French grammar isn’t just about rules—it’s your gateway to mastering one of the world’s most beautiful and widely spoken languages. Grasping the basics, like nouns, verbs, adjectives, and sentence structure, will help you express yourself confidently and understand native speakers with ease. In this article, we’ll break French grammar into simple, clear sections with plenty of examples to make learning straightforward and enjoyable.
Nouns and Gender (Les Noms et le Genre)
In French, every noun has a gender: masculine or feminine. This concept might feel foreign to English speakers, but it is a central part of the language. The gender of a noun affects other words related to it, such as articles (the equivalent of “the” or “a”) and adjectives.
Identifying Gender
Masculine nouns often end in these endings:
• -age (le fromage – the cheese)
• -ment (le bâtiment – the building)
• -eau (le bateau – the boat)
• -isme (le tourisme – tourism)
Feminine nouns usually end in these endings:
• -tion (la nation – the nation)
• -sion (la décision – the decision)
• -té (la liberté – freedom)
• -ée (la vallée – the valley)
• -ure (la voiture – the car)
Plural Forms of Nouns
1. General Rule
To make a noun plural, you usually add -s to the singular form.
• le chat (the cat) → les chats (the cats) / un chat (a cat) → des chats (cats)
• une maison (a house) → des maisons (houses)
2. Nouns Ending in -s, -x, or -z
These nouns remain the same in the plural form:
• un bus (a bus) → des bus (buses)
• un cours (a course) → des cours (courses)
• un prix (a price) → des prix (prices)
• un choix (a choice) → des choix (choices)
• un nez (a nose) → des nez (noses)
• un gaz (a gas) → des gaz (gases)
Even though the spelling stays the same, the article (un → des) indicates the plural form.
3. Nouns Ending in -eau, -au, or -eu
Add -x instead of -s:
• un château (a castle) → des châteaux (castles)
• un drapeau (a flag) → des drapeaux (flags)
• un morceau (a piece) → des morceaux (pieces)
• un cadeau (a gift) → des cadeaux (gifts)
• un vœu (a wish) → des vœux (wishes)
• un feu (a fire) → des feux (fires)
4. Nouns Ending in -al
Most change -al to -aux:
• un animal (an animal) → des animaux (animals)
• un journal (a newspaper) → des journaux (newspapers)
However, some nouns are exceptions and simply add -s instead of changing their ending.
This happens because French grammar has evolved with variations over time, and some words retained simpler forms for pluralization.
Exceptions:
• un festival (a festival) → des festivals (festivals)
• un carnaval (a carnival) → des carnavals (carnivals)
The exceptions are irregular forms that need to be memorized individually.
5. Irregular Plurals
Irregular plural nouns in French don’t follow standard pluralization rules. Instead, their forms change entirely or follow unique patterns. Here are some examples:
• Un œil (an eye) → des yeux (eyes)
• Un cheval (a horse) → des chevaux (horses)
• Un travail (a job) → des travaux (works/jobs)
These irregularities often occur with nouns ending in -al or -ail or are exceptions learned through practice.
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Articles (Les Articles)
In French, articles are words that define a noun as specific or unspecific. They come in three types: definite articles, indefinite articles, and partitive articles.
1. Definite Articles (Les Articles Définis)
Definite articles are used to refer to a specific noun that is known to the speaker and listener. In English, this is equivalent to “the.”
| Gender/Number | Article | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine Singular | le | le livre (the book) |
| Feminine Singular | la | la maison (the house) |
| Singular Before Vowel | l’ | l’arbre (the tree), l’école (the school) |
| Plural | les | les enfants (the children) |
Usage:
• To talk about something specific: J’aime la musique (I like the music).
• To refer to general categories: Les chats sont mignons (Cats are cute).
2. Indefinite Articles (Les Articles Indéfinis)
Indefinite articles are used to refer to an unspecified noun, much like “a” or “an” in English.
| Gender/Number | Article | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine Singular | un | un chien (a dog) |
| Feminine Singular | une | une fleur (a flower) |
| Plural | des | des livres (some books) |
Usage:
• To refer to something nonspecific: Elle a un vélo (She has a bike).
• Des can mean “some” in English: Ils ont des idées (They have some ideas).
3. Partitive Articles (Les Articles Partitifs)
Partitive articles indicate an unspecified quantity of something, often translated as “some” or “any” in English.
| Gender/Number | Article | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Masculine Singular | du | du pain (some bread) |
| Feminine Singular | de la | de la soupe (some soup) |
| Singular Before Vowel | de l’ | de l’eau (some water) |
| Plural | des | des fruits (some fruits) |
Usage:
• To talk about uncountable or mass nouns: Je veux du chocolat (I want some chocolate).
