Write an essay in French

Beyond the fact that writing an essay in French can be a good practice to improve your writing, you may also be asked to write one during your schooling. So, it is important to study the topic of French essay writing and get some useful tips..

» Tips and tricks for your French essay » The structure of a French essay » Sample French Essay

Tips and tricks for your French essay

When writing a French essay for school, you should always use a structured approach and good French skills to present your arguments in a focused way. Beyond French skills, there are also important formal requirements for a successful French essay. We will come back to this in detail later. First, you will find some useful tips and tricks that will help you write more compelling and better French essays in the future.

  • Have a clear thesis and structure
  • Do sufficient research and use reliable sources
  • Use examples and arguments to support your thesis
  • Avoid plagiarism and cite correctly
  • Always check structure, grammar and spelling

When you write your essay at school or university, you need to make sure that the general structure of your essay, the presentation of the arguments and, above all, your French language skills play a role in the mark you will get. This is why you should definitely take a closer look at the structure of an essay as well as the most important grammar rules and formulations for French essays.

The structure of a French essay

In an essay, you deal at length and in detail with a usually given topic. When you write an essay in French, you must follow a certain structure. Below we show you what this structure looks like and give you some tips for writing the most important parts of your essay.

essay question in french

The Introduction

The introduction prepares the main body of your essay. You think of a meaningful title for your essay, you describe your thesis or your question, you give general information on the subject and you prepare your argument by giving an overview of your most important arguments.

Below are examples and phrases that you can use to write the introduction to your essay in French.

The title should be meaningful, concise and reflect the content of the essay.

Introductory paragraph

The first paragraph of your French essay should briefly introduce the topic and engage the reader. Here are some examples to help you write your essay:

Proposal or question

The central proposition or question of your French essay should be a clear and concise definition of the purpose of the essay. Use these examples to get a clearer idea of ​​how to write theses in French:

Overview of Arguments and Structure

At the end of your introduction, describe the structure of the main part of your essay (your outline) and outline your argument. Here are some French expressions that will certainly help you write your essay:

The body of your essay

essay question in french

The main part of your French essay deals with the given topic in detail. The subject is studied from all angles. The main body of your essay follows a thread of argument and discusses in detail the main arguments of your thesis previously made in the introduction.

In the body of the text, you should discuss the subject of your essay in clear and concise language. To achieve this, we give you some wording aids as well as vocabulary and phrases that you can use to write your essay in French.

Formulation tools:

French vocabulary for essays.

In the conclusion of your French essay, you address the thesis of your essay, summarize the main points of your discussion in the main body, and draw a conclusion. On the basis of the arguments and the resulting conclusions, you formulate in the conclusion of your dissertation final thoughts and suggestions for the future. It is important that you do not add new information or new arguments. This should only be done in the body of your text.

Here are some wording guides to help you write your essay in French:

Sample French Essay

Les avantages des voyages linguistiques

Malgré les difficultés potentielles, les voyages linguistiques offrent aux apprenants une occasion unique d'améliorer leurs compétences linguistiques et de découvrir de nouvelles cultures, ce qui en fait un investissement précieux pour leur développement personnel et académique.

Les séjours linguistiques sont des voyages organisés dans le but d'améliorer les compétences linguistiques des participants. Ces voyages peuvent se dérouler dans le pays ou à l'étranger et durer d'un week-end à plusieurs semaines. L'un des principaux avantages des séjours linguistiques est l'immersion. Entourés de locuteurs natifs, les apprenants sont contraints de pratiquer et d'améliorer leurs compétences linguistiques dans des situations réelles.Il s'agit d'une méthode d'apprentissage beaucoup plus efficace que le simple fait d'étudier une langue dans une salle de classe.

Un autre avantage des séjours linguistiques est l'expérience culturelle. Voyager dans un nouveau pays permet aux apprenants de découvrir de nouvelles coutumes, traditions et modes de vie, et de se familiariser avec l'histoire et la culture du pays. Cela enrichit non seulement l'expérience d'apprentissage de la langue, mais contribue également à élargir les horizons et à accroître la sensibilisation culturelle.

Cependant, les séjours linguistiques peuvent également présenter des inconvénients. Par exemple, le coût du voyage et de l'hébergement peut être élevé, en particulier pour les séjours de longue durée. En outre, les apprenants peuvent être confrontés à la barrière de la langue ou à un choc culturel, ce qui peut être difficile à surmonter. Le coût et les difficultés potentielles des séjours linguistiques peuvent sembler décourageants, mais ils offrent des avantages précieux en termes d'épanouissement personnel et scolaire.

Les compétences linguistiques et les connaissances culturelles acquises peuvent déboucher sur de nouvelles opportunités d'emploi et améliorer la communication dans un cadre professionnel. Les bourses et les aides financières rendent les séjours linguistiques plus accessibles. Le fait d'être confronté à une barrière linguistique ou à un choc culturel peut également être l'occasion d'un développement personnel. Ces avantages l'emportent largement sur les inconvénients et font des séjours linguistiques un investissement qui en vaut la peine.

En conclusion, malgré les difficultés potentielles, les séjours linguistiques offrent aux apprenants une occasion unique d'améliorer leurs compétences linguistiques et de découvrir de nouvelles cultures, ce qui en fait un investissement précieux pour le développement personnel et académique. Qu'il s'agisse d'un débutant ou d'un apprenant avancé, un voyage linguistique est une expérience à ne pas manquer.

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French Essay: Topics, Tips, and Examples [2024 Updated]

Nowadays, knowing several foreign languages is no longer surprising. For example, learning French is common for English-speaking countries. So, getting an assignment on this subject won’t be a surprise for a student.

Writing a French essay, you can dwell into:

  • the history of the French language;
  • various dialects;
  • its grammatical features;
  • similarities between French and English (or another language);
  • the distribution of the language around the globe.

One studying the language may penetrate the rich French culture and comprehend the nation itself. Besides, writing a French essay can develop the author’s writing skills and broaden their outlook. And even if you make mistakes doing so, it’s not the end of the world. The fact that you’re able to recognize them is already good enough, and you can fix complex errors using a free essay rewriter .

Our writers prepared French essay topics and tips for you to nail your task. See the examples below for better understanding.

📯 French Essay Topics

Are you one of those who are assigned to write French essays? Then we suggest you pick out some of the following problems to investigate:

  • History of the French language;
  • Dialects of the French language;
  • French phonology ;
  • French orthography;
  • French grammar ;
  • French alphabet.

The suggested topics are too vague and need narrowing. You may single out some aspects and analyze it in your paper. An excellent French essay topic should be:

  • Broad for you to have enough room to develop your arguments;
  • Narrow enough for you to be able to concentrate on one or several points;
  • It should also be creative and original. You want people to enjoy reading it, right?
  • Most importantly, the topic should be interesting for you.

If the essay topics seem too formal to you, study, for example, your progress in analyzing the French language. Alternatively, you can state what attracts you in the language and explain why. You may also do a comparative analysis of French and some other languages. Comparing French with English may turn out to be a fascinating task to cope with. Both languages will benefit from your French essay writing.

Here are some topics and French essay examples you can consider writing about:

  • Your progress in learning the French language . Here you can write about your personal experience learning the French language. What techniques do you apply, and what motivates you personally? You can explain why you have to learn how to speak French.
  • How are the French language and culture in Southern France different from Parisian? In this essay, you can compare the Southern French dialect and culture with the one in Paris. What are some of the critical phonetic, grammar, and linguistic characteristics of Southern French?
  • Parisian dialect as a standard of French. When people think about the French language, the Parisian variant immediately comes to mind. In this essay, you can analyze why Parisian French became the standard version.
  • Why do you enjoy learning French? This essay focuses on your personal preferences and likes in the process of learning.
  • What makes it fun and enjoyable? Is it French movies, French literature, or understanding French written work documents?
  • French influence on English . Although English is a Germanic language, it looks and sounds a lot like French. The influence which French had on English is significant. Look at some historical reasons (the Norman invasion in particular) and why English benefited from it.
  • French language in 19th century Russia. Not everyone knows that French was the official language of the Russian elite in the 19th century. Discuss the reasons why and what influence French culture had on Russian literature, music, and language.
  • The effect of the French language on the development of English writing . More than 10,000 French words came into the English language. Not only did the vocabulary of English get more prosperous, but the French way of spelling and letter convention influenced English orthography.
  • What caused French to become an aristocratic language in Europe? The reasons why the French language became so dominant throughout Europe are broad. In this essay, you can focus on economic grounds, cultural or political reasons.
  • An analysis of Canadian French. This essay can be a comparative analysis of Canadian and European French. What are the main differences? What are some similarities between the two variants?
  • Is there any similarity between French and German ? All of the languages in the Indo-European language family have some similarities. Therefore, French and German are not exceptions. You can focus on sentence structure, word order, pronunciation, or phonetics.
  • The popular strategies in English-French translation .
  • Describe the challenges of French language acquisition.
  • Analyze the peculiarities of French vowel pronunciation.
  • Cultural events and their traditions in French-speaking countries .
  • Discuss the advantages of learning French.
  • Examine the semantic peculiarities of the French language.
  • Explore the role of watching movies in the French language learning process.
  • Comparison of language education theories.
  • Analyze the impact of French language learning on your personality.  
  • Describe the methods you’ve used to improve your French language fluency and which turned out to be the most effective.
  • Similarities and differences between realism and naturalism in Spanish and French literature .
  • What is the role of the French language in the modern world?
  • Advantages and disadvantages of knowledge of multiple languages .
  • Discuss the role of the French language in the United States.
  • The specifics of learning French in early childhood.
  • Compare the grammar peculiarities of English and French languages.
  • How is the concept of friendship interpreted in American and French cultures?
  • Analyze the correlation between the history of France and French language development.
  • Explore the origin of the French language.
  • Verbal and non-verbal communication in French culture.
  • Examine the crucial role of French literature in learning French.
  • Describe the relationship between French culture and language.
  • Is it a good idea to integrate bilingual programs in early childhood education?
  • Discuss the best ways to prepare for the speaking exam in French.
  • The role of audiovisual materials in learning French.
  • What difficulties did you face when learning to write in French?
  • The essential role of sociocultural context when translating from French.
  • Compare the customs of French, Chinese, and Hispanic cultures.
  • The best methods of learning the second language .
  • Describe the best ways of promoting language development for French language learners.
  • Analyze the methods of French word formation .
  • Would you like to become a French language teacher?
  • Analysis of the food words in English and other European languages.
  • Examine the specifics of the French language in former French colonies.

Do not treat your French essay as an ordinary task to undertake. Make it as creative as possible!

🖋️ How to Write a French Essay

Note that writing on some language problems requires more than your knowledge of the subject matter. It also tests your abilities to present them in terms of academic writing.

Special care should be taken concerning the following:

  • The structural organization of your French essay.

Mostly, it is similar to any other academic essay :

  • It should start with a hook . In simple terms, it is the opening sentence or two of your writing. It can be a quote, a short story, or a catchy statement that grabs the reader’s attention.

Here’s an example of from the sample essay:

Every language is a mirror of society, a living organism that exists and changes under the influence of historical, political, and social conditions.

  • The next part of your essay is a thesis statement . Typically, it should be placed at the end of the first paragraph. The thesis statement’s purpose is to state the central idea in one or two phrases.

Here is a thesis statement from our French essay example:

Today, it is common to study English as a foreign language, as an international means of communication. However, this does not diminish the importance of learning other foreign language like French.

  • After that, the body of the essay should start. This part of the composition usually has three separate paragraphs. These paragraphs can include research, supporting evidence, and arguments that prove the point of view.
  • The conclusion brings together all the points of the essay. It goes back to the thesis statement and explains the broader importance of the topic. It is the last chance to leave a lasting impression on the reader.

Here is an example form our French essay sample:

To conclude, the above discussion provides evidence and arguments that maintain the position according to which learning French is a necessity nowadays. The crucial points are as follows; first, French has a long tradition of international language; second, French is spoken around the globe; third, it is a language of international relationships. The opposing position that English is sufficient for appropriate global communication was claimed unreasonable – an emphasis in this regard was on the essence of cultural and language diversity.

  • The logical organization of your French essay .

There are some ways in which you can coherently write your essay. The following three aspects can guide you when organizing your French essay:

  • Topic sentence : you should mind linking elements within the paragraphs and between them. First of all, each section should include a topic sentence. It aims to identify the central idea and express an overall direction in which the writer will develop the paragraph.

The demand for knowledge of a language has changed in recent years.

  • Concluding sentence: each paragraph should also include a concluding sentence. It asserts the main idea of the section and sums up all the information said in it.

It may be claimed that in a period of rather an aggressive introduction of the Anglo-American language in the world, the French need to persistently and resolutely defend their language, their national interests, and calls on other nations to preserve linguistic diversity.

  • Linking words: it is crucial to use linking words in your essay. Linking words show relationships between ideas. It can be used to build sentences together to develop a cohesive paragraph.

To see the full essay sample, check the link below:

  • Grammar, spelling, and vocabulary.

The last step in writing an A+ French essay is proofreading and editing. Before submitting your academic paper, make sure to pay attention to grammar, spelling, and vocabulary mistakes . Without proofreading, your writing can contain typos and errors that will not leave a good impression.

Good luck with your French essay writing! We hope the article was helpful. If so, share it with your peers and leave a comment below to let us know what you think.

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It is not helpful to me.

Thanks for the help with out this i wouldn’t even know what to do on my essay

Hi, do you also do French powerpoint presentation?

Good advice. Thanks.

This was a very great help. I’m writing a French essay, and I know, thanks to your post and the provided tips on French essay writing, I will pass!

Hi! I just want to thank you for your ideas and tips for writing French essays! Write a French paper in English or write an essay for the French by an American) Funny.

Thanks a lot for the help.

Custom Writing

No problem, Sash:) Good luck!

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French Writing Practice

French writing exercises by level.

Practise your French writing skills with our ever-growing collection of interactive French writing exercises for every  CEFR level from A0 to C1! If you're unsure about your current proficiency, try our test to get your French level  before diving into the exercises.

French writing exercise with Answer

All writing exercises are made by our qualified native French teachers to help you improve your writing skills and confidence.

Kwizbot  will give you a series of prompts to translate to French. He’ll show you where you make mistakes as you go along and will suggest related lessons for you.

Boost your French writing skills by adding the lessons you find most interesting to your  Notebook and practising them later.

Click on any exercise to get started.

A1: Beginner French writing exercises

  • A baseball player Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Genre masculin Sports & Leisure Catherine tells us about her friend Mathieu who plays baseball.
  • A busy sea holiday [US: vacation] Le Présent (Indicatif) Article défini Verbe irrégulier Aline spends her seaside holiday [US: vacation] enjoying water sports.
  • A Christmas feast Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Article Food & Drink Celebrations & Important Dates Sébastien is in charge of Christmas Eve Dinner this year.
  • A day in my cat Max's life Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Pronom réfléchi Family & Relationships Juliette tells about her cat's daily routine.
  • A day in the city of Le Mans Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Adjectif possessif Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Audrey had a nice time visiting Le Mans, in northwestern France.
  • A day with my daughter Le Présent (Indicatif) Adverbe Adjectif possessif Marc loves spending the day with his infant daughter!
  • A declaration of love Verbes réguliers avec -ER Le Présent (Indicatif) Article défini Here's a lovely love letter for your French Valentine.
  • A dream Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Adjectif Family & Relationships Geoffrey tells us about one of his dreams.
  • A favour between colleagues Le Présent (Indicatif) Genre féminin Question/Interrogative Brigitte needs a favour from her colleague Sandra.
  • A French lunch menu Adjectif Article Article partitif Food & Drink Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Here's the typical lunch menu of a French coffee shop.
  • A French woman Le Présent (Indicatif) Genre masculin Genre féminin Employment Élodie tells us about her everyday life as a lawyer specialising in women's rights.
  • A love letter Le Présent (Indicatif) Genre féminin Adjectif possessif Thomas writes a love letter to his girlfriend Julie.
  • A love story Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Adjectif Family & Relationships Cécile and Andrew meet in a bar.
  • A musical family Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Adjectif possessif Music Family & Relationships In Killian's family, everyone loves music!
  • A new bedroom for Manon Adjectif Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Sophie and Damien are doing some cool DIY in their daughter's bedroom.
  • A passion for planes Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Pluriel Léo's little brother loves planes.
  • A quick phone call Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet indirect Pronom d'objet direct Family & Relationships Franck calls his wife Lisa before she leaves work.
  • A quiet New Year's Eve Préposition Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Bastien likes spending New Year's Eve alone at home.
  • A rainy afternoon Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Question/Interrogative Family & Relationships Soizic and Armelle meet up on a rainy day in Brest.
  • A romantic Valentine Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Pluriel Celebrations & Important Dates Family & Relationships Henri tells us about his special plans for Valentine's Day.
  • A stylish couple Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Préposition Karim describes a couple's stylish outfits.
  • A week of good deeds Le Présent (Indicatif) Article défini Article Philippe does one good deed every day.
  • A week of treats Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Article défini To treat her mother, Julie organises a week of Mother's Day gifts.
  • A winter meal Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Pluriel Food & Drink Bernard has his perfect comfort meal for cold nights.
  • Actress Anne Dorval Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Genre féminin Famous People Film & TV Claire tells us about her favourite actress, French-Canadian Anne Dorval.
  • Anne's Easter loot Adjectif Préposition Pluriel Celebrations & Important Dates Anne lists all the treats she found during her Easter egg hunt.
  • Annoying Things Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Adjectif Family & Relationships Philippe and Julien share some of the things that really annoy them.
  • Anthony, hairdresser Le Présent (Indicatif) Genre féminin Pluriel Anthony tells us about his job as a hairdresser.
  • Arnaud and Ophélie describe themselves Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes avec -OIR Verbe irrégulier Family & Relationships Arnaud and Ophélie describe themselves physically.
  • Astérix Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Verbe irrégulier Learn more about this iconic character from French culture.
  • At breakfast Le Présent (Indicatif) Adverbe Adjectif Émilie and Jérémie are having breakfast.
  • At midnight Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Verbes réguliers avec -ER Food & Drink Celebrations & Important Dates Family & Relationships Sébastien's family celebrates Christmas on the evening of the 24th.
  • At the airport Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Article Louis and Lucie are about to get on a plane.
  • At the beach Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Question/Interrogative Verbe irrégulier Food & Drink Sports & Leisure Conversation at the beach between an ice cream vendor and a customer.
  • At the beach Le Présent (Indicatif) Pluriel Verbes réguliers avec -ER Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Tom is telling us about his day at the beach.
  • At the bookshop Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Question/Interrogative Employment Literature, Poetry, Theatre François needs help choosing a book.
  • At the brasserie Le Présent (Indicatif) Question/Interrogative Article Eve orders food at a brasserie in France.
  • At the campsite Préposition Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Benjamin and Thomas have just arrived at the campsite.
  • At the gift shop Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Adjectif démonstratif Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Mike and Linda pick some souvenirs in a Montmartre gift shop.
  • At the newsagent's Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet indirect Pronom d'objet direct Employment Family & Relationships Sophie is buying a few items at a French newsagent's.
  • At the sporting goods store Le Présent (Indicatif) Question/Interrogative Adjectif Sports & Leisure Alain is buying tennis equipment for his son.
  • Baby at the beach Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Préposition Family & Relationships Baby enjoys being at the beach with his family.
  • Back to School Adjectif Le Présent (Indicatif) Pluriel Language & Education Family & Relationships Mathieu tells us about going back to school tomorrow.
  • Ball Sports Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Pluriel Sports & Leisure Vincent and Leila discuss their favourite ball sports.
  • Between neighbours Le Présent (Indicatif) Forme négative Verbes modaux Neighbours Jules and Sarah talk about an upcoming barbecue.
  • Beyoncé Le Présent (Indicatif) Genre féminin Genre masculin Famous People Music Family & Relationships The famous singer introduces herself.
  • Board games Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Adjectif possessif Sports & Leisure Family & Relationships Jonathan is playing board games with his family.
  • Booking a hotel room Le Présent (Indicatif) Question/Interrogative Verbe irrégulier Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Pierre wants to book a room in a hotel.
  • Can I come? Le Présent (Indicatif) Question/Interrogative Préposition Sports & Leisure Family & Relationships Marie chats with her roommate's friend Damien.
  • Clara's list to Santa Le Présent (Indicatif) Pluriel Adjectif possessif Julien's daughter is quite exhaustive in her list to Santa this year!
  • Cleaning with my family Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Deuxième personne Family & Relationships Jonathan and his family are cleaning the house today!
  • Colourful animals Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Article défini Here's a funny and colourful story about animals.
  • Corsica is beautiful! Adjectif Pluriel Le Présent (Indicatif) Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Julien explains why he thinks Corsica is so beautiful.
  • Do you like the French language? Adjectif Le Présent (Indicatif) Genre féminin Language & Education Noémie and Léo have opposite opinions on the French language!
  • Do you like theme parks? Verbes réguliers avec -ER Le Présent (Indicatif) Genre masculin Sports & Leisure Louis and Zoé give their opposite opinions on theme parks.
  • Driving in the city Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Adjectif Sports & Leisure Family & Relationships Sophie and Christophe talk about driving in city centres [US: downtown].
  • Easter decorations Free Adjectif Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Celebrations & Important Dates Sports & Leisure Family & Relationships Alice and her sister Zoé are decorating their house for Easter.
  • Easter preparations Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Verbes réguliers avec -ER Celebrations & Important Dates Language & Education Today, Daniel and his pupils are getting ready for Easter.
  • Émile and I Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Question/Interrogative Family & Relationships Antoine talks about his imaginary friend, Émile.
  • Exchanging a scarf Le Présent (Indicatif) Question/Interrogative Adjectif démonstratif Family & Relationships Christine is returning a scarf to the shop
  • Father of two Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Pluriel Family & Relationships Léon talks about his two beloved children.
  • Father's Day Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Préposition Sophie has a special routine for Father's Day.
  • Filling in a form Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Question/Interrogative Employment Family & Relationships Olivier answers questions from a form.
  • First day at uni Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Article défini Samuel and Gina meet at university.
  • Food shopping for a picnic Le Présent (Indicatif) Question/Interrogative Article Food & Drink Daniel and Aline are buying food for a picnic.
  • For equality Le Présent (Indicatif) Article défini Article Hadrien and Sonia explain why they're for gender equality.
  • Gardening with Jacqueline Le Présent (Indicatif) Genre masculin Adjectif possessif Sports & Leisure Family & Relationships Julia always loves to take care of her aunt's garden with her.
  • Going on a diet Le Présent (Indicatif) Futur Le Futur Proche (Indicatif) Food & Drink Sports & Leisure Family & Relationships Marie has a plan to lose weight this year.
  • Going shopping Adjectif Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Food & Drink Family & Relationships Annie and Nicolas discuss her upcoming trip to the shop.
  • Hanukkah with my family Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Verbes réguliers avec -ER Celebrations & Important Dates Family & Relationships Rachelle celebrates Hanukkah with her family every year.
  • Happy New Year! Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Adjectif Paul loves celebrating the New Year.
  • Healthcare in France Préposition Pronom sujet Le Présent (Indicatif) Learn about France's healthcare system.
  • Hello, my name is France! Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Pluriel Politics, History & Economics The country France introduces itself.
  • Hello! I'm Mario! Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom sujet Pronom Famous People Sports & Leisure The famous plumber introduces himself.
  • Helping my neighbourhood Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Genre féminin Family & Relationships Noémie likes helping her neighbours after school.
  • Helping the planet Le Présent (Indicatif) Article Préposition Technology & Science François does his best to help the planet in his everyday life.
  • How to make a cake Préposition Article Le Futur Proche (Indicatif) Brigitte is going to make a cake today.
  • How to stay healthy Le Présent (Indicatif) Forme négative Article Food & Drink Sports & Leisure Matthieu tells us about his healthy habits.
  • How to vote at a polling station in France? Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Verbe irrégulier Politics, History & Economics Learn how to vote in a French election.
  • Hurray for football [US:soccer]! Verbes réguliers avec -ER Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Annie's brother is a big fan of football [US:soccer].
  • Hurray for snow! Le Présent (Indicatif) Adverbe Adjectif Léo loves snow.
  • Hurray for the city centre! Préposition Le Présent (Indicatif) Article Julien tells us why he loves living in the city centre [US: downtown].
  • Hurray for the internet! Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Adjectif Amir and Chloë talk about why they love the internet.
  • I hate the rain! Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Adverbe Sports & Leisure Annie stays in on rainy days
  • I love camping! Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Genre masculin Anissa goes camping in the summer.
  • I love Hallowe'en! Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Pronom réfléchi Gabriel tells us why he loves Hallowe'en.
  • I, Louis XIV Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Adjectif Famous People Politics, History & Economics Family & Relationships The French king Louis XIV tells us about himself.
  • I'm hot! Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Verbe irrégulier Family & Relationships Marc offers tips for dealing with the heat.
  • I'm Jean Valjean Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Verbes avec -OIR At the beginning of Victor Hugo's "Les Misérables", our hero Jean Valjean knocks on a bishop's door.
  • In a Basque restaurant Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Question/Interrogative Food & Drink Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Pascal wants to try a Basque specialty while visiting Biarritz.
  • In French class Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom sujet Préposition Language & Education Marc explains what his French lessons consist of.
  • In science class Le Présent (Indicatif) Pluriel Article défini Language & Education Family & Relationships Jérôme's favorite subject is science!
  • In the bathroom Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Pluriel Adrien describes his bathroom.
  • Jean-Paul's routine Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Genre féminin Family & Relationships Retiree Jean-Paul loves his morning routine.
  • Job: Postman Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Verbes réguliers avec -ER Employment Philippe tells us about his job as a postman.
  • Job: Veterinarian Le Présent (Indicatif) Adverbe Article What does being a veterinarian entail?
  • Juliette Binoche Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Article Famous People Film & TV The famous French actress tells us about herself.
  • Learning the guitar Le Présent (Indicatif) Genre masculin Troisième personne Music Sports & Leisure Stéphane tells us about his guitar lessons.
  • Léna's family Le Présent (Indicatif) Genre féminin Genre masculin Family & Relationships Meet Léna's close family.
  • Mimi the mermaid Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Article Family & Relationships Mimi the mermaid introduces herself.
  • Mister Grumpy Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Article Family & Relationships Meet Mister Grumpy who hates jokes, humour and pranks!
  • Money and me Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Première personne Politics, History & Economics Thibault and Flora are complete opposite when it comes to money!
  • Montpellier Hérault Rugby club Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Adjectif possessif Sports & Leisure Martin tells us about his favourite rugby club, the MHR.
  • Moods and colours Adjectif Le Présent (Indicatif) Accord Language & Education Family & Relationships Martin likes different colours depending on his mood.
  • Mrs Durand's Menagerie Adjectif Le Présent (Indicatif) Pluriel Family & Relationships Mrs Durand loves her many animals.
  • My active routine Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Verbes réguliers avec -ER Sports & Leisure Thomas's routine reflects his passion for sports.
  • My afternoons with my friend Lise Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Verbes réguliers avec -ER Nora and her friend Lise have a nice Saturday afternoon routine.
  • My astronaut costume Le Présent (Indicatif) Pluriel Adverbe Celebrations & Important Dates Sports & Leisure This year, Hugo is dressing up as an astronaut for Mardi Gras.
  • My basketball team Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Verbes réguliers avec -ER Quentin loves his basketball team!
  • My beautiful car Adjectif Le Présent (Indicatif) Genre masculin Technology & Science Yvan describes his beloved new car.
  • My bicycle ride Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Pluriel Bastien loves his weekend ride in the woods.
  • My children's Hallowe'en Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Adjectif Sports & Leisure Family & Relationships Luc's children are all ready for Hallowe'en.
  • My cousin Benjamin Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Genre masculin Family & Relationships Jonathan talks about his favourite cousin.
  • My daughter and books Le Présent (Indicatif) Pluriel Adjectif possessif Literature, Poetry, Theatre Sports & Leisure Patrick's daughter has a passion for books !
  • My daughter's birthday Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Genre féminin Family & Relationships David's daughter Émilie is turning seven today!
  • My daughters' interests Adjectif Le Présent (Indicatif) Genre féminin Sports & Leisure Family & Relationships Samuel's daughters have very different interests!
  • My dog's birthday Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Préposition Every year, Florian celebrates his dog Max's birthday.
  • My eco-friendly habits Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Verbes réguliers avec -ER Marc tries to help the planet in his everyday life.
  • My favourite desserts Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Article défini Food & Drink Liliane, Sébastien and François talk about their favourite desserts.
  • My favourite instrument Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Verbes réguliers avec -ER Marc and Véronique tell Sabrina what their favourite musical instruments are.
  • My favourite Olympic events Adjectif Le Présent (Indicatif) Genre féminin Celebrations & Important Dates Sports & Leisure Liam is describing his two favourite sporting events at the Olympic Games.
  • My favourite season Le Présent (Indicatif) Article défini Adjectif Bertrand tells us why he prefers fall to other seasons.
  • My favourite summer fruit Le Présent (Indicatif) Article Article défini Lucas tells what fruit he loves eating in the summer.
  • My favourite superheroes Le Présent (Indicatif) Adverbe Verbes réguliers avec -ER Thomas talks about his favourite superheroes.
  • My favourite winter drink Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Adjectif Food & Drink Find out what Coline's favourite winter drink is!
  • My godmother Isabelle and I Le Présent (Indicatif) Genre féminin Adjectif Family & Relationships Simon talks about his great relationship with his godmother.
  • My grandson Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Verbe irrégulier Raymond is completely gaga over his first grandson.
  • My hotel room Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Préposition Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Lucas describes his Paris hotel room.
  • My little sister Le Présent (Indicatif) Genre féminin Genre masculin Family & Relationships Damien's little sister can be pretty annoying.
  • My neighbourhood Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Genre masculin Verbes réguliers avec -ER Family & Relationships Antoine tells us about his neighbourhood's best features.
  • My New Year's resolutions Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Pluriel Celebrations & Important Dates Sports & Leisure Family & Relationships Thierry makes a list of good resolutions for the new year 2020.
  • My shopping list Le Présent (Indicatif) Pluriel Article Food & Drink Family & Relationships Bertrand is getting his shopping list ready.
  • My sister the nurse Le Présent (Indicatif) Genre féminin Adjectif Laure tells us about her sister's job.
  • My staycation Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Pluriel Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Sports & Leisure Arthur is going to enjoy his week of staycation.
  • My three children Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Pluriel Justine tells us about her three beloved children.
  • My turtle Caroline Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Genre féminin Family & Relationships Daniel tells us about his favourite pet.
  • My twin daughters Adjectif Pluriel Le Présent (Indicatif) Family & Relationships Philippe tells us about his lovely identical twins Ella and Emma.
  • My typical snowy day Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Verbes réguliers avec -ER Sports & Leisure Family & Relationships Pauline tells us what she likes to do when it snows outside.
  • My week of activities Le Présent (Indicatif) Article défini Verbes réguliers avec -ER Sports & Leisure Family & Relationships Julien's week is full on activities!
  • Night routine before a test Le Présent (Indicatif) Genre féminin Adjectif Language & Education Technology & Science Antoine's night-before-a-test routine is all about reducing stress.
  • No chores for me! Le Présent (Indicatif) Genre masculin Verbes réguliers avec -ER Family & Relationships Teenager Lise hates doing chores.
  • On the red carpet Adjectif Le Présent (Indicatif) Genre féminin Art & Design Laura admires the stars' outfits as they walk the red carpet.
  • Opposite siblings Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Verbes avec -OIR Family & Relationships Élodie tells us how different she is from her brother Thomas.
  • Portrait of a cat Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Article défini Family & Relationships Marcel the cat is talking about himself.
  • Profession: G.P. [US: family doctor] Le Présent (Indicatif) Genre masculin Pronom démonstratif Employment Technology & Science Thérèse talks about her job as a general practitioner [US: family doctor].
  • Profession: Journalist Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Pluriel José tells us about his job as a journalist.
  • Quebec City Adjectif Genre féminin Adjectif possessif Olivia loves living in Quebec City.
  • Radio news bulletin Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Verbes avec -DRE Politics, History & Economics Here is a short news broadcast.
  • Speed dating Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Verbes réguliers avec -ER Family & Relationships Claudine and Marc get acquainted during a speed dating session.
  • Summer food and drinks Adjectif Article défini Pluriel Food & Drink Léa asks her friends what they like to eat and drink in the summer.
  • Thanksgiving with family Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom réfléchi Préposition Food & Drink Celebrations & Important Dates Sports & Leisure Family & Relationships James tells us about his Thanksgiving traditions.
  • The driving licence test Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Adjectif possessif Language & Education Technology & Science Véronique is taking her driving licence exam.
  • The election of the French president Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Question/Interrogative Politics, History & Economics Learn how the French president is elected.
  • The Hobbies Family Le Présent (Indicatif) Pluriel Première personne Sports & Leisure Family & Relationships In Raphaël's family, everyone has a different hobby!
  • The morning of the first day back to school Le Présent (Indicatif) Genre féminin Adjectif Language & Education Family & Relationships Irène and her daughter Émilie are getting ready for Émilie's first day of school.
  • The woman on the train Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Article Family & Relationships Every morning, Lisa sees this woman on her commuter train.
  • Tips to fight the cold Le Présent (Indicatif) Genre masculin Genre féminin Barnabé is very sensitive to cold, but luckily, he has lots of coping mechanisms!
  • To buy a train ticket Le Présent (Indicatif) Question/Interrogative Verbe irrégulier Family & Relationships Thomas is buying a train ticket at a French train station.
  • To get to the train station Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Verbes réguliers avec -ER Family & Relationships Arnaud asks a passerby for directions to the train station.
  • Toulouse's specialties Adjectif Le Présent (Indicatif) Genre féminin Food & Drink Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Marius and Anaïs talk about the Southern city's delicious specialties.
  • Visit to A&E [US: the ER] Le Présent (Indicatif) Genre féminin Adjectif Employment Technology & Science Lucie talks to a doctor at the hospital.
  • Visiting Orléans Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Verbes réguliers avec -ER Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Matthieu asks for recommendations for his first time visiting Orléans.
  • What is Francophonie? Article Article défini Le Présent (Indicatif) Language & Education Damien explains what francophonie is.
  • What's your favourite artistic activity? Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Adjectif Art & Design Sports & Leisure Nora and Lucien share their favourite artistic activities.
  • When I'm sick Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Article Family & Relationships Julien tells us what he does when he's ill.
  • Where is the town hall? Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Pronom d'objet indirect Sports & Leisure James asks Mélanie for directions.
  • Which French king am I? Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Verbes réguliers avec -ER Politics, History & Economics This mysterious French king tells us about himself... do you recognise him?
  • Why do I love the Alsace region? Genre féminin Adjectif possessif Pluriel Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Sébastien tells us why he loves this French region.

