French Grammar: The Expression [IL Y A] – Basics

… Identify: French Grammar: The Expression [IL Y A] – Basics la grammaire française: l’expression [il y a] – une introduction The expression IL Y A is comprised of the words IL (“it”) + Y (“there”) + A (“has” – from AVOIR). IL Y A has many functions. Most commonly, it identifies the existence of people, […]

French Vocabulary: Cooking-Related Measurements

… Identify: French Vocabulary: Cooking-Related Measurements le vocabulaire français: les mesures culinaires Quantities can be expressed using specific nouns or adverbs of quantity, and also by specific measures of weight or volume – especially when it comes to talking about food and drink. As with other adverbs of quantity, Cooking-Related Measurements indicate how much (or […]

French Grammar: Adverbs of Place

… Identify: French Grammar: Adverbs of Place la grammaire française: les adverbes de lieu Just as an adjective modifies (describes) a noun, an ADVERB modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb.  Adverbs generally answer the question How? How well? How much? How often? or When? They help us provide more details when we’re describing actions. […]

French Grammar: Adverbs of Frequency

… Identify: French Grammar: Adverbs of Frequency la grammaire française: les adverbes de fréquence Just as an adjective modifies (describes) a noun, an ADVERB modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb.  Adverbs generally answer the question How? How well? How much? How often? or When? They help us provide more details when we’re describing actions. […]

French Vocabulary: Measurements and Dimensions

… Identify: French Vocabulary: Measurements and Dimensions le vocabulaire français: les mesures et les dimensions Knowing how to describe sizes and distances in French can help you discuss how big or small and how near or far things are! Study: METRIC MEASUREMENTS (les mesures métriques): un centigramme : centigram Un gramme équivaut à cent centigrammes. […]

French Grammar: The Perfect Participle

… Identify: French Grammar: The Perfect Participle la grammaire française: le passé composé du participe présent (le gérondif passé) Study: The perfect participle is used in place of the present participle to discuss an action that occurred prior to the action of the principal verb. The perfect participle for all French verbs is formed with the present participle […]

French Grammar: The Present Indicative Tense

… Identify: French Grammar: The Present Indicative Tense la grammaire française: le temps présent indicatif Study: Verb tenses and moods help identify when (timeframe) or how (intent) an action occurs. Present tense action – Occurs in the present Past tense action – Occurred in the past (already happened) Future tense action – Will occur in the future The Present Tense helps us talk about actions that are […]

French Grammar: Expressing Specific Quantities

… Identify: French Grammar: Expressing Specific Quantities la grammaire française: les expressions de quantités spécifiques Specific Quantities are used to tell how much or how little of something there is. They help us provide more details when we’re describing amounts of things. Review: LEAF French Grammar: Adverbs of Quantity Study: Expressions of Specific Quantities are […]

French Grammar: The Pluperfect Subjunctive

… Identify: French Grammar: The Pluperfect Subjunctive 
la grammaire française: le plus-que-parfait du subjonctif Like the other forms of the subjunctive, the Pluperfect Subjunctive is used to express doubt, how a person feels about an action or state of being, a wish, intent, or command. It can also be used to express facts that are the […]

French Grammar: The Imperfect Subjunctive

… Identify: French Grammar: The Imperfect Subjunctive 
la grammaire française: l’imparfait du subjonctif Like the Present Subjunctive, the Imperfect Subjunctive is used to express doubt, how a person feels about an action or state of being, a wish, intent, or command. It can also be used to express facts that are the opposite of reality. However, the […]