• Use “de” instead of “du/de la/des” in negative sentences: Je ne veux pas de café (I don’t want any coffee).
Important Notes:
Contractions with “de” and “à”:
• de + le = du (le goût du pain – the taste of bread).
• à + le = au (Je vais au cinéma – I am going to the cinema).
• Plural contractions: de + les = des; à + les = aux.
Omission of Articles:
Articles are almost always used in French, even when omitted in English: J’aime la musique (I like music).
Pronouns (Les Pronoms)
Pronouns in French are words used to replace nouns to avoid repetition and make sentences more fluid. They can represent people, objects, ideas, or even entire clauses. French pronouns are classified based on their role in the sentence.
1. Subject Pronouns (Les Pronoms Sujets)
These replace the subject of the sentence (the person or thing performing the action).
| English | French | Example |
|---|---|---|
| I | je | Je parle français. (I speak French.) |
| You (singular) | tu | Tu es gentil. (You are kind.) |
| He/It | il | Il mange une pomme. (He eats an apple.) |
| She/It | elle | Elle chante bien. (She sings well.) |
| We | nous | Nous allons au parc. (We are going to the park.) |
| You (plural/formal) | vous | Vous apprenez vite. (You learn quickly.) |
| They (masculine/mixed) | ils | Ils jouent au football. (They play soccer.) |
| They (feminine) | elles | Elles dansent bien. (They dance well.) |
2. Direct Object Pronouns (Les Pronoms d’Objet Direct)
These replace nouns that directly receive the action of the verb.
| English | French | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Me | me/m’ | Il m’aime. (He loves me.) |
| You (singular) | te/t’ | Je te vois. (I see you.) |
| Him/It | le/l’ | Je le connais. (I know him/it.) |
| Her/It | la/l’ | Je la vois. (I see her/it.) |
| Us | nous | Il nous invite. (He invites us.) |
| You (plural/formal) | vous | Je vous entends. (I hear you.) |
| Them | les | Je les adore. (I love them.) |
3. Indirect Object Pronouns (Les Pronoms d’Objet Indirect)
These replace nouns that are the indirect recipient of the verb’s action, often introduced by à (to).
| English | French | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Me | me/m’ | Il me parle. (He speaks to me.) |
| You (singular) | te/t’ | Je te donne un cadeau. (I give you a gift.) |
| Him/Her | lui | Je lui écris une lettre. (I write him/her a letter.) |
| Us | nous | Il nous offre des fleurs. (He gives us flowers.) |
| You (plural/formal) | vous | Je vous pose une question. (I ask you a question.) |
| Them | leur | Je leur parle. (I speak to them.) |
4. Reflexive Pronouns (Les Pronoms Réfléchis)
Used with reflexive verbs to indicate that the subject performs the action on itself.
| English | French | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Myself | me/m’ | Je me lève. (I get up.) |
| Yourself | te/t’ | Tu te laves. (You wash yourself.) |
| Himself/Herself/Itself | se/s’ | Il/elle se repose. (He/she rests.) |
| Ourselves | nous | Nous nous amusons. (We are having fun.) |
| Yourselves | vous | Vous vous préparez. (You are getting ready.) |
| Themselves | se/s’ | Ils/elles se promènent. (They are taking a walk.) |
5. Possessive Pronouns (Les Pronoms Possessifs)
Indicate ownership and replace a noun.
| English | French | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Mine (m/f/pl) | le mien/la mienne/les miens/les miennes | C’est le mien. (It’s mine.) |
| Yours (tu form) | le tien/la tienne/les tiens/les tiennes | C’est la tienne. (It’s yours.) |
| His/Hers/Its | le sien/la sienne/les siens/les siennes | C’est le sien. (It’s his/hers.) |
| Ours | le nôtre/la nôtre/les nôtres | C’est le nôtre. (It’s ours.) |
| Yours (vous form) | le vôtre/la vôtre/les vôtres | C’est le vôtre. (It’s yours.) |
| Theirs | le leur/la leur/les leurs | C’est le leur. (It’s theirs.) |
6. Relative Pronouns (Les Pronoms Relatifs)
Link clauses together by replacing a noun mentioned earlier.
| English | French | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Who/Which/That | qui | L’homme qui parle est gentil. (The man who is speaking is kind.) |
| Whom/That | que | Le livre que je lis est intéressant. (The book that I’m reading is interesting.) |
| Whose/Of Which | dont | La fille dont je parle est là. (The girl whose name I mentioned is here.) |
| Where/When | où | La ville où je vis est belle. (The city where I live is beautiful.) |
7. Demonstrative Pronouns (Les Pronoms Démonstratifs)
Point to something specific.