A2: Lower Intermediate French writing exercises

  • 10 house rules for children Mode impératif L'Impératif Présent Préposition Family & Relationships Here are ten rules to make home life nicer.
  • A Creole picnic Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Adjectif L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Food & Drink Monuments, Tourism & Vacations During a visit to La Réunion, Julie and Léo went for a typical Creole meal.
  • A day with Grandad Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Bastien went to visit his granddad at his retirement home.
  • A family of dog lovers L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Genre féminin Family & Relationships Anthony had many dogs growing up, but Pip was special.
  • A few days in Dordogne Free Adjectif Pronom d'objet indirect Pronom d'objet direct Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Monique tells Patrick about her coming holiday [US: vacation].
  • A football accident Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Participe passé Sports & Leisure Family & Relationships Anthony had his friend Bruno over to play...
  • A great party for Mum [US:Mom]! Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Verbes avec être comme auxiliaire L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Celebrations & Important Dates Family & Relationships Manon and her sister Aline treated their mother for Mother's Day.
  • A great weekend Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Verbes avec être comme auxiliaire Adjectif Henri had a lovely weekend.
  • A Hallowe'en party Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Question/Interrogative Le Présent (Indicatif) Amélie's guests are having a Hallowe'en blast!
  • A holiday [US:vacation] letter Adjectif L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Jacqueline writes about her holiday [US: vacation] to her friend Patricia.
  • A love for teaching L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Pluriel Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Damien's passion for teaching started early.
  • A new mother Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Adverbe Rachelle and her boyfriend had to learn how to take care of their baby.
  • A new TV Adjectif L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Présent (Indicatif) Sébastien tells Yvan about the TV he just bought.
  • A nice train journey Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Adjectif Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Family & Relationships Lucie and her boyfriend Marc went to the countryside by train this weekend.
  • A noisy hotel room Le Présent (Indicatif) Adverbe Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Bertrand complains to the hotel reception about noises during the night.
  • A nostalgic walk Adjectif Adjectif possessif L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Bernard's neighbourhood has changed a lot over the years.
  • A romantic trip to Paris Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Verbes réguliers avec -ER Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Family & Relationships Anna took her boyfriend on a romantic trip to Paris.
  • A romantic weekend away Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet indirect Sports & Leisure Family & Relationships Aline and her boyfriend went away for a relaxing weekend.
  • A secret admirer Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Family & Relationships Lucie wonders who her secret admirer is.
  • A sleeper's story L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Adjectif Amélie used to be a real sleepyhead.
  • A Thanksgiving gift Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Participe passé Verbes réguliers avec -ER Tammy's family prepared a Thanksgiving meal for a less fortunate family.
  • A week of beach activities Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Verbe auxiliaire Participe passé Oriane spent the week enjoying beach sports and activities.
  • A weekend of chores Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Préposition Romain and his wife Sabine spent the weekend doing chores.
  • Afternoon ice cream Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Adjectif Food & Drink Lucie and Greg feel like an ice cream this afternoon.
  • An Easter egg hunt Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Préposition Adjectif Celebrations & Important Dates Discover where Julien and his siblings found their Easter eggs!
  • An Italian holiday [US: vacation] Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Préposition Julia's girlfriends went on an Italian holiday [US: vacation].
  • Apple tart Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Participe passé Verbes réguliers avec -ER Bruno helped his aunt make her famous apple tart.
  • Arriving at the hotel Pronom d'objet direct Mode impératif Pronom d'objet indirect Employment Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Aline checks into her Parisian hotel.
  • At a Fatals Picards concert Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Adverbe Adjectif possessif Julien and his friend Matthieu went to see the French band Les Fatals Picards on stage.
  • At my best friend's wedding Pronom d'objet direct Le Présent (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Family & Relationships Patrick gives a toast at Stéphane's wedding.
  • At rapper Soprano's concert Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Troisième personne Genre masculin Music Romain was thrilled to finally see his idol Soprano live!
  • At the allergist's Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Article défini Employment Technology & Science Pierre went to the allergist to get a diagnosis.
  • At the bar Le Présent (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Forme négative Food & Drink Au bar Patricia and Samuel discuss what drinks they want to order.
  • At the bureau de change Le Présent (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Préposition Employment Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Patrick needs to change some dollars upon arriving in Paris.
  • At the Chinese restaurant Le Présent (Indicatif) Forme négative Article Food & Drink James is ordering food in a Chinese restaurant.
  • At the cinema Le Présent (Indicatif) Adverbe Genre masculin Thibault and Aïssa enjoy an evening at the movies.
  • At the dermatologist's Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet indirect Pronom d'objet direct Employment Technology & Science Manon needs help with her eczema.
  • At the farmers' market Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Verbe irrégulier Food & Drink Sports & Leisure Stéphane enjoys a visit to his local farmers' market.
  • At the grocery store Le Présent (Indicatif) Question/Interrogative Préposition Employment Food & Drink Family & Relationships Julie and Frank need some things from the grocery store.
  • At the gym Le Présent (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Hélène is looking to join some classes at her gym.
  • At the library Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Pronom d'objet indirect Sports & Leisure Alexandre is borrowing a book at his local library.
  • At the medieval market in Orléans L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Présent (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Art & Design Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Flora and Sami enjoy Orléans's medieval market.
  • At the mountain restaurant Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Question/Interrogative Food & Drink Gérard and Sylvie stop for lunch after their mountain hike.
  • At the nail salon Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Adjectif Barbara is at the nail salon.
  • At the New Year's Eve House Party Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Adverbe Celebrations & Important Dates Mathieu welcomes his guest at his New Year's Eve house party.
  • At the post office Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Infinitif Family & Relationships Christophe has a few errands to run at the post office.
  • At the shoe store Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Question/Interrogative Family & Relationships Christine is looking for a pair of shoes with the help of a nice sales assistant.
  • At the till [US: cash register] Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Adverbe A customer is offered the shop's loyalty card.
  • Bastille Day in the South of France Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Adjectif L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Celebrations & Important Dates Bernard tells us about celebrating Bastille Day last summer.
  • Bedtime stories L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Adjectif Pluriel Literature, Poetry, Theatre Family & Relationships Florian remembers the bedtime ritual he had with his daughter.
  • Breakfast in the sun Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Adverbe Participe passé Food & Drink Family & Relationships Sabrina surprised Thomas with a nice breakfast on the balcony.
  • Calling the hotel's room service Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom démonstratif Question/Interrogative Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Valérie calls room service from her hotel room.
  • Camille Cottin Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Préposition Verbes avec être comme auxiliaire The French actress introduces herself.
  • Chocolate mousse cooking tips! Mode impératif Le Présent (Indicatif) L'Impératif Présent Food & Drink André gives us some tips to make the perfect chocolate mousse.
  • Chocolatier Amaury Guichon Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Verbe irrégulier Inès introduces Thibault to the famous pastry chef and chocolatier.
  • Conversation on the plane Le Présent (Indicatif) Question/Interrogative Adverbe Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Family & Relationships Pascal and Julie get acquainted on a flight to Montpellier.
  • Cooking as a family L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Préposition Adjectif Food & Drink Family & Relationships Yesterday, Antoine and his family made tartiflette together.
  • Dividing the restaurant bill Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Verbes réguliers avec -ER Food & Drink Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Sports & Leisure Isabelle and her friends are splitting the bill at the restaurant.
  • Do you have a favourite male singer? L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Genre féminin Première personne Famous People Music Simone and Amélie are talking about their favourite French-speaking male singers.
  • Do you have any dirty clothes? Le Présent (Indicatif) Question/Interrogative Pronom d'objet direct Family & Relationships Bastien and his mother debate the need for a dirty laundry basket.
  • Drawing a face Adjectif Mode impératif L'Impératif Présent Teacher François asks his pupils to draw a face.
  • Driving in France Le Présent (Indicatif) Adverbe Adjectif Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Technology & Science Here are a few things to be aware of when driving in France!
  • Easter in France Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Article défini Learn more about how French people celebrate Easter.
  • Finding a Father's Day present Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Adjectif Préposition Louna and her brother Nassim went shopping for Father's Day.
  • Fireworks Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Idioms about Time Verbes réguliers avec -ER Celebrations & Important Dates Sports & Leisure Family & Relationships Juliette went to watch New Year's fireworks yesterday.
  • First Christmas Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Adjectif Verbes réguliers avec -ER This year was baby Tristan's first Christmas.
  • First visit to the vet L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Genre féminin Pronom d'objet direct Sébastien's cat just gave birth to four little kittens!
  • Fishing with Dad Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Pluriel Adjectif possessif Sports & Leisure Benjamin went fishing with his father last Sunday.
  • From the city to the countryside Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Verbes avec être comme auxiliaire Marie decided to leave Paris to live in the countryside.
  • Gardening : yes or no? Verbes réguliers avec -ER Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom sujet Thibault and Cécile gives their differing opinions on gardening.
  • Getting ready for the first day back to school Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Genre féminin Pluriel Language & Education Flora got ready for her first day back to school.
  • Getting to know each other Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Employment Family & Relationships New colleagues Julien and Olivier get to know each other over a coffee.
  • Giving up tobacco Le Présent (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Family & Relationships Amélie has stopped smoking and she's so happy about it!
  • Gwoka: Guadeloupe's music Le Présent (Indicatif) Article défini Article Learn about Guadeloupe's traditional music.
  • Holiday [US: Vacation] by the sea L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Préposition Adjectif possessif Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Family & Relationships Édouard remembers his childhood seaside holidays [US: vacations] in the south of France.
  • I love autumn! Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Préposition Food & Drink Sports & Leisure Family & Relationships Jacqueline tells us what she loves to do in the fall.
  • I love my grandmother! Le Présent (Indicatif) Pluriel Préposition Family & Relationships Lucas tells us about his lovely grandmother.
  • I love the mountains! Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Gilles shares why he loves going to the mountains more than going to the seaside.
  • I prefer going skiing Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Comparatif Sports & Leisure Pierre tells us why he prefers going skiing rather than beach holidays.
  • In a taxi Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet indirect Pronom d'objet direct Family & Relationships Magalie needs her taxi to take her for a few errands.
  • In the changing rooms Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Pronom d'objet direct Sports & Leisure Family & Relationships Mélanie is trying on a dress... and testing Pierre's patience!
  • Instagram love Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Préposition Adverbe Family & Relationships Technology & Science Julien and Sandra became famous thanks to their Instagram account.
  • Instructions for a test Mode impératif L'Impératif Présent Préposition Language & Education Teacher Marc read out the instructions for today's French test.
  • It's not my fault! Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Genre féminin Adjectif possessif Teacher Émilie lists her students' funny excuses.
  • Jacques Brel Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Gaston is a big fan of the Belgian singer-songwriter.
  • Jojo is such a joker! Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Genre féminin Family & Relationships Thomas talks about his school friend Jojo, who loves a joke.
  • Last night's party Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Verbes avec être comme auxiliaire Sports & Leisure Family & Relationships Pauline and Adrien discuss yesterday's party at Thomas's house.
  • Les Sables-d'Olonne Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Adjectif Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Julien enjoyed his stay in the seaside town of Les Sables-d'Olonne, in the Pays de la Loire region in France.
  • Lockdown solidarity Free Le Présent (Indicatif) Genre masculin Adjectif possessif Family & Relationships Clément and his neighbours organised to help each other.
  • Making Halloween decorations Pronom d'objet direct Question/Interrogative Préposition Celebrations & Important Dates Sports & Leisure Elsie and her mother are making some spooky Halloween decorations.
  • Mister Snowman Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Adjectif Verbes réguliers avec -ER Mister Snowman was born this morning.
  • Mother's Day presents Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet indirect Pronom d'objet direct Eve and Ornella compare their Mother's Day presents.
  • Movie Date Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Verbes avec être comme auxiliaire Film & TV Family & Relationships Luc was nervous for his first date with Belinda.
  • Movie night at home Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Adverbe Le Présent (Indicatif) Film & TV Food & Drink Pauline and Alex are getting ready to watch a movie at home.
  • Moving in: Calling the electric company Adjectif possessif Le Présent (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Family & Relationships Bruno sets up the electricity account for his new place.
  • Muscle ache Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Family & Relationships Viviane tells her friend Jérôme how going back to the gym left her pretty sore!
  • My afternoon at the funfair L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Sports & Leisure Sébastien spent last Saturday afternoon at the funfair with his friend Matthieu.
  • My breakfast habits L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Genre féminin Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Food & Drink Sophie's breakfast habits have changed quite a lot over time.
  • My children's after-school activities Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Genre féminin Sports & Leisure Family & Relationships Marc's children have picked their after school activities for this year.
  • My cousin and her accordion Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Language & Education Music Aurélie's cousin Lyse plays the accordion.
  • My dad is the best! Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet indirect Verbes réguliers avec -ER Celebrations & Important Dates Family & Relationships Colette talks about her father and how kind he is.
  • My driving licence [US: driver's license] Le Présent (Indicatif) Pluriel Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Family & Relationships Jean-Pierre is taking his driving test tomorrow.
  • My electric car Adjectif Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Le Présent (Indicatif) François is really happy to have bought an electric car, despite a few disadvantages.
  • My favourite team won! Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Genre féminin Yesterday, Anna celebrated her team's victory.
  • My favourite work of art Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Verbes réguliers avec -ER Art & Design Stéphane asks Isabelle, Clémence and Benjamin about their favourite works of art.
  • My gratitude journal Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Genre masculin Benoît gets a lot out of his gratitude journal.
  • My Hallowe'en costume Adjectif Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Genre masculin Daniel tells us how hard it can be to pick one's Hallowe'en costume.
  • My head in the stars L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Préposition Genre masculin Sports & Leisure Family & Relationships Technology & Science Thomas has always had one passion: the stars.
  • My kids' letter to Santa Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Participe passé Pluriel Celebrations & Important Dates Family & Relationships Julia's twins wrote their first letter to Santa.
  • My name is Tintin! Verbes réguliers avec -ER Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Le Présent (Indicatif) Language & Education Literature, Poetry, Theatre Famous reporter Tintin introduces himself.
  • My new glasses L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet indirect Technology & Science Michel recently realised he needed glasses.
  • My trips to the swimming pool with my daughter L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Préposition Sports & Leisure Family & Relationships Brigitte fondly remembers her weekly trips to the swimming pool with her young daughter.
  • My visit to Omaha beach Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Adjectif Verbes avec être comme auxiliaire Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Politics, History & Economics Peter went to visit this famous D-Day beach in Normandy.
  • My weekend with Mum [US: Mom] Free Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Participe passé Adjectif possessif Family & Relationships Claire spent quality time with her mother last weekend.
  • My weekend's activities Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Concordance des Temps Verbe irrégulier Sports & Leisure Éric tells us how the weather affected his weekend.
  • My weekends with Dad L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Pluriel Préposition Sports & Leisure Family & Relationships Alexandre remembers the getaway weekends he used to spend with his father.
  • My work experience placement Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Thomas worked in an office as part of his work experience placement.
  • Napoleon, a Corsican emperor Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Genre L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Famous People Politics, History & Economics Did you know that French emperor Napoleon was from Corsica?
  • Natural disasters Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Verbe irrégulier Technology & Science Frank and Julien talk about natural disasters and their causes.
  • New Year's celebrations in Belgium Adjectif Préposition L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Food & Drink Celebrations & Important Dates Magalie discovered a few Belgian traditions when she spent New Year's there.
  • New Year's plans Le Présent (Indicatif) Le Futur Proche (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Celebrations & Important Dates Yann and Paul are discussing their plans for New Year's Eve.
  • On the first floor of the Eiffel Tower L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Présent (Indicatif) Question/Interrogative Visitors Jenny and Sam chat on the first floor of the famous Eiffel tower.
  • One day in Father Christmas's workshop Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Adjectif Verbes réguliers avec -ER Let's peek through the window to see what the elves are doing.
  • Organising my desk Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Adjectif Adverbe Language & Education Julie got her desk ready to go back to school.
  • Our new family member Adjectif Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Family & Relationships The family is growing bigger with the arrival of Minette, our new cat.
  • Paying bills Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Pronom d'objet indirect Roommates Émilie and Judith discuss bills.
  • Phone call from the bank Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet indirect Pronom d'objet direct Family & Relationships Mr Dupuy gets a phone call from his bank.
  • Picking an outfit Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Pronom d'objet direct Emma is choosing an outfit with the help of her friend Lucie.
  • Playing with my boys Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Pronom sujet Sports & Leisure Family & Relationships Romain likes spending time with his sons.
  • Postcard from Vendée Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Sports & Leisure Juliette writes a postcard from the Vendée region in France to her best friend Matt.
  • Quitting a job Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Employment Michelle had had enough of her boss's disrespect.
  • Reading "The Lord of the Rings" L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Sports & Leisure Family & Relationships Baptiste remembers the first time he read Tolkien's masterpiece.
  • Room for dessert? Le Présent (Indicatif) L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Food & Drink Olivier and his girlfriend Sarah debate having dessert at the restaurant.
  • Saïd Taghmaoui Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Préposition L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Famous People Film & TV Learn about this famous French-Moroccan-American actor.
  • Salad Niçoise recipe Mode impératif L'Impératif Présent Préposition Food & Drink Babette teaches us how to make a salad Niçoise.
  • Segway in the park L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Le Présent (Indicatif) Noémie and her friend Manon went for a Segway ride in Versailles's royal gardens.
  • Senegalese soldiers Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Préposition Politics, History & Economics Learn about these Senegalese soldiers and their role in French History.
  • Studying abroad Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Préposition Language & Education Daniela shares her experience studying abroad for a year.
  • Switzerland Adjectif Article défini Genre Learn more about this Francophone country.
  • Taking Grandma phone shopping L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet indirect Family & Relationships Marielle took her grandmother to buy a mobile phone.
  • Tent or camper van? Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Adjectif Sports & Leisure André and Yann discuss their camping preferences.
  • The birth of my son Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Geoffrey remembers the first time he saw his son.
  • The Grund neighbourhood in Luxembourg City Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Adjectif Verbes réguliers avec -ER Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Joséphine tells us about her favourite area in Luxembourg City.
  • The LU Tower in Nantes Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom sujet Verbes réguliers avec -ER Food & Drink Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Romain visited the famous former biscuit [US: cookie] factory in Nantes.
  • The new menu at the Bistro du Soleil Adjectif Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Le Présent (Indicatif) Food & Drink Julien was happy to discover the Bistro du Soleil's new menu.
  • The perfect couple Le Présent (Indicatif) Adverbe Verbes réguliers avec -ER Family & Relationships Marielle tells us why she thinks that Marc and Julien are the perfect couple.
  • The right to vote in France Adjectif Le Présent (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Politics, History & Economics Find out facts about the right to vote in France.
  • This week Le Présent (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Pluriel Sports & Leisure Family & Relationships Paul talks about his busy week.
  • Tom's first day back to school Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Verbes avec être comme auxiliaire Pronom réfléchi Émilie tells us about her son Tom's first day of school.
  • Two great museums in Nice Le Présent (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Art & Design Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Barnabé tells Hélène about his visits to the Chagall and Matisse museums in Nice.
  • Two major French-speaking female authors Le Présent (Indicatif) Genre masculin Adverbe Language & Education Literature, Poetry, Theatre Eric and Fiona talk about French-speaking authors Myriam Warner-Vieyra and Maryse Condé.
  • Une leçon de ski L'Impératif Présent Mode impératif Adjectif possessif Sports & Leisure Julie and Yvan are having their first ski lesson.
  • Visit of Marseille Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Verbes avec être comme auxiliaire L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Gaspard spent the weekend in Marseille, France.
  • Visiting the Arc de Triomphe in Paris Mode impératif Pronom d'objet direct Le Présent (Indicatif) Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Couple Iris and Samuel are enjoying their visit to this iconic French monument.
  • Visiting Toulouse Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Adjectif Verbes avec être comme auxiliaire Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Bastien and Léa enjoyed their visit of Toulouse's historical centre.
  • Weather forecast Préposition Le Futur Proche (Indicatif) Le Présent (Indicatif) Technology & Science Here's a French weather forecast.
  • Weekend in Lyon Free Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Préposition Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Vincent tells us about the weekend he spent in Lyon with his cousin.
  • Welcome to the Sticks Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Film & TV Mickaël learned a lot from this funny French comedy.
  • What a change! L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Sports & Leisure Family & Relationships Émilie moved from a small village to Paris, and that's a big change!
  • What do you want to watch? Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Pronom d'objet direct Grégoire and Inès decide what they want to watch on TV.
  • When I became a vegetarian Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Forme négative Pronom d'objet indirect Food & Drink Family & Relationships Geoffrey tells us about his journey becoming a vegetarian.
  • Who am I? Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Famous People Politics, History & Economics Guess who this important figure of the French Resistance is.
  • Who is this writer ? Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Adjectif Participe passé Famous People Literature, Poetry, Theatre Guess who this (male) French writer is!
  • Why I learned German L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Préposition Sabrina tells us why she first decided to learn German.
  • Why study French? Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Language & Education Hugo gives us his reasons to pick up French again.
  • Working from home - an opinion L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet indirect Patrick tells us about trying WFH a few months ago.

