French grammar by topic › French idioms and useful structures

French idioms and useful structures

Some of the most useful French doesn't fit a grammar chapter: fixed structures like c'est, il y a and avoir faim, and idioms you'll hear every day.

The essentials

C'est for introducing and commenting (c'est mon frère, c'est bon); il y a for what exists (il y a un problème).
Avoir, not être, for hunger, thirst, age and more: j'ai faim, j'ai vingt ans.
Je voudrais is the polite way to ask for something.

Every lesson on this topic

Each lesson has a full explanation, examples you can listen to, and exercises with answers.

A0 (the A0 course)

C'est = it is, this is, that is: Pointing things out
Il y a = there is, there are: Saying something exists
Avoir faim, soif, chaud, froid, … ans: Being hungry, thirsty, hot, cold – and your age
Je voudrais vs je veux: Asking politely

A1 (the A1 course)

Il fait…: Il fait beau, il pleut
Avoir besoin de, avoir envie de, avoir peur de: To need, to feel like, to be afraid of
Jouer à vs jouer de: Sports vs instruments

A2 (the A2 course)

Savoir vs connaître: Two ways to know
Plaire à and manquer à: Ça me plaît, tu me manques
Il faut = it is necessary: Il faut partir

B1 (the B1 course)

Passer, se passer, passer un examen: Passer un examen ≠ pass an exam
Partir, sortir, quitter, laisser: Four ways to leave

B2 (the B2 course)

Devoir: Je dois, je devrais, j'ai dû
Emphasis: C'est moi qui ai payé

C1 (the C1 course)

Au cas où + conditional: Prends un parapluie au cas où il pleuvrait
Advanced idioms: J'ai beau essayer…

C2 (the C2 course)

Advanced concession: quelque… que, si… que, tout… que: However rich he may be…
Registers: familier, courant, soutenu: bagnole / voiture / automobile
Proverbs and set expressions: Ce n'est pas la mer à boire…

In the app, these lessons are taught one idea at a time with