| English | French | Example |
|---|---|---|
| This one/That one | celui/celle | C’est celui que j’aime. (That’s the one I like.) |
| These ones/Those ones | ceux/celles | Ceux-ci sont mes amis. (These are my friends.) |
8. Interrogative Pronouns (Les Pronoms Interrogatifs)
Used to ask questions.
| English | French | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Who/Whom | qui | Qui vient ce soir ? (Who is coming tonight?) |
| What | que/quoi | Que fais-tu ? (What are you doing?) / De quoi parles-tu ? (What are you talking about?) |
| Which/Which one | lequel/laquelle/lesquels/ lesquelles | Lequel préfères-tu ? (Which one do you prefer?) |
9. Partitive Pronouns (Les Pronoms Partitifs)
Refer to an undefined quantity.
| Pronoun | Replaces | Example |
|---|---|---|
| En Focuses on “some/any” or origin (de). | – “de + noun” – Partitive articles (du, de la, des) – Expression of quantity (un, beaucoup de) – Origin/possession (de [place/thing]) | Tu veux du pain ? Oui, j’en veux. (Do you want some bread? Yes, I want some.) Il a trois pommes. Il en a trois. (He has three apples. He has three of them.) Elle revient de Paris. Elle en revient. (She is coming back from Paris. She is coming back from there.) |
| Y Focuses on “there” or “to/about it” (à). | – Prepositions of place (à, dans, sur, en, chez) – “à + [thing]” (not a person) | Tu vas à la bibliothèque ? Oui, j’y vais. (Are you going to the library? Yes, I’m going there.) Il pense à son avenir. Il y pense. (He thinks about his future. He thinks about it.) |
Verbs and Conjugations
In French, verbs are words that express actions, states, or occurrences (like “to eat,” “to be,” or “to go”). Conjugation means changing the verb form to match the subject (who or what is doing the action) and the tense (when the action happens).
French verbs are categorized into three groups:
First Group: Verbs Ending in -er
Examples: parler (to speak), aimer (to love), travailler (to work)
Conjugation of parler (Present Tense):
| Subject | Ending | Conjugated Form |
|---|---|---|
| Je | -e | Je parle (I speak) |
| Tu | -es | Tu parles (You speak) |
| Il/Elle | -e | Il parle (He speaks) |
| Nous | -ons | Nous parlons (We speak) |
| Vous | -ez | Vous parlez (You speak) |
| Ils/Elles | -ent | Ils parlent (They speak) |
Second Group: Verbs Ending in -ir
Regular conjugations with a pattern similar to -er verbs.
Examples: finir (to finish), choisir (to choose), réfléchir (to think)
Conjugation of finir (Present Tense):
| Subject | Ending | Conjugated Form |
|---|---|---|
| Je | -is | Je finis (I finish) |
| Tu | -is | Tu finis (You finish) |
| Il/Elle | -it | Il finit (He finishes) |
| Nous | -issons | Nous finissons (We finish) |
| Vous | -issez | Vous finissez (You finish) |
| Ils/Elles | -issent | Ils finissent (They finish) |
Third Group: Irregular verbs and verbs ending in -re
Example: Vendre (to sell)
Remove the -RE ending from the infinitive form.