B1: Intermediate French writing exercises

  • A better commute L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Préposition Pronom relatif Technology & Science Aurélie is looking forward to the new, much better commute she'll have soon.
  • A childhood passion L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Adverbe Sports & Leisure Family & Relationships Vincent and his brother loved video games growing up.
  • A clichéd break-up Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Pronom d'objet indirect Family & Relationships François uses all the clichéd breakup lines to leave his girlfriend Sophie.
  • A dinner invitation Préposition Le Conditionnel Présent Article défini Sabrina invites her friends Louise and Manon to dinner.
  • A family day at the park Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Préposition Food & Drink Sports & Leisure Family & Relationships Benoît will spend this Saturday at the park with his daughter Mia.
  • A French April Fool's Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Préposition Celebrations & Important Dates Sports & Leisure Cécile and her sons are making the traditional French fish for April Fool's day.
  • A friend's apology Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Le Présent (Indicatif) Gaston apologises for hurting his friend Miriam.
  • A game of hide and seek Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Family & Relationships Linda and Christian are watching from afar a game of hide and seek between the children.
  • A gem of a restaurant Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Forme négative Gilles and his wife Martine discovered a little Italian restaurant in town last weekend.
  • A good work routine Verbes réguliers avec -ER Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Genre féminin Employment Marc plans to improve his work routine.
  • A great French handball team Préposition L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Sports & Leisure Sophie and Alex are chatting about the French handball team's chances of winning another gold medal.
  • A greener future Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Verbes réguliers avec -IR Technology & Science Julien is seeing a future where people are more eco-conscious.
  • A Horror Story Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Pronom d'objet indirect Celebrations & Important Dates Family & Relationships On a dark October night, Emma received a disturbing call...
  • A luxury holiday [US: vacation] with friends Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Verbes réguliers avec -IR Alain has the perfect luxury holiday [US: vacation] planned for when he wins the lottery!
  • A special Monday Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Celebrations & Important Dates Sports & Leisure Family & Relationships Anna is looking forward to a lazy Easter Monday!
  • A strange encounter Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Pronom réfléchi Le Présent (Indicatif) Literature, Poetry, Theatre Family & Relationships Yoann had the strangest encounter in the Broceliande forest!
  • A trip to the cinema Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Le Présent (Indicatif) Film & TV Sports & Leisure Antoine and his daughter Emma are planning a trip to the movies.
  • A weather forecast Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Préposition Verbe irrégulier Technology & Science Find out what tomorrow's weather will be like.
  • A weekend in Montpellier Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Le Présent (Indicatif) Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Élise and Lucas plan their weekend in the southern French city.
  • A wonderful job Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Pronom relatif Guillaume loves his job as an A&E [US: ER] doctor.
  • An afternoon in the fall Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet indirect Adjectif Zoë is planning to meet her friend Quentin for a nice October afternoon.
  • An amazing New Year's Eve meal Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet indirect Pronom d'objet direct Food & Drink Celebrations & Important Dates Henriette is planning a dazzling meal for New Year!
  • An annoying cat allergy L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Genre féminin Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Family & Relationships Éloïse suffers from an annoying cat allergy.
  • An awful new boyfriend Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Adverbe Grégory finds his aunt's new boyfriend quite repulsive!
  • An incredibly caring boy L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Adverbe Family & Relationships Lydia's son, Olivier, is such a caring person.
  • An old scary tradition L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Préposition Adjectif Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Celebrations & Important Dates Yoann recalls celebrating the old Celtic tradition of Samhain with his Gran.
  • An opinion on football [US:soccer] Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom relatif Verbes réguliers avec -ER Théo has a nuanced take on football [US:soccer].
  • Anger management Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Adverbe Lucie talks about her techniques to manage her anger.
  • Animal emergency Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Family & Relationships Julien's cat is stuck in the tree!
  • Around the world by motorcycle Le Conditionnel Présent Préposition Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Sports & Leisure Joël would love to travel the world on his motorcycle.
  • Artist Chéri Chérin Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Adjectif Verbes réguliers avec -ER Art & Design Famous People Learn about the amazing Congolese artist Chéri Chérin.
  • Asking about a hotel room Adjectif possessif Verbe irrégulier Pronom d'objet direct Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Catherine has a few questions about the hotel room she's booked.
  • At the amusement park Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Sports & Leisure Thomas will go to the amusement park with his friend Samia for their birthday this year.
  • At the coffee machine Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Forme négative Cyril, Pauline and Eve catch up by the coffee machine on Monday morning.
  • At the doctor's Le Présent (Indicatif) Mode impératif L'Impératif Présent Family & Relationships Robert goes to the doctor for a consultation.
  • At the patisserie Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Le Conditionnel Présent Le Présent (Indicatif) Daniel needs a special cake.
  • At the till Préposition Verbes réguliers avec -ER Le Présent (Indicatif) Employment Sports & Leisure Peter is at the till [US: cash register] of a French supermarket.
  • Back pain L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Adverbe Flora tells the doctor how she hurt her back.
  • Beatrice's baby shower Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Emma and her sister organised their cousin's baby shower.
  • Becoming a model L'Impératif Présent Mode impératif Préposition Art & Design Employment Enjoy some useful tips on becoming a model.
  • Becoming an astronaut L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Pronom d'objet indirect Élodie dreams of becoming an astronaut.
  • Belgian food facts Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Genre Discover some interesting food-related facts about Belgium.
  • Birthday makeover Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Pluriel Adjectif possessif Family & Relationships "New year, new me" Julia thought on her 20th birthday.
  • Booking an appointment at the dentist's Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Pronom d'objet indirect Famous People Marc needs an urgent dentist appointment for a bad toothache.
  • Busy Schedule Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Idioms about Time Family & Relationships Isabelle recaps what everyone will have to do on Saturday!
  • Camping at home Préposition Verbe irrégulier Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Sports & Leisure Gabriel and Rose are making plans for the weekend.
  • Cancelling a purchase L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Préposition Adjectif possessif Justin calls Bokado's customer service to cancel his order.
  • Cathy's future holiday [US: vacation] in Montpellier Free Préposition Verbe irrégulier Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Learn about Cathy's plan to spend her holiday [US: vacation] in Montpellier.
  • Choosing a travel pass in Paris Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet indirect Pronom d'objet direct Susan needs (travel) tickets to visit Paris.
  • Christmas at my parents' house Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Participe passé Verbe irrégulier Quentin spent a classic Christmas with his parents.
  • Christmas in the mountains Le Présent (Indicatif) Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Celebrations & Important Dates Family & Relationships Antoine will spend Christmas at his dad's house in the Alps, if he can get there!
  • Christmas specialities Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Article Food & Drink Celebrations & Important Dates Paul tells us about some traditional French Christmas dishes.
  • Conversation between the election's two rounds Le Présent (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Verbes avec être comme auxiliaire Politics, History & Economics Marc explains the French presidential election process to his friend Alice.
  • Corsican polyphonic singing Genre Verbes réguliers avec -ER Adjectif Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Music Do you know about this bewitchingly melodic tradition from Corsica?
  • Credit card fraud Verbes réguliers avec -ER Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Participe passé Josiane calls her bank about a suspicious transaction.
  • Cycling in Nantes Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Adjectif Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Sports & Leisure Isabelle agrees with Nantes's status as France's "cycling capital".
  • Dalida Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Genre féminin Adjectif possessif Famous People Music Learn about Dalida, an iconic French-speaking singer.
  • Dealing with your emotions Adverbe Adjectif possessif L'Impératif Présent Sports & Leisure Technology & Science Here's a guide to keeping calm.
  • Discussing a ski weekend Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Pronom d'objet direct Sports & Leisure Laurent and his friend Matt are planning their ski weekend.
  • Dreaming of Paris Le Conditionnel Présent Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Family & Relationships Grégory imagines his ideal Valentine's Day's proposal.
  • Easter baking class Préposition Adjectif Pronom d'objet direct Food & Drink Celebrations & Important Dates Flora and Yvan enjoy decorating their Easter chocolate bunnies.
  • Family holiday car trip Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Family & Relationships Let the squabbles begin!
  • Flying anxiety Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Le Présent (Indicatif) Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Family & Relationships Jean-Luc has a plan to deal with his fear of flying.
  • Following the GPS Mode impératif L'Impératif Présent Préposition Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Technology & Science Follow this GPS's instructions to reach your destination.
  • François Damiens's hidden camera videos L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Article Adjectif possessif Philippe and Anissa talk about their favourite hidden camera pranks by François Damiens.
  • Getting ready for autumn Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Verbe irrégulier Celebrations & Important Dates Sports & Leisure Family & Relationships Rosalie won't get caught out by the arrival of autumn this year.
  • Giving up smoking L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Forme négative Family & Relationships François tells us how he managed to stop smoking.
  • Going back in time Le Conditionnel Présent Verbe irrégulier L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Politics, History & Economics Family & Relationships Marine asks Amanda, Bruno and Sébastien what they would do if they could go back in time.
  • Going to the bank Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Préposition Adjectif possessif Family & Relationships Flora and her father need to go to the bank.
  • Guadeloupe's Carnival Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Adverbe Discover this colourful Guadeloupe tradition.
  • Gymnastics enthusiasts Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Genre féminin Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Sports & Leisure Clara and Martine share a passion for gymnastics.
  • How do you like to keep up with the news? Le Présent (Indicatif) Pluriel Troisième personne Vanessa and Ludovic tell us how they stay informed.
  • How to share household chores equally Mode impératif L'Impératif Présent Pronom d'objet direct Family & Relationships Follow Céline's tips to share household chores more equally.
  • I love swimming! L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Sports & Leisure Thomas tells us about his love for swimming and his hope to one day dive from up high!
  • I miss French food! L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Adjectif Pronom d'objet indirect Food & Drink Hélène tells Betty how she's coping with missing French food abroad.
  • I want to help! Le Conditionnel Présent Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Préposition Family & Relationships Suzanne wishes she had more time to help others.
  • I, Lucky Luke Le Conditionnel Présent Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Adverbe Literature, Poetry, Theatre Christophe imagines what he would do if he were the fastest shooter in the West.
  • I've always loved French Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Sports & Leisure Family & Relationships Emily has always had a fascination for the French language.
  • If I could be a child again Le Conditionnel Présent Forme négative Adverbe Laurent would love to be 10 again.
  • If I could start over... Le Conditionnel Présent Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet indirect Employment Language & Education Anne wishes she could do things differently.
  • If I were a chef Le Conditionnel Présent Pronom relatif Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Food & Drink Benjamin tells us of his dream of being a chef.
  • If I were Céline Dion Le Conditionnel Présent Adjectif Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Ornella imagines what it would be like to be the French Canadian star.
  • If I were Wonder Woman Le Conditionnel Présent Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Pronom réfléchi Film & TV Literature, Poetry, Theatre Annie imagines what it would be like to be Wonder Woman.
  • In the changing rooms [US: locker rooms] Pronom d'objet direct Pronom d'objet indirect Forme négative The guys are chatting after football [US: soccer] practice.
  • Interview with a jewellery creator Le Présent (Indicatif) Pluriel Question/Interrogative Art & Design Hugo is interviewing Marie who creates her own jewellery.
  • Ivory Coast: a destination like no other Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Préposition Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Find out why Ivory Coast is such an amazing holiday [US:vacation] destination.
  • Learning to read in French Le Présent (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Language & Education David talks about how he learned to read fluently in French.
  • Let's go back to the gym! Verbes réguliers avec -ER Adverbe Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Olivier and Victoria discuss going back to the gym after the winter.
  • Liberty, Equality, Fraternity Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Adjectif Participe passé Learn about the origin of the French Republic motto.
  • Lighthouses in Brittany Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Politics, History & Economics Learn about the beautiful lighthouses you can find in Brittany.
  • Lockdown shopping Le Présent (Indicatif) Adverbe Préposition Marguerite's Christmas shopping habits will be a bit disrupted this year.
  • Looking for a new house Pronom d'objet direct Pronom d'objet indirect Le Conditionnel Présent Sébastien and Éric are looking at real-estate listings.
  • Looking for a rental car Le Présent (Indicatif) Question/Interrogative Verbes réguliers avec -ER Employment Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Technology & Science Chloé is looking for a rental car for her next trip.
  • Looking for my phone Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Adverbe Pronom d'objet direct Family & Relationships Jonathan lost his phone on the train...
  • Lyon saucisson Adjectif Idioms about Time Genre féminin Food & Drink Learn about Lyon's famous pork sausage and how best to enjoy it.
  • Making friends online Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Participe passé Family & Relationships Technology & Science Find out how Mary made new friends online
  • Marseille's famous people Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Adverbe Préposition Louis and Emma talk about their favourite celebrities from Marseille.
  • Message to my granddaughters Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Verbe irrégulier Family & Relationships Grandmother Viviane has a message for her beloved granddaughters.
  • My brother and his wife Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Genre féminin Pronom d'objet indirect Family & Relationships Marielle tells us about her brother's great relationship.
  • My European trip Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Préposition Verbes réguliers avec -ER Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Jonathan is planning a mini tour of Europe for next year's holiday [US: vacation].
  • My family's breakfasts Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Pluriel Food & Drink Sébastien tells us about his family's different breakfast routines.
  • My favourite things at Easter Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Pronom relatif Celebrations & Important Dates Family & Relationships Alain talks about the things he loves about this time of year.
  • My Hallowe'en Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -IR Verbes réguliers avec -ER Like every year, Bastien will spend Hallowe'en with his nephews.
  • My ideal day Le Conditionnel Présent Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Sports & Leisure Anna tells us how she would spend her ideal day.
  • My ideal garden Adjectif Le Conditionnel Présent Verbe irrégulier Flora imagines her perfect garden.
  • My ideal person Le Conditionnel Présent Adjectif possessif Pronom d'objet direct Family & Relationships Cédric imagines his ideal partner.
  • My love for museum gift shops Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Adjectif Art & Design Laurent loves museums, and their gift shops even more!
  • My neighbour from Hell Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Adverbe Family & Relationships Julie's neighbour, Sonia, is pretty terrible!
  • My new flat [US: apartment] L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Family & Relationships Franck is moving soon into a much nicer flat [US: apartment]
  • My New Year's Eve's celebration Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Verbes réguliers avec -IR Food & Drink Celebrations & Important Dates This year, Paul is hosting New Year's Eve.
  • My next holiday [US: vacation] Verbes réguliers avec -ER Préposition Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Monuments, Tourism & Vacations François has his holiday [US: vacation] to Canada well planned!
  • My post-university plans Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Adverbe Employment Language & Education Antony wants to move to Paris after his studies.
  • My Provence dream Le Conditionnel Présent Pronom relatif Article Juliette dreams of what life would be like if she lived in Provence.
  • New in town Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Adjectif Verbes réguliers avec -ER Family & Relationships Caroline writes in her diary about her plans to make new friends in a new town.
  • New recruit Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Verbe irrégulier Employment Family & Relationships Antoine sums up his first two months in the company.
  • New year, new resolutions Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Comparatif Pronom disjonctif Celebrations & Important Dates Sports & Leisure Family & Relationships Séverine and her friend Maya discuss their future New Year's resolutions.
  • Next summer in Paris Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet indirect Verbes réguliers avec -ER Sabrina will visit her friends in Paris next summer.
  • On the phone to Grandma Pronom d'objet indirect Pronom d'objet direct Pronom démonstratif Family & Relationships Jeanne calls her grandmother to catch up.
  • Our family chalet L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Présent (Indicatif) Genre féminin Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Sports & Leisure Florian tells about his family's chalet tradition.
  • Our Halloween costumes Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Adjectif Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Celebrations & Important Dates Lisa and her friend Olivier discuss what they'll wear for Halloween.
  • Our next family reunion Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Préposition Sophie can't wait to see her family again.
  • Our Parisian holiday Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Préposition Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Anthony has his Paris holiday all planned out.
  • Our plans for Music Day Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Celebrations & Important Dates Music Sabine and Thomas discuss their plans to celebrate Music Day on June 21.
  • Parisian monuments to visit Verbes réguliers avec -ER Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Adverbe Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Chantal and Luc are chatting about the Parisian monuments they've visited.
  • Picking our wedding flowers Adjectif possessif Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Pluriel Perrine has opted for a country-style wedding, with matching flowers.
  • Police check Le Présent (Indicatif) L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Family & Relationships Janine is stopped for a routine police check.
  • Preparing our shopping list Le Présent (Indicatif) Article Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Food & Drink Thibault and Julie are writing their shopping list.
  • Ready for Easter Préposition Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Celebrations & Important Dates Christine and Baptiste discuss their plans for Easter.
  • Ready for school? Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Celebrations & Important Dates Language & Education Family & Relationships Lisa and Jonathan discuss their kids' state of mind before going back to school.
  • Ready for the zombie apocalypse Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Verbes réguliers avec -IR Sébastien explains how he and his friends will deal with the imminent zombie apocalypse.
  • Redecorating the bedroom Préposition Le Présent (Indicatif) Adverbe Art & Design Jean-Marc and Pauline are chatting about redecorating their bedroom.
  • Sailing in the Caribbean Le Conditionnel Présent Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Préposition Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Sports & Leisure Patrick and Sébastien are planning a sailing tour of some of Caribbean islands.
  • Selfies L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Le Présent (Indicatif) Family & Relationships Technology & Science Marc considers the photographic phenomenon of the selfie.
  • Selling stamps Le Présent (Indicatif) L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Christophe needs help to sell a stamp collection.
  • Spanish cooking Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Food & Drink Jean-Luc cooked a Spanish meal for his friends, with mixed results!
  • Splitting the bill Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Adverbe Food & Drink Sports & Leisure Lisa, Julien and Manon have to split the bill at the restaurant.
  • Squabbling Sisters' Scrabble Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Pronom d'objet indirect Sports & Leisure Family & Relationships Maya and Liane are arguing while playing Scrabble.
  • Studying abroad Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Language & Education Louis decided to go study abroad next year.
  • Studying for an exam Pronom d'objet direct Verbe irrégulier Pronom d'objet indirect Language & Education Julie, Matthieu and Laurent discuss their revision strategies.
  • Studying programme Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Préposition Language & Education Jérôme and Thomas have a plan to study for their end-of-semester exams.
  • Surfing in Biarritz Préposition Adjectif Le Présent (Indicatif) Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Sports & Leisure Milo and Stéphane talk about going surfing in Biarritz.
  • Synchronised swimming L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Adverbe Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Frank would love to join a synchronised swimming team.
  • Table for one Question/Interrogative Préposition Mode impératif Food & Drink Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Kelly is trying her luck for a table at a restaurant.
  • The 8 skittles game Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Verbe irrégulier Sports & Leisure Learn about this French version of a classic sport.
  • The best carnivals in the world Le Conditionnel Présent Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Adjectif Celebrations & Important Dates Sports & Leisure Simon asks Mathieu and Lydia what carnival they'd love to go to.
  • The best concert ever! Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Music Laura tells us about the great concert she went to yesterday.
  • The brass band Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Music Alice can't wait to go and see the brass band on Sunday!
  • The Cirque of Mafate in La Réunion Le Présent (Indicatif) L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Find out about an exceptional place to visit on Réunion island.
  • The manga phenomenon in France Adjectif Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Le Présent (Indicatif) Learn more about French people's love for these Japanese comics.
  • The new dad Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Verbes réguliers avec -ER Family & Relationships Christophe wants to share so much with his newly born daughter.
  • The play Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Pronom d'objet indirect Literature, Poetry, Theatre Sports & Leisure Family & Relationships Lucie just joined an after work drama class.
  • The pleasure of traditional mail L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Présent (Indicatif) Adverbe Coralie has always loved sending and receiving letters.
  • The power of love L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Adverbe Gaspard became a new man when he fell in love.
  • The year of the Baccalauréat Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Adverbe Verbes réguliers avec -ER Language & Education Laurent is planning the year ahead to prepare his end-of-high school exams.
  • Travel money in France: what to do and not to do Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Verbes réguliers avec -ER Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Politics, History & Economics Sports & Leisure Listen to Marc, a travel expert, tell people about travel money on a radio show.
  • Trip to Paris Free Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Family & Relationships Mélanie's sister and her husband went to Paris last year.
  • Trip to the theatre Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Adverbe Thierry went back to the theatre last weekend.
  • Two model daughters Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Verbes réguliers avec -IR Family & Relationships Marina and Louise are on their best behaviour to convince their parents to let them go out.
  • Visit to the Chocolate Fair Préposition Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Food & Drink Vincent and his familly will go to the Paris Chocolate Fair this year.
  • Watching the Olympic Games Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Pronom réfléchi Bruno and Flora like following the Olympics.
  • What I love about my partner Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Verbes réguliers avec -ER Adèle talks about her partner's best features.
  • What literary hero would you be? Le Conditionnel Présent Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Adjectif Literature, Poetry, Theatre Michel and Lisa discuss what character from a novel they'd like to be.
  • When I'm retired Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Adjectif Pluriel Sports & Leisure Family & Relationships Bernard tells us what he'll do once he retires.
  • Which band to see? Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Verbes réguliers avec -ER Sabrina and Angélique are deciding which band they want to go see next.
  • Winter weather forecast Préposition Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Film & TV Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Tomorrow's weather forecast is very wintery.

B2: Upper Intermediate French writing exercises

  • "Amélie": my favourite film! Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Le Subjonctif Présent Film & TV Lisa explains why "Amélie" is her favourite film.
  • "Vernon Subutex" - an opinion Le Présent (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Carole tells us why she loves the first volume of Virginie Despentes's trilogy.
  • (Scary) Bedtime stories Le Subjonctif Présent Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet indirect Jasmine talks to her partner Nicolas about the type of bedtime stories he is telling their son.
  • A busy weekend ahead Le Subjonctif Présent Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Mode subjonctif Family & Relationships Olivier sums up his busy schedule for the weekend.
  • A day in the countryside Free Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Préposition Sports & Leisure Family & Relationships Marie spent last weekend in the countryside with her daughters.
  • A great Advent calendar Adjectif Le Présent (Indicatif) L'Impératif Présent Celebrations & Important Dates Sports & Leisure Find out how to make a unique Advent calendar.
  • A great passion for reading L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Le Présent (Indicatif) Literature, Poetry, Theatre Sports & Leisure Florence talks about her grandmother's passion for books.
  • A guided tour of Avignon Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -IR Verbe irrégulier Art & Design Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Our local guide introduces three major monuments from the French city of Avignon.
  • A History of French TV Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Pronom relatif Préposition Film & TV Learn some interesting facts about the beginnings of French TV.
  • A little lost dog L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Sébastien helped a lost dog find his home.
  • A misunderstanding Pronom d'objet direct Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet indirect Family & Relationships Alex is not happy with his friend Samantha who did not show up to meet Alex's new girlfriend.
  • A networking New Year's Eve Le Subjonctif Présent Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Jacques has to go to a networking party for work on New Year's Eve.
  • A nice morning surprise Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Préposition Pronom d'objet direct Food & Drink Lucie will serve a delicious breakfast in bed to her fiancée on their anniversary.
  • A nice table "à la française" Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Le Subjonctif Présent Verbes réguliers avec -ER Food & Drink Jacqueline explains the intricacies of setting the table the French way.
  • A nightmare journey Free L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Family & Relationships Josiane and Robert explain why they're an hour late to their friends' place.
  • A perfect interview L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Employment Léo's just had the best job interview of his life!
  • A professional phone call Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet indirect Pronom d'objet direct Sonia Martel is talking to M. Delarue's executive assistant.
  • A slippery drive Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Adverbe Technology & Science Richard struggled to get to work this morning: everything was frozen!
  • A surprise gift Préposition L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Gaspard remembers a special gift he made for his mother when he was a boy.
  • A year full of changes Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Pronom d'objet indirect Annette reflects back on the last year and its ups and downs.
  • Ahmed the elephant : an Ivory Coast story Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Préposition Participe passé Discover the heartwarming true story of Ahmed the elephant.
  • At the dry cleaner's Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Verbe irrégulier Eric brought his favourite suit jacket to the dry cleaner's.
  • At the football [US: soccer] game Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Participe passé Celebrations & Important Dates Sports & Leisure Henri took his dad to a football [US:soccer] game for Father's Day.
  • At the garage sale Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Patrick explains to Amelle how to find bargains.
  • At the neighbours' house Pronom d'objet direct Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet indirect Food & Drink Family & Relationships Véronique and Bruno are at their neighbours' house for an aperitif.
  • At the repair shop Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Verbes réguliers avec -ER Sabrina needs help with her laptop.
  • At university Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Genre féminin Genre masculin Léa and Laura bump into each other at their new university.
  • Autumn/Winter 2020 trends Verbe irrégulier Préposition Adjectif Discover the Autumn/Winter 2020 fashion trends.
  • Bad Movie Review L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Adjectif Le Subjonctif Présent Film & TV Bernadette delivers a scathing movie review.
  • Barbara L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Genre féminin Famous People Music Laëtitia talks about her passion for fascinating French singer Barbara.
  • Bastille Day in France L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Pronom relatif Adjectif Mathilde remembers how she used to celebrate Bastille Day with her family.
  • Bayonne, France's chocolate capital Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif Préposition Food & Drink Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Learn why Bayonne is considered the French capital of chocolate.
  • Bouldering in Fontainebleau Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Pronom réfléchi Irène loves spending the day rock-climbing in Fontainebleau.
  • Brasserie La Coupole Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Adverbe Food & Drink Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Vincent always eats here when he's in Paris.
  • British National Museums Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Préposition Monuments, Tourism & Vacations National museums are free in the UK, as Paul happily found out.
  • Building a snowman Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Le Subjonctif Présent Sports & Leisure Martine and Bastien enjoyed building a snowman.
  • Camping with your dog Le Présent (Indicatif) Le Subjonctif Présent Mode subjonctif Sports & Leisure Family & Relationships Patrick gives us some advice on taking your dog camping with you.
  • Car breakdown Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Verbes avec être comme auxiliaire Le Plus-que-Parfait (Indicatif) Julien's car broke down at the most inconvenient time.
  • Catherine Ségurane: a local heroine Préposition Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom réfléchi Famous People Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Politics, History & Economics Toni, a tourist guide from Nice talks about local legend Catherine Ségurane.
  • City vs dog poop L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Politics, History & Economics Family & Relationships Alain and Pauline discuss the city's measures to fight against dog waste.
  • Composting is awesome! Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Verbe irrégulier Technology & Science Elsa explains composting to her friend Pierre.
  • Congratulations on your degree! Pluriel Pronom d'objet direct Genre masculin Language & Education Family & Relationships Thomas's aunt and uncle send him an email to congratulate him on getting his Master degree.
  • Conversation between friends Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Pronom d'objet indirect Sports & Leisure Family & Relationships Friends Simon and Isabelle are catching up.
  • Couples' annoying habits Le Présent (Indicatif) Forme négative Verbes réguliers avec -ER Family & Relationships Olivier gets so annoyed by the way couples behave sometimes!
  • DIY with Dad L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Troisième personne Genre masculin Émilie loved spending time in her father's shed.
  • Easter, a family celebration Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Préposition Celebrations & Important Dates Family & Relationships François and his family celebrate the religious holiday of Easter.
  • Extreme cosmetic surgery Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Le Subjonctif Présent Adjectif possessif Anella had several operations to look like her idol, the Barbie doll.
  • Family Reunion Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Family & Relationships At a family reunion, Lea sees her aunt Patricia for the first time in years.
  • Fatherly pride L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Luc is so proud of his daughter's stage debut.
  • Fighting lockdown blues Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet indirect Verbe irrégulier Samia did everything she could to cheer up her grandmother Janine during lockdown.
  • Finding the perfect anniversary gift Pronom d'objet direct Pronom d'objet indirect Le Présent (Indicatif) Family & Relationships Jean-Paul is listing his gift ideas for his wife on their anniversary.
  • First night out after Baby Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Adjectif indéfini Romane couldn't wait to go out with her girlfriends again!
  • Food shopping in farm shops Le Présent (Indicatif) Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Adjectif Food & Drink Politics, History & Economics Find out the advantages and disadvantages of food shopping in a farm shop.
  • French Easter specialties Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Verbes réguliers avec -ER Celebrations & Important Dates Discover some of France's regional Easter specialties.
  • French-style lemon tart recipe Mode impératif L'Impératif Présent Préposition Food & Drink Follow the recipe to make a delicious lemon tart.
  • Garip Ay's amazing paintings Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Pronom relatif Art & Design Jean-Pierre tells us about the work of this fascinating Turkish artist.
  • Getting ready for the holiday [US: vacation] Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Bastien and Alicia are getting ready for tomorrow's departure.
  • Giving back Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom réfléchi Pronom relatif Celebrations & Important Dates Especially during the holiday season, it's good to give back to those less fortunate than us...
  • Going lily-of-the-valley picking Adjectif possessif Pronom d'objet indirect Pronom d'objet direct Sports & Leisure Family & Relationships Jean-Pierre's family goes to pick lily-of-the-valley every year.
  • Happy Father's Day! Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Adverbe Sabrina has prepared the perfect Father's Day for her dad.
  • Heatwave Préposition Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) L'Impératif Présent Politics, History & Economics Technology & Science A weather forecast on one of the hottest days of the year.
  • High cost of cigarette packaging change Préposition Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Politics, History & Economics Learn about the cost of the new policy on cigarette packaging in France.
  • Holiday [US: Vacation] in French-speaking Switzerland Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Adverbe Genre Irène tells Jules how delighted she was by her trip to French-speaking Switzerland.
  • Holidaying abroad: pros and cons Le Présent (Indicatif) Adverbe Verbes réguliers avec -ER Sébastien weighs up his pros and cons of going abroad for the holiday.
  • Horse riding on the beach L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Adverbe Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Iris discovered the joy of horse riding by the sea.
  • How I met your mother L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Le Plus-que-Parfait (Indicatif) Julien tells his children how he met their mother Émilie.
  • How to become an official candidate in the French presidential election? Le Subjonctif Présent Mode subjonctif Le Présent (Indicatif) Learn about the French electoral process to become a presidential candidate.
  • I can't find my shirt! Pronom d'objet direct Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Le Présent (Indicatif) Family & Relationships Claire and Julien are almost ready to go out...except for Julien's missing shirt!
  • In a clothes store Pronom d'objet direct Pronom d'objet indirect Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Sports & Leisure Patrick complains to the sales assistant about a defective item.
  • In the return taxi Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Verbes avec être comme auxiliaire L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Aline talks about her trip with the taxi driver on her way back to the airport.
  • In the woods with my dog Ulysse Le Présent (Indicatif) Infinitif Pronom relatif Gaëlle enjoys her walks through the woods with her dog Ulysse.
  • Jean-Pierre Bacri Pronom d'objet direct Pronom d'objet indirect Adverbe Yann and Élodie loved the great French actor who passed away in 2021.
  • Living abroad Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom relatif Adverbe Bastien thinks that living abroad can only enrich one's life.
  • Lockdown letters Pronom d'objet direct Pronom d'objet indirect Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Alexandre has been sending letters to his grandmother during lockdown.
  • Long time no see! Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Le Présent (Indicatif) Forme négative Family & Relationships Marina and her cousin Tom catch up after quite a while.
  • Louise Bourgeois Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Pluriel Genre masculin Art & Design Famous People Politics, History & Economics Marie-Claire tells us about her favourite French artist.
  • Mice invasion Pronom d'objet direct Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet indirect Family & Relationships Lisa and Paul are discussing options to get rid of Lisa's mice.
  • Moving house chores Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Préposition Family & Relationships Sophie had so many chores to do before moving into her new apartment.
  • My car is a real beater! Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Pronom d'objet indirect Sports & Leisure Technology & Science Yann's car has so many problems!
  • My chosen family L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Préposition Family & Relationships Magalie found her own loving family.
  • My dream invention Le Conditionnel Présent Verbe irrégulier Le Subjonctif Présent Technology & Science Sonia asks Sylvie what invention she'd dream to see becoming a reality.
  • My exotic Christmas Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Préposition L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Celebrations & Important Dates Aline is remembering spending last Christmas in Marrakech, Morocco.
  • My first Easter memory L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Plus-que-Parfait (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Celebrations & Important Dates Family & Relationships Alexandre remembers the first time he went egg hunting.
  • My first music festival L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Plus-que-Parfait (Indicatif) Adjectif Music Amélie recalls the first time she went to a music festival with her best friend Emma.
  • My grandmother's rosebushes L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Pronom d'objet indirect Family & Relationships Lucie tells us about her grandmother's beloved and renowned rosebushes.
  • My hot-headed nephew L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Genre féminin Family & Relationships Michel talks about how his nephew used to get on his nerves.
  • My kids' back to school day Le Subjonctif Présent Le Présent (Indicatif) Mode subjonctif Language & Education Family & Relationships Claire is getting ready for the kids' first day back to school.
  • My life is a hashtag Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Participe passé Family & Relationships Technology & Science Sébastien explains why hashtags are so important in his life.
  • My mother's favourite singer Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Pronom d'objet direct Famous People Music Patricia tells us about her mum's passion for French singer Serge Lama.
  • My passion for French cuisine Le Présent (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Pronom relatif Food & Drink James presents some of the reasons why he loves French cooking.
  • My plan for the day of my exam Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Adverbe Language & Education Sports & Leisure Family & Relationships Viviane has perfectly planned for her exam day.
  • My sense of direction Verbe irrégulier Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Joseph and Sabrina discuss their more or less deficient sense of direction.
  • My sister the future pianist Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Forme négative Music Sports & Leisure Lucas's sister has always dreamed of playing piano.
  • New town, new friends Le Présent (Indicatif) Adverbe Pluriel Family & Relationships Laurence wants to help her daughter make new friends in their new town.
  • New vs old technologies L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Technology & Science Enzo asks retiree Gertrude her opinion on new technologies.
  • New wallpaper in the dining room L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Préposition Pronom d'objet Josiane explains her choice of new wallpaper for the dining room.
  • Nostalgia: pros and cons Le Présent (Indicatif) Le Subjonctif Présent Infinitif Noémie and Alain discuss the pros and cons of nostalgia.
  • Nudist beaches in France Préposition Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Discover some of France's nudist beaches.
  • Oceanopolis is great! Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Préposition Adjectif possessif Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Sports & Leisure Céline tells you about her visit to the ocean discovery park in Brest, Brittany.
  • On the terrace of a fancy restaurant Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Préposition Food & Drink Family & Relationships Jean-Luc and his fiancée are enjoying a meal on the terrace of a fancy restaurant.
  • On Valentine's Day, beware of faux pas! Le Subjonctif Présent Mode subjonctif Le Présent (Indicatif) Family & Relationships Henri gives us tips to pick the right Valentine's Day's present.
  • Our "grown-up" hobbies Préposition Le Présent (Indicatif) L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Viviane and Luc tell us about their respective hobbies: adult colouring and homebrewing.
  • Our camper holiday [US: RV vacation] Pronom d'objet direct L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet indirect Élodie and her cousin Sarah had the best time on their camper holiday [US: RV vacation].
  • Our holiday [US:vacation] in Wallonia Verbes réguliers avec -ER Préposition Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Daniel and Claire are planning their visit to Wallonia [re: French-speaking Belgium].
  • Our new house's renovations Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Le Présent (Indicatif) Family & Relationships Jacques and his partner Louise are planning their new house's renovations.
  • Our plans for Valentine's Day Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Pronom d'objet direct Barnabé and Samia discuss their Valentine's Day plans.
  • Pears in red wine and cassis Mode impératif L'Impératif Présent Préposition Food & Drink Here's chef Paul Bocuse's famous (and delicious) "Poires à la Beaujolaise" recipe.
  • Pisces Horoscope Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Verbes réguliers avec -IR Sports & Leisure Family & Relationships Technology & Science Find out what the predictions are for Pisces this coming week.
  • Planning a camping trip Verbe irrégulier Le Présent (Indicatif) Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Patricia and Alexandre are planning their camping weekend.
  • Playing video games Pronom d'objet direct Pronom d'objet indirect Le Présent (Indicatif) Sports & Leisure Quentin and Lise are playing a racing video game together.
  • Pre-date stress L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Forme négative Préposition Family & Relationships Luc was really nervous last week ahead of his date with the amazing Olivia !
  • Public Transport L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Adverbe Sports & Leisure Family & Relationships François discovered the joys of public transport when moving from a small village to Paris.
  • Rebooking a flight Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Question/Interrogative Employment Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Patrice calls Easyplane to postpone his flight.
  • Roaming charges in France L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Adjectif Préposition Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Technology & Science Lisa, who is French, discusses roaming charges for foreigners visiting France with her British friend Mike.
  • Robbery at the bakery L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Verbes avec être comme auxiliaire Employment Here's a local news article about a robbery.
  • Saving up for Christmas Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Préposition Mode subjonctif Politics, History & Economics Celebrations & Important Dates Nadia has a plan to save money until the Holidays.
  • Sorting out my office Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Adverbe L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Family & Relationships Jean-Pascal's office needed a good clean.
  • Stendhal syndrome Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Participe passé Le Plus-que-Parfait (Indicatif) Learn more about this fascinating, if controversial, affliction.
  • Strasbourg's Christmas Market Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Adjectif Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Celebrations & Important Dates Olivier tells us about one of the most magical Christmas markets in France.
  • Tarte Tatin recipe Préposition Mode impératif Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Food & Drink Learn how to prepare this delicious French apple tart.
  • Thanksgiving celebrations Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Verbes réguliers avec -ER Adam and his friends are making their own Thanksgiving dinner this year.
  • The adventures of Fantômette L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Conditionnel Passé Adjectif possessif Literature, Poetry, Theatre Nadia has always loved the character of Fantômette!
  • The Alsace wine route Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Pluriel Pronom d'objet direct Food & Drink Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Henri is finding out about Laura's trip to Alsace.
  • The Appeal of 18 June 1940 Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Article Article défini Politics, History & Economics Celebrations & Important Dates Discover the historical context around Charles de Gaulle's most famous speech.
  • The benefits of yoga Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom relatif Pronom d'objet Discover a few of the many benefits yoga can bring into one's life.
  • The best hotel booking L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Adjectif Pronom d'objet direct Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Olivier had the most amazing hotel experience!
  • The mental load L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Le Présent (Indicatif) Emma explains how the bulk of household organisational tasks tends to fall on women's shoulders.
  • The Nice Carnaval Préposition Pronom relatif Le Présent (Indicatif) Celebrations & Important Dates Sports & Leisure Guillaume plans on going to the famous Nice Carnaval this year.
  • The Paul Bocuse Institute in Lyon Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Adverbe Verbe irrégulier Famous People Food & Drink Language & Education Marie's son dreams of studying at this world-renowned French cooking school.
  • The Ritz hotel in Paris Préposition Adjectif Le Présent (Indicatif) Famous People Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Learn about one of the most iconic hotels in Paris.
  • The worst holiday [US: vacation] of my life! L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Amandine tells us about her very disappointing holiday [US: vacation]!
  • Thomas Pesquet Préposition Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Famous People Technology & Science Learn about France's most famous astronaut.
  • Toussaint Louverture Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Préposition Adjectif Famous People Politics, History & Economics Find out why this historical figure is important in Haiti.
  • Train mishap L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Genre masculin Family & Relationships Lisa missed her stop on her way to work!
  • Training for a marathon L'Impératif Présent Mode impératif Verbe irrégulier Sports & Leisure Follow our tips to train and run your first marathon.
  • Trouble on the way to holiday [US: vacation] Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Pronom d'objet indirect Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Family & Relationships On the road to go on holiday [US: vacation], Christophe and Laure's car engine overheated.
  • Two tourist destinations Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Béatrice and Simon are discussing two different places to visit in France.
  • Visit to Disneyland Paris Le Présent (Indicatif) Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Sports & Leisure Tristan can't wait to visit the famous theme park for the first time!
  • Visiting my best friend L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Pronom d'objet indirect Sports & Leisure Family & Relationships Juliette wants to visit her best friend Pierre who moved away last year.
  • Watching fencing at the Olympics Le Présent (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Sports & Leisure Couple Tina and Olivier are watching an Olympic fencing match on TV.
  • Water damage Le Présent (Indicatif) Mode subjonctif Le Subjonctif Présent Family & Relationships Noémie and Samuel investigate a water leak in their flat [US: apartment].
  • Welcome to Bordeaux's Tourist Office Free Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Adjectif Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Bordeaux's Tourist Office introduces us to the city's best touristic attractions
  • What is joual? Adjectif Le Présent (Indicatif) Article défini Learn about this typical French Canadian way of speaking.
  • What monster would you be? Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Le Conditionnel Présent Préposition Family & Relationships Suzanne asks David, Agathe and Hugo what monsters they'd like to be.
  • What to get Mum [US Mom]? Pronom d'objet indirect Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Daniel and his girlfriend Olivia decide what to get his mother for her birthday.
  • Where to study L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Subjonctif Présent Le Conditionnel Présent Italian student Mateo finally picked the country where he wants to study.
  • Women's vote in France Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Genre féminin Politics, History & Economics Catherine and Blanche tell us about the first time they were allowed to vote in 1945.
  • Workaholic's back to work Le Présent (Indicatif) Pluriel Le Subjonctif Présent Employment Arthur hates time off and can't wait to be back at work!
  • Working as an A&E [US: ER] doctor Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom réfléchi Adverbe Employment Technology & Science Find out what it's like for Dr. Patrick Dupond to work as an A&E [US: ER] doctor.
  • Worrying weather changes Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Adjectif Adverbe Technology & Science Friends Ferdinand and Josette are worrying about the weather changes they've witnessed over the years.

