied this lesson, you'll have no trouble with the French perfect participle.

10-24-12 - Passer à l'heure d'hiver
What does the French expression passer à l'heure d'hiver mean? Learn all about it here.

10-23-12 - What day is it?
Beyond the actual vocabulary, there are a few things to know about the day of the week in French, including if and when to use the definite article.

10-22-12 - Envoyer sur les roses
Is the French expression envoyer sur les roses as rosy as it sounds? Learn all about it here.

10-21-12 - Past Infinitive - Infinitif passé
The French past infinitive indicates an action that occurred before the action of the main verb, but only when the subject of both verbs is the same. The past infinitive sounds awkward in English - we usually change it to another tense or reword the sentence completely.

10-20-12 - Keep a French Journal - French Project
There are any number of ways to practice French every day, and one easy and interesting one is to keep a French journal. This project, which can be done in class or independently, is fully adaptable for any level and duration.

10-19-12 - Ça m'est égal
Do you care what the French expression ça m'est égal means? Learn all about it here.

10-18-12 - Ne littéraire
What I call the ne littéraire is the phenomenon in literary writing (and, to a much lesser extent, spoken French) whereby certain verbs and constructions need ne but not pas in order to be negative. Note that the use of pas in these constructions is not prohibited, simply optional.

10-17-12 - À la une
What does the French expression à la une mean? Learn all about it here.

10-16-12 -ci - French suffix
The French suffix -ci can be added to nouns or demonstrative pronouns to mean this, these, or the latter.

10-15-12 - Expressions with chercher
The French verb chercher literally means "to look for" or "to search for" and is also used in many idiomatic expressions. Learn how to court danger, pick a fight, search for one's path in life, and more with this list of expressions with chercher.

10-12-12 - Au contraire
What does the French expression au contraire mean? Learn all about it here.

10-11-12 - French webquest
A webquest is an interesting project for French classes or for independent studiers looking to spice up their self-instruction. This project is perfect as a long-term activity for intermediate and advanced students, though it can also be adapted for beginners.

10-9-12 - Expressions with mieux
The French word mieux literally means "better" or "best" and is found in many idiomatic expressions. Learn how to say best interests, in excellent health, adapt and survive, and more with this list of expressions with mieux.

10-8-12 - La Haute Route
Practice your French listening comprehension with the last two parts of this low-intermediate level audio journal about a hiking trip through the Swiss Alps.

10-6-12 - Online translation 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.

10-5-12 - Pas mal
The French expression pas mal is more than just a response to ça va. Learn all about it here.

10-4-12 - The Subjunctivator!
The Subjunctivator is an interactive tool that helps improve your knowledge of which French verbs and expressions take the subjunctive.

10-3-12 - Fickle French Adjectives
There are a number of French adjectives which have different meanings depending on where they are placed. Generally speaking, when the adjective precedes the noun, it has a figurative or subjective meaning, whereas the adjective which follows the noun has a literal or objective meaning.

10-2-12 - Eil / eille - French pronunciation
Learn how to pronounce the French letter combinations EIL and EILLE.

10-1-12 - Expressions with quelque
The French word quelque literally means "some" and is also used in many idiomatic expressions. Learn how to say in a little while, somewhat, in a word, and more with this list of expressions with quelque.

9-30-12 - Warm ups and fillers
Most language teachers find that there is a bit of dead time during class. This may occur at the beginning of class, as the students are arriving; at the end of class, as they are thinking about leaving; and right in the middle of class, when transitioning from one lesson to another. During this dead time, the best option is to spend five or ten minutes on a short, interesting activity.

9-28-12 - Bon débarras !
What does the French expression Bon débarras ! mean? Learn all about it here.

9-27-12 - Imperfect subjunctive
The French imperfect subjunctive (imparfait du subjonctif) is a literary verb form used in formal writing, such as literature, journalism, and history. Like all literary verb forms, you really only need to be able to recognize the imperfect subjunctive, not use it.

9-26-12 - Devoir vs Falloir
The French verbs devoir and falloir can be confusing because they both express obligation and necessity, but in different ways. In addition, each verb has a different meaning when followed by a noun.

9-25-12 - Là- French Prefix
The French prefix là- can be added to certain adverbs to mean "there" or "that." Here is is the complete list of expressions with là-.

9-24-12 - Listening: La Haute Route
Practice your French listening comprehension with parts 16, 17, and 18 of this low-intermediate level audio journal about a hiking trip through the Swiss Alps.

9-21-12 - Tirer plus vite que son ombre
What does the French expression tirer plus vite que son ombre mean? Learn all about it here.

9-20-12 - Negative adjectives
French negative adjectives, sometimes called indefinite negative adjectives, are made up of two parts which surround the verb. Negative adjectives (ne aucun, ne nul, ne pas un) negate, refuse, or cast doubt on a quality of the noun they modify.

12-29-09 - Past Imperative
The French past imperative is very rare, because its usage is restricted to a single situation: it gives a command for something that must be done before a certain time.

