What to know about the French phrase “Mais pourquoi”

Mais pourquoi is “But why” in French. But why?  Let’s look at the words that make up Mais pourquoi, and how to use this phrase. What does Mais pourquoi mean? Mais pourquoi means “But why” in French. As you may know already, mais usually means “but” and pourquoi means “why”. This means that mais pourquoi can be translated …

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7 ways to use the French preposition “chez”

Chez is a French preposition that can mean “at/to ___’s house”, “to”, “among”, or “in ___’s work,” depending on the context. Overall, the word expresses a sense of “home”, whether someone’s actual dwelling, or a characteristic that’s innate to a person or group. This may sound confusing, but its somewhat flexible meaning makes chez very useful, which …

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How to talk about nationalities in French

It’s pretty easy to talk about your nationality, or nationalities in general, in French. But there are a few important rules and nuances to be aware of. Let’s take an in-depth look at how to talk about nationalities in French! How to talk about nationalities in French The most important rule for talking about nationalities …

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How to use “jamais”: The essential guide

Jamais usually means “never” in French, but when used a certain way, it can mean “ever” instead. Let’s learn about how to use jamais, so that you’re never unsure of yourself when it comes to this common and useful French word! The different ways to use jamais Jamais usually means “never” in French, although sometimes it can …

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All yours: A guide to French possessive pronouns

The French possessive pronouns are: le mien/la mienne/les miens/les miennes (mine); le tien/la tienne/les tiens/les tiennes (yours); le sien/la sien/les siens/les siennes (his/hers/its); le nôtre/la nôtre/les nôtres (ours); le vôtre/la vôtre/les vôtres (yours); and le leur/la leur/les leurs (theirs). In addition to indicating who owns something, French possessive pronouns have to agree in number and, in most cases, gender, with what …

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