C1: Advanced French writing exercises

  • 3 Culinary delights from French-speaking countries Adjectif Le Présent (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Food & Drink Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Find out about three dishes from French-speaking countries.
  • A bad matchmaker Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Pronom d'objet Family & Relationships Sophie tells us about her failed attempt at matchmaking.
  • A birthday party Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Pronom relatif Verbes réguliers avec -ER Nicolas has planned a birthday party full of games for his daughter Flora.
  • A chilling story L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Préposition Pronom relatif A young couple had just moved into a huge manor...
  • A couple's ups and downs Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Pronom réfléchi Family & Relationships Hélène explains how she and her partner managed to navigate out of a rough patch.
  • A difficult sibling relationship L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Pronom relatif Pronom réfléchi Family & Relationships Yvan has always had a fraught relationship with his sister.
  • A dissatisfied customer Mode subjonctif Le Subjonctif Présent Pronom d'objet direct Monsieur Dubois writes to complain about not receiving an order.
  • A dreadful teenager L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Pronom d'objet indirect Family & Relationships Philippe recalls his bad behaviour as a teenage boy.
  • A drunken evening Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Participe passé Pronom d'objet direct Christophe had quite an eventful evening!
  • A ghost story L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Pronom relatif Le Passé Simple (Indicatif) Celebrations & Important Dates Family & Relationships Hugo is visiting his mother on All Saints' Day.
  • A hard time at work L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Employment Érica went through a rough time at work.
  • A horrible storm! L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Mode subjonctif Le Plus-que-Parfait (Indicatif) Technology & Science Julien remembers spending a horrible night due to a violent storm.
  • A last minute request L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Employment Family & Relationships Isabelle's colleague keeps making her miserable...
  • A long-standing friendship L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Genre féminin Family & Relationships Carole tells us about her long-standing relationship with her friend Aline.
  • A lovely car L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Genre féminin Technology & Science Find out about Michel's beloved 2CV car.
  • A lovely encounter L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Adjectif Genre féminin Sports & Leisure Family & Relationships On her daily walk, Audrey met a furry little friend in need of help...
  • A snow storm to remember Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Adverbe L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Lily recalls last year's snow storm.
  • A special Christmas in Switzerland L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Plus-que-Parfait (Indicatif) Préposition Food & Drink Celebrations & Important Dates Damien recalls a wonderful family Christmas holiday in Switzerland.
  • A sudden reappearance Pronom d'objet direct Forme négative Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Family & Relationships After years of disappearance, Olivia's friend is back.
  • A wedding proposal L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet indirect David tells us how he planned to propose to his girlfriend.
  • Advice for new pet owners Pronom d'objet indirect Pronom d'objet Adjectif Family & Relationships Laurent asks people for their advice on welcoming a new pet at home.
  • Alberto Giacometti Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Jean-Louis and Samuel discuss the famous Swiss artist.
  • Alice and the Caterpillar (Alice in Wonderland) Le Présent (Indicatif) Le Passé Simple (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Literature, Poetry, Theatre Alice meets the mysterious Caterpillar in this adapted excerpt from "Alice in Wonderland"
  • An animal tale L'Imparfait (Indicatif) L'Impératif Présent Verbes réguliers avec -ER Family & Relationships By a lovely winter morning, Henri the hare meets poorly Lili the rabbit.
  • An incredible trip on the Canal du Midi Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Verbe irrégulier Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Sports & Leisure Patrice recalls his trip along the Canal du Midi.
  • An upcycling tutorial Adjectif Préposition Pronom d'objet direct Art & Design Sports & Leisure Technology & Science Find out a few ideas for your upcycling projets.
  • Anna's birthday party L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Le Subjonctif Présent Food & Drink Family & Relationships Clément discusses the organisation of his daughter's birthday party with his friend Charlotte.
  • Anne of Brittany Le Passé Simple (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Genre féminin Learn about the extraordinary woman who was crowned Queen of France twice.
  • At the psychiatrist's Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Le Subjonctif Présent Le Présent (Indicatif) Employment Family & Relationships Mme Dupont is talking to her psychiatrist.
  • At the ski resort Le Présent (Indicatif) Le Subjonctif Présent Mode subjonctif Sports & Leisure Paul needs to get ski gear for himself and his family.
  • At the water park Le Présent (Indicatif) Le Subjonctif Présent Mode subjonctif The whole family is having a good time at the water park.
  • At Uncle Robert's 70th birthday Le Subjonctif Présent Mode subjonctif Verbe irrégulier Family & Relationships Laura catches up with her cousin Charlotte at a family event.
  • Back to School shopping Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Mode impératif Language & Education Family & Relationships Viviane and Christian try and get everything on their children's school supply list.
  • Bathroom chat Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Family & Relationships Bruno and Sonia are having a chat in the bathroom.
  • Brest during World War II L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Le Plus-que-Parfait (Indicatif) Politics, History & Economics Alex is talking about WWII in Brest with his granddad.
  • Californian dream L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Subjonctif Présent Mode subjonctif Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Olivia finally followed her dream to move to California.
  • Camping in the woods Free L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Préposition Le Plus-que-Parfait (Indicatif) Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Nathalie enjoys camping in the middle of the woods.
  • Coco Chanel Le Passé Simple (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Article Famous People Politics, History & Economics Learn about this extraordinary woman who became a fashion icon.
  • Complaining about a hotel room Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Pronom d'objet indirect Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Gérard complains to the receptionist about the state of his hotel room.
  • Coping with the heatwave Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Mode subjonctif Le Subjonctif Présent Family & Relationships Emma asks how Simon and his pregnant girlfriend Christelle coped with the extreme heat.
  • Deep-sea diving in Martinique L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Pronom relatif Léonard took his new wife Sophie deep-sea diving in Martinique.
  • Discovering Guadeloupe Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -IR Pronom relatif Alicia takes us on a tour of some of Guadeloupe's tourist spots.
  • Drôme provençale, a little piece of heaven Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom relatif Adjectif possessif Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Politics, History & Economics Vincent tells us about this beautiful region in the South of France.
  • Easter plans Le Subjonctif Présent Mode subjonctif Le Présent (Indicatif) Julia hopes Easter will be nicer this year!
  • Édith Piaf Genre féminin Le Passé Simple (Indicatif) Genre masculin Famous People Music Here's a short biography of one of France's most beloved singers.
  • Engagement dinner's speech Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Préposition Pronom d'objet direct Family & Relationships The bride's father thanks the guests for attending and announces the evening programme.
  • Engagement surprise Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Family & Relationships Louise enjoys an unexpected visit at her engagement party.
  • Family Zoom Call Le Subjonctif Présent Mode subjonctif Le Présent (Indicatif) Laurent tries to coordinate a Zoom call with his mother and grandparents.
  • Financial advice Le Subjonctif Présent Mode subjonctif Le Présent (Indicatif) Alicia had a meeting with her financial advisor.
  • Finding love at a yoga retreat L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Adverbe Adjectif possessif Sports & Leisure Family & Relationships Seniors Germaine and Pierrot didn't expect to fall in love at a yoga retreat.
  • Fireside memories L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Préposition Family & Relationships Manuelle has warm memories of family times by the fireside.
  • First day back to school Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Préposition Verbe irrégulier Food & Drink Family & Relationships Sabrina tells us what she'll do on her children's first day back to school.
  • Fishing with my father Free L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Pronom réfléchi Pronom relatif Julien remembers going fishing with his dad when he was young.
  • French Mobile Phone Habits Adverbe Préposition Mode subjonctif Politics, History & Economics Technology & Science We're taking a look at the importance of mobile phones in French people's lives.
  • Gardening weekend Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Participe passé Adjectif possessif Sports & Leisure Jean-Pierre had a busy weekend taking care of his garden.
  • Gastronomical review Pronom d'objet direct L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Pronom relatif Food & Drink Discover a mouthwatering review of a French restaurant.
  • Gluten-free living L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Pronom d'objet indirect Food & Drink Alexandre tells us how he dealt with his newly discovered gluten allergy.
  • Gustave Moreau Museum L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet indirect Art & Design Claire tells us about her fascination for 19th-century symbolist painter Gustave Moreau.
  • Holidaying in July L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Le Subjonctif Présent Monuments, Tourism & Vacations July is a hard time to organise holiday [US: vacation] for, as Martine and Sam found out!
  • How to show your love? Verbe irrégulier Adjectif possessif Préposition Family & Relationships Marianne and her partner Adèle are making some changes to show their appreciation for each other more.
  • How to take the best portrait photos Le Présent (Indicatif) Le Subjonctif Présent Mode subjonctif Sylvie gives Jacques some tips to improve his portrait photos.
  • Icons of French tennis Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Préposition Famous People Sports & Leisure Marc and Aline are chatting about the most memorable French tennis players.
  • If only I'd won the lottery! Pronom d'objet direct Le Conditionnel Passé Verbes avec être comme auxiliaire Vincent shares what he would have done with the lottery money if he'd won.
  • If you could learn anything instantly... Le Conditionnel Présent Le Subjonctif Présent Mode subjonctif Irène, Julien and Pascal answer the question.
  • In the Jura mountains with my dog Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom relatif Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Stéphane recommends going on a mountain holiday [US: vacation] with your dog.
  • In the lives of the writers of French romance novels Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Le Subjonctif Présent Employment Literature, Poetry, Theatre Discover what the life of a French writer of romance novels looks like.
  • Jean-Marc Vallée Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Pronom relatif L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Famous People Film & TV Nathan and Florence discuss the late Quebecois director Jean-Marc Vallée.
  • Johnny Hallyday, a French icon L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Le Présent (Indicatif) Famous People Music Paul and his mum talk about her favourite French singer, Johnny Hallyday.
  • La Petite France in Strasbourg Préposition Adjectif Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Art & Design Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Discover this unique area of Strasbourg, a UNESCO site and tourists' favourite.
  • Last-minute hesitations L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Adverbe Pronom d'objet indirect Literature, Poetry, Theatre Family & Relationships François is torn between his love for Marianne and his duty to the Duchess who he's about to marry.
  • Letter to my daughter L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Subjonctif Présent Mode subjonctif Family & Relationships Marc writes a love letter to his newborn baby girl.
  • Letter to Santa Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Mode subjonctif Celebrations & Important Dates Timothée writes to Santa, hoping he's been good enough this year...
  • Living in Paris: pros and cons Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Pronom d'objet indirect Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Parisians Bastien and Louise discuss the advantages and disadvantages of living in the French capital.
  • Long distance relationships Le Subjonctif Présent Mode subjonctif Le Présent (Indicatif) Family & Relationships Here's some advice on how to keep your long distance relation working.
  • Luxembourg: A bit of history Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom réfléchi Pronom relatif Politics, History & Economics Learn about the early history of this interesting country.
  • Missed plane! Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Adverbe Préposition Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Family & Relationships Bastien missed his morning flight to Paris!
  • Missing a friend's Hen [US: Bachelorette] Party Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Adverbe Manquer l'EVJF d'une amie
  • Moana's French voice-over's interview Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Film & TV Paul interviews Cerise Calixte, the French actress who gave her voice to Disney's Moana (Vaiana in the French version).
  • Montpellier, city of street art Le Présent (Indicatif) Le Subjonctif Présent Mode subjonctif Art & Design Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Valentin tells us why Montpellier is a great street art city.
  • Multilingualism in Alsace Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Article Pronom d'objet direct Politics, History & Economics Language & Education Find out which languages are spoken in Alsace.
  • My family's Hallowe'en L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Pronom réfléchi Celebrations & Important Dates Family & Relationships Martin tells us about his family's Hallowe'en traditions.
  • My first Mother's Day Le Plus-que-Parfait (Indicatif) L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Celebrations & Important Dates Family & Relationships Danielle looks back on her very first Mother's Day with her son.
  • My Hanukkah traditions L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Genre féminin Celebrations & Important Dates Family & Relationships Rachelle explains why Hanukkah is such a special occasion for her.
  • My life as a locavore Le Présent (Indicatif) Adverbe Le Subjonctif Présent Sophie explains why she decided to become a locavore.
  • My son's school trip transformation L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Préposition Pronom relatif Family & Relationships Naomi wondered about her son's strange behaviour after his school trip to France.
  • My trip to Lyon Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Pronom relatif L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Yvan spent a few days exploring the French city.
  • Nice's cuisine: a healthy diet Le Présent (Indicatif) Préposition Adjectif Food & Drink Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Find out why the dishes from Nice are so healthy.
  • Not the festival type Mode subjonctif Le Subjonctif Présent Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Jean-Marc discovered that outdoor festivals were really not his thing!
  • Ode to my favourite uncle L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Pronom d'objet indirect Simon writes a loving text to his favourite uncle.
  • Of the difficulties of learning French Le Présent (Indicatif) L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Mike and Jane discuss the challenges they encountered learning French.
  • On a desert island Le Conditionnel Présent L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Présent (Indicatif) Family & Relationships Technology & Science Pierre discusses his friend Yves's choice of single item that he would take with him on a desert island.
  • Our baby's progress Le Subjonctif Présent Mode subjonctif Le Présent (Indicatif) Christophe can't believe how fast his baby daughter is growing up.
  • Paris Catacombs Visit: Juliette's review Le Présent (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet indirect Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Juliette reviews her visit of Paris's Catacombs.
  • Paris's Haussmannian revolution L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Passé Simple (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Art & Design Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Learn about the architectural revolution that took place in Paris in the 19th century.
  • Planning mishap Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Pronom d'objet indirect Sports & Leisure Family & Relationships Fabienne and Pascal were to meet Charlotte and Cyril to go to the cinema...except they showed up an hour late! What happened?
  • Playground battle Le Passé Simple (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Family & Relationships Thomas and Alex fought an epic battle in the school playground.
  • Police Station Dialogue Pronom d'objet direct Pronom d'objet indirect L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Family & Relationships Detective Jacques Poireau is interviewing a murder suspect.
  • Pompidou Centre Free Le Passé Simple (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Préposition Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Politics, History & Economics Learn about the history of this unique building in Paris.
  • Post-holiday [US: vacation] voice mail Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Le Présent (Indicatif) L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Family & Relationships Éric leaves a voice mail for his best friend after a sunny break in Nice.
  • Prepaid travel cards Pronom d'objet direct Pronom d'objet indirect L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Technology & Science Alain talks about the advantages of prepaid travel cards.
  • Reading books in a foreign language Le Présent (Indicatif) Adverbe Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Language & Education Literature, Poetry, Theatre Killian and Rose, who are not native French speakers, are chatting about reading books in French.
  • Real daredevils! Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Adverbe L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Patricia's twins have a loyalty card at the local hospital...
  • Results of the 2022 presidential election's first round Pronom relatif Verbes réguliers avec -ER Verbe irrégulier Politics, History & Economics Here's a summary of the main results of the first round of France's 2022 presidential elections.
  • Review of the iPhone 8 Plus Forme négative Comparatif Adverbe Technology & Science Christine reviews the disappointing new iPhone 8 Plus.
  • Roxy's bath Le Présent (Indicatif) Mode subjonctif Adverbe Giving a bath to her dog Roxy is really no picnic for Lisa!
  • Staycation: a positive experience Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Forme négative Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Sports & Leisure Oscar talks about his experience with staycations.
  • Stereotypes about girls: an evolution? Mode subjonctif Le Subjonctif Présent Question/Interrogative Politics, History & Economics Family & Relationships Danielle Moreau, a sociologist, talks about the evolution of stereotypes towards girls on a radio show.
  • Summer recipes Le Présent (Indicatif) Le Subjonctif Présent Mode subjonctif Food & Drink Marielle shares her favourite summer dishes with us.
  • Taking the children to the park Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Family & Relationships Overwhelmed dad Luc tells us about the challenge that is taking the kids to the park.
  • Taking the driving license test Le Subjonctif Présent Mode subjonctif Verbe irrégulier Irène is taking her driving license test.
  • The "Veuve Clicquot" Le Passé Simple (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Pronom relatif Food & Drink Politics, History & Economics Here's the story of how widow Barbe-Nicole Clicquot created one of the most famous champagne brands in the world.
  • The Abbey of Fontevraud: a Royal affair Le Présent (Indicatif) Verbes réguliers avec -ER Préposition Famous People Monuments, Tourism & Vacations Politics, History & Economics Eleanor of Aquitaine answers a few questions about the Abbey of Fontevraud.
  • The benefits of music Pronom d'objet indirect Pronom d'objet direct Le Présent (Indicatif) Music Mathieu tells us about the benefits of music.
  • The best house painting company Adjectif possessif Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet indirect You won't find a better house painting company than Jean-Pierre's!
  • The city of the future Le Futur Simple (Indicatif) Verbe irrégulier Pronom relatif Family & Relationships Technology & Science Yann asked people what they imagine cities will look like in the future.
  • The feminist revolutionary Olympe de Gouges Mode subjonctif Le Subjonctif Présent Le Passé Simple (Indicatif) Famous People Politics, History & Economics Bastien tells us about this extraordinary humanist writer from 18th century France.
  • The flower fair Adjectif L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Damien and his family really enjoyed their visit to the flower fair.
  • The French language in the world Préposition Le Présent (Indicatif) Article défini Employment Language & Education Find out about the impact of French in the world.
  • The GPS is malfunctioning! Pronom d'objet direct Pronom d'objet indirect Le Présent (Indicatif) Technology & Science Rémi and Isabelle's car GPS is malfunctioning!
  • The King cake Le Présent (Indicatif) Mode subjonctif Le Subjonctif Présent Food & Drink Celebrations & Important Dates Learn about the tradition around King cake.
  • The Lumberjack - Part 1 L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Préposition Pronom d'objet direct Celebrations & Important Dates Literature, Poetry, Theatre Here's an original Christmas story about a lumberjack who lived in the North Pole...
  • The Lumberjack - Part 2 Forme négative Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet indirect Celebrations & Important Dates Literature, Poetry, Theatre Who left those tiny footprints? Here's the end of our original Christmas story!
  • The town of Gruyères Mode subjonctif Adjectif Verbes réguliers avec -ER Sébastien had a lovely time visiting the famous Swiss town.
  • To our adopted son Pronom d'objet direct Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Le Subjonctif Présent Family & Relationships Christian tells his son how wanted he was and still is.
  • Unicycle passion Le Plus-que-Parfait (Indicatif) L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Le Passé Composé (Indicatif) Yvette tells us about the day when her passion for unicycling was born.
  • Welcome to Lille Le Présent (Indicatif) Adverbe Adjectif Monuments, Tourism & Vacations The northern city has a lot to offer to visitors.
  • What's a good mother? Le Présent (Indicatif) Le Subjonctif Présent Pronom relatif Family & Relationships Julie has been getting much contradictory advice since she became a mother.
  • Which book to choose? Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet indirect Verbes réguliers avec -ER Literature, Poetry, Theatre Christian is looking for a few recommendations at his local library.
  • Who's your favourite football [US:soccer] player? Le Présent (Indicatif) Pronom d'objet direct Pronom d'objet indirect Bertrand and Léa discuss their favourite French football [US:soccer] players.
  • Why did I become a vet? L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Genre féminin Le Présent (Indicatif) Jean-Luc tells us what made him choose this profession.
  • Working as a PA Mode subjonctif Le Subjonctif Présent Verbe irrégulier Employment Sophie talks about her career as a personal assistant.
  • Writer's Block L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Préposition Le Subjonctif Présent Literature, Poetry, Theatre Lucille talks about coping mechanisms to circumvent the dreaded writer's block.
  • Yves Saint-Laurent L'Imparfait (Indicatif) Adjectif possessif Genre féminin Art & Design Famous People Thibault and his friend Sonia talk about French designer Yves Saint-Laurent.

In this section

  • Hanukkah 2023 Menorah
  • Christmas 2023 Advent Calendar
  • Tips and ideas to improve your French writing skills
  • French Glossary and Jargon Buster

essay question in french

Writing an essay- guidance

As and a level french, essay writing.

As a rough guide you should spend about 10 minutes planning your essay, 45 minutes writing it and 5 minutes checking it.

I. Planning your essay:

It is important to plan your essay well. Make points clearly and logically so that the examiner can follow your argument. Take time to devise a plan before you start writing. This avoids rambling account and allow a structure which is easy to follow. You might find that the following points help you to plan your essay well:

· Read the question carefully. Make sure you have understood what you are being asked to do (the question may be in two parts)

· If you are completing an AS examination, the question will also have a list of bullet points to help you focus on the question. Make sure you engage with this guidance points BUT be aware that they do not in themselves give you the structure of the essay!