9-19-12 - 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.

9-18-12 - 12 Underused French Verbs
Even after nearly a decade of French classes and numerous visits to France, there were some verbs that I didn't use until I moved here and was immersed in the language and culture. Some I had never learned, while others just seemed unusual or unnecessary. In case you're in the same boat, here are a dozen French verbs that I find essential in France, even if my French teachers didn't seem to think so.

9-17-12 - Expressions with payer
The French verb payer literally means "to pay" and is also used in many idiomatic expressions. Learn how to fob someone off with empty promises, take a risk, make sacrifices, and more with this list of expressions with payer.

9-16-12 - Think French
Think French is an online French audiomagazine suitable for intermediate French learners - read my review.

9-15-12 - Your worst French mistake
We've all made plenty of French mistakes over the course of our language learning, but some are far worse than others. You know what I'm talking about: the ones where we inadvertently embarrassed or even insulted someone, just by using the wrong word. It could be fun, interesting, and possibly even cathartic to share the stories of the worst French mistakes we ever made, so don't be shy - share your worst French mistake, and we can all learn to avoid these treacherous French pitfalls.

9-14-12 - À peu près
What does the French expression à peu près mean? Learn all about it here.

9-13-12 - Exclamative adjectives
Exclamative adjectives are placed in front of nouns to express admiration, astonishment, indignation, or another strong sentiment, and take the same form as French interrogative adjectives: quel, quels, quelle, quelles. Learn how to exclaim in French with this lesson.

9-11-12 - Ci- French prefix
The French prefix ci- is often placed in front of adverbs, prepositions, adjectives, and past participles to indicate location, as in ci-dessous and ci-joint.

9-10-12 - Infinitive
The infinitive is the basic, unconjugated form of a verb, sometimes called the name of the verb. We usually learn French verbs in the infinitive, since that is what you start with in order to conjugate them, but in fact the French infinitive can also be used several different ways without any conjugation.

9-9-12 - Celebrities who speak French
If your students don't see any point in learning French, maybe Jodie Foster and Johnny Depp can help: we've compiled a list of famous non-native French speakers around the world - if your students know how many cool people speak French, they might realize how cool French really is!

9-7-12 - Honi soit qui mal y pense
What does the French expression Honi soit qui mal y pense mean? Learn all about it here.

9-6-12 - Present participle
The French present participle is the verb form that ends in -ant. It is far less common than its English counterpart, which ends in -ing. The French present participle may be an adjective, gerund, noun, or verb.

9-5-12 - La Haute Route
Practice your French listening comprehension in parts 13, 14, and 15 of this low-intermediate level audio journal about a hiking trip through the Swiss Alps.

9-4-12 - Œil - French pronunciation
Learn how to pronounce the letter combination œil in this lesson with sound files.

9-3-12 - Expressions with champ
The French word champ literally means "field" and is also used in many idiomatic expressions. Learn how to say sphere of activity, battlefield, having room to move, and more with this list of expressions with champ.

9-2-12 - "Le moment quand..."
What's wrong with saying "Le moment quand..."? Learn about this French mistake.

9-1-12 - How to pronounce French wines
If you love French wine but hate ordering it, here's a page that can help. This list of French wines and related vocabulary includes sound files to help you pronounce the names of French wines.

8-31-12 - Se mettre sur son trente et un,  exp with être, mettre, sur, numbers?
What does the French expression se mettre sur son trente et un mean? Learn all about it here.

8-30-12 - Francophonie Report
Researching a francophone region or country and writing a report or country study is an interesting project for French classes or for independent studiers looking to spice up their self-instruction. This project is perfect as a long-term activity for intermediate and advanced students, though it can also be adapted for beginners.

8-29-12 - Top French Verbs
Of the thousands of French verbs, there are a few that get used far more than the rest, so you need to make sure that you know what they mean and how to use and conjugate them. Here are lessons and conjugations for the 10 most common French verbs.

8-28-12 - Expressions with meilleur
The French word meilleur literally means "better" or "best" and is found in many idiomatic expressions. Learn how to say best wishes, cheaper, might makes right, and that's not all with this list of expressions with meilleur.

8-27-12 - À la rentrée
What does the French expression à la rentrée mean? Learn all about it here.

8-25-12 - French Lyrics Lectures
If you like French music, you'll love the new online course 100 French Lyrics Lectures. Every weekday, robot professor Binary Bob Botley will send you an audio lecture explaining the lyrics to a top French hit, along with the printed French lyrics and English translation. Classes start on 3 September - visit the website for more details and to download the songs before the course starts.

8-24-12 - Avoir une dent contre quelqu'un
What does the French expression avoir une dent contre quelqu'un mean? Learn all about it here.

8-23-12 - First day teaching tips
What should you do on the first day of French class? Students may be new to language learning or coming back from vacation, so is it better to have some fun or dive right into grammar and vocabulary? Take a look a these excellent first day teaching suggestions shared by teachers.

