From Duolingo to B1: the grammar you're missing

Telling stories in the past

The single biggest step to B1: knowing which past tense to use, and why.

• Passé composé with être (A2): Je suis allé(e), elle est partie
• Passé composé vs imparfait (A2): Background vs events
• Plus-que-parfait (B1): J'avais mangé
• Past participle agreement with a preceding direct object (B1): Je les ai vues

Pronouns

Short words that make your French sound natural, and that most learners avoid.

• Direct object pronouns (A2): Je le vois, je la connais
• Indirect object pronouns (A2): Je lui parle, je leur téléphone
• Adverbial pronoun y (A2): J'y vais
• Adverbial pronoun en (A2): J'en ai deux
• Double object pronouns (B2): Je te le donne, je le lui donne

Future, conditional and 'if'

Plans, wishes, polite requests and hypotheses.

• Simple future (B1): Je parlerai, nous finirons
• Simple future (B1): Je serai, j'aurai, j'irai, je ferai
• Present conditional (B1): Je voudrais, tu pourrais
• Si clauses (B1): Si j'avais de l'argent, je voyagerais

Longer sentences

Linking ideas so you can explain and give opinions.

• Relative pronouns (B1): L'homme qui parle, le livre que je lis
• Relative pronoun (B1): La ville où j'habite, le jour où…
• Relative pronoun (B1): Le livre dont je parle
• Ce qui, ce que (B1): Ce que je veux, ce qui est important

Words that trip everyone up

Small distinctions that come up in every conversation.

• Savoir vs connaître (A2): Two ways to know
• Depuis, il y a, pendant (A2): For, since, ago
• Meilleur vs mieux (A2): Bon → meilleur, bien → mieux
• Partir, sortir, quitter, laisser (B1): Four ways to leave

What grammar do I need for B1 French?

The key structures are the past tenses (passé composé, imparfait, plus-que-parfait) and when to use each, object pronouns including y and en, the future and the conditional, si-clauses, and relative pronouns (qui, que, où, dont). This page links a free lesson for each.

Does Duolingo teach grammar?

Duolingo teaches grammar mostly through examples, with short notes. Many learners find they need fuller explanations around A2–B1, where choosing between structures matters more.

How long does it take to get from A2 to B1?

About 195 more hours of study, according to the Alliance Française's estimates (around 375 in total from zero).