Top answers

Why do past participles that take 'avoir' sometimes agree with the noun?

The answer is the preceding direct object. Take the sentence the boy ate the apple . Here we have a subject (the boy), followed by the verb (ate) and then the object (the apple). So the sentence would be as ...
JH
Answered by Jessica H. • French tutor
4712 Views

When do I use the conditional perfect tense in a "si" clause?

The conditional perfect tense should be used in a "si" clause when there is no possibility for the event to happen. It must also be used with the pluperfect tense. For example: If I had known I wou...
DA
Answered by Daniel A. • French tutor
4088 Views

When should I use the passé simple?

The passé simple , or the 'past historic', is a very irregular past tense that is rarely used in spoken French. It indicates a highly literary style, and is therefore only heard in formal speeches, such as t...
RS
Answered by Rachael S. • French tutor
11718 Views

Savoir vs. Connaître - How to know the difference?

Unlike the English language where one verb 'to know' is sufficient, it can be quite difficult to remember which one to use in French. So here are some simple rules to get you started! Firstly, let's look at ...
JA
Answered by Jamie A. • French tutor
4323 Views

How do I know whether a word is masculine or feminine?

In French it is often essential to know what gender a particular word is in order to be able to construct a sentence effectively and without errors. However, it is not always immediately clear which words be...
MS
Answered by Marco S. • French tutor
87721 Views