· It is sensible to plan your essay in French. This will prevent you writing ideas you are not able to express in the target language.

· Focus on the key words. For example, you may be asked to analyse, evaluate, explore or explain.

· Select the main point you want to make in your essay and then break this down into 3 or 4 sub-sections. They will become your paragraphs.

· Choose relevant information only!

· Decide on the order of your paragraphs. It might be a good idea to keep your strongest idea for your last paragraph. Note down linking words or phrases you can use between paragraphs to make your essay flow as a coherent and logical argument.

· Select one or two relevant and concise quotations which you can use to illustrate some of the points you make.

· Think about the suggested word count for the essay. It should always be possible to write a meaningful essay within the allocated number of words. So try to answer concisely.

· Think about how to introduce and conclude your essay, ensuring that you have answered the question set.

You might find the following template helpful to plan your essay:

essay question in french

II. Writing the essay:

· Remember that you are writing for a person who is reading your essay: the content should be interesting and should communicate your meaning with clarity and coherence.

· Stick to your plan and do not get side tracked into developing an argument or a point that is not relevant to the question set.

Introduction:

· It should be a single paragraph (approx. 5 lines)

· You can use a short sentence to introduce the film or the text you have studied.

· Show your understanding of the question: you should explain to your reader what you understand the question to mean, identify the issue it raises and how you are going to tackle them.

Question: Examinez le personnage de Saïd dans le film La Haine.

Introduction :

Development :

· This part will be divided into a number of interconnected paragraphs, each of which will pick up and develop the points raised in your introduction.

· Each paragraph should be introduced with a sentence stating what the paragraph is about.

· Make sure you are following a clear pathway through your paragraphs leading to your conclusion. You should move from one facet of your argument to the next, linking them conceptually by, for example, contrast, addition or comparison.

· Each paragraph must have an internal logic whereby you examine a separate point, making your argument, supporting it with evidence and possibly quotations and drawing conclusions.

· Try to have balanced paragraphs (with about the same amount of content).

Example (last paragraph):

Conclusion :

· Read through what you have written again and THEN write your conclusion.

· It should summarise your arguments succinctly

· Be careful not to simply lift passages from your development!

III. Check your work :

· Review your essay carefully and check for errors of: grammar, punctuation, accents and spelling.

· Check especially: verb endings, tenses and moods, and adjectival agreements.

· You should employ a good range of vocabulary and include terminology related to film and literature.

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How to Write The Perfect French Essay For Your Exam

November 16, 2014 by Jessica 3 Comments

Here are tips to help you write a great French essay with exam requirements in mind. Once you’re done, I strongly suggest you proofread your text using my checklis t.

Note: if you’re preparing for the French VCE, there is an updated version of these exam tips in my guide  “How to Prepare for the French VCE & Reach your Maximum Score” .

While supervising exams or tutoring for exam preparation, I’ve seen too many students writing straight away on their exam copies. Stop! Resist the urge to jump on your pen and take a step back to make sure that you will be addressing all the exam requirements or you may be shooting yourself in the foot and lose precious points.

I recommend that you train with exam sample questions so that you set up good working habits and respect the required length of the essay, as well as the timing (allow at least 10 minutes for proofreading).

Crafting your French Essay

1. identify the situation: preparation work.

why-who-what-etc

  •   Read the topic carefully, slowly and at least twice to absorb every information/detail.
  • Underline/highlight/jot down any piece of information that you are expected to reuse:
  • What type of text do you need to write? (a journal entry? A formal letter? A speech? Etc). Note to VCE French exam students : refer to page 13 of the VCE French Study Design for more information about the different types of texts.
  • Who are you in the situation? (yourself? A journalist? etc)
  • Who are you addressing? (a friend? A large audience? Etc) à adjust the degree of formality to the situation (for example by using the “tu”/”vous” form, a casual or formal tone/register, etc)
  • What are the characteristic features of the type of text you need to write? (eg a journal entry will have the date, a formal letter will start and end with a formal greeting, etc)
  • What is your goal ? What are you expected to talk about / present / defend / convey?
  • What are the length requirements for your French essay ? Respect the word count (there’s usually a 5% or so tolerance. Check the requirements specific to your exam)

Tip : when you practice at home, count how many words in average you fit on a line. This will give you a good indication of how many lines your text should be.

Ex: You write an average of 15 words per line. If you are required to write a 300-word French essay, you should aim for:

300 words / 15 words per line = 20 lines total.

2. Draft the outline of your essay

  •  An essay typically has an introduction, a body with 2 or 3 distinct parts and a conclusion . (See if that outline is relevant to the type of text you are expected to write and adjust accordingly.)
  • Use bullet points to organize your ideas.
  • Don’t remain too general. A good rule is to use one main idea for each part and to back it up/reinforce in/illustrate it with one concrete example (eg. data).
  • Brainstorming about things to say will also help you use a wider range of vocabulary , which will get noticed by the examiner. Are there some interesting/specific words or expressions that you can think of using in your text (example: if you are writing about global warming, brainstorm the vocab related to this topic. Brainstorm expressions to convince or disagree with something, etc)?
  • Make sure you have reused every point identified in part 1 .

 3. Write your essay

  •  It’s better if you have time to write or at least draft a few sentences on your draft paper rather than writing directly because:
  • You want to meet the word count requirements
  • You don’t want multiple words to be barred cross crossed-out and your page looking messy and great anything but neat!
  • you don’t want to have to rush so much that your handwriting is really unpleasant to read (or worse, impossible to read…)
  • So… monitor your time carefully!

  Structuring your text

  • Visually, the eye should instantly be able to see the structure of your French essay: make paragraph and skip lines so that it doesn’t look like an unappealing large block of text.
  • Use connectors/link words to structure your text and make good transitions.

4. Proofread, proofread, proofread!

  •   It’s important that you allow at least 10 minutes for proofreading because there most likely are a few mistakes that you can fix very easily. It would therefore be a shame not to give yourself your best chances of success! Check out my Proofreading Checklist.

Bonne chance!

If you need any help with your essay, you can submit it to me there.

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How to Write an Excellent French Essay (Resources Included)

Tips to write an excellent french essay.

Writing essays is challenging enough, but when you are asked to write a French essay, you are not only being asked to write in a foreign language, but to follow the conventions of another linguistic and literary tradition. Like essay-writing in any language, the essential part of writing a French essay is to convey your thoughts and observations on a certain topic in a clear and concise manner. French essays do come out of a certain tradition that is part of the training of all students who attend school in France – or at least secondary school – and when you are a French essay, it is important to be aware of this tradition.

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The French philosopher Michel de Montaigne is credited with popularizing the essay form as a literary genre. His work, Essais, first published in 1580, and undergoing several subsequent publications before his death in 1592, covers a wide breadth of topics, ranging from “amitié” to “philosopher c’est apprendre à mourir”, and includes many literary references, as well as personal anecdotes. The name for this genre, essai, is the nominal form of the verb essayer, “to attempt”. We have an archaic English verb essay, meaning the same thing. The limerick that includes the phrase, “... when she essayed to drink lemonade ...” indicates an attempt to drink a beverage and has nothing to do with writing about it. But the writing form does illustrate an attempt to describe a topic in depth with the purpose of developing new insights on a particular text or corpus.

French instructors are very specific about what they would like when they ask for an essay, meaning that they will probably specify whether they would like an explication de texte, commentaire composé, or dissertation. That last essay form should not be confused with the document completed for a doctorate in anglophone countries – this is called a thèse in French, by the way. There are different formats for each of these types of essay, and different objectives for each written form.

Types of Essay

1. l’explication de texte.

An explication de texte is a type of essay for which you complete a close reading. It is usually written about a poem or a short passage within a larger work. This close reading will elucidate different themes and stylistic devices within the text. When you are completing an explication de texte, make sure to follow the structure of the text as you complete a close examination of its form and content. The format for an explication de texte consists of:

i. An introduction, in which you situate the text within its genre and historical context. This is where you can point out to your readers the general themes of the text, its form, the trajectory of your reading, and your approach to the text.

ii. The body, in which you develop your ideas, following the structure of the text. Make sure you know all of the meanings of the words used, especially the key terms that point to the themes addressed by the author. It is a good idea to look words up in the dictionary to find out any second, third, and fourth meanings that could add to the themes and forms you describe. Like a student taking an oral examination based on this type of essay writing, you will be expected to have solid knowledge of the vocabulary and grammatical structures that appear in the text. Often the significance of the language used unfolds as you explain the different components of theme, style, and composition.

iii. A conclusion, in which you sum up the general meaning of the text and the significance of the figures and forms being used. You should also give the implications of what is being addressed, and the relevance of these within a larger literary, historical, or philosophical context.

NB: If you are writing about a poem, include observations on the verse, rhyme schemes, and meter. It is a good idea to refer to a reference work on versification. If you are writing about a philosophical work, be familiar with philosophical references and definitions of concepts.

Caveat: Refrain from paraphrasing. Instead show through careful analysis of theme, style, and composition the way in which the main ideas of the text are conveyed.

2. Le commentaire composé

A commentaire composé is a methodologically codified commentary that focuses on themes in a particular text. This type of essay develops different areas of reflection through analytical argument. Such argumentation should clarify the reading that you are approaching by presenting components of the text from different perspectives. In contrast to the explication de texte, it is organized thematically rather than following the structure of the text to which it refers. The format for a commentaire composé consists of:

i. An introduction, in which you present the question you have come up with, often in relation to a prompt commenting on a thematic or stylistic aspect of the text, such as “Montrez en quoi ce texte évoque l’amour courtois” or “Qu’apporte l’absence de la ponctuation dans ce texte ?” In this section, you will be expected to delineate your approach to the text and illustrate the trajectory of your ideas so that your readers will have a clear idea of the direction these ideas will take.

ii. A tripartite body, in which you explore the question you have come up with, citing specific examples in the text that are especially pertinent to the areas of reflection you wish to explore. These citations should be explained and connected to the broad themes of your commentary, all the while providing details that draw the readers’ attention to your areas of inquiry. These different areas of inquiry may initially seem disparate or even contradictory, but eventually come together to form a harmonious reading that addresses different aspects of the text. The more obvious characteristics of the text should illuminate its subtler aspects, which allows for acute insight into the question that you are in the process of exploring.

iii. A conclusion, in which you evaluate your reading and synthesize its different areas of inquiry. This is where you may include your own opinions, but make sure that the preceding sections of your commentaire remain analytical and supported by evidence that you find in the text.

NB: Looking at verb tenses, figures of speech, and other aspects that contribute to the form of the text will help situate your reader, as will commenting on the register of language, whether this language is ornate, plain, reflects a style soutenu, or less formal patterns of speech.

Caveat: Quotations do not replace observations or comments on the text. Explain your quotations and situate them well within your own text.

3. La dissertation

The dissertation is a personal, organized, and methodical reflection on a precise question that refers to a corpus of writing. Referring to this corpus, you may be asked questions along the lines of “Que pensez-vous de l’équivalence entre l’amour et la chanson exprimée dans ces textes ?” or “Est-ce que la sagesse et la folie ont les mêmes sources?” This type of essay allows for an exploration of a question through knowledge of a corpus as well as through an individual’s cultural knowledge. The format for a dissertation consists of:

i. An introduction, in which you present the topic addressed, the significance of your argument, and the trajectory of your ideas.

ii. The body which, like a commentaire composé, consists of a tripartite development of your argument. This can follow any one of the following structures: a dialectical schema, organized into thèse, antithèse, and synthèse – an argument, its counter-argument, and its rebuttal; an analytical schema, consisting of the description of a situation, an analysis of its causes, and commentary on its consequences; a thematic schema, which consists of a reflection on a topic which you proceed to examine from different angles in an orderly fashion.

iii. A conclusion, in which you address the different ways in which you have approached the question at hand and how this deepens your insights, while placing the question within a broader context that shows room for expansion. The conclusion can open up the topic addressed to show its placement within a literary movement, or in opposition to another literary movement that follows it, for example.

NB: Approach the question at hand with as few preconceptions as possible. If you are writing on a quotation, gather all of your knowledge about its author, the work in which it appears, and the body of literature with which it is associated.

Caveat: Even for a personal reflection, such as a dissertation, avoid using the first person pronoun je. Nous or on are preferable. It is advisable not to switch from one to the other, though.

For each of these essay forms, it is a good idea to make an outline to which you can refer as you write. As your writing progresses, things may shift a bit, but having a structure on which you can rely as you gather your various ideas and information into a coherent argument provides solid foundation for a clear and well-developed essay. This also facilitates smooth transitions from one section of your essay to the next.

During your reading, you may encounter a problem, a contradiction, or a surprising turn of phrase that is difficult to figure out. Such moments in a text give you the opportunity to delve into the unique characteristics of the text or corpus to which you are referring, to propose different solutions to the problems you encounter, and to describe their significance within a larger literary, philosophical, and historical context. Essay writing allows you to become more familiar with French works, with their cultural significance, and with the French language. You can refer to the following resources to guide you in this endeavor:

Auffret, Serge et Hélène. Le commentaire composé. Paris: Hachette, 1991. Dufau, Micheline et Ellen D'Alelio. Découverte du poème: Introduction à l'explication de textes. New York: Harcourt, Brace & World, 1967. Grammont, Maurice. Petit traité de versification française. Paris: A. Colin, 2015. Huisman, Denis et L. R. Plazolles. L’art de la dissertation littéraire : du baccalauréat au C.A.P.E.S. Paris : Société d’édition d’enseignement supérieur, 1965.

The French newspaper Le Monde also has good articles on these essay forms that prepare French students for the baccalauréat exam: CLICK HERE

This is also a website with thorough information on essay writing techniques that prepare students for the baccalauréat exam: CLICK HERE

In addition, the University of Adelaide has tips for general essay writing in French: CLICK HERE

🇫🇷 Looking for More French Resources?

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essay question in french

Published on October 6th, 2023 | by Adrian Lomezzo

How to Write an Essay in French Without Giving Yourself Away as a Foreigner

essay question in french

Image source: https://www.pexels.com/photo/close-up-shot-of-a-quote-on-a-paper-5425603/

Bienvenue! Do you dream of unleashing your inner French literary genius, but worry that your writing might inadvertently reveal your foreign roots? Fret not, mes amis, as we have the ultimate guide to help you master the art of essay writing en Français!

Within these pages, we’ll navigate the intricate waters of linguistic nuances, cultural subtleties, and grammatical finesse, allowing you to exude the aura of a native French speaker effortlessly. Many students like you have embarked on this journey, seeking academic assistance from platforms like  https://paperwritten.com/  to conquer their writing pursuits.

From crafting a compelling introduction to fashioning impeccable conclusions, we’ll unveil the secrets that will leave your professors applauding your newfound linguistic prowess. So, bid adieu to those awkward linguistic giveaways and embrace the sheer elegance of French expression – all while keeping your foreign identity beautifully concealed! Let’s embark on this adventure together and unlock the true essence of writing like a native French virtuoso.

essay question in french

1.   Mastering French Grammar and Vocabulary: Building a Strong Foundation

To create a compelling French essay, it’s essential to lay a solid groundwork. Ensure that your French grammar is accurate and that you possess a rich vocabulary. Avoid relying on online translators, as they may yield awkward or incorrect sentences. Instead, embrace reputable dictionaries and language resources to enhance your language skills effectively.

2.   Mimic Sentence Structures: The Art of Authentic Expression

To truly immerse yourself in the French language, observe and mimic the sentence structures used by native speakers. Analyzing essays written by experienced writers can prove invaluable in grasping the authentic style required to compose a captivating essay.

3.   Use Transition Words: Crafting a Smooth Flow of Ideas

In French essays, the use of transition words and phrases plays a pivotal role in connecting ideas seamlessly. Incorporate expressions like “de plus,” “en outre,” “en conclusion,” “tout d’abord,” and “par conséquent” to add coherence and elegance to your writing.

4.   Embrace French Idioms and Expressions: Unveiling Cultural Fluency

Demonstrate a deeper understanding of the French language and culture by incorporating idioms and expressions where appropriate. However, remember to use them sparingly to avoid overwhelming your essay.

5.   Pay Attention to Formality: Striking the Right Tone

Tailor the formality of your writing to suit the context of your essay. Whether you are crafting an academic piece or a more personal creation, be mindful of your choice of vocabulary and sentence structures to match the required tone.

6.   Research Cultural References: The Power of In-depth Knowledge

If your essay touches upon French culture, history, or literature, extensive research is key. Delve into your subjects to avoid mistakes and showcase your genuine interest in the matter at hand.

7.   Avoid Direct Translations: Let French Be French

To avoid awkward phrasing, strive to think in French rather than translating directly from your native language. This will lead to a more natural and eloquent essay.

8.   Practice Writing Regularly: The Path to Proficiency

Mastering the art of French writing requires regular practice. Embrace writing in French frequently to grow more comfortable with the language and refine your unique writing style.

9.   Read French Literature: A Gateway to Inspiration

Explore the world of French literature to expose yourself to diverse writing styles. This practice will deepen your understanding of the language and immerse you further in French culture and history.

10.   Connect with French Culture: Bridges of Cultural Resonance

Incorporate cultural references that resonate with French readers, such as art, cuisine, festivals, historical figures, or social customs. Authenticity is key, so avoid relying on stereotypes.

essay question in french

11.   Use a French Thesaurus: Expanding Your Linguistic Palette

Discovering new contextually appropriate words can elevate your writing. Embrace a French thesaurus to find synonyms that may not be apparent through direct translations.

12.   Master French Punctuation: The Finishing Touch

Take care to use correct French punctuation marks, such as guillemets (« ») for quotes and proper accent marks. These subtle details add a professional touch to your essay.

13.   Practice French Rhetorical Devices: Crafting Eloquent Prose

Experiment with rhetorical devices like parallelism, repetition, and antithesis to lend depth and sophistication to your writing.

14.   Pay Attention to Word Order: Unlocking French Sentence Structure

French boasts a unique sentence structure distinct from English. Dive into the intricacies of subject-verb-object order and grasp the art of organizing sentences to sidestep common foreign mistakes. Embracing this essential aspect will elevate your writing to a truly native level.

15.   Use French Idiomatic Expressions: Infuse Cultural Flair

Enrich your prose with the colorful tapestry of French idioms, reflecting the vibrant essence of the culture. Yet, a word of caution – wield them with finesse, for the strategic placement of an idiom can imbue your essay with unparalleled flair and authenticity.

16.   Master Pronouns and Agreement: The Dance of Language

The dance of pronouns, nouns, and adjectives requires your keen attention. Like a skilled performer, ensure their seamless alignment to avoid inadvertently revealing your non-native status. Mastering this harmony is key to writing like a true Francophone.

essay question in french

17.   Understand Subtle Connotations: Unveiling Linguistic Shades

Delve into the labyrinth of French words, where subtle connotations diverge from their English counterparts. Familiarize yourself with these delicate nuances, for it is in their mastery that your writing shall find refinement.

18.   Study Formal and Informal Registers: Tailoring Language to Purpose

Akin to selecting the perfect outfit for each occasion, comprehend the art of using formal and informal language. Consider your essay’s purpose and audience, and with this knowledge, enhance your authenticity, seamlessly aligning with the appropriate linguistic register.

19.   Practice Dialogue Writing: Conversing with Eloquence

Embark on the journey of dialogue writing to enrich your linguistic repertoire. As you hone your conversational skills, watch as authenticity gracefully weaves itself into your written work, enchanting readers with its charm.

20.   Seek Feedback: A Second Set of Eyes

To refine your essay further, seek the guidance of a native French speaker or language tutor from the  best cheap essay writing services . Their valuable feedback can uncover any language or cultural mistakes you may have made, allowing you to make necessary improvements.

Equip yourself with these priceless tips and set forth on your quest to master the art of French writing. Embrace the language’s allure, immerse in its rich culture, and watch your words flow with grace and poise. À la plume! Let the pen become your ally in crafting captivating prose that echoes with authenticity and charm. 

Header Photo Credit by George Milton: https://www.pexels.com/photo/smiling-woman-in-eyeglasses-with-books-7034478/

About the Author

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Adrian Lomezzo is a content writer and likes to write about technology and education. He understands the concern of parents due to the evolving technology and researches deeply in that area. When he is not researching, he buries himself in books along with his favorite cup of hot chocolate.

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Welcome to French Quarter Magazine (FQM) – your passport to a journey through France, the United States and beyond!

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Our mission is to create a link and to bridge the gap between the United States and France by promoting exchanges and offering a unique reading experience through our bilingual publication. From the charming streets of Paris to the bustling avenues of New York City, our articles provide a captivating exploration of diverse cultural landscapes. Written by our dedicated team of contributors from around the world, they cover everything from the latest places to visit or stay, to new spectacles and exhibitions, to the opening of exciting restaurants or stores, fashion trends, and the nuanced history of French-American relations.

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Learn How to Write in French Easily

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By OptiLingo • 9 minute read

Learn how to write well in French

Improve Your Written French Today

Whether you want to pen a love letter or submit an essay in France, you need to know how to write in French. Luckily, learning how to write in French is fairly straightforward. Since French uses the Latin Alphabet, you’re already ahead of the game. Improve your writing in French fast with these easy steps.

The Basics of French Writing for Beginners

When it comes to French writing, it’s a little different than speaking French. But, if you know how to read French well, you shouldn’t have a lot of problems.

Before you read the 8 easy steps of learning to write in French, there’s one important factor in mastering French writing: practice. The only way you can truly improve your French writing skills is with a lot of practice . Make sure you write a little bit in French every day. Soon, you’ll find that writing in French is like second nature.

1. Watch Out for French Spelling

One of the biggest obstacles that throws French learners off is spelling. Unfortunately, those silent letters that you don’t pronounce are very much there in writing. Be careful how you spell certain complicated words. You need to master all parts of French grammar to write French correctly.

2. Genders Influence Grammar in French

You may already know that nouns have genders in French. They can either be masculine or feminine. And depending on the gender, different parts of a French sentence need to be conjugated.

  • articles : French articles need to be conjugated to reflect the gender and the number of the noun. These can be ‘le’, ‘la’, ‘l”, and ‘les’ for definite articles, and ‘un’ and ‘une’ for indefinite articles.
  • pronouns : Pronouns in French are the words that replace the name of the subject in a sentence. ‘He’, ‘she’, and ‘them’ are some examples of pronouns in English. In French, you need to use different forms of pronouns depending on the gender of the subject.
  • adjectives : When you’re describing a noun, you use an adjective. And since the noun is the only reason the adjective’s there in the sentence, you need to make the adjective fit the noun in French. There are various ways to conjugate French adjectives depending on the gender and the number of the noun, so make sure you brush up on that knowledge before you write in French.

French writing has a lot of conjugations from genders

3. Careful with French Accent Marks

French accent marks also don’t do us any favors. While they’re extremely useful when it comes to French pronunciation, their writing isn’t as straightforward. Try to associate the sound with the written French word. There are only 5 accent marks in French. One is the cedilla (ç), which only works with the letter “c”, and another is the acute accent (é), which only sits on top of the letter “e”. So in practice, there are only 3 different kinds of accents you should look out for in French.

4. Follow the French Sentence Structures

English and French sentence structures are similar in many ways. Both follow the SVO (subject-verb-object) structure, which makes writing in French much easier. And just like in English, the French sentence structure is also flexible. You can switch the words around to emphasize a part of a sentence, but still have the same meaning.

  • Tomorrow , I’m going to work.    Demain  je vais travailler. I’m going to work  tomorrow .   Je vais travailler  demain .

The most important part of the first sentence is the time the speaker goes to work. The second sentence focuses on the subject, the speaker instead. Still, both sentences convey the same meaning of going to work.

If you want to ask a question in French, you can do so by putting a question word at the beginning of the sentence. Common question words are:

  • How  Comment
  • What  Que / Qu’est-ce que queue
  • What kind  Quel genre
  • When  Quand
  • Why   Pourquoi

You can also ask a question by switching the order of the verb and the pronoun around, and connecting them with a hyphen:

  • Do you speak English?    Parlez-vous anglais ?

It’s important to remember these basic rules of French sentence structure before you start writing in French. If you want to learn how to write in French effectively, practice these 4 steps a lot.

essay question in french

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You’re only one click away!

How to Write in French for Intermediate Students

If you’re an intermediate French learner you’re familiar with basic French grammar, and you’re confident in writing in French. But, there’s always room to improve. Once you know the basic steps of how to write in French, it’s time to make your writing even better. You can start paying attention to style, flow, and structure. The tips below will benefit your French writing practice.

5. Try Nominalization

This useful technique will make your sentences better. Nominalization means that you make nouns in the sentence more dominant. While in English, the dominant words are verbs, in French, you can write with the focus of the noun instead, making them more meaningful. Here’s an example to demonstrate.

  • Normal sentence: The ice cream is cold. – La glace est froide.
  • Nominalized sentence: The ice cream is cold. – La glace, c’est droid.

6. Use French Conjunctions

Conjunctions are the tools to write complex French sentences. Without them, you’re limited to simple and boring sentence structures. As an intermediate student, you can start connecting two equal or unequal sentences to make an even more interesting phrase. Here are the different kinds of French conjunctions you can use to write better in French:

Coordinating Conjunctions:

You use these kinds of conjunctions to connect two equal sentences. The most common coordinating conjunctions in French are:

Subordinating Conjunctions:

If one of the sentences in unequal or dependent on the other, you need to use subordinating conjunctions. These connectors often show causality. The most common conjunctions in French for this category are:

7. Style and Flow

Now that you wield the power of conjunctions, you have to be careful with it. As fun as it is to write long and complicated sentences in French, it doesn’t sound good. Make sure you use appropriate sentence lengths as you’re writing in French.

Aim for shorter sentences. Make them explain your point well. But, feel free to mix the flow up with the occasional longer sentences. That’s how you write in French with a nice and smooth flow. And that’s how you perfect your French writing too. It will be a pleasure to read your work.

Writing in French for Advanced Learners

Once you mastered all of the French writing rules, you’re officially an advanced French learner. But, there may still be room to improve your French writing. If you’re looking to kick your projects up a notch, you can learn how to write essays and dissertations in French. These pointers will be useful if you ever attend school or university in France, or you want to take a language exam.

8. Get Familiar with French Essay Structure

When you’re writing an essay, you have to structure it for readability. If you want to learn how French high schoolers are taught to write their essays, this is the structure they follow: thèse-antithèse-synthèse (thesis-antithesis-synthesis). Learn how to write French essays using a traditional French essay structure.

  • Introduction : You begin your essay by having an introduction, which is a context for argument.
  • Thesis : In this section, you present and defend the statement of your thesis. You need to write everything that supports the topic of your essay.
  • Antithesis : The antithesis follows the thesis. This is where you state conflicting evidence and explain other potential substitutes for your essay. Including an antithesis doesn’t mean that you disagree with your original thesis. You just need to show that you thought of all possibilities before arriving to your conclusion.
  • Synthesis : This is your conclusion. This is where you summarize your arguments, and explain why you still stand by your original thesis despite the antithesis.

Advanced French learners can always improve their writing skills

9. Use Introduction and Conclusion Vocabulary

Certain words can encourage sentence flow by introducing or concluding some parts of your work.

  • tout d’abord (firstly)
  • premièrement (firstly)
  • deuxièmement (secondly)
  • ensuite (then)
  • enfin (finally)
  • finalement (finally)
  • pour conclure (to conclude)

You can use these words when introducing a new idea to your dissertation or essay. These words will signal the readers that they are encountering a new part or thought of your writing process.

10. Writing a Dissertation in French

This is the form of writing you encounter in French higher education. It’s a very complex form of French writing, only the most advanced and fluent French learners should attempt it. It’s also a longer piece of academic writing. It may take you weeks to complete research and write your French dissertation.

The French dissertation is similar to essay structure. But, there’s one main difference: your thesis isn’t a statement, but rather a question. It’s your job in the dissertation to take the reader through your thought process and research to answer your question. This logic is known as “ Cartesian logic .” It comes from Descartes , who was a well known French philosopher.

History of Written French

French was used in Strasbourg Oaths, and it first appeared in writing in 842 AD. Before then, Latin was the only language used for literature in Europe. However, in the 10th and 11th centuries, French appeared in some religious writings and documents but was not used up to the late 12th century or early 13th century. The first greatest French Literature work, the Song of Roland (Chanson de Roland), was published around the year 1200.

Writing in French Alone Won’t Make You Fluent

You need to learn how to write in French to be proficient in the language. But, it won’t make you fluent. The only way to become fluent is to practice speaking French. While it’s crucial to develop every area of your French knowledge, if you want to be fluent in French, you need a reliable language learning method like OptiLingo.

OptiLingo is an app that gets you speaking, not typing a language. It gives you the most common French words and phrases, so you’re guaranteed to learn the most useful vocabulary. Don’t waste time trying to learn French you’ll never use. Complement your French writing practice with fun speaking exercises when you download OptiLingo !

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French Possessive Adjectives: Mon, Ton, Son, and More

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Production écrite DELF B1 (writing): our advice to succeed!