8-22-12 - La Haute Route, parts 10-12
Practice your French listening comprehension in parts 10-12 of this low-intermediate level audio journal about a hiking trip through the Swiss Alps.

8-21-12 - 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.

8-20-12 - Expressions with laisser
The French verb laisser literally means "to leave" and is also used in many idiomatic expressions. Learn how to abandon something, leave room to maneuver, drop everything, and more with this list of expressions with laisser.

8-18-12 - Tongue Twisters - Virelangues
Tongue twisters, known as virelangues in French, are words or phrases which are repeated as quickly as possible as a test of the speaker's ability to correctly pronounce the succession of similar sounds. For French students, virelangues provide an interesting insight into the French language as well as a way to practice phrases which are difficult even for native speakers.

8-17-12 - C'est parti
What does the French expression c'est parti mean? Learn all about it here.

8-16-12 - Food in French
Whether you're traveling in Europe or just going out to a local French restaurant, food is one of the necessities of life, so here are some key French words and phrases related to food.

8-15-12 - Position of French adjectives
The use of French adjectives can be difficult, because they may be placed before or after the noun, depending on their type and meaning. My lesson and this video can help you understand where to put French adjectives.

8-14-12 - All about Comme
The French word comme can be a conjunction, adverb, or part of an adverbial phrase and is one of the most common French words.

8-13-12 - "Tu ne fais pas ça"
What's wrong with saying "tu ne fais pas ça" to mean "you just don't do that"? Learn about this French mistake.

8-11-12 - French names
There are hundreds of common French first names. Some of them look just like their English counterparts, others are fairly similar, and still others may be uniquely French. These pages include more than 200 of the most popular French names, along with their pronunciation and English equivalents.

8-9-12 - Interrogative adjectives
It is grammatically incorrect to say "What book do you want?" rather than "Which book do you want?" but English speakers do it anyway. Not so in French: quel must be used whenever there is more than one noun that you are choosing between.

8-7-12 - La Haute Route
Practice your French listening comprehension in parts 7, 8, and 9 of this low-intermediate level audio journal about a hiking trip through the Swiss Alps.

8-6-12 - Expressions with sans
The French preposition sans means "without" and is also used in many expressions. Learn how to say homeless, otherwise, barefoot, and more with this list of expressions with sans.

8-3-12 - Tomber dans les pommes
What does the French expression tomber dans les pommes mean? Learn all about it here.

8-2-12 - Singulars and Plurals
Nouns are not always singular in both French and English. This lesson include lists of words that are singular or uncountable one language but plural in the other.

8-1-12 - Le chassé-croisé des juillettistes et des aoûtiens
It's that time of year again for the French expression le chassé-croisé des juillettistes et des aoûtiens. Learn all about it here.

7-31-12 - Dishes and silverware
Learn the French terms related to dishes, silverware, and setting the table, as well as some idiomatic expressions using this vocabulary: Dishes

7-30-12 - French mistake: "Je habite"
What's wrong with saying "je habite"? Learn about this French mistake.

7-27-12- Si tu veux
The French expression si tu veux can mean more than just "if you want." Learn all about it here.

7-26-12 - French Past Tenses ~ Le Passé
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. Learn the difference between the passé composé and the imperfect with this lesson.

7-24-12 - Voyage du Col de la Forclaz à Champex
Practice your French listening comprehension in part 6 of  La Haute Route, a low-intermediate level audio journal about a hiking trip through the Swiss Alps.

7-23-12 - Expressions with voir
The French verb voir literally means "to see" and is also used in many idiomatic expressions. Learn how to see stars, see life through rose-colored glasses, wait and see, and more with this list of expressions with voir.

7-20-12 - Manger le morceau
What does the French expression manger le morceau mean? Learn all about it here.

7-18-12 - Passive Voice - La Voix passive
The passive voice is used to focus on the person or thing performing the action, or to focus on an action without identifying the performer. Learn how to conjugate, use, and avoid the French passive voice.

7-17-12 - 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.

7-16-12 - Top 10 French gestures
My lessons on French gestures are among the most popular pages on my site, partly because gestures are so frequently used when speaking French, and partly because many gestures are not commonly taught in French classes. Among the dozens of gestures and facial expressions in my lessons, there are ten that really stand out.

7-14-12 - Quatorze Juillet - Bastille Day
Le Quatorze Juillet, la fête nationale française, commémore la prise de la Bastille, qui a eu lieu le 14 juillet 1789 et a marqué le début de la Révolution française. Read my article about Bastille Day in French or English.

7-13-12 - Vive la France !
What does the French expression Vive la France ! mean? Learn all about it here.

7-12-12 - "What" in French
French learners often have trouble deciding how to translate "what" into French. Should it be que or quoi, or maybe that pesky quel? Understanding the difference between these terms is critical to knowing how to use them correctly: "what" in French.

7-10-12 - La Haute Route
Practice your French listening comprehension in part 5 of this low-intermediate level audio journal about a hiking trip through the Swiss Alps.

