French grammar doesn’t have to be complicated. Learn the 20% of grammar that applies to 80% of sentences, verbs and nouns!
Plus learn about the difference between masculine and feminine French nouns and find out how to use French adjectives like a local.
Finir means “to finish” or “to end” in French. This makes it a useful and common verb, with some useful and common derivatives as well. Let’s take a look at finir – it’s bound to end well! What does finir mean? Finir means “to finish” or “to end”. Like its English equivalents, finir has several …
In most cases, the verb venir means “to come”. But as we’ll discover, a tiny preposition can change everything. Come along as we take a look at how to conjugate venir, as well as its sometimes surprising meanings. Venir conjugation How to conjugate venir in its most commonly used tenses Note that since venir is …
Have you ever…wondered how to say “Have you ever in French?” Don’t worry: the confusion you might have felt while wracking your brain for an answer is totally understandable. This verb tense, which is called the present perfect in English, flat-out doesn’t exist in French! I can’t tell you why that is, but I can …
When you first learn French, it seems easy: C’est means “It is/It’s” or “That is/That’s”, and Il est or Elle est means “He is/He’s” or “She is/She’s” (or “It is/It’s” if the “It” is an object, animal, etc.). But pretty soon, you’ll probably notice something strange. At times, c’est and il est seem to be …
Prendre means “to take” in French. It’s usually used just as “take” would be in English, including in more abstract ways, like “take a photo” or “take a bath”. That might make you take prendre for an easy verb to use, but beware: in some cases, its meaning can change dramatically. Let’s take a look …
Servir: to serve. Such a helpful French verb…well, not exactly. Because service goes both ways. Not only might you be served by someone or use something to help you accomplish a task; you may also be doing the serving or even be used (manipulated) by someone! This dichotomy is also a way to remember that …