English and French share thousands of words, yet their grammar behaves differently. These seven points prevent the most common mistakes.
1. Adjectives usually follow the noun
une voiture rouge (a red car). A small group of common adjectives (beau, bon, grand, petit, jeune, vieux, nouveau) usually go before the noun: un petit garçon.
2. Adjectives agree
They match the noun in gender and number: un livre intéressant, une histoire intéressante, des livres intéressants.
3. Negation has two parts
Put ne … pas around the verb: Je ne parle pas espagnol. In casual speech the “ne” is often dropped, but keep it in writing.
4. Articles are rarely optional
English says “I like coffee”; French says J’aime le café. Use the article for general statements.
5. Beware of false friends
| French word | Actually means | Not |
|---|---|---|
| actuellement | currently | actually (en fait) |
| librairie | bookshop | library (bibliothèque) |
| assister à | to attend | to assist (aider) |
| sensible | sensitive | sensible (raisonnable) |
6. Past tense: passé composé
Most verbs use avoir + past participle: J’ai mangé. A small set of movement verbs (aller, venir, arriver, partir…) and reflexive verbs use être: Je suis allé(e).
7. No “-ing” form
“I am eating” is simply Je mange. To stress an action in progress, say “Je suis en train de manger.”
Remember: mistakes are normal. French speakers value the effort, so keep speaking.