7-9-12 - Expressions with casser
The French verb casser literally means "to break" and is also used in many idiomatic expressions. Learn how to talk about breaking someone, boring someone stiff, warning someone, making an omelette by breaking eggs, and more with this list of expressions with casser.

7-6-12 - Avoir un poil dans la main
What does the French expression avoir un poil dans la main mean? Learn all about it here.

7-5-12 - Past Participle ~ Le participe passé
The participe passé is the French equivalent of the -ed or -en form of English verbs. It is used in compound tenses, in the passive voice, and as an adjective.

7-3-12 - Verbs with contre
The French preposition contre is required after certain verbs and phrases that need an indirect object.

7-2-12 - Indefinite Pronouns - Pronoms indéfinis
Indefinite pronouns, such as certain, chacun, quelqu'un, on, and tout, are unspecific and are used in place of nouns. They can be the subject of a sentence, the object of a verb, or the object of a preposition.

7-1-12 - Canada Day
July 1st is Canada Day, the national day of Canada. It celebrates the birth of the modern country with outdoor events like parades, fireworks, and picnics.

6-30-12 - French cycling vocabulary
Whether you love cycling or just watching competitions like the Tour de France, which begins on 30 June, you'll want to learn some French terms related to cycling.

6-29-12 - Tenir le coup
What does the French expression tenir le coup mean? Learn all about it here.

6-28-12 - AI / AIS - French Pronunciation
The letters AI in French can be pronounced in one of three ways: like the E in "bed," more or less like the A in "gave," and like the A in "father." Learn more in this detailed lesson with sound files.

6-27-12 - Gender patterns
French gender is a constant headache for many students of French. There's no simple way to know the gender of every noun other than just learning the gender with each word. There are, however, some patterns in suffixes and word endings - certain endings tend to indicate masculine nouns, while other endings favor feminine nouns. These gender patterns are not fool-proof, but they can help you to figure out the gender of many French nouns.

6-26-12 - La Haute Route
Practice your French listening comprehension in part 4 of this low-intermediate level audio journal about a hiking trip through the Swiss Alps.

6-25-12 - Expressions with bouche
The French word bouche literally means any kind of "mouth" - of a person, an oven, a volcano... - and is also used in many idiomatic expressions. Learn how to say food bills, gourmet, astonished, and more with this list of expressions with bouche.

6-22-12 - Péter les plombs
What does the French expression péter les plombs mean? Learn all about it here.

6-21-12 - Formal negation
There are three negative structures particular to formal French. While they are not unheard of in spoken French, they are most commonly found in writing, especially literature: formal negation.

6-20-12 - Imperative - l'Impératif
The imperative is a French mood which is used to give an order, express a desire, offer advice, recommend something, and make a polite request. Learn the conjugations and uses of the French imperative.

6-19-12 - Vers vs envers - French prepositions
The French prepositions vers and envers both mean "toward," but in difference circumstances.

6-18-12 - Actuellement
Did you know that actuellement doesn't actually mean "actually"? Learn about this common French mistake.

6-15-12 - Couper les cheveux en quatre
What does the idiomatic French expression couper les cheveux en quatre mean? Learn all about it here.

6-14-12 - Object pronouns
Object pronouns are those tricky little words in sentences that replace nouns affected by verbs. There are two types: direct objects and indirect objects, and they are some of the most common French words.

6-12-12 - Listening: La Haute Route
Practice your French listening comprehension in part 3 of this low-intermediate level audio journal about a hiking trip through the Swiss Alps.

6-10-12 - Expressions with mettre
The French verb mettre literally means "to put" and is also used in many idiomatic expressions. Learn how to take great care in doing something, spend money on, bolt the door, and more with this list of expressions with mettre.

6-13-12 - Differences between French and English
French and English have both been influenced to varying extents by German and Latin, and they have also influenced one another, so they have some similarities. Perhaps more importantly, however, there are a number of differences, both major and minor, between French and English. Here is a brief outline with links to further information.

6-11-12 - French Soccer Vocabulary
Whether you love playing soccer or just watching games like the Euro 2012, which runs from 8 June to 1 July, you'll want to learn some French vocabulary related to soccer.

6-8-12 - Dis donc
What does the French expression dis donc (or dites donc) mean? Learn all about it here.

6-7-12 - All about Être
Être is one of the most common French verbs. It is irregular in conjugation and literally means "to be." Être is also used in some idiomatic expressions and as an auxiliary verb for compound tenses and the passive voice: learn all about être.

6-6-12 - French Tennis Terms
The French Open finals are this weekend - follow along with this handy list of French vocabulary.

6-5-12 - Causative
The French causative construction, faire + infinitive, is used to describe when someone/something has something done, causes something to happen, or makes someone do something. The reflexive causative, se faire + infinitive, indicates that something happened to someone, possibly against his or her will.

6-4-12 - Si ce n'est pas indiscret
What does the French expression si ce n'est pas indiscret mean? Learn all about it here.

