French conjugation tip: The Imperfect vs. Passé Composé
Choosing between the Imperfect (Imparfait) and Passé Composé can be tricky. The Imperfect is used for ongoing or habitual actions in the past, while the Passé Composé is used for…
French conjugation tip: The Present Subjunctive in Expressions of Fear
The Present Subjunctive is used after expressions of fear, such as “j’ai peur que” (I am afraid that) or “je crains que” (I fear that). For example, “J’ai peur qu’il…
French conjugation tip: The Imperfect for Descriptions in the Past
The Imperfect (Imparfait) is commonly used to set the scene or describe ongoing conditions in the past. For example, “Il faisait froid et il neigeait” (It was cold and it…
French conjugation tip: The Subjunctive in Clauses of Purpose
The Subjunctive is used in clauses that express purpose, often introduced by “pour que” (so that) or “afin que” (in order that). For example, “Je t’écris pour que tu saches…
French conjugation tip: The Future Perfect with Conjunctions of Time
The Future Perfect (Futur Antérieur) is often used with conjunctions of time, such as “quand” (when), “lorsque” (when), and “dès que” (as soon as), to express an action that will…
French conjugation tip: The Imperative for Encouragement
The Imperative can be used to encourage or motivate someone to take action. For example, “Courage!” (Be strong!), “Ne lâche pas!” (Don’t give up!), or “Vas-y!” (Go for it!). The…
French conjugation tip: The Past Conditional in Narratives
The Past Conditional (Conditionnel Passé) is often used in narratives to describe what could have happened but didn’t. It adds a layer of reflection or regret. For example, “Elle aurait…
French conjugation tip: Combining the Future Simple with the Subjunctive
In complex sentences, the Future Simple can be combined with the Subjunctive to express a future action that depends on a condition. For example, “Je partirai dès que tu auras…
French conjugation tip: The Future Perfect for Expectations
The Future Perfect (Futur Antérieur) is used to express expectations about what will have happened by a certain time. For example, “Ils auront terminé le projet avant la date limite”…
French conjugation tip: The Future Simple for Making Predictions
The Future Simple tense is often used to make predictions about the future. For example, “Le temps sera ensoleillé demain” (The weather will be sunny tomorrow) or “Tu réussiras si…
French conjugation tip: The Present Conditional for Future in the Past
The Present Conditional can be used to express a future action from the perspective of the past. This is common in reported speech. For example, “Il a dit qu’il viendrait”…
French conjugation tip: The Imperfect Subjunctive
The Imperfect Subjunctive is a literary tense used to express actions in the past that are dependent on another action, within a Subjunctive context. It is less common in everyday…