Production écrite DELF B1

Last updated on June 25th, 2023 at 02:52 pm

The writing part (or production écrite ) corresponds to 25% of the DELF B1 total mark. You have 45 min to complete an assignment of about 180 words around general themes (essay, letter, article, etc.). You will be able to get practical information about where you can take the exam and how to register on the DELF official website .

Today, we’ll see how is your DELF B1 writing assignment evaluated, then you will find some sample exams to get a better idea of what kind of assignment we’re talking about, finally we’ll give you some practical tips to succeed.

DELF B1 production écrite (writing): the criteria

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Production écrite DELF B1 Writing: samples

Sujet n°1: Essai: A votre avis, quels ont été les changements les plus importants des vingt dernière années dans votre pays. Quels sont ceux qui ont été positifs ou ceux qui ont été négatifs selon vous? Vous écrirez un texte construit et cohérent sur ce sujet (160 à 180 mots).

Sujet n°2: Vous recevez ce mail de Louisa, une amie française :

Salut, Mon entreprise me propose de quitter Brest pour aller travailler à New York. C’est une bonne nouvelle, mais comment je vais faire dans une si grande ville alors que j’adore la nature ! Il y a aussi les problèmes de la langue, du logement, des amis… Je me sens un peu perdue. Tu en penses quoi ? A très vite ! Louisa

Vous répondez à Louisa. Vous lui donnez votre opinion en lui donnant des exemples d’expériences diverses. (160 mots minimum)

Production écrite DELF B1 Writing: Our tips to get a good mark

1. Don’t write straight away : think about the subject, write down all your ideas on paper. 2. Get the right structure : what is your logical plan? Think how you’re going to deal with every part of your essay from the introduction to the conclusion before you start writing. 3. Show you understood the format of the assignment : if you need to write a letter, make sure you use the right words usually written in a letter. 4. Use what you know : for the real exam, it’s not time to take risks. Use the sentence structures you know. It’s better to write simple sentences correctly than to try complex structures full of mistakes. 5. Read over your work to make sure you haven’t missed a lot of mistakes! You should particularly pay attention to mistakes you are used to doing but that you can easily avoid. For example, s in plural, check that every sentence has a verb, etc.

The writing part (as well as the oral exam) is very hard to prepare by yourself as opposed to the listening comprehension and the written comprehension where a good book is probably enough to help you. At Live-French.net, you can prepare the DELF B1 writing part with one of our online French teachers in order to:

  • help you reach the B1 level before the exam so that you know the grammar points you are supposed to be confident with (tenses, structures, vocabulary, etc.).
  • rehearse on sample test that will help you undertand what is expected from you and to improve while you practice,
  • get personalized advice on what you need to pass the exam.

Feel free to register for a free trial lesson , discuss your needs with our team of teachers and get a free evaluation.

Related articles:

  • How my students have passed the DELF B2 exam
  • DELF exam preparation

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French Writing Examples

The following shows writing examples at various proficiency levels. These were produced by real language learners and may contain errors. See Writing Section Tips at the bottom of this page.

French Proficiency Tests and Resources

Writing Examples

At this level, I am able to create individual words that have no extended meaning.

I can share some simple vocabulary, which deals with the prompt/task/situation, but I tend to struggle to connect those words to create meaning.

La me're ,la souer ,le frere

At this level, I am beginning to develop the ability to create meaning by grammatically connecting words.

Specifically, I can connect some basic subjects and verbs or verbs and objects, but I may be inconsistent at doing this.

I am often limited in my vocabulary to Novice level topics that I experience in my every-day life or that I have recently learned.

Jai une grande famille.

At this level, I can create simple sentences with very basic grammatical control and accuracy.

There are often errors in my responses, while at the same time I might have good control with some very simple structures and functions of the language that I have just learned or studied.

At the Novice levels, errors are expected as I try to create simple sentences. Generally, the sentences that I am able to create are very basic and simple with few, if any, added details.

Je voyage a japan. Pour la vacacion j'ai chemises et shorts. Japan est chaud.

At this level, I can create simple sentences with some added detail; such sentences help create VARIETY.

At the Intermediate Low level, simple sentences are enhanced by use of prepositional phrases, helping verb usage, as well as some adverbs and a variety of adjectives.

I generally create independent sentences (ideas) that can be moved around without affecting the overall meaning of the response. There are still a number of errors in my response, but I have fairly good control of more basic sentences. I am feeling more confident in using different structures and expanding vocabulary and taking more risks with my responses.

Je préfère l'été. Il fait chaud et je peux nager. Ma famille aime nager en été. Parfois, nous allons au lac pour nager. Je déteste l'hiver. Mais, j’aime faire le ski.

At this level, I can now create enough language to show groupings of ideas.

My thoughts are loosely connected and cannot be moved around without affecting meaning.

I can also create a few sentences with complexity and am able to use some transition words.  I am also able to use more than just simple present tense, but often make mistakes when I try to use other tenses.

My vocabulary use is expanding and I am able to use more than the usual, high frequency or most common vocabulary. I feel that I am able to create new language on my own and communicate my everyday needs without too much difficulty.

J’aime l’hiver parce que quand il fait froid je peux jouer dans la neige. J’adore la neige. Je peux faire les bonhomme de neige avec mes cousins à notre cabine. Aussi, pres de notre cabine il y a une station de ski où nous pouvons faire de ski. C’est très amusant parce que nous pouvons faire du ski ensemble. Dans l’été c’est aussi amusant a notre cabine. C’est très jolie dans les montagnes.

At this level, I have good control of the language and feel quite confident about an increasing range of topics.

There are still some occasional errors in my language production, but that does not hinder my ability to communicate what I need to share.

I can use circumlocution to explain or describe things for which I do not know specific vocabulary or structures. I can understand and use different time frames and am just beginning to develop the ability to switch most time frames with accuracy. I can use transition words and concepts with some ease. My language has a more natural flow, but I still may have some unnatural pauses or hesitations.

Je crois que des jeunes élèves ne devraient pas avoir des portables avec l'Internet. Ces enfants sont trop jeunes d'utiliser un portable. D'abord, on n'est pas responsable et ne comprendre pas l'Internet et ce qu'on peut trouver sur l'Internet à cette âge. L'Internet peut être dangereuse et ce n’est pas bon pour les enfants d'utiliser sans des parents les regardent. Si des enfants ont un portable, on a l'acces à l'Internet sans des parents. Ensuite, des enfants n'ont pas besoin d'un portable. Il vaut mieux que des jeunes élèves jouent au dehors ou s'amuser avec leurs amis. Beacoup de gens ont un portable et ne faire rien sauf utiliser leur portable. Ce n'est pas une bonne habitude.

At this level my response contains a number of complexities with higher degree of accuracy.

Such language allows me to address each aspect of the prompt more completely and with more depth of meaning.

I am able to use Advanced vocabulary or Advanced terms, conjugations etc. with confidence. I feel that I can create natural flow using as much detail and descriptive language as possible to create a clear picture. Errors with more complex structures may still occur. My ability to switch time frames begins to increase in accuracy.

Actuellement la présence des téléphones mobiles est en train d'augmenter. Tout les adultes, et presque tout les adolescents utilisent des «smart phones» aujourd'hui. Mais est-ce que les élèves de primaire devraient avoir des téléphones? Pour mieux répondre à cette question, il faut d’abord éxaminer les avantages que les téléphones pourraient avoir. Puis, on doit considérer la grand coût des développements technologiques. Alors, sans doute, les téléphones mobiles peuvent être utiliseé de faciliter la communication. Pour les enfants et les jeunes gens, les téléphones peuvent les aider à connecter avec leurs familles : les enfants qui ont des téléphones pourraient toujours appeler leurs parents s'ils devaient l'assistance. Tandis que pour les parents, c'est un moyen acceptable de donner l'indépendance, parce que tant que leurs enfants ont des portables, ils peuvent les contacter et ils peuvent toujours vérifier que leurs enfants sont sûrs. Mais par contre, ces commodités sont assez chères et pourraient ne pas être abordables pour toutes les familles. Chaque famille doit décider pour eux-mêmes.

At this level my response demonstrates my ease with the language.

I am able to create a response which not only addresses each aspect of the prompt, but delves into each point with clarity and concise language.

I am able to incorporate a number of more complex structures as well as Advanced vocabulary and Advanced phrases with a higher degree of accuracy throughout the majority of the response.

The language I create has a natural flow due to the way I incorporate a variety of patterns and complexities into my response. My response shows my ability to create language that has sophistication of language skills and syntactical density. My ability to switch time frames accurately is evident, if called for in the prompt.

L'utilisation des portables devient de plus en plus présente dans notre société. On trouve même les enfants d'un âge très jeune ayant les ordinateurs ou bien leurs propres portables. Avec cette croissance, il est nécessaire qu'on se demande: est-il juste que les enfants de l'école primaire aient les portables, soit avec l'Internet soit sans? Lorsqu'on se met dans plusieurs perspectives du monde, il est plus clair d'en résoudre et d'en répondre. En pensant des possibilités de l'éducation, de la mondalisation, et de l'interaction, il faut garder une équilibre entre l'utilisation de la téchnologie et des stratèges d'engager tête-à-tête. Je suis professeur au lycée, où j'enseigne le français et l'anglais comme langue étrangère. Il est vrai que je déteste quand mes élèves utilisent leurs portables en classe, malgré les règles qui existent. Mais, je crois aussi en l'utilisation de la téchonologie comme une source d'apprendre. Il existe plein de site-webs utiles, d'applications engageant, et de façons d'incorporer une variéte d'activités en classe. Avec cette perspective, il est indispensible que les enfants de cette société sachent utiliser la téchnologie, et surtout les portables, d'une manière appropriée et juste. Il commence à un âge tôt la téchnologie, et si les enseignants au primaire peuvent inclure des activités qui sont basées sur la téchnologie, les enfants commenceront à bénéficier du savoir qu'apportent les portables pour mieux apprendre le monde d'aujourd'hui.

Writing Section Tips

Additional resources can be found in the Power-Up Guide and on our Video Tutorials page.

  • Be a ‘show-off’ – this is the time to show what you can do!
  • Be organized in your writing.
  • Challenge yourself to go above and beyond what you normally write.
  • Be creative and don’t stress out over possible errors. Perfection is not the goal!

Simply do your best and enjoy creating and communicating in the language that you are learning.

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essay question in french

A Complete Guide on Questions in French & How to Answer Them

Just imagine: You’re going out with a group of native French-speakers. This is the perfect opportunity to make friends and practice your French in a real-life situation! But how do you break the ice? What should you say if you run out of topics, or if your French isn’t solid enough to fuel the conversation?

The universal answer is: ask questions! Among countless benefits, being able to ask questions in French will help you avoid awkward silences by keeping the conversation going. It will also make the other person feel like you want to know more about them or value their opinion, thus making you more likeable. Asking questions you’re genuinely interested in opens a world of new information and cultural insight! 

Another perk is that you don’t have to talk too much; just sit back and listen. Don’t think about your next question or how to steer the conversation back toward yourself. Just enjoy the ride and dive into whatever the other person has to say. In this guide, you’ll learn everything about asking questions in French, from the question words to a collection of common topics with comprehensive examples. By the end of this article, you’ll not only know how to ask questions in French, but also how to answer them!

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  • Golden Rules of French Questions
  • The 8 Most Common Question Topics

Le Mot De La Fin

1. golden rules of french questions.

A Meal with Friends

Insightful answers can take you a long way!

In our daily lives, we have plenty of opportunities to ask questions, all day long: “Can I have a coffee?” / “At what time is that meeting, again?” / “What’s up, Sophie?” / “Is that seat taken?” / “How much is that product?”

We don’t even think about it, but a hefty portion of our social interactions is based on questions and answers—and this portion grows out of proportion as a foreigner in a strange land, where you need to learn the rules and make sense of unusual things.

Before we go any further, let’s look at the basic rules of how to formulate questions in French.

1 – The 3 French Question Patterns

We’ll start with this simple declarative sentence:

  • Tu parles Français. (“You speak French.”)

Here are the three ways you can turn it into “Do you speak French?”

1. Parles-tu Français ? This is mostly for written French, and it’s unlikely that you’ll hear it in spoken conversations. We simply invert the verb and the pronoun. This pattern only works with pronouns.

2. Est-ce que tu parles Français ? This works fine in speaking or writing, making it the most polyvalent of the three forms. Est-ce que literally means “Is it that.” So, our sentence would translate to: “Is it that you speak French?”

3. Tu parles Français ? This is the casual spoken form that you’ll rarely see in writing, and it’s super-easy to form. This is the exact same sentence as the declaration; we simply change the intonation (the pitch goes up at the end).

2 – French Question Words

When? / Where? / How? / Why? / How much? / How many? / What?

Let’s have a look at how these questions look in French!

In this table, I will put all possible question forms, but you can usually use any of the three structures.

(“When”)
(“When are we eating?”)
(“Where”) (“Where are you going?”)
(“How”) (“How does it work?”)
(“Why”) (“Why is he doing this?”)
(“How many,” “How much”)
(“How much is it?”)
(“What”)

(“What are you doing?”)

A Man Looking a Blueprint

Comment ça marche ? (“How does it work?”)

2. The 8 Most Common Question Topics

There’s such a wide range of basic French questions and answers that it would be impossible to list them all. But in this section, we’ll go through the most typical questions that you might be asked or want to ask your French pals. 

For each topic, you’ll find examples of possible answers so that you can start imagining how you would deal with it yourself. A good exercise is to try and come up with answers of your own, using the vocabulary and structures you’ll learn today.

First Encounter

1 – Personal Information

The French usually don’t go too far with intimate questions when meeting someone for the first time. Questions about marital status, for instance, could be deemed a bit too personal for a first encounter. 

That said, here are a few questions you can’t go wrong with:

How old are you?

  • Vous avez quel âge ?
  • Tu as quel âge ? ► J’ai 32 ans. (“I’m 32.”)

There’s no strict rule about it, but it’s commonly accepted in French etiquette that it’s a bit rude to ask a woman her age, just like you shouldn’t ask about her weight. It may not apply when the other person has no reason to feel insecure about it, but when in doubt, you’d better not ask.

The difference between the casual tu and formal vous is pretty much straightforward.

What’s your name?

  • Comment tu t’appelles ? [Casual]
  • Tu t’appelles comment ? [Casual]
  • Comment vous appelez-vous ? [Formal]

Do you have brothers and sisters?

  • Vous avez des frères et soeurs ?
  • Tu as des frères et soeurs ?

Twin Sisters

J’ai une soeur jumelle. (“I have a twin sister.”)

2 – Where are You From?

Being a foreigner in France, you’ll often be met with this question. Some people might try to guess, and some will just ask you; it’s bound to spark some interest and follow-up questions.

Asking this question to a French native while in France also works. They’ll answer about their hometown or region, and you may learn about interesting local traditions or exciting dishes!

Where are you from?

  • Vous venez d’où ?
  • Tu viens d’où ?
  • Tu es d’où ?
  • Tu es de quelle nationalité ? Foreign answers ► Je suis Japonais. (“I’m Japanese.”) [Male] ► Je suis Japonaise. (“I’m Japanese.”) [Female] ► Je viens du Japon. (“I’m from Japan.”) Local answers ► Je viens de Paris. (“I’m from Paris.”) ► Je suis Parisienne. (“I’m a Parisian.”) [Female] ► Je viens d’Alsace. (“I’m from the Alsace region.”)

What country are you from? 

  • De quel pays venez-vous ?
  • Tu viens de quel pays ?

What city are you from? 

  • De quelle ville venez-vous ?
  • Tu viens de quelle ville ?
  • Tu habites dans quelle ville ? (“In what city are you living?”)

Where is it?

  • Où est-ce que ça se trouve ? (“Where is it located?”)
  • C’est où ? (“Where is it?”)
  • C’est par où ? (“Where about is that?”)
  • C’est dans quel coin ? (Literally: “In what corner is that?”)

Children with Different Races

Tu viens d’où ? (“Where are you from?”)

Introducing Yourself

3 – Do You Speak ___?

Another foreigner-friendly topic. You may want to ask if the other person speaks English, just as you might be asked whether you speak French or not. This question can lead to a few potential follow-ups on studies, travels, and levels of proficiency.

Do you speak [Language]? 

  • Vous parlez Français ? (“Do you speak French?”)
  • Est-ce que tu parles Anglais ? (“Do you speak English?”)

How long have you been studying French?

  • Vous étudiez le Français depuis combien de temps ?
  • Tu étudies le Français depuis combien de temps ?

What languages do you speak?

  • Quelles langues parlez-vous ?
  • Tu parles quelles langues ?
  • Tu parles quelles autres langues ? (“What other languages do you speak?”)

4 – Concerning Hobbies

The French are about working hard but partying harder, and we tend to think that our hobbies define us more than our jobs. As a result, you may be asked about your tastes and favorite artists early in a conversation. 

Asking these kinds of questions is a great way to show your interest in the other person and find common ground through shared interests. Following are some ways to ask and answer this type of question in French.

What are your hobbies? 

  • Quels sont vos loisirs ? 
  • Tu as quoi comme hobbies ?
  • Quel est ton passe-temps préféré ? (“What’s your favorite pastime?”)
  • Tu fais quoi pendant ton temps libre ? (“What do you do in your free time?”)

Do you do sports? 

  • Vous faites du sport ?
  • Tu fais du sport ?
  • Tu fais quoi comme sport ? (“What sports are you doing?”)

What kind of [entertainment / art] do you like? 

  • Quel genre de film aimez-vous ? (“What kind of movies do you like?”)
  • Tu écoutes quel genre de musique ? (“What kind of music do you listen to?”)
  • Quel est ton acteur préféré ? (“Who’s your favorite actor?”)

A Man Painting

J’aime la peinture. (“I love painting.”)

5 – Let’s Talk Business

Even though we try to find a healthy balance between work and personal life, our professional dealings still take up an important part of our lives (and many hours during the week). As a result, don’t be surprised if it comes up early in a conversation when meeting strangers.

The French love to complain about their jobs: how they’re working too much for an insufficient salary, how their boss is a jerk and their company is a frustrating disarray. Please, don’t hold it against them!

What is your profession?

  • Dans quoi travaillez-vous ? (“In what field are you working?”)
  • Tu bosses dans quoi ? (“What’s your job?”)
  • Tu fais quoi ? (“What do you do?”)
  • Tu fais quoi dans la vie ? (“What do you do?” but literally “What do you do in life?”)

This last one sounds a bit silly and people use it with a smile, but it’s a great way to make sure your question is understood. 

If you’re in a bar and you just say Tu fais quoi ? the other person could be caught off guard and answer “Nothing, why?” or “Huh…drinking a beer?”

What do you study?

  • Vous faites des études dans quel domaine ? (“In what field are you studying?”)
  • Tu étudies quoi ? (“What are you studying?”)
  • Tu étudies où ? (“Where are you studying?”)
  • Tu apprends quoi ? (“What are you learning?”)

A Woman Solving Mathematics Problem

J’étudie les mathématiques. (“I study mathematics.”)

6 – Do You Like ___?

What better way to get to know someone than to find out what they like and dislike?

As a visitor, you may get the regular questions on how you appreciate the country or city you’re visiting, but you can use the same structure with any topic, from trivial to intimate!

In France, it’s usually fine to say when you don’t like something. Obviously, out of respect for your hosts, you might want to refrain from throwing mud at what they offer, but overall, compared to other countries, we can be rather blunt when expressing our opinion.

How do you like this place? 

  • Comment trouvez-vous Paris ? (“How do you like Paris?”)
  • Comment tu trouves Toulouse ? (“How do you like Toulouse?”)
  • Tu aimes Paris ? (“Do you like Paris?”)
  • Tu te plais en France ? (“Do you enjoy France?”)

Do you like that thing? 

  • Vous aimez la cuisine Française ? (“Do you like French cuisine?”)
  • Est-ce que tu aimes le vin rouge ? (“Do you like red wine?”)
  • Tu aimes les films avec des gladiateurs ? (“Do you like Gladiator movies?”)
  • Est-ce que tu aimes la musique Française ? (“Do you like French music?”) (It’s okay, you don’t have to say yes. I understand !)

7 – Have You Been There?

Other basic French questions to a traveler, visitor, or expat are those about where you’ve been. When people have been to exotic places, they’re usually eager to talk about it and discuss landscapes, climates, and customs. It’s an interesting and safe topic for when you want to know more about someone’s past adventures.

Have you been to this place? 

  • Êtes-vous allé à Lyon ? (“Have you been to Lyon?”)
  • Tu es déjà allé en Ecosse ? (“Have you ever been to Scotland?”)
  • Tu as voyagé en Amérique du sud ? (“Have you traveled to South America?”)

Have you visited this place?

  • Tu as visité le musée du Louvre ? (“Did you visit the Louvre museum?”)
  • Tu connais le pont de l’Alma ? (“Do you know the Alma Bridge?”)
  • Tu es déjà allé sur les quais de Bercy ? (“Have you ever been to the docks of Bercy?”)

8 – How Much? 

The final set of basic questions and answers in French you’ll for-sure need are those about costs and prices.

How much is it?

  • Combien ça coûte ? (“How much does it cost?”)
  • C’est combien ? (“How much is it?”)
  • Je vous dois combien ? (“How much do I owe you?”)

How much is this? 

  • La pinte est à combien ? (“How much is a pint?”)
  • Celui-ci coûte combien ? (“How much is this one?”)
  • Vous le faites à combien ? (“How much do you ask for this?”)

Combien ça coûte ? (“How much is it?”)

In this guide, you’ve learned the bread and butter of asking questions in French, from the question words to the most common topics, with plenty of examples.

Did we forget any important topic you’d like to learn about? Do you feel ready to get out there and express yourself, using everything you’ve learned today?

A good way to practice is to take each of the questions we’ve covered today and imagine how you would answer them. Maybe you’ll need to do some research on the sentence structures or key words, but it will be a great way to learn how to talk about yourself. 

Learning how to talk about personal topics is always worth the time, as you can use this knowledge in any occasion, with your friends or people you’ve just met.

Make sure to explore FrenchPod101 , as we have plenty of free resources to help you practice your grammar and learn new words. Our vocabulary lists are also useful for revisiting new words and practicing their pronunciation.

Remember that you can also use our premium service, MyTeacher , to get personal one-on-one coaching. Practice questions and answers in French with your private teacher so they can give you personalized feedback and advice, and help you with the pronunciation.

Happy learning!

About the Author: Born and bred in the rainy north of France, Cyril Danon has been bouncing off various jobs before he left everything behind to wander around the wonders of the World. Now, after quenching his wanderlust for the last few years, he’s eager to share his passion for languages.

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French Texts for Beginners

essay question in french

French texts for beginners (A1/A2) and intermediates (B1/B2) to practice your French reading and comprehension skills. Learning to read French well is a genuine accomplishment. For beginning learners, we offer an enjoyable way to improve your comprehension with the brief, text-based lessons below.

essay question in french

Professional French teachers designed the texts and exercises with easy vocabulary and elementary grammar to help you grow in ability and confidence. Following your review of each text, answer the questions of comprehension in our online exercises, and we'll evaluate it immediately. You get instant feedback about your French reading skills. It's challenging, fun and free!

Hint: Download our texts and exercises as pdf and use it as free teaching materials for your students.

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  • Cinéma DIALOGUE PREMIUM How about we go to the movies? ? »
  • Les vacances d'été PREMIUM Summer holidays and the French ? »
  • Séjour à la ferme PREMIUM A day off away from the city ? »
  • Du soleil sous la neige PREMIUM Clean, fresh air: just what was needed ? »
  • Formation en anglais PREMIUM I need information about the English class. ? »
  • Journée en forêt PREMIUM A walk in the woods with grandpa ? »
  • La réunion de famille PREMIUM The only time of the year when the family gets together ? »
  • Le chat et la taupe PREMIUM The mole was lucky to escape ? »
  • Le jour du marché PREMIUM I'm going to buy the vegetables for today's meal ? »
  • Les courses d'Arthur PREMIUM The days when Arthur does the shopping ? »
  • Les lectures de Hector PREMIUM ? »
  • Trouver l'amour sur internet PREMIUM Will Amelie find the love of her life? ? »
  • Un instant de détente PREMIUM A bit of relaxation after lots of work ? »
  • La nouvelle année PREMIUM Sabrina's goal for next year ? »
  • Le français, langue de Molière PREMIUM One of the greatest writers in the French language ? »
  • La photographie PREMIUM ? »
  • Le jardinage PREMIUM ? »
  • Les voyages en bus PREMIUM ? »

40 French Question Words & How to Ask Questions in French

Author: Camille Chevalier-Karfis

Learn how to understand / answer questions in French fast with my free French lesson. Clear explanations + lists of common & more complex French question words.

Understanding questions in French fast is the key to a successful conversation.

In this free French lesson, I’ll explain the 4 ways of asking questions in French and give you lists of common French question words (aka interrogative expressions…)

1 – How To Ask Questions in French?

We have basically 4 ways of asking questions in French:

  • To ask a question in a relaxed, everyday conversation, we just raise our voice. Vous parlez français ?
  • To insist on the fact that you’re asking a question, you may use “est-ce que”. Est-ce que vous parlez français ?
  • When we write, or in formal situations, we tend to use “inversion”, a French concept where you invert the subject and the verb. Parlez-vous français ?
  • When you’re pretty sure the answer is yes, you may use the tag expressions “n’est-ce pas ?” or “non ?”

Now let’s study the different ways of asking questions in French in details.

Questions in French: the Modern “Everyday” Way

This is the most common construction, mostly used in spoken French , and it’s also the simplest – hence it’s popularity.

You just raise your intonation towards the end of the sentence! Vous parlez français ? = Do you speak French?

If you use an interrogative expression (like when, why, where…) It goes all the way at the end of your sentence.

  • Tu vas en France quand ? When are you going to France?
  • Tu voyages avec qui ? With whom do you travel?

Questions in French: “Est-ce que”

“Est-ce que” is nowadays mostly used to ask questions that can be answered by “oui” or “non”, and with “qu’est-ce que” (what do you…).

“Est-ce que” is pronounced [S keu] and it takes elision, so when followed by a vowel or an h, it becomes “est-ce qu’il(s)” [S kil], “est-ce qu’elle(s)” [S kel] etc…

“Est-ce que” means nothing by itself (watch out! It doesn’t always translate as ‘is’), it’s like the inverted question mark Spanish uses before the question: it warns you that a question is coming :-)

  • Est-ce que tu vas souvent à Londres ? Do you often go to London?
  • Est-ce que tu peux venir chez moi ? Can you come to my house?
  • Est-ce qu’elle est française ? Is she French?
  • Qu’est-ce que tu fais ? What are you doing?

Questions in French: Inversion

Inversion is the most formal way of asking a question in French yet it’s still very much used, especially when using an interrogative expression.

In inversion, you pretty much invert the subject verb order, placing the verb first. Pourquoi vas-tu à Paris ? = Why are you going to Paris? Avec qui voyagez-vous ? = With whom are you traveling?

If you are studying French to pass exams, it is essential you know how to form your questions using inversion.

However, if you are learning French to communicate, you should be able to understand a question asked using inversion, but I wouldn’t worry about using it right away.

The modern everyday way to ask questions is much easier, if you ask me!

There is more to say about asking question with inversion since the construct can be quite complex.

Inversion, the various French question words etc.. are explained in depth and then illustrated by a level-adapted ongoing novel with audio – in my intermediate level French audiobook method – À Moi Paris L3.

essay question in french

A new approach to learning both traditional and modern French logically structured for English speakers.

More Details & Audio Samples

Questions in French: N’est-ce pas?

Grammar makes it a question, so I have to list it here. But it’s only used as a tag question, when you are almost sure the answer is “yes”. Tu es français, n’est-ce pas ? = You are French, right /aren’t you?

Instead of using “n’est-ce pas ?”, you could also just ask no in French : non ?

Vous aimez la France, non ? = You like France, don’t you?

And now let’s see what question words are used to ask specific informations.

2 – French Question Words

Interrogative expressions – or interrogative adverbs, and sometimes interrogative adjectives – are French question words used to ask for a particular piece of information.

They combine with prepositions to form more complex French questions and this is usually the part that holds students of French back when asking a question.

You can gain a lot of speed (and therefore confidence) by knowing these French question words by heart!

Most Common French Interrogative Expressions

You probably already know these French question words:

  • Comment = how
  • Quand = when
  • Pourquoi = why – Note: to answer, use: parce que (parce qu’il-s, parce qu’elle-s)
  • Combien = how many (de + noun)
  • Qui = who, whom
  • À quelle heure = at what time

Interrogative Expressions Combined with Prepositions

Basic French question words combine with prepositions (from, of, about, to, until, for…) to create more complex interrogative expressions.

Some usually confuse students, so make sure you understand these constructs.

I am going to list the most common ones below, but there are more.