6-6-12 - French Verb Conjugation
Introduction to verb conjugation, the five possible inflections of a verb, and explanation of which conjugation to use for potentially tricky subjects like c'est moi qui... and beaucoup de nos étudiants....

6-1-12 - Le jour J
What does the French expression le jour J mean? Learn all about it here.

5-31-12 - Nouns with two genders
There are a number of French nouns which have different meanings depending on whether they are masculine or feminine: nouns with two genders.

5-30-12 - French mistake: "Ils se sont parlés"
What's wrong with writing "ils se sont parlés"? Learn about this French mistake.

5-29-12 - An vs Année
The French word pairs an/année, jour/journée, matin/matinée, and soir/soirée can be confusing because each pair has a single English translation. The important thing to understand is that the difference between the words in each pair has to do with two different ways of considering time: An vs Année.

5-28-12 - Expressions with temps
The French word temps literally means "time" or "weather" and is also used in many idiomatic expressions. Learn how to say spare time, job sharing, to pause, and more with this list of expressions with temps.

5-24-12 - All about devoir
The French verb devoir has a number of different meanings related to concepts like obligation and probability. Learn about the different uses and meanings of this common French verb: all about devoir.

5-23-12 - Music Lingua
Music Lingua is a music-based French program for kids up to age 8 - read my review.

5-22-12 - Euil and Ueil - French pronunciation
Learn how to pronounce the letter combinations euil (as in feuille) and ueil (accueil) in these lessons with sound files.

5-21-12 - N'importe quoi
What does the French expression n'importe quoi mean? Learn all about it here.

5-20-12 - French grammar glossary
The French grammar and pronunciation glossary provides definitions and links to further information about each of the French verb tenses, pronouns, and other grammatical structures, as well as information about various pronunciation issues. If you don't know the difference between transitive and intransitive, or direct and indirect objects, my French grammar glossary is the place to find out.

5-18-12 - J'arrive
What does the French expression j'arrive mean? Learn all about it here.

5-17-12 - French Preterite ~ Le 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.

5-16-12 - French Movie Vocabulary
Whether you love attending film festivals like le Festival de Cannes (which runs from 16 to 27 May this year), watching movies, or just reading reviews, you'll want to learn some French vocabulary related to movies.

5-15-12 - Listening: La Haute Route
Practice your French listening comprehension with part 2 of this low-intermediate level audio journal about a hiking trip through the Swiss Alps.

5-14-12 - Create a French Magazine ~ French Class Project
Give your students an assignment to create a French magazine, with articles and ads. While this project is best suited for a final project and can be used as the basis for an end-of-term presentation, it can also be adapted for less time - whatever fits your schedule.

5-13-12 - Poll: How do you like your French movies?
The French love dubbed movies, but personally, I can't stand them - I'd much rather read subtitles for any language I don't speak. What about you? Do you have a strong preference for one or the other?

5-11-12 - Tu m'étonnes
You might think you know what the French expression tu m'étonnes means, or you might be surprised. Learn all about it here.

5-10-12 - Demonstrative Pronouns - Pronoms démonstratifs
Demonstrative pronouns (this one, that one, these, those) refer to a previously-mentioned noun in a sentence. In French, demonstrative pronouns must agree with the gender and number of the noun they modify: celui, celle, ceux, celles.

5-9-12 - "C'est une fait"
What's wrong with saying "c'est une fait"? Learn about this French mistake.

5-8-12 - Compound tenses and moods
Conjugations for the different French verb tenses and moods can be divided into two categories: simple and compound. This lesson explains everything you need to know about the more complicated compound conjugations.

5-7-12 - Expressions with pouvoir
The French verb pouvoir literally means "to be able to" and is also used in many idiomatic expressions. Learn how to be beside oneself, to be fed up, to do what you can, and more with this list of expressions with pouvoir.

5-4-12 - Faire cadeau
What does the French expression faire cadeau mean? Learn all about it here.

5-3-12 - True Cognates
Even if you're just starting to learn French, you already know 1,700 words. True cognates are words that are spelled (although not pronounced) identically in French and English and have the same meaning. Take a look at this list of true cognates to discover just how much vocabulary is shared between French and English.

5-2-12 - Lequel - French Pronoun
Lequel is arguably the most difficult French pronoun. In addition to the fact that it belongs to two different categories of pronouns and can also be an adjective, lequel has to agree with its antecedent and contract with certain prepositions. Learn everything you need to know about troublesome lequel with this lesson.

5-1-12 - Drinks - French Vocabulary
Eat, drink, and be merry! If you want to purchase your favorite beverage at a restaurant, bar, or grocery store, you need to be able to say it in French. Here's a list of the most common drinks, with sound files. À la vôtre !

4-30-12 - Expressions with sur
The French preposition sur means "on" and is also used in many expressions. Learn how to say immediately, red-handed, by order, and more with this list of expressions with sur.

4-27-12 - Je n'y suis pour rien
What does the French expression je n'y suis pour rien mean? Learn all about it here.