Add the following endings to the stem:
| Pronoun | Ending | Conjugated Form |
|---|---|---|
| Je | -s | Je vends (I sell) |
| Tu | -s | Tu vends (You sell) |
| Il/Elle | (no ending) | Il vend (He sells) |
| Nous | -ons | Nous vendons (We sell) |
| Vous | -ez | Vous vendez (You sell) |
| Ils/Elles | -ent | Ils vendent (They sell) |
French irregular verbs do not follow standard conjugation patterns. They need to be memorized individually as they have unique forms in different tenses. Here’s a breakdown:
Some Common Irregular Verbs
| Verb | Conjugation | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Être (to be) | suis \ es \ est \ sommes \ êtes \ sont | Je suis heureux. I am happy. Tu es fatigué. You are tired Elle est gentille. She is kind. Nous sommes prêts. We are ready. Vous êtes en retard. You are late. Ils sont ici. They are here. |
| Avoir (to have) | ai \ as \ a \ avons \ avez \ ont | J’ai un chien. I have a dog. Tu as un livre. You have a book. Il a une idée. He has an idea. Nous avons des amis. We have friends. Vous avez un problème. You have a problem. Elles ont des questions. They have questions. |
| Aller (to go) | vais \ vas \ va \ allons \ allez \ vont | Je vais au cinéma. I am going to the cinema. Tu vas à l’école. You are going to school. Il va au travail. He is going to work. Nous allons au parc. We are going to the park. Vous allez à Paris. You are going to Paris. Ils vont au marché. They are going to the market. |
| Faire (to do/make) | fais \ fait \ faisons \ faites \ font | Je fais mes devoirs. I am doing my homework. Tu fais un gâteau. You are making a cake. Elle fait du sport. She is doing sports. Nous faisons une pause. We are taking a break. Vous faites du café. You are making coffee. Ils font du bruit. They are making noise. |
| Pouvoir (to be able to) | peux \ peut \ pouvons \ pouvez \ peuvent | Je peux conduire. I can drive. Tu peux m’aider ? Can you help me? Il peut venir. He can come. Nous pouvons chanter. We can sing. Vous pouvez entrer. You can come in. Elles peuvent danser. They can dance. |
| Vouloir (to want) | veux \ veut \ voulons \ voulez \ veulent | Je veux apprendre le français. I want to learn French. Tu veux un café ? Do you want a coffee? Il veut dormir. He wants to sleep. Nous voulons voyager. We want to travel. Vous voulez manger. You want to eat. Ils veulent jouer. They want to play. |
| Venir (to come) | viens \ vient \ venons \ venez \ viennent | Je viens de la gare. I am coming from the station. Tu viens avec moi ? Are you coming with me? Elle vient maintenant. She is coming now. Nous venons à pied. We are coming on foot. Vous venez ce soir. You are coming tonight. Ils viennent en voiture. They are coming by car. |
| Prendre (to take) | prends \ prend \ prenons \ prenez \ prennent | Je prends un café. I am taking a coffee. Tu prends ton sac ? Are you taking your bag? Elle prend un taxi. She is taking a taxi. Nous prenons le train. We are taking the train. Vous prenez votre temps. You are taking your time. Ils prennent des photos. They are taking photos. |
Verb conjugation depends on three key factors:
• The subject: Verbs agree with the subject in person and number (je, tu, il/elle, nous, vous, ils/elles).
• The tense: Indicates when the action occurs (e.g., present, past, future).
• The mood: Reflects the intention or mode of the verb (e.g., indicative, subjunctive, imperative).
• Subject Pronouns: Je (I), tu (you, informal), il/elle/on (he/she/one), nous (we), vous (you, formal or plural), ils/elles (they).
To conjugate a verb, you remove the ending of the infinitive (e.g., -er, -ir, -re) and add new endings based on the subject and tense.
Steps to Conjugate a Verb:
1. Identify the verb group: Check the verb ending (-er, -ir, -re, or irregular).
2. Find the stem: Remove the ending (-er, -ir, or -re) from the infinitive form.
Example: parler → parl-; finir → fin-.
3. Add the correct endings: Match the subject pronoun (je, tu, il/elle, nous, vous, ils/elles) to its corresponding ending.
Adjectives (Les Adjectifs)
Adjectives in French are used to describe nouns and must agree in gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural) with the noun they modify. Unlike in English, adjectives usually follow the noun they describe.
Key Rules for French Adjectives
1. Gender Agreement
• Masculine: No change for singular masculine nouns.
Example: un chat noir (a black cat), un livre intéressant (an interesting book).
• Feminine: Add -e to make the adjective feminine.
Example: une maison noire (a black house), une histoire intéressante (an interesting story).
2. Number Agreement
Add -s for plural forms.
Example: des chats noirs (black cats), des livres intéressants (interesting books).
3. Placement
• Most adjectives come after the noun.
Example: un livre intéressant (an interesting book).
• Some common adjectives (e.g., beau, petit, grand) appear before the noun.
Example: un petit chien (a small dog).
Some adjectives have irregular forms that must be memorized:
| Masculine Singular | Feminine Singular | Masculine Plural | Feminine Plural | Example in a Sentence |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beau (beautiful) | Belle | Beaux | Belles | Un beau jardin (A beautiful garden). |
| Nouveau (new) | Nouvelle | Nouveaux | Nouvelles | Une nouvelle voiture (A new car). |
| Vieux (old) | Vieille | Vieux | Vieilles | Un vieux bâtiment (An old building). |
Comparison with Adjectives
To compare, use these structures:
• Plus … que: more … than (Elle est plus grande que lui – She is taller than him).
• Moins … que: less … than (Ce livre est moins intéressant – This book is less interesting).
• Aussi … que: as … as (Il est aussi intelligent qu’elle – He is as intelligent as her).
Prepositions (Les Prépositions)
Prepositions in French are small words that link other words together, often showing relationships in time, place, direction, or manner.