  • Jusqu’où = up to where, how far
  • D’où = from where
  • Jusqu’à quand = until when
  • Depuis quand = since when
  • Pour quand = for when
  • Jusqu’à quelle heure = until what time
  • Depuis quelle heure = since what time
  • Pour quelle heure = for what time
  • Pour combien de = for how much/many
  • Avec combien de = with how much/many
  • Combien de temps = how long
  • Pendant combien de temps = for how long
  • Depuis combien de temps = since how long
  • Que or qu’ = what + verb… as in what are you doing ? Que fais-tu, qu’est-ce que tu fais ?
  • quoi = what (used mostly in Street French: tu fais quoi ? = What are you doing?)
  • À quoi = usually used with a verb that is followed by à = penser à = À quoi tu penses ?
  • De quoi = usually used with a verb that is followed by de = parler de = De quoi tu parles ?
  • Avec quoi = with what
  • Avec qui = with whom
  • De qui =of, from, about whom
  • À qui = to whom
  • Pour qui = for whom
  • Chez qui = at whose place
  • Quel = which/what + masculine singular noun
  • quels = which/what + masculine plural noun
  • quelle = = which/what + feminine singular noun
  • quelles = which/what + feminine plural noun all pronounced “kel”
  • Pour quel = for which
  • Avec quel = with which
  • Chez quell (ami) = At which (friend’s) place
  • De quel = of which / about which
  • À quel = at which / in which
  • Dans quel = in which / inside which

3 – Watch Out for Prepositions!

In spoken English, it is common to put a preposition at the end of the sentence. Example: Who does she work for?

It is not so in French: you HAVE TO group the preposition with the interrogative expression, in other words, the preposition becomes part of your interrogative expression.

  • Elle travaille pour qui ?
  • Pour qui est-ce qu’elle travaille ?
  • Pour qui travaille-t-elle ?

You can never say in French: “qui elle travaille pour ?”.

Sometimes, English omits the preposition in a question. How long is she going to play the piano (for)? In French, you always have to say the preposition. Pendant combien de temps…(for how long) Elle va jouer du piano pendant combien de temps ?

4 – The Secrets to a Successful French Conversation

Asking questions fast, and being able to understand them fast as well, is an essential part of French conversation. Most students can’t answer questions fast enough because they are surprised by the word order used in French to ask a question.

You expected: “comment vous appelez-vous ? ” – which is featured in so many learning method to ask “what’s your name”, but is rather formal – and were asked “vous vous appelez comment ?” – same question, but asked in a much more casual way, or “c’est quoi votre nom ?” even more casual.

And that’s were you freeze in “surprise”. You expected one variation and got another one, which you often try to translate word by word. That’s the mistake: in most situations, you don’t need to translate the question. You need to understand it’s a question, and grab the essential parts to be able to, within the context of that particular conversation, guess the rest and answer fast.

So I dedicated a whole audiobook to this subject: secrets of French conversation . 1 hour of audio, plenty of exercises switching between the different ways of asking questions and everything you could possibly want to know about asking questions in French!

I hope this lesson helps. If you’d like to stay informed of new free lesson release, please subscribe to my newsletter .

Camille Chevalier-Karfis

Born and raised in Paris, I have been teaching today's French to adults for 25+ years in the US and France. Based on my students' goals and needs, I've created unique downloadable French audiobooks focussing on French like it's spoken today, for all levels. Come to Paimpol and enjoy an exclusive French immersion homestay with me in Brittany .

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French Writing Practice and Prompts for the Classroom

October 5, 2022 by Devon Leave a Comment

When you teach French, whether in middle school, high school, core French or immersion, you need all the French writing prompts and practice activities you can get! This handy dandy list is great to keep in your back pocket for those 5 minute pockets of unexpected down time, to prepare for final writing exams, and everyday French activities.

french-writing

Studying French Grammar Does NOT Lead to Accurate Writing

Before we start looking at french writing prompts, it’s important to understand its role in the French lesson plan. The #1 thing to remember about French writing activities in a classroom is that ACCURACY is not where you start – let alone put all your time and energy.

HOW MUCH students are exposed to the structure leads to accuracy.

Many teachers teach the way they were taught: show students the proper way to form a structure, give them opportunities to practice, and then test it. This DOES NOT WORK. See this post about second language acquisition and French grammar to see why.

Comprehensible Input French Example

Instead, give students tons of tiny texts with the structures you want them to use. Ask them warm up questions where they have to choose an answer between the structures they need to use. Lead them in tons of input-rich activities (WAY more than you think is necessary) before you ever ask them to produce the structure in writing).

For example:

J’ai besoin d’une calculatrice et un livre pour le cours de (fill in the blank, kiddos)

If you want students to be able to accurately talk about what they need for each class, instead of wasting time showing them how “j’ai besoin de/d'” works, just use that precious precious time for input and comprehension based activities where they get tons of repetitions of that structure!

Aim for them seeing, hearing, and using j’ai besoin de/d’ in context at least 50 times (ideally 75-125) before they are tested on it.

French 1 Writing Prompts

First, let’s look at French 1s as this is a very delicate stage of learning. Writing is a dangerous thing to mess with too early. At this stage in the game, our kids are baby baby novices. Starting at novice low with a writing prompt is honestly not a good idea, so don’t expect much. It’s more research-based practice to wait until students are at novice mid at the very least to introduce French writing prompts .

However, some of us (I also used to be in this position) teach in places where that just won’t fly.

Many students because of school constraints and stuffy curriculums need to use writing in French class, so let’s make this work as best we can at this level.

French 1 Writing Activities Tips

Again, for realz, make sure that you have given students at least 50 context rich, input rich exposures to any structure before asking them to write anything!

For novice lows, their very best skill is listing. Capitalize on this by asking questions that use the very same structures they need to answer inside the question. In other words, stay away from tu questions that need a j’ai answer until they are ready.

They will slay questions in the 3rd person though, especially if you teach them to look for the phrase they need in the question to answer it.

Next, you’ll see some copy-and-paste ready French 1 writing prompts with these exact principles in mind. Steal ’em!

French 1 Food Unit Writing Prompts:

Qu’est-ce qu’il y a dans le frigo?

Qu’est-ce qu’il y a dans le garde-manger? 

Qu’est-ce qu’on mange  au petit-déjeuner? 

Quels aliments ne sont pas sains? 

French 1 Personality & Adjectives Writing Prompts:

C’est comment, un bon ami?

C’est comment, un mauvais ami?

Comment est ta personnalité?/ Décris ta personnalité.

Tu es comment?

Tu es timide ou extraverti(e)? (Other either/or questions work well)

French 1 Family Unit

Qui est dans ta famille?

Tu as un animal domestique?

Décris une personne dans ta famille.

French 2 Writing Prompts

Next, let’s look at French 2 writing prompts. Don’t assume your French 2s are ready for more writing just because this class in high school French tends to have more grammar. They are only one teeny tiny step above French 1. They are still building a great deal of vocabulary and most are starting at novice mid. Here are some ideas for your French 2 writing prompts:

French 2 Writing Activities Tips:

  • Start to ask for complete sentences
  • Vary the question format to consistently work with 2nd person questions and 1st person answers. This of course means that you as the teacher need to speak to them in the 1st person a TON.
  • Start asking for sequence. It will be choppy and inaccurate. That’s perfectly normal for novice mids to highs, but it will push them further into novice high. For example, daily routine works well in level 2 to help work with first, next, then, last.
  • Ask for more details – maybe 3 in each sentence.
  • Never expect accuracy. Instead, expect complexity. That is what you will get at this level.
  • Praise like crazy when you start to see students using conjunctions. That is a very high-level skill for novice mids and emerging novice highs. For example, J’ai mangé une pizza et une pomme. That’s an advanced sentence for French 2! Treat it as such.
  • Instead of review, revisit the same prompts they remember from French 1 and ask for more complex and detailed responses. Less prep for you and still just as valuable output practice for them!

French 2 Writing Prompt Examples:

  • Qu’est-ce que tu fais pour le matin?
  • Qu’est-ce qu’on fait pour se preparer pour l’école?
  • Qu’est-ce qu’il y a dans la douche?
  • Qu’est-ce que tu aimes faire après-l’école?
  • Qu’est-ce que tu vas faire ce week-end?
  • Qu’est-ce que tu mets quand il fait beau?
  • Qu’est-ce que tu fais dans la cuisine? dans la chambre? dans la salle à manger?
  • Qu’est-ce que vous avez fait avec tes amis hier?

french-writing-prompts

French Past Tense Writing Practice

Last, let’s take a look at a very common question: how can I practice French past tense with my students? You don’t need to wait until French 2 to use past tense! They are ready for it! Instead of teaching the ins and outs of how past tense works, use your precious class time to give input rich examples for students in comprehensible input activities like weekend chats!

For example, if you’re teaching a food unit, why not ask things like “what did you eat yesterday?” Just don’t expect complete sentences. Then, later in the year, after you’ve done lots of interpersonal work, they will be ready to respond with j’ai mangé after they have seen and worked with at least 50 in context examples (ideally 75).

The best way to give past tense writing practice is to expose students to tons of simple past tense structures in the 1st person, 2nd person, and 3rd person in levels 1 and 2. Use the high frequency verbs and phrases that they will naturally hear the most. Use this post on French High Frequency Verbs to guide you!

french-activities

More Posts on Comprehensible Input, Research, and Linguistics

In conclusion, you have lots to think about with writing practice in French class. The most important concept is to make sure that writing is a proficiency-oriented practice in your class. Dive into the world of second language acquisition with these other posts for teachers:

  • The Research Behind Comprehensible Input
  • What is Comprehensible Input?
  • Second Language Acquisition
  • French Grammar and its New Role in Class
  • French High Frequency Verbs
  • Map Out Your French 1 Curriculum

More French teacher resources for you

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Have you ever wished the transition to proficiency were easier to do?  Grab the FREE toolkit here  to learn the framework for updating your practice to comprehensible input with key tools like French grammar in context and high frequency words – with actionable ideas you can use tomorrow in class.

Free Conference for World Language Teachers 

If you’re ready to jump in and get started with proficiency and teaching with comprehensible input, I have another resource to help you on your journey below:

Sign Up for the  Next Practical & Comprehensible Free Virtual Conference!  Every year, I gather together the best and brightest in the field of world language to share with you how to switch to proficiency through comprehensible input.  All with practical ideas that you can use tomorrow . It’s a FREE virtual conference –  join the waitlist and find out more about the speakers here.

French Teacher Resources and Posts

You may also like these French teacher resources for your immersion classroom or high school French class:

  • How to Map out a French 1 Curriculum for High School
  • French Classroom Decor Ideas for Proficiency Oriented Instruction
  • 11 French Resources for Teachers – All Free!
  • Can Do Statements and ACFTL Tools for World Language Teachers

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19 Common French Questions

Asking questions is an important part of communication in French.

We’ll help you construct a “yes” or “no” question, and questions that begin with the “where,” “what,” “who,” “when” and more. 

After that you’ll find a list of the 19 most common French questions (and a few tips on how to answer them, too).

With this starter guide and a little initiative on your end, you’ll be on your way to asking questions in French with ease!

How to Ask French Questions

Asking yes-or-no questions, french question words, 19 french questions for everyday use, introductions and small talk, socializing and making conversation, asking for information, how to practice asking and answering french questions, and one more thing....

Download: This blog post is available as a convenient and portable PDF that you can take anywhere. Click here to get a copy. (Download)

The simplest questions are those that need a “yes” or “no” answer. To ask questions like these, we can choose from a few alternatives.

Using est-ce que

The  most formal way  to ask a question is to take a declaratory sentence and add  est-ce que  which in English would be something like “is it that.” Let’s take a look at the sentence:

Vous êtes australien. — You are Australian.

This is a statement that we can turn into a question as follows:

Est-ce que vous êtes australien ? — Are you Australian?

Here is a helpful YouTube video to help you get the hang of asking these kinds of questions.

Changing your tone

Especially in informal situations , with “yes” and “no” questions you can just keep the same word order of the statement and raise the tone on the last word of the question. In this case we have:

Vous êtes australien ? — Are you Australian?

Changing word order

I find  est-ce que  incredibly simple to use, but you can also just  invert the subject and verb  of your sentence. Check out the following statement:

Vous allez au parc. — You go to the park.

If we wanted to make this a question we could just say:

Allez-vous au parc ? — Do you go to the park?

This is an equally valid way to ask questions, and you might find it easier than using  est-ce que . Note the hyphen between the verb and subject.

To get a hang of inversion questions—especially those pesky hyphens—the best method is lots of practice. Luckily there are lots of great resources for this online, such as  this quiz .

For slightly more complex questions, let’s have a look at how to ask questions using question words in French. 

“Who” questions

The French word for “who” is qui.  Let’s start with a simple question:

Qui est-il ? — Who is he?

The simplest way to ask this question is to  put  qui  at the beginning of the sentence  and then invert the subject and verb with a hyphen as we did above.

Inverting the subject and verb is the most common way to ask questions involving  qui,  but let’s look at a more complicated example.

We could also use  qui  to form a question using your old friend,  est-ce que:

Qui est-ce qui lit ? — Who is reading?

This is a great moment to explain that  est-ce que  is only used when what follows it could be a complete sentence  (subject + verb + object). That’s why a question like  qui est-il ?  doesn’t include  est-ce que.

But in the question  qui est-ce qui lit ? we have a subject and verb that could be a complete sentence, so we add the  est-ce que , but of course  since the answer to this question is a person and the subject of the sentence, we say  est-ce qui .

In the case where the answer to the question is both a person and direct object, we say  qui est-ce que , for example:

Qui est-ce que tu connais ici ? — Who do you know here?

“What” and “which” questions

In French, “what” can be translated as que   or quoi, and “which” can be translated in several ways depending on the number and gender of the subject it modifies: quel, quels, quelle, quelles . 

Let’s look at an example involving  que . Usually  que  uses  est-ce que  as follows:

Qu’est-ce que c’est ? — What is it/this?

This extremely common question breaks down as follows: 

Que  +  est-ce que + subject + verb

We’ll put  est-ce que  right after the question word in the majority of questions in French.

In addition to  que, we also have the option of using the less formal alternative quoi.  For example:

C’est quoi ça ? — What is it/this?

“When” questions

The French word for “when” is quand,  and as you can expect, we can make questions using our hack.

Quand est-ce que tu veux aller au cinéma ? — When do you want to go to the movies?

Note how we put  est-ce que  after the question word here, since what comes afterward could be a stand-alone sentence.

We could also just  change the order of the words  and use raised intonation:

Vous arrivez quand ? — When will you arrive?

“Where” questions

“Where” is translated as où  (note the accent). To ask where something is, you can formulate a question like:

Où est mon chat ? — Where is my cat?

Again, remember that we only use  est-ce que  when what follows could be a complete sentence (subject + verb + object). That’s why a sentence like  Où est mon chat?  doesn’t include  est-ce que .

Note the difference between the last sentence and this one:

Où est-ce que tu veux aller ? — Where do you want to go?

Here we have a complete sentence, tu veux aller, following  est-ce que,  whereas in the first sentence, we only had a subject:  mon chat.

Finally, we can simplify our question, eliminating the  est-ce que  and using the hyphen:

Où veux-tu aller ? — Where do you want to go?

“Why” questions

Asking “why” is one of the most important things you can ask. The French translation is pourquoi.  Let’s look at an example:

Pourquoi est-ce que vous mangez trop ? — Why do you eat too much?

Once again, the same formula used above applies to why questions: you can use inversion and drop the  est-ce que  to ask the question in a different way.

Pourquoi mangez-vous trop ? — Why do you eat too much?

“How” questions

We’ve covered the principal “who, what, when, where and why” questions, but there are other question words, such as “how,” or comment.  Check this out:

Comment est-ce qu’on sort d’ici ? — How do we get out of here?

As always, we can also ask questions by reversing the subject and verb. For example:

Comment parle-t-on là-bas ? — How do people speak there?

Let’s stop for a quick teaching moment. You might be asking, “W hy is there a t between parle and on ?”

When we ask a question by inverting the verb and the subject, if the last letter of the conjugated verb  is a vowel as well as the first letter of the subject, we have to add a  t  that acts as a sort of pronunciation break.

“How many” questions

In French, we have a word for “how many”: combien.  Let’s check out a complete example:

Combien de chats est-ce qu’il y a dans la maison ? — How many cats are there in the house?

This sentence looks complicated, but it isn’t. Let’s break it into pieces:

Combien de  + plural  noun + est-ce que + il y a  + dans la maison ? 

The  est-ce qu’il y a  is like saying “are there”. Notice the  de  after  combien . This is always used, whether the subject that follows is countable or uncountable.

We can also replace the  est-ce qu’il y a  with  y a-t-il  which also means “are there”:

Combien de chats y a-t-il dans la maison ?

Finally, we can start with  il y a  as follows:

Il y a combien de chats dans la maison ?

Okay, so now that we have the formulas down, let’s have a look at some more example phrases you can use. 

Remember to use vous when the situation calls for more formality (or also when you’re asking a group of multiple people their names). Use tu when the situation is more casual/informal.

If there are variations for both formality levels, we share them below. 

1. Comment vous appelez-vous ? / Comment tu t’appelles ? — What’s your name? 

If you’re the one being asked, you can respond by saying:

Je m’appelle — My name is…

It’s one of the easiest and fastest ways to start making new friends !

2. Comment allez-vous ? /  Comment ça va ? /  Ça va ? — How are you?

Comment allez-vous ?  is the formal way of asking how someone is. Comment ça va ?  is more informal, with Ça va ?  being the most informal, but also very common. 

To answer you you can say:

Je vais bien, et vous ? — I’m doing well, and you? (formal)

Bien, merci — Good, thank you.

Ça va (bien) — I’m doing well.

Pas trop mal — Not bad.

Go ahead and choose your formality level based on the situation. 

3. Comment ça s’écrit ? — How do you spell that?

If you’re the one being asked how to spell something, it’s always helpful to know how the letters of the alphabet are pronounced in French .

4.  D’où venez-vous ? /  D’où viens-tu ? —  Where do you  come from? 

There are two versions of based on whether you use the verb venir  (to come) or  être  (to be).

So another variation of this question would be:

D’où êtes-vous ? —  Where  are  you from? (formal)

Tu es d’où ? —  Where  are  you from? (informal)

If someone asks you, all you have to do is say:

Je viens de… — I come from…

Je suis de… — I am from…

5.  Quel âge avez-vous ?  /  Quel âge as-tu ?   — How old are you? 

In English, we say “How old are you?”   But in French, the construction literally means “What age do you have?”

In French you have to answer by saying:

J’ai vingt ans. — I’m 20 years old.

Or, literally, “I have 20 years.”

6.  Qu’est-ce que vous étudiez ? /  Qu’est-ce que tu étudies ? — What do you study? 

This one is commonly asked by university students around the world! If you’re asked this, don’t panic, just repeat after me:

J’étudie… — I study…

J’étudie le français. — I study French. 

Now that you’ve successfully gone through the introductory phase, you might want to ask some more conversational questions. Here are some common starter questions to get you going.

7.  Qu’est-ce que tu vas faire ce week-end ? — What are you going to do this weekend?

If you’re the one being asked, you can start off with Je vais… and carry on with whatever activity you’ll be doing this weekend, using the infinitive form of the verb. For example:

Je vais sortir avec des amis — I’m going to go out with some friends.

8.  Tu veux sortir avec nous ce soir ? —  Do you want to go out with us tonight? 

When asking the question, replace nous (us)   with moi (me) and you can ask someone out on a date, either romantic or platonic.

To respond to this question, you can say:

Pourquoi pas !  —  Why not!

Je ne peux pas, désolé ! — I can’t, sorry!

9. À quelle heure commence le concert ? — When does the concert start? / À quelle heure se termine le concert ? — When does the concert end?

You can respond simply by saying something like:

Le concert commence à huit heures et se termine à dix heures et demie. — The concert starts at eight o’clock and ends at 10:30.

From asking what time a concert starts to what time a boring lecture ends, you’ll want this question in your toolbox.

10.  Qu’est-ce qui s’est passé ? —  What happened?

A sample response would be:

Je suis tombé malade — I got sick.

The answer is said in the past tense, just like the question.

11.  Quel est votre passe-temps préféré ? /   Quel est ton passe-temps préféré ? — What is your hobby? 

There’s no better way to get to know someone than by finding out what their favorite hobby is. To respond, you can say:

Mon passe-temps préféré est… — My favorite hobby is…  

J’aime jouer au football. — I love playing soccer.

Asking for information is important. Here are some of the most common questions for doing so.

12.  Parlez-vous anglais ? — Do you speak English? 

Another variation of this question could be:

Est-ce qu’il y a quelqu’un qui parle anglais ? — Is there someone here who speaks English?

When you’re in a place where the native language is not the same as your native tongue, it’s always helpful to know how to ask this question.

13.  Quelle heure est-il ? — What time is it?

To answer, you can say: 

Il est onze heures du matin. — It’s 11 a.m.

Here’s more on how to tell time in French , just in case you need a little refresher!

14.  À quelle heure part le train pour Marseille ? —  What time does the train depart for Marseille?

To ask what time anything is happening, just start the question off with À quelle heure… (At what time…)

Responding to a question like this is as easy as saying:

Le train part à quinze heures. — The train departs at 3 p.m.

Remember, the 24-hour clock system is what is used in France, unlike in the U.S.!

15.  Quel temps fait-il aujourd’hui ? — What’s the weather like today?

If you use your phone and ask Siri this question, she’ll likely respond with something like:

Il fait chaud. — It’s hot.

Il fait froid. — It’s cold.

Make sure you check more weather-related French words and phrases , too!

16.  Quel jour sommes-nous ? — What day is it?

This literally means “What day are we at?” in French. If someone asks you this question, you can say, for example:

Nous sommes lundi. — It’s Monday.

C’est lundi. — It’s Monday.

Here are all the days of the week in French . 

17.  Où se trouve… ? / Où est… ? — Where is…?

The first one literally means “Where is (this specific thing) found/situated?” 

Another variation of this question would be:

Est-ce que vous savez où je peux trouver… ? — Do you know where I can find… ?

A common response would be:

Ça se trouve au deuxième étage. — That’s on the second floor.

You can also use this when shopping or when you want to ask where you can find the restroom, a specific classroom, etc.

18.  Comment va-t-on à… ?   — How do I get to…?

To respond, you can say, for example:

Il faut aller tout droit.  —You have to go straight.

Désolé, mais je ne sais pas. —  I’m sorry, but I don’t know.

Here’s some more info about  asking for and giving directions in French !

19.  Combien ça coûte ? —  How much does this cost?

The answer might be:

Ça coûte sept euros. — It costs seven euros. 

With a language exchange partner, of course. And  finding one is now easier than ever . Don’t be afraid to go out there and ask! Most people are all too happy to help a learner.

If you aren’t interested in finding a language partner, you can practice French questions by using language-learning apps , programs and courses. 

FluentU takes authentic videos—like music videos, movie trailers, news and inspiring talks—and turns them into personalized language learning lessons.

You can try FluentU for free for 2 weeks. Check out the website or download the iOS app or Android app.

P.S. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)

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Try FluentU for FREE!

And there you have it, folks! All the common French questions you could ever want to know. If you need them, you can find some more basic introductory French questions and sentences here .

Now go forth and use ’em to your heart’s content!

FluentU has a wide variety of great content, like interviews, documentary excerpts and web series, as you can see here:

learn-french-with-videos

FluentU brings native French videos with reach. With interactive captions, you can tap on any word to see an image, definition and useful examples.

learn-french-with-movies

For example, if you tap on the word "crois," you'll see this:

practice-french-with-subtitled-videos

Practice and reinforce all the vocabulary you've learned in a given video with learn mode. Swipe left or right to see more examples for the word you’re learning, and play the mini-games found in our dynamic flashcards, like "fill in the blank."

practice-french-with-adaptive-quizzes

All throughout, FluentU tracks the vocabulary that you’re learning and uses this information to give you a totally personalized experience. It gives you extra practice with difficult words—and reminds you when it’s time to review what you’ve learned.

Start using the FluentU website on your computer or tablet or, better yet, download the FluentU app from the iTunes or Google Play store. Click here to take advantage of our current sale! (Expires at the end of this month.)

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The Ultimate List of AP® French Language Tips

  • The Albert Team
  • Last Updated On: March 1, 2022

If you’re like many foreign language students, the AP® French Language exam has been a worrisome figure on the horizon for quite some time. As you finally begin this AP® course and prepare for the exam next spring, remember that there are many different resources out there to help you along the way. This Ultimate List of the AP® French Language tips will give you a head start over all of the other French students preparing for the exam. Use this list, combined with some hard work and assistance from your AP® teacher, and you’ll ace this exam in no time.

So you want to pass the AP® French Language exam? Well here’s the breakdown. Every year:

– More than 20,000 students take the AP® French Language exam

– About 75% receive a score of 3 or higher

– Only about 38% receive a crucial score of a 4 or 5

– Only  12% score a 5, which can really blow away college admissions staff

Want to be in the top 10% of exam takers? Want to receive even more scholarship money and acceptance letters from top universities? Want to awe and impress your AP® teacher and fellow students? Follow this indispensable list for some tips that will set you on your way. Also, if you’re looking for the best AP® French Language review books, this resource may help .

How to Study for AP® French Language Tips

1. It’s simple – use French! Easier said than done. Unlike Spanish, French doesn’t have a huge presence in the U.S. today. There aren’t French news channels or (many) French radio stations. So how can you start using the language? We’ll offer several ideas in the tips below.

2. Find the culture in your every day . What do you think of when you think Francophone culture? Well, we think of food first and foremost! A fantastic way to incorporate more French into your daily routine – and learn some great new recipes – is to cook French food. Used bookstores typically have foreign language cookbooks on the cheap. Pick one up and highlight some recipes that you’d like to try out. They don’t have to be complicated for you to benefit from the language. Some of the best dishes are simple and require few ingredients – fondue au fromage , anyone?

3. Find a language buddy. This applies to all foreign language students: most high schools have foreign exchange students and teachers. Lucky for you, as a French language student, tons of countries have French as a national language – not just France! French is an official language in all of these places:

France, Canada: Quebec and Ontario, Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Mali, Monaco, Côte d’Ivoire, Democratic Republic of Congo, Belgium, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Niger, Republic of the Congo, Madagascar, Haiti, Réunion, Martinique, Switzerland, and many more!

Use this to your advantage! Find a language buddy to practice your French. Often times, other students and exchange teachers are willing to do 15 minutes in French for 15 minutes of English practice with you!

4. Find a language exchange. These are more common than you think! Many French speakers in the U.S. are looking to improve their English and are beyond happy to participate in conversational language exchanges with native English speakers. Typically you spend 15-20 minutes speaking in one language and then switch to the other. Where can you find these exchanges? Check out the public library, civic center, or ask around at your school.

5. Get your vocabulary up to par! So you’ve reached AP® French Language. By this time in your foreign language career, you’ve most likely mastered the grammar of the language – at least in written form. You’ve seen all the verb tenses and know your irregular adjective conjugations. Still, you’ll be at a loss communicating in French if you don’t have an extensive vocabulary to express yourself. Get ready, here’s how to start expanding your vocabulary in French today.

6. A new word every day. The easiest way to start studying for AP® French is to introduce a new word into your French vocabulary every day. The Instagram account French Words has a new word (as well as its phonetic pronunciation and grammatical gender) every day! Flip calendars are also great for getting a new word every day. Then, try to use it during class.

7. Bring out your vocabulary cards. Or don’t! We recommend using vocabulary cards – they are a language learner’s best friend. Put a word in French on one side and a description of the word on the other side. Don’t like carrying around a ton of paper? There are so many apps available to make flashcards. Run through the words while you’re on the treadmill. Or every time commercials come on during your favorite show. Or every day before you begin French class to really get your mind churning.

Insider tip : There are good ways to make a vocab card and there are better ways. Which of these looks better for the word la craie ?

Vocab Card

Yup, you guessed it – the one on the right. Why? Because you didn’t need to use English to get to the meaning of the word. This will make you a faster speaker and writer in French. You also included all the relevant information such as the article and the word’s pronunciation.

8. Keep track of unknown words. Successful language learners swear by this technique. Keep a small notepad with you throughout the day. Then, every time you hear or see a word that you don’t know, write it down. Even if you don’t get the spelling right, jotting down these unknown words and looking them up later is one of the best techniques for acquiring new vocabulary items. Why? Because there are so many words that you encounter that you don’t know, even in your AP® class, that you cannot possibly keep track of them all. Write them down. Look them up. Repeat.

9. But don’t forget the important parts. Learning vocabulary is nothing if you don’t know how to use it. This means learning:

1) The pronunciation

How do you say it?

2) If it’s a noun, gender of the word

Is it le or la?

3) If it’s a verb, the conjugation

Is it a regular or irregular verb?

4) Put it in context

How do you use the word in a sentence ?

10. Whip out old practice exams. Reviewing old AP® exams is a technique known to help students prepare for the test. Year after year, AP® teachers say the one thing that sets apart those students who pass from those who don’t, was who completed the practice exams in class. Start getting yourself ready now by reviewing the old exams that your teacher may have available for you.

Insider tip: Know the structure of the exam

There are three main components to the AP® French Language exam: multiple choice, speaking, and writing. In order of appearance on the test they are:

multiple choice

interpersonal writing (e-mail)

presentational writing (persuasive essay)

interpersonal speaking(conversation)

presentational speaking (cultural comparison)

Don’t forget some of the AP® exam basics. Once you complete one section, you can’t go back and change your answers. Instead, simply move on and focus on the section at hand. You also can’t work ahead on the exam. So even if you’re especially nervous for the speaking section, don’t be. There’s nothing you can do during the multiple choice section to ready yourself for it so breathe and focus on the questions in front of you. In a way, it’s relieving. You can’t work ahead anyways, so don’t be anxious about the upcoming sections.