4-26-12 - All about avoir
Avoir is one of the most common French verbs. It is irregular in conjugation and literally means "to have." However, it is also used in numerous idiomatic expressions and as an auxiliary verb - learn all about avoir.

4-25-12 - Past anterior
The French past anterior is the literary equivalent of the pluperfect. It is used in literature and historical accounts to indicate an action in the past that occurred before another action in the past. Because it is a literary tense, you don't need to practice conjugating it, but it is important for you to be able to recognize the past anterior.

4-24-12 - 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.

4-23-12 - Expressions with vouloir
The French verb vouloir literally means "to want" and is also used in many idiomatic expressions. Learn how to hold a grudge, only half want something, wish someone well, and more with this list of expressions with vouloir.

4-20-12 - Avoir un cheveu sur la langue
What does the French expression avoir un cheveu (sur la langue) mean? Learn all about it here.

4-19-12 - The Importance of Accents
Think accents don't matter when writing or typing in French? Think again! There are dozens of French word pairs which are spelled (though not always pronounced) the same other than accents. To avoid confusion, you should always distinguish between these accent homographs by using the correct accents.

4-18-12 - French Pronoun Finder
Want to learn more about a particular pronoun but don't know what type it is? The French pronoun finder is an alphabetical list of all the different French pronouns and includes links to the relevant lessons.

4-17-12 - La Haute Route
Practice your French listening comprehension with this low-intermediate level audio journal about a hiking trip through the Swiss Alps.

4-16-12 - Expressions with coup
The French noun un coup literally refers to a shock or blow. It is also used in dozens of idiomatic expressions, noun clauses, and prepositional phrases. Learn how to talk about luck, glances, surges of anger, love at first sight, and much more with this list of expressions with coup.

4-13-12 - Entre chien et loup
What does the French expression entre chien et loup mean? Learn all about it here.

4-12-12 - The Senses
Learn French words and verbs related to the five senses, as well as some French vocabulary related to the sixth sense.

4-11-12 - Expressions with arriver
The French verb arriver literally means "to arrive" and is also used in many idiomatic expressions. Learn how to arrive safe and sound, to manage to do something, to not be able to hold a candle to, and more with this list of expressions with arriver.

4-10-12 - Meilleur vs Mieux
Meilleur and mieux can be confusing to French students. Meilleur is the comparative and superlative form of bon (good), while mieux is the comparative and superlative form of bien (well). When translating into English, there is no difference between meilleur and mieux, hence the confusion.

4-9-12 - Dormir sur ses deux oreilles
What does the French expression dormir sur ses deux oreilles mean? Learn all about it here.

4-6-12 - J'en peux plus
What does the French expression j'en peux plus mean? Learn all about it here.

4-5-12 - French Semi-Auxiliary Verbs
In addition to the auxiliary verbs avoir and être, French has a number of semi-auxiliary verbs; that is, verbs which are conjugated in order to express various nuances of time, mood, or aspect and are followed by an infinitive.

4-4-12 - Conditional perfect, 2nd form
The second form of the French conditional perfect is a rather strange verb tense/mood. It is the literary equivalent of the conditional perfect and can easily be mistaken for the pluperfect subjunctive, since they are conjugated identically.

4-3-12 - Expressions with soir and soirée
The French words soir and soirée both mean evening and are also used in many expressions. Learn how to say evening meal, night owl, formal wear, and more.

4-2-12 - En avril, ne te découvre pas d'un fil
What does the French expression en avril, ne te découvre pas d'un fil mean? Learn all about it here.

3-30-12 - Tant pis
What does the French expression tant pis mean? Learn all about it here.

3-29-12 - French Exclamations
Exclamations are words or phrases that express a desire, an order, or a strong emotion. There are several different French grammatical structures that can be used as exclamations.

3-28-12 - All about Paraître
Paraître is a very common and useful French verb. It is irregular in conjugation, can be used impersonally, and means "to appear" or "to seem."

3-27-12 - Verbs with sur
The French preposition sur is required after certain French verbs and phrases that are followed by an indirect object, but there is sometimes no equivalent preposition in English.

3-26-12 - Les chiens ne font pas des chats
What does the French proverb les chiens ne font pas des chats mean? Learn all about it here.

3-23-12 - Ce n'est pas grave
What does the French expression ce n'est pas grave mean? Learn all about it here.

3-22-12 - Pluperfect subjunctive
The French pluperfect subjunctive is the least common literary tense - it's the literary equivalent of the past subjunctive. Like all literary tenses, the pluperfect subjunctive is used only in literature, historical writings, and other very formal writing, so it is important to be able to recognize it but chances are that you will never in your life need to conjugate it.

3-21-12 - Mnemonic être verbs
There are certain French verbs which require être as the auxiliary verb in the passé composé, and students sometimes have a hard time remembering them. You will eventually know instinctively which verbs take être, but in the meantime, you might want to try one of these mnemonic devices.