1. Prepositions of Place
These describe location or position.
| French | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| à | at, in, to | Je suis à l’école. (I am at school.) |
| dans | in, inside | Le livre est dans le sac. (The book is in the bag.) |
| sur | on, upon | Le téléphone est sur la table. (The phone is on the table.) |
| sous | under | Le chat est sous la chaise. (The cat is under the chair.) |
| devant | in front of | Il est devant la porte. (He is in front of the door.) |
| derrière | behind | La voiture est derrière la maison. (The car is behind the house.) |
| entre | between | La lampe est entre les livres. (The lamp is between the books.) |
2. Prepositions of Time
These indicate when something happens.
| French | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| à | at | Le train part à 8 heures. (The train leaves at 8 o’clock.) |
| en | in (months/years) | Je vais en janvier. (I am going in January.) |
| depuis | since | Il travaille depuis 2025. (He has been working since 2025.) |
| pendant | during, for | Elle a dormi pendant 8 heures. (She slept for 8 hours.) |
| avant | before | Je mange avant le cours. (I eat before class.) |
| après | after | Nous sortons après le film. (We go out after the movie.) |
3. Prepositions of Direction
These indicate movement toward or away from something.
| French | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| à | to | Je vais à Paris. (I am going to Paris.) |
| vers | toward | Il marche vers la plage. (He is walking toward the beach.) |
| de | from | Elle vient de la bibliothèque. (She is coming from the library.) |
| jusqu’à | until | Va jusqu’à la gare. (Go until the station.) |
4. Prepositions of Manner
These describe the way something is done.
| French | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| avec | with | Je coupe avec un couteau. (I cut with a knife.) |
| sans | without | Il mange sans fourchette. (He eats without a fork.) |
| par | by, through | Elle voyage par train. (She travels by train.) |
5. Compound Prepositions
These are made of multiple words.
| French | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| à côté de | next to, beside | La chaise est à côté de la table. (The chair is next to the table.) |
| près de | near | Il habite près de l’école. (He lives near the school.) |
| loin de | far from | Nous sommes loin de la ville. (We are far from the city.) |
| en face de | across from, facing | La banque est en face de la poste. (The bank is across from the post office.) |
Sentence Structure (La Structure de Phrase)
Basic Sentence Structure
The most common structure is:
Subject (Sujet) + Verb (Verbe) + Object/Complement (Complément)
Examples:
• Je mange une pomme. (I eat an apple.)
• Il lit un livre. (He reads a book.)
• Elle regarde la télévision. (She watches television.)
• Nous aimons le chocolat. (We love chocolate.)
Adjective Placement
• Most adjectives come after the noun.
Une maison bleue. (A blue house.), Un chat noir (A black cat).
• Some adjectives, like petit (small) and beau (beautiful), come before the noun.
Un beau jardin. (A beautiful garden.), Un petit chien (A small dog).
Question Formation
French questions can be formed in several ways:
• Intonation: Raise your voice at the end.
Tu viens ? (Are you coming?)
• Inversion: Switch the subject and verb.
Viens-tu ? (Are you coming?)
• Using “Est-ce que”: Add “Est-ce que” before a statement.
Est-ce que tu viens ? (Are you coming?)
Negative Sentences
To make a sentence negative, place ne … pas around the verb.
Examples:
• Je ne sais pas. (I don’t know.)
• Je ne comprends pas. (I don’t understand.)
• Il n’aime pas le chocolat. (He doesn’t like chocolate.)
• Elle ne veut pas aller au concert. (She doesn’t want to go to the concert.)
Pronouns in Sentences
French pronouns often replace nouns and are placed before the verb.
Examples: Je le vois. (I see him.), Nous les achetons. (We are buying them.)
Adding Prepositions
Prepositions like à (to), de (from/of), and avec (with) connect words in sentences.
Examples:
Je parle à Paul. (I am speaking to Paul.)
Elle vient de Paris. (She comes from Paris.)
Je voyage toujours avec mon meilleur ami. (I always travel with my best friend.)
Compound Sentences
Use conjunctions like et (and), mais (but), and ou (or) to link ideas.
Examples:
Je mange et je bois. (I eat and drink.)
Il veut venir, mais il est occupé. (He wants to come, but he’s busy.)
Tu préfères le thé ou le café ? (Do you prefer tea or coffee?)
Using Adverbs
Adverbs usually go after the verb to describe how, when, or where an action happens.
Examples:
Il parle doucement. (He speaks softly.)
Nous travaillons souvent. (We often work.)
Nous allons souvent au parc. (We often go to the park.)
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