Grammar

French spelling can sometimes be quite difficult to learn. However, you will easily remember this rule thanks to the French footballer Mbappé: write ‘m’ instead of ‘n’ before the letters ‘m’, ‘b’, and ‘p’. For example: ‘champion’ (and not ‘chanpion’).

Here are some other examples:

• ‘tomber’ (and not ‘tonber’),
• ‘comprendre’ (and not ‘conprendre’),
• ‘important’ (and not ‘inportant’).”
• ‘immense’ (and not ‘inmense’),
• ‘immobile’ (and not ‘inmobile’)

Don’t forget the accents. They are an essential part of French grammar. In writing, accents can distinguish a verb from a preposition, for example.

The two most commonly used past tenses are the passé composé and the imparfait. The imparfait expresses the continuity of an action, indicating that it was ongoing or repeated in the past. In contrast, the passé composé denotes a single, completed event that interrupts or concludes an ongoing action.

Not only does the French language have masculine and feminine articles, but the same noun can sometimes be used with both articles, each with distinct meanings. Here are a few examples:

The placement of certain adjectives carries significant weight in French. Indeed, the nuance can be altered depending on whether the adjective precedes or follows the noun. When positioned before the noun, the adjective tends to convey a more moral or emotional sense. Conversely, when placed after the noun, it tends to be more descriptive.

Often considered the most difficult rule of French grammar, this rule of agreement of the past participle with reflexive verbs nevertheless always follows the same logic. The past participle agrees with the direct object (never the indirect object) if it is placed before the verb. In the first sentence “se” is a direct object, which is why agreement is necessary. However, in the second sentence, “se” is an indirect object. Therefore, no agreement is needed.

Here are a few more examples to help you master the rule.

The use of the subjunctive in French can sometimes appear rather subjective! The general rule dictates that the indicative mood conveys objectivity, whereas the subjunctive mood conveys subjectivity. Adding to this logic, certain expressions that indicate doubt in the negative form will necessitate the use of the subjunctive mood.

There are several rules in French spelling that you should be aware of to read accurately. You can check here if you are able to pronounce the word ‘oiseaux’ correctly (meaning ‘birds’).