3-20-12 - Dans - French Preposition
The French preposition dans usually means "in," but also has some other English equivalents, depending on the context. Dans cannot be followed directly by a noun, but rather must be followed by an article or some other determiner.

3-19-12 - Jeter la pierre
What does the French expression jeter la pierre mean? Learn all about it here.

3-15-12 - 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.

3-13-12 - Quand vs Lorsque
What's the difference between the conjunctions quand and lorsque, the similar-looking expressions lorsque and lors de, and the temporal terms lors de and pendant? That's what this lesson is all about.

3-12-12 - Mettre de l'eau dans son vin
What does the French expression mettre de l'eau dans son vin mean? Learn all about it here.

3-9-12 - On ne sait jamais
What does the French expression on ne sait jamais mean? Learn all about it here.

3-8-12 - Past perfect
The French past perfect, or pluperfect, is used to indicate an action in the past that occurred before another action in the past. The latter can be either mentioned in the same sentence or implied.

3-6-12 - Expressions with dans
The French preposition dans means "in" and is also used in many expressions. Learn how to say at first, towards the end, to faint, and more with this list of expressions with dans.

3-5-12 - Tomber dans le panneau
What does the French expression tomber dans le panneau mean? Learn all about it here.

3-7-12 - All about Que
The French word que, which contracts to qu' in front of a vowel or mute h, has numerous uses and meanings. This lesson includes links to detailed information on each use of que.

3-2-12 - Un coup de fil
What does the French expression coup de fil mean? Learn all about it here.

3-1-12 - French Astronomy Vocabulary
Learn French vocabulary related to astronomy to talk about planets, stars, and other celestial objects.

2-28-12 - Bon vs Bien
The French words bon and bien are often confused because they have somewhat similar meanings, and because they can both be adjectives, adverbs, or nouns. Learn about this confusing French pair.

2-27-12 - Être à côté de la plaque
What does the idiomatic French expression être à côté de la plaque mean? Learn all about it here.

2-26-12 - Expressions with en
The French preposition en means "on" or "in" and is also used in many expressions. Learn how to say backward, live broadcast, in any case, and more with this list of expressions with en.

2-23-12 - French mistake: "Bon matin"
What's wrong with saying bon matin? Learn about this French mistake.

2-22-12 - French toolbar
Install my free French toolbar in your internet browser for easy access to useful tools like a French dictionary, verb conjugator, codes for typing accents, and daily French features.

2-21-12 - French weather vocabulary
Ready to make some serious small talk? Learn how to chat about the weather in French.

2-20-12 - Ce n'est pas mardi gras aujourd'hui
What does the French expression ce n'est pas mardi gras aujourd'hui mean? Learn all about it here.

2-18-12 - Make a Mardi Gras Mask
Mardi Gras is celebrated in many francophone regions. Mardi Gras masks are a traditional part of this annual celebration, and making them is a fun and very creative project.

2-16-12 - Invariable Adjectives ~ Adjectifs invariables
In French, adjectives normally have to agree with the nouns they modify in gender and number. However, there are numerous adjectives which don't agree - they have a single form that does not change to reflect the gender or number of the noun. Many colors and most words borrowed from other languages are invariable in French.

2-15-12 - French Mardi Gras vocabulary
Mardi gras is an annual celebration called le mardi gras (literally, "fat Tuesday") or le carnaval in French.

2-14-12 - Il m'aime un peu, beaucoup, passionnément, à la folie, pas du tout
If there's any possibility that you are suffering from unrequited love, you might want to learn the expression Il m'aime un peu, beaucoup, passionnément, à la folie, pas du tout.

2-13-12 - Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir ?
It's often heard in songs and movies, but what does the French expression Voulez-vous coucher avec moi ce soir really mean?

2-12-12 - French terms of endearment
French has all kinds of interesting terms of endearment, including a rather odd assortment of barnyard animals. Check out this list of French terms of endearment to use with your loved ones (both romantic and familial).

2-11-12 - What is the most romantic language?
Vote in our wildly unscientific poll.

2-12-12 - French love language
If French is the language of love, what better language is there with which to express your love? Here are some key French words and phrases related to love, friendship, and special occasions.

2-10-12 - Figure-toi
What does the French expression figure-toi mean? Learn all about it here.

2-9-12 - Demonstrative Adjectives - Adjectifs démonstratifs
Demonstrative adjectives (this, that, these, those) are words used in place of articles to indicate a specific noun. In French, they must agree in gender and number with the nouns they modify (ce, cet, cette, ces). Learn about these essential adjectives and then take the test.

2-8-12 - French mistake? "Beaucoup des"
What's wrong with saying beaucoup des? Learn about this potential French mistake.

2-7-12 - Expressions with rien
The French pronoun rien usually means "nothing" and is also used in many expressions. Learn how to say for no reason, not a chance, worthless, and more with this list of expressions with rien.

2-6-12 - Attacher lundi avec mardi
What does the French expression attacher lundi avec mardi mean? Learn all about it here.

