BrixBloks Grammar Apps

In simple statements you can think: who + does what + to what. The subject normally comes first, then the verb, then the rest of the information. Subject pronouns (je, tu, il, elle, on, nous, vous, ils, elles) are almost always written – you do not normally drop them.

Memory tip: If you feel lost, copy English word order: subject + verb + object. Just remember that in French the subject pronoun is almost always there.

Most nouns add -s: une maison → des maisons, un livre → des livres. Nouns ending in -eau or -eu often add -x: un gâteau → des gâteaux. In everyday speech the final consonant is often silent, so maison/maisons sound the same. Articles also change: le → les, un → des.

Memory tip: When you learn a new noun, learn it with its article and a sample plural: une maison / des maisons, le livre / les livres.

Use un (masculine) and une (feminine) for non-specific things: un livre, une maison. Their plural is des. Use le (masc.), la (fem.) and les (plural) for specific things: le livre, la maison, les livres. Before a vowel sound, le and la become l’: l’homme, l’école.

Memory tip: Ask yourself: is this a new thing or a specific one? New → un/une/des. Specific in this situation → le/la/les.

You can put a possessive before the noun: mon livre (my book), ta clé (your key), sa voiture (his/her car). With names you often use de: le livre de Pierre, la maison d’Anna. The possessive agrees with the noun, not with the owner: son livre can mean 'his book' or 'her book'.

Memory tip: Learn the basic set early: mon/ma/mes (my), ton/ta/tes (your), son/sa/ses (his/her), notre/notre/nos (our), votre/votre/vos (your), leur/leur/leurs (their).

For many yes/no questions you can keep statement word order and raise your voice: Tu habites ici ? You can also add est-ce que at the start: Est-ce que tu habites ici ? Inversion (Habites-tu ici ?) is common in writing. Wh-questions begin with où (where), quand (when), pourquoi (why), comment (how), quel(le) (which).

Memory tip: For speaking, 'est-ce que' + normal sentence is a safe model: Est-ce que tu…, Est-ce que vous… . For writing, you will meet inversion more often.

To make a sentence negative, put ne before the verb and pas after it: Je ne bois pas de café. With vowels ne becomes n’: Je n’aime pas ça. In everyday spoken French, people often say Je bois pas de café, but for writing and exams keep ne … pas.

Memory tip: Think: say the positive sentence, then wrap the verb with ne … pas. Later you can decide when to drop ne in casual speech.

The present forms are: je suis, tu es, il/elle/on est, nous sommes, vous êtes, ils/elles sont. Use them for who or what something is and for permanent or temporary states: Je suis étudiant, Elle est médecin, Nous sommes fatigués. For locations you also often use être: Il est à la maison.

Memory tip: Repeat the chain many times: je suis, tu es, il est, nous sommes, vous êtes, ils sont. These tiny words carry a lot of French.

Common ones include: à (to/at), dans (in), sur (on), sous (under), chez (at someone’s place), près de (near). They come before the noun: à la maison, dans la chambre, sur la table. Articles often merge with à and de: au (= à + le), du (= de + le), aux (= à + les).

Memory tip: Learn a few high-frequency chunks: à la maison, au travail, à l’école, sur la table, sous le lit. They appear in conversation all the time.

A basic pattern is noun + adjective: une maison rouge, une voiture nouvelle. The adjective changes form for feminine and plural: un petit appartement / une petite chambre / de petites chambres. A small group (like grand, petit, beau, vieux, bon, mauvais, nouveau, jeune) often stands before the noun.

Memory tip: When you learn a new adjective, learn four basic forms with a noun: grand/grande/grands/grandes maison(s). The pattern repeats with many adjectives.

Most verbs use avoir: j’ai mangé (I ate), nous avons regardé (we watched). Some movement and reflexive verbs use être: je suis allé(e), elle est arrivée. The past participle often ends in -é for regular -er verbs: parler → parlé, regarder → regardé.

Memory tip: Learn a few high-frequency pairs: je vais → je suis allé(e); je fais → j’ai fait; je prends → j’ai pris. These appear very often in stories.

The futur proche uses the present of aller (je vais, tu vas, il va, nous allons, vous allez, ils vont) + infinitive: Je vais travailler demain. It is very common in everyday speech. You can also use the simple future later (je travaillerai), but futur proche is enough for A1–A2.

Memory tip: Attach a clear time word when you mean the future: demain, ce soir, la semaine prochaine. Then use je vais + infinitive as your default future pattern.

These verbs are conjugated and followed by an infinitive: Je peux parler français (I can speak French), Je dois travailler (I must work), Je veux dormir (I want to sleep). In the negative, wrap the modal with ne … pas: Je ne peux pas venir.

Memory tip: Practise three starters: Je peux…, Je dois…, Je veux…. Then plug in new verbs you learn: manger, sortir, étudier, dormir.

To compare two things, use plus (more), moins (less) or aussi (as) before the adjective plus que: plus grand que, moins cher que, aussi intéressant que. For 'the most', use le/la/les plus: la plus belle ville, le plus important point.

Memory tip: Keep three patterns in your head: plus … que, moins … que, aussi … que, and le/la/les plus …. These cover most everyday comparisons.

To tell someone to do something, use: Parle plus lentement ! (Speak more slowly!), Ouvre la porte ! (Open the door!), Attendez un moment ! (Wait a moment!). For nous, the imperative is like 'let’s': Allons-y ! (Let’s go!). For tu with regular -er verbs, drop the -s: Tu parles → Parle !

Memory tip: Learn a small set of very common commands you will hear a lot: Attends !, Viens !, Regarde !, Écoute !, Calme-toi !, Vas-y !