11. Get together to study . Studying can become very tedious. And most AP® French Language students aren’t taking just one AP® test – they’re taking 3, 4, or 5. To get over the boredom of studying alone, form a group that meets once or twice a week. This is a great way to socialize while reviewing but also get fresh ideas and insights on the course material. Split up the culture section and have one person report a new country for every meeting. Already sounds better than reviewing alone, doesn’t it?

12. Look up the guidelines . We’ve talked about a couple other online resources but one you should be especially familiar with is the CollegeBoard itself. The scoring guidelines that AP® French Language exam graders have right in front of them as they grade exams are available on this site. Curious about what graders are looking for? The CollegeBoard is very open with this, so take advantage of it.

13. Incorporate the language into your everyday routine . There are so many ways to incorporate French into your daily life – you’re probably not even thinking of them! Change your social media accounts like Facebook and Twitter to French – even your ads will start to appear in French. Set your browser homepage to Le Monde or Le Journal de Québec and read a news article every morning. Set your cell phone to French to learn new vocabulary. French will be all around you in no time.

14. Utilize your best resource: your teacher . You probably don’t know anyone who is a better resource for you when taking the AP® French Language exam than your AP® French teacher. He/she has seen hundreds of students take the exam and knows what has worked and what hasn’t. This is even more relevant if they are one of the teachers who grades the AP® exam in the summertime. So ask your teacher questions. Be an active learner in class. Learn from previous students’ mistakes. Your teacher will be more than happy to help you in your preparation for the test.

Start your AP® French Language Prep today

Ap® french language multiple choice tips.

1. Ignore instructions. This goes along with practicing for the test like we mentioned earlier. By the time you get to test day, you should be so comfortable with the material and overall structure of the test that you don’t need to read the instructions. While other students waste precious minutes reviewing the directions, you can skip ahead and get cracking on the hefty number of multiple-choice questions you have coming your way.

2. Answer every single question. Remember on the ACT® and SAT® when your teacher constantly stressed not answering questions you didn’t know? You were punished for incorrect answers. Well, not on the AP® French Language exam! In fact, the grading machines just ignore incorrect answers. Can’t figure out a question? Running out of time? Mark an answer anyways – it might be correct.

3. Calculate your time . How many questions do you have on the multiple choice section? 65. How many minutes are you allotted? 95. That means about a minute and half for every question. Don’t go beyond that, even if a question is tripping you up. Mark something down as an answer. Then, circle the question to come back to it later if you have time.

4. Move on from words you don’t know . You will inevitably encounter words that you don’t know in the multiple-choice section. Don’t stress about this or convince yourself that you weren’t sufficiently prepared. Instead, skim past those words and focus on those that you do know. You will be able to figure out the question despite not knowing a word or two. Even looking at the answers can sometimes help. So don’t stress when approached with an unfamiliar word.

5. Read the entire question . AP® tests are notorious for their tough multiple-choice sections. And the College Board thinks they can trip you up by giving a lot of background information and not stating the actual objective until the end of the question. So be one step ahead. Read the entire question, all the way through. Then, select an answer. They anticipate many students not reading the entire question and give wrong answers that correspond appropriately so don’t fall into this trap.

AP® French Language Free Response Tips

1. Sound natural and conversational. This isn’t always so easy for someone who speaks French as a second language. But listening to French radio (try RadioFrance ) or watching television shows ( Fais pas çi, fais pas ça is available on French Netflix and is very popular) can really help you with these elements of your language. What do you hear when you listen to native speakers? Lots of uh , and bon , right? Good. Use this to your advantage. Dot your speech with these native-sounding interjections and give yourself more time to think of the right words.

2. Slow down . For many students, the free response section of the AP® French Language exam is the most anxiety inducing of the test. As a result, too many students speak quickly, stumble over their words, or provide an incoherent argument. Don’t let this be you! Firstly, speak slowly. You have so much time – two whole minutes for the cultural comparison. There is no need to rush through your words. In fact, you’ll make more mistakes and will be less likely to find the words you’re looking if you speak too quickly.

3. Use your transition words . This actually also applies for the written portion. But, French is known to differ a lot stylistically between its written and spoken forms, so we’ll mention it here. There are lots of colloquial words that are used in spoken French to change topic or connect your thoughts. Here are some of them:

Je veux dire…

Comme je disais avant…

Par contre…

D’autre part…

Par exemple…

En même temps…

Insider tip : Sounding native

Par contre and en revanche are often cited in dictionaries as being synonyms in French. And to a certain extent, they are. However, they differ in their context of usage. Whereas you would rarely hear someone say en revanche out loud, you hardly even see par contre written in formal, academic prose. Know when to use which term for your transitions.

4. Use the correct pronouns . You know the difference between vous and tu – or do you? Vous is used for formal contexts, when you’re speaking with a teacher or addressing a grader as you record yourself in the speaking section of the test. Tu , however, is used when speaking with classmates or people you have known for a while. Vous is also used when addressing multiple people. Be very mindful of this distinction when speaking. Register is one thing that AP® graders look for since it’s mentioned explicitly on the scoring guidelines . So you know it’s very important.

5. Try recording yourself and classmates . Still worried about the speaking section of the AP® French Language exam? Not to worry, most students are nervous for this part. An excellent way to prepare is by recording yourself and others. Then, play back what you said. Do you sound rushed? How is your /R/ pronunciation (that guttural sound)? Be sure to get classmates’ help with this. They’d love to exchange tips on this tough section of the test.

AP® French Language Essay Tips & Advice

1. Penmanship matters, so use your best. Maybe it should, maybe it shouldn’t, but penmanship matters. And don’t you want your AP® French Language exam grader to be in a good mood when they’re scoring your exam? Make reading essays simpler for your grader by writing very clearly and unambiguously on the test. Take your time. As we’ll point out below, it isn’t the length of the essay that matters, but the content.

2. No need to fill all the pages! You are given so many pages in the essay booklet on the AP® French Language exam. This is actually an unfortunate part of the test and one that many students fall victim to. Remember: you don’t need to use all the pages! They are there for students who write larger or who made a large mistake and need to start over. Instead, stick to three, maximum four, pages on the presentational writing section. Graders read the essays quickly. And the questions are geared towards shorter essays, not longer. Less is more! (And you have less opportunity to make mistakes.)

Insider tip : French and its punctuation

Did you know that French uses different punctuation than English? Have you ever noticed, for example, that your teacher writes grades not as 92.3% but rather 92,3? Have you ever seen that question marks and exclamation points in French stories always come after a space? Check out the sentence below for some of the common punctuation differences between French and English:

– Le prof t’a donné quelle note sur le partiel ?

– J’ai reçu 13,3 sur 20. Et toi ?

– Moi, j’ai reçu 12,4. Il m’a commenté, « analyse pas suffisante ». Ca veut dire quoi, ça ?

What’s different in the phrases above?

  1) space between question mark and end of sentence: partiel?

  2) « » Arrows for quotes instead of English high quotes “ ”

  3) No accents necessary on uppercase letters, only lowercase: Ca but ça

  4) Comma instead of decimal point and vice versa: 1.000.000 instead of 1,000,000 for one million

Does this matter? Absolutely! Impress AP® French Language readers with the depth of your knowledge and detail in French writing. Get all the points that you can!

3. Have an outline and a thesis – before beginning . Before you ever flip the page from the sources to the actual essay, you should have an outline and thesis written. ‘Why?’ you ask. ‘It’s in my mind.’ Not good enough. Stakes are too high and the essay writing time passes by too fast. You must know what you’re writing about from the beginning or you risk wasting precious writing time. By writing down a thesis and having an idea of your structure, you’ll have something to refer back to you if you get lost in the prose of your essay.

4. Use ink on the essays . Pencil is great for writing notes and that all-important outline that we’ve already talked about. But when it comes to the essay itself, stick to ink. Why? Because pencil smudges easily and could render parts of your essay unreadable to the grader – yikes! Also, it simply isn’t as clear as blue or black ink. So stick to pens for the essay itself. Unsure of an idea while you’re writing? Write in pencil first. Then, go back over it in pen once you’ve finished.

5. Proofread. You must, must, must proofread your essay. Even if you’re on the last paragraph and you only have three minutes left, take the time to proofread. You would be amazed how many errors you can make while you’re writing and thinking quickly. When you first construct your essay, you’re likely to be so involved in the material itself and incorporating your sources (we’ll get to those below) that you forget about all-important accents or a consistent verb tense throughout. Proofreading will catch most of those errors. Keep an eye out for the following while you do one last read-through:

1) No passive voice – when in doubt, use on :

This: On peut voir dans la ligne deux que … Not this: La ligne deux est  vue par le lecteur comme…

2) A consistent verb tense throughout – don’t switch between past and present

3) Watch out for accents.

There’s a big difference between accent aigu ´ and accent grave ` so don’t get sloppy.

4) Don’t forget subjunctive.

Did the subject change within the clause? Are you expressing doubt or uncertainty? You probably need subjunctive.

6. Use the sources. Hopefully you know this one already! The sources provided for the persuasive essay are not just there for your amusement – you must incorporate them into your essay. In fact, graders are looking to make sure that you include not just one or two of the sources – but all of them. So read the sources carefully and think about how you will incorporate them into the outline before you even begin writing – that way you won’t forget to include one.

7. Weave the sources into the essay . Speaking of sources, if graders are looking to see if you included all three sources – don’t you want to make it very obvious to them that you did? So go ahead and use direct citations from the sources (with quotes and a citation marker). This is better than simply summing up information from the sources because 1) the graders will spot that you used a source right away and 2) you’re less likely to get the information from the sources wrong – a very common mistake that test takers make!

Tips by AP® French Language Teachers

Did you know that teachers grade the AP® French Language exams? And not just any teachers – your teachers. That’s right. Every summer, hundreds of AP® French Language teachers and university professors who teach equivalent courses get together to grade the writing and speaking components of the exam. So who do you think knows best what graders are and aren’t looking for? Teachers themselves, of course!

1. Write neatly. This teacher reinforces one of our writing tips mentioned above! “Just write clearly. We can always tell when you don’t know how to spell a word and you try to fudge your way out of it but writing illegibly. You’d be surprised how few points students lose for orthographic errors so write clearly. If you make a couple of minor mistakes, you won’t lose points for it.”

2. Do full practice exams. On the subject of practice exams , which we have also encouraged, this teacher says, “Unfortunately, we do not have enough time in class to do a full exam run-through of multiple choice, speaking, and writing. Great students will take the initiative and do this on their own or in groups. This is a long exam. It takes stamina. The only way to build that up is to do full run-throughs of the exam. All sections in one sitting – just as it will be on the day of the test.”

3. Re-energizing during the exam . It’s a long exam. How can you prepare yourself to make it all the way through until the writing section? This teacher has some tips: “I hate how the writing comes at the end! I think it’s the hardest part of the exam and takes the most energy out of my students. So I tell them, in addition to eating a large breakfast or lunch on the day of the AP® French Language exam, bring a snack or two with you! Every year my students come back saying how happy they were that I recommended this. The exam will take a lot out of you – get some energy back in return!”

4. Must use sources! Didn’t we tell you that incorporating your sources was important? Here it is again: “Please, please, please use all of your sources! Every year when I’m grading the AP® French Language exams, I feel terrible that I have to dock students points because they forgot a source or forgot to incorporate sources altogether!” How can you remember to do this? Write the sources into your outline from the very beginning. That way, you won’t forget to include them.

Insider tip : What if I forget a source?

Every year, so many students forget a source that the CollegeBoard finally decided that students can still receive a score of a 4 or 5 even without mentioning one of the sources. But the essay has to be exceptionally good to still receive such a high score. So rather than take the chance, follow the directions and use your sources.

5. Be a consistent studier. Studying for the AP® exam doesn’t just happen the few weeks before exam day in May. In fact, many AP® French Language teachers say the best study habits are established from the first week of class. “I try to encourage my students to form study groups outside of class and good learning habits such as learning new vocabulary and exposing themselves to different dialects of French. They should be doing this really from the start of their first semester in AP® French. This is the highest level of French taught at our school and offers them the invaluable opportunity to gain college credit. So students should treat the course as they would a college-level class.”

6. Master the present, including the subjunctive, the past and the future tenses! Thanks for the tip from Debbie M.

7. Challenge yourself daily to do more than you could yesterday.  Listen to challenging French news broadcasts.  If you don’t understand the background of the topics being discussed, do some further research online.  You will enhance your knowledge of current events–a key element of success on the exam–very quickly this way. Thanks for the tip from Stephen O. at West Lafayette Jr./Sr. High.

8. Practice dictation regularly –It may seem old fashioned, but dictation (la dictée) is a great way to hone spelling and grammar and to increase vocabulary.  Find a 30-second snip-it online and write out everything you hear.  Ask a teacher or native to check it for you. Thanks for the tip from Stephen O. at West Lafayette Jr./Sr. High.

9. Expose yourself to French every day. An easy way to get in 15 minutes is by either listening to the French news (Journal Télévisé) on TF1.fr while getting ready for school in the morning or while getting ready for bed at night. Thanks for the tip from Kerry G. at Greenwich High School.

10. During my study abroad in college, I would listen to the French radio news every morning with my host family or alone. It helped me get used to the pacing of real French while, at the same time, having a general idea of the topic before the report started. Thanks for the tip from Kerry G. at Greenwich High School.

11. I tell my students to watch a French video clip (news or otherwise) daily to get used to hearing different accents and to get their ears used to hearing spoken French. Thanks for the tip from Linda W. at Haddon Township.

12. DON’T PANIC … Breathe and think, what did we talk about. Thanks for the submission by Timothy K. from Apex High.

13. Help the Reader: Assume the reader is tired….it is the end of the day…they have been grading since 8:00am….Help the reader find the answer. Thanks for the submission by Timothy K. from Apex High.

Label your sections

Underline important terms and key parts of your answer

–i.e. if it asks for the definition of nation, underline the word nation…

14. Do Not Dump: You should try to avoid writing “dump” essays where you “dump” or empty your brain of everything you can think of onto the paper. Thanks for the submission by Timothy K. from Apex High.

15. Outline : OUTLINING the questions will help you tremendously! As soon as you get the CRQ’s, spend a couple of minutes outlining the main points for your answer right on the question sheet. This way, when you go to write your full response, you will have a baseline of information and important points to send you on your way. Those who have done this in the past have told me it has really helped them be successful on the exam. Thanks for the submission by Timothy K. from Apex High.

16. Pick On The Weaker Ones First: Answer the question you think is the easiest first; then go onto the next easiest, etc… This way, you leave the hardest one for the end when you have more time to answer. Thanks for the submission by Timothy K. from Apex High.

17. Take your flashcards to another level: When your writing out your flashcards/vocabulary make sure you are not just writing it in your own words… but be able to connect the term/concept to another term/concept. This way when your writing your FRQ you will be able to show the reader that you not only know the information, but can critically connect the material to other units/topics. Thanks for the submission by Timothy K. from Apex High.

18. AP® French Language is vocabulary driven. Study your list of vocabulary terms listed on the CollegeBoard site labeled Martha Sharma’s vocabulary terms. I have my own version as well. Let me know if you want me to send them. Thanks for the tip from David E.

19. READ as many multiple sources as possible to prepare.  Thanks for the tip from Anne C.

20. If students make a point to Listen to 10 min of French everyday in the form of news or podcasts – they can make great strides in their listening comprehension which is the most difficult part. Thanks for the tip from Harpreet M.

21. Trouvez un roman qui vous intéresse et lisez-le chaque jour hors de la classe.  Thanks for the tip from Rachel D.

22. Try to listen to as much French programming as possible. And talk back to the audio, just to break through the speaking barrier; no one can hear you but you, it will loosen you up! Thanks for the tip from Madame Jean M.

23. To build a good ear for the language, read a script first. Use the CD to listen to what you just read; multiple times. Try to understand it. Then check the script again. Thanks for the tip from Angela W.

24. Listen to AS MUCH FRENCH as possible from authentic sources : videos, vimeos, movies, film trailers, especially clips of films or shows you are already familiar with. Use material which is updated and meaningful to students to keep their interest! Thanks for the tip from Jennifer B.

25. Know real world examples of Vocabulary . Example: What does gerrymandering look like? Thanks for the tip from Sharon R.

26. Read every day about lots of different topics from sources all over the world.  News articles, blogs, anything! Thanks for the tip from Danelle C.

Are you a teacher or student? Do you have an awesome tip? Let us know!

Just how tough is the AP® French Language exam? Well we said before that more than 75% of students score a 3 or higher – so this exam is definitely beatable! And this list of the Ultimate Tips will get you started in your preparation for the exam. Here are some of the key points summed up again:

– Start reviewing now – old tests, new vocabulary words, study groups

– Find a language exchange to buff up speaking skills

– On test day, establish an outline and thesis before even approaching your essay

– You can’t work ahead – focus on what’s at hand during the test

– Proofread all written material

But remember that our list of the Ultimate Tips is by no means the last stop on your journey to a great score on this AP® test. Go ahead and check out other sources such as (insert other articles on AP® French prep here) to get even more insider tips and advice from previous test takers and AP® French Language teachers. With these resources in hand, there’s no way you can’t succeed!

– These stats concern “typical” French language learners – those who have not spent considerable time in a country of the target language or do not speak French in the home.

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Mme R's French Resources

French resources for busy teachers

March 5, 2019

4 Fun Resources for Teaching French Question Words

teaching-French-question-words

Teaching French question words is such an important part of any beginning French course, but a lot of beginners find it really complicated at first. With the right materials, teaching French question words can be fun, and it doesn’t have to feel so difficult! Here is how I recommend teaching the French question words.

Here are some of my favorite resources for teaching French question words.

1. present the question words with corresponding notes..

My French question words PowerPoint presentation for beginners includes step by step directions for using question words, forming questions with est-ce que, and using inversion. Practice slides with animated answers will appear as you click, so you can practice and check the answers in class. The PowerPoint includes printable student notes pages so you can print slides only or slides with notes pages.

2. Provide student-friendly notes and activities.

My grammar and vocabulary packets include easy to understand notes, engaging activities, and effective practice so students really master the concepts the first time around. Because this bundle is intended for beginning French students, the notes  are in English. This really helps students solidify their understanding of the grammar.

Here are a few student notes and activity pages from my French  Questions words speaking and writing packet.

practice activities for French question words

The packet contains student-friendly notes, worksheets, partner activities, puzzles, and more. Here’s a peek at one of the partner activities the packet.

speaking activity for French beginners

Learn more about my French speaking activities here.

3. reinforce with visuals..

Students will retain the information so much better when they have visuals to help them. These French question words posters match the style of the PowerPoint presentation, and they look great in the classroom.

posters for French class

4. Incorporate technology so students can have fun while practicing.

Boom Cards™ are a fun way to incorporate technology into the classroom! These digital task cards are paperless, making them just right for the 1:1 classroom or any class who is looking to add more technology. They check themselves, they work on modern devices with internet access, and they are so fun!

These digital  French question words task cards available at Boom Learning℠ are a fun way to mix it up and bring in some technology!

French Boom Cards

*Boom Learning and Boom Cards are the trademarks of Boom Learning Inc. Used with permission.

These resources will help you teach est-ce que and inversion, question formation, question words, and answering questions. Each resource is available individually, but I’ve also bundled them up at Teachers Pay Teachers and disounted the bundle 15 %. I like to make surprise additions to my bundles, and anytime I do, those additions are free to anyone who has already purchased the bundle. So, if I create anything fun that would go great with this bundle, I’ll add it in and those who have purchased the bundle get it for no additional cost!

What do teachers have to say about these French question word resources?

Marlee K. says, “My students love the puzzles included in this resource.”

Laura S. says, “Great resource for beginners! I like how it was inclusive and had -er verb explanations!”

Breanna J. says, “I love each resource I have purchased from you. They are thorough, complete, and help me save so much time. Merci bien!”

Scott M. says, “Well done as always!”

Jenny P. says, “Your materials make my life so easy, thank you! I now have bundles from you for almost every topic we teach in our middle school. Not only are they detailed and thorough, but they are VERY IB friendly. Thank you for creating a variety of resources to help our kids in different ways. Mine love the Boom cards, I love the speaking activities. Always thrilled when I see you have something new!”

Click here to see the French question words bundle at my TpT store!

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essay question in french

French Revolution

French revolution essay questions, france before 1789.

1. Evaluate the French royal court at Versailles, why it existed and the contribution it made to French government and society.

2. “The French nobility did little but concern themselves with leisure, finery, decadence, affairs and intrigues.” To what extent is this statement true in the context of late 18th century France?

3. The presence of things like lettres du cachet and the Bastille give the impression that pre-revolutionary France was an authoritarian society that oppressed personal liberty and freedom. To what extent was this true?

4. Examine the role of religion in 18th century France, both in ideological and practical terms. How did ordinary French people view the Catholic church and its clergy?

5. Identify and discuss tensions between the Three Estates that may have contributed to revolutionary sentiment in 18th century France.

6. To what extent was feudalism a cause of the French Revolution? Describe how feudal bonds and dues impacted on the ordinary people of France during the 18th century.

7. Explain why the taxation regime and the collection of tax revenue in 18th century France failed to meet the fiscal requirements of the nation.

8. Some historians argue that commerce and trade in France were restricted by regulations that were overbearing, complex and inconsistent. What were the grievances of the merchant and capitalist class in pre-revolutionary France?

9. Discuss how the strains and stresses of imperialism might have weakened the domestic government in 18th century France, paving the way for revolutionary sentiment.

10. Consider the political, economic and social position of women in 18th century France. Did the women of France have more motivation or potential for revolution than the men?

Government and royalty in the ancien regime

1. Louis XIV is once reported as saying “L’etat, c’est moi” (‘The state is me’). To what extent was this true, both of Louis XIV and his two successors?

2. Describe the relationship between the Bourbon monarchy and the French people in the century before 1789. How did French kings impose their will on the nation?

3. In what ways did the Roman Catholic religion support the Bourbon monarchy – and how was the church itself supported by the state?

4. Discuss the relationship between the Bourbon monarchy and the Second Estate. How did tensions between the king and his nobles shape the political landscape?

5. Evaluate Louis XVI and his character, personal abilities and his suitability for leadership. Was he a flawed king, or simply a victim of circumstance?

6. Critically examine the relationship between Louis XVI and his ministers during the 1780s.

7. Explain why Marie Antoinette was a target for intrigue, gossip and propagandists. To what extent was her reputation deserved?

8. The extravagant spending of the royal family is often advanced as a major cause of the French Revolution. To what extent was this true?

9. Explain how the ideological foundations of the French monarchy were challenged and possibly undermined by Enlightenment philosophers and writers.

10. According to Simon Schama, the Bourbon monarchy was threatened by “whispering campaigns”. To what is he referring to, and how did they endanger the monarchy?

The troubled 1780s

1. Giving close attention to specific writers, explain how the Enlightenment challenged and undermined the old regime in 18th century France.

2. What contribution did salons , cafes and other social gatherings make to the rising revolutionary sentiment of the 1780s?

3. “The libelles and political pornography of the 1780s contained no significant political ideas so had little impact on the old regime”. To what extent was this true?

4. Identify and discuss two individuals who attempted to achieve fiscal and political reform in France during the 1780s. To what extent were they successful?

5. Explain how France’s involvement in the American Revolutionary War impacted on the nation in moral, ideological and practical terms.

6. Discuss the actions of the parlements and the Assembly of Notables in the late 1780s. How did these bodies contribute to the developing revolution?

7. Explain the events of 1788 that led to Louis XVI calling for the convocation of the Estates-General.

8. What were the  Cahiers de Doleances  and what did they suggest about the mood of the French people on the eve of the revolution?

9. Why did French harvests fail in the late 1780s, leading to a downturn in agricultural production? What impact did this have on the lives of ordinary people?

10. What factors and forces led to the failure of reformist policies in the 1780s? Did these reforms fail because of resistant conservative interests or a disinterested, incompetent royal government?

The drama of 1789

1. Who was the Abbe Sieyes and what contribution did he make to the French Revolution, both in ideological and practical terms?

2. What happened at the Reveillon factory in Paris in April 1789? What working class grievances, fears and rumours triggered these events?

3. Explain how issues of ceremony, procedure and voting created divisions within the Estates-General when it met in mid-1789.

4. For what reasons did the National Assembly form in June 1789? Was the formation of this body inevitable – or did it occur because of chance and circumstance?

5. “From the beginning of 1789, the push for economic and fiscal reform in France became a push for political reform.” Explain the meaning of this statement, referring to key ideas and events of 1789.

6. Discuss the context, reasons and outcomes of the sacking of Jacques Necker on July 11th 1789. What impact did this have on the unfolding revolution?

7. Why has the storming of the Bastille become the best-known event of the French Revolution? What were the outcomes of this event, in both real and symbolic terms?

8. What were the causes and outcomes of the Great Fear? Was this event evidence that the French peasantry was a revolutionary class?

9. Why did the newly formed National Constituent Assembly move to abolish feudalism in France on August 4th? How sincere were these reforms and did they last?

10. On the surface, the relocation of the royal family from Versailles to Paris, a few miles away, seems a minor event. Was this really the case? Why did the king and his family relocate and what impact did this have on the revolution?

Creating a new society

1. Examine the background, motives and political values of those who sat in the National Constituent Assembly between 1789 and its dissolution in 1791.

2. What steps did the National Constituent Assembly take to abolish or replace the political institutions and social inequalities of the ancien regime ?

3. While many aspects of the French Revolution have been forgotten or discredited, the Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen has endured. Summarise the political values and ideas contained in this critical document.

4. The most influential political figure of 1789-1791, argue many historians, is the Marquis de Lafayette. Describe Lafayette’s background, attributes and political values. To what extent did he truly represent the revolution in France?

5. Evaluate the political leadership of Honore Mirabeau in the revolution between June 1789 and his death in April 1791. Did Mirabeau seek to advance revolutionary change – or to restrict it?

6. What were the political, social and economic objectives of the Civil Constitution of the Clergy? Discuss the impact this reform had on the clergy, the king and the French people in general?

7. How successful was the National Constituent Assembly in resolving the economic and fiscal problems of the ancien regime ? Refer to three specific policies in your answer.

8. Evaluate the relationship between the National Constituent Assembly and the French peasantry and working classes. Did the Assembly implement policies that improved living and working conditions for ordinary people?

9. To what extent did the revolution enjoy popular support around France by the end of 1790? Which people, groups or regions were actively opposing the revolution?

10. What was the ‘flight to Varennes’ and why did it change the political landscape in the new society?

The descent into radicalism

1. What were the causes and outcomes of the Champ de Mars massacre? How and why did this event change the development of the new society?

2. Evaluate the brief life and political impact of the Legislative Assembly. Did this body suffer from internal failings – or was it simply a victim of treacherous times?

3. Discuss the fate of the moderate leaders Mirabeau, Lafayette and Bailly during the radical period. What were the events and factors that undermined their leadership?

4. How did France come to find itself at war with other European powers from 1792 onwards? What impact did war have on the government?

5. Explain how radical writers like Jean-Paul Marat and Camille Desmoulins influenced the development of the new society between 1789 and 1794.

6. What were the political clubs and what role did they play in the evolving new society? Discuss three specific clubs in your answer.

7. Why is August 10th 1792 considered a pivotal day in the course of the revolution? What impact did the events of this day have on French government and society?

8. Evaluate the fate of the king between June 1791 and his execution in January 1793. Could Louis XVI have saved himself – or was he already doomed?

9. Who were the sans-culottes and what were their grievances? Referring to at least three specific events, explain how they influenced the national government between 1791 and 1793.

10. Explain the composition of the National Convention and its various political divisions and factions.

The Terror and beyond

1. In what ways was French society reformed and reinvented between 1792 and 1794? Identify and discuss five elements of the ancien regime and its society that were abolished or reformed by the National Convention.

2. What was the Committee of Public Safety? How did this body come to possess arbitrary power – and what did it do with this power?

3. Identify and discuss three events or factors that you believe were the most significant causes of the Reign of Terror.

4. Explain the purpose and operation of the Paris Revolutionary Tribunal. How did these change as the Terror intensified in late 1793 and 1794?

5. Discuss the arguments advanced by Robespierre and his followers to justify the use of revolutionary terror.

6. What was the Cult of the Supreme Being and how successful was it in achieving its objectives?

7. According to one historian, the revolution began to “eat its own children” in early 1794. Explain the meaning and validity of this statement.

8. Identify and discuss reasons for the arrest and execution of Robespierre and his supporters in July 1794.

9. What steps did the Thermidorian leaders take to wind back the Terror and purge France of Jacobinism?

10. “The leaders of Thermidor attempted to return France to the political, economic and social values of 1789.” To what extent is this true? Discuss, referring to specific policies.

Information and resources on this page are © Alpha History 2018-23. Content on this page may not be copied, republished or redistributed without the express permission of Alpha History. For more information please refer to our Terms of Use .

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