2-5-12 - Le look - franglais
Le look and its permutations are some of my favorite franglais terms.

2-4-12 - 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.

2-3-12 - Conditional
The conditional is a verb mood used for events that are not guaranteed to occur; often they are dependent on certain conditions. The French conditional is usually translated as "would" in English.

2-2-12 - La Chandeleur / Crêpe Day
In France, 2 February is la Chandeleur, Fête de la Lumière, or crêpe day. It's customary to eat crêpes and do some fortune telling, and there's a fun game for French classes too.

2-1-12 - 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.

1-31-12 - Only - Not Only
There are two common French equivalents for the restrictive "only" in English: seulement and ne... que. These two terms mean essentially the same thing, but seulement is an adverb of quantity while ne... que is a negative adverb, so they're used a bit differently - learn more.

1-30-12 - Appeler un chat un chat
What does the French expression appeler un chat un chat mean? Learn all about it here.

1-27-12 - Ça ne fait rien
What does the French expression ça ne fait rien mean? Learn all about it here.

1-26-12 - French Relative Pronouns ~ Pronoms relatifs
Like its English counterpart, a French relative pronoun (qui, que, lequel, dont, où) links a dependent/relative clause to a main clause. There are no one-to-one equivalents for these words; depending on context, the English translation may be who, whom, that, which, whose, where, or when.

1-25-12 - Imperfect ~ Imparfait
The French imperfect (imparfait) is a descriptive past tense which indicates an ongoing state of being or a repeated or incomplete action. The beginning and end of the state of being or action are not indicated, and the imparfait is very often translated into English as "was" or "was ___-ing."

1-24-12 - Expressions with matin and matinée
The French words matin and matinée both mean "morning" and are also used in many expressions. Learn how to say dawn, repeatedly, sleep late, and more with this list of expressions with matin and matinée.

1-23-12 - Tu ne manques pas d'air
What does the French expression tu ne manques pas d'air mean? Learn all about it here.

1-19-12 - Informal Negation - pas de ne
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.

1-17-12 - Depuis, Pendant, Pour
The French prepositions depuis, pendant, and—far less commonly—pour each express the duration of an event in French a little differently, with the result that many English speakers mix up depuis and pendant and overuse pour. This lesson explains the different meanings and uses for each preposition.

1-16-12 - French mistake: "Tu peux s'asseoir"
What's wrong with saying "tu peux s'asseoir"? Learn about this French mistake.

1-15-12 - Expressions with faire
The French verb faire literally means "to do" or "to make" and is also used in many idiomatic expressions. Learn how to build castles in the air, turn a deaf ear, act like a child, and more with this list of expressions with faire.

1-13-12 - Bon marché
What does the French expression bon marché mean? Learn all about it here.

1-12-12 - Future Tense - Le Futur
The future is one of the simplest French tenses. There is only one set of endings, and most verbs - even those which are irregular in the present tense - use their infinitive as the root for the future tense. After studying this lesson, you will be able to talk about future events.

1-11-12 - Expressions with à
The French preposition à means "to," "at," or "in" and is also used in many expressions. Learn how to say definitely, nearby, at the same time, and more with this list of expressions with à.

1-10-12 - All about même
The extremely versatile and useful French word même can be an indefinite adjective, indefinite pronoun, or adverb, and is also used in some expressions.

1-9-12 - Assimilation
Assimilation is a pronunciation phenomenon which causes consonant sounds to change according to the sounds that surround them. More specifically, assimilation occurs when voiced and unvoiced sounds are combined. Because it can be difficult to pronounce voiced and unvoiced sounds together, one or the other is assimilated: either a normally voiced consonant becomes unvoiced or a normally unvoiced consonant becomes voiced.

1-8-12 - Buying French Supplies
I review a lot of French products for this site, from books to CDs, and some of the best are very pricey. As a die-hard francophile, I tend to cut other corners in order to be able to afford the very best French tools, but since that's not always possible, I've come up with this list of tips to help you find your "must have" French supplies at the best possible prices.

1-7-12 - À rebours
What does the French expression à rebours mean? Learn all about it here.

1-6-12 - Present Tense
The French present tense, called le présent or le présent de l'indicatif, is pretty similar in usage to the English present tense, but there are some differences. Learn all about it with this lesson.

1-5-12 - 2012 Calendars
Keep track of your rendez-vous - check out these French-themed calendars, including a free printable version made by yours truly.

1-4-12 - Subjunctive of irregular verbs
While not as difficult as using the French subjunctive, conjugating the subjunctive of irregular and stem-changing verbs can be a little tricky.

1-3-12 - Galette des rois
Après toute l'excitation de Noël et du Nouvel An, il reste une dernière tradition française intéressante : le tirage des rois. Read my bilingual article.

1-2-12 - All about 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.

1-1-12 - Bonne Année et bonne santé
New year wishes à la française: Bonne Année et bonne santé.

1-1-12 - New Year's Resolutions
Another new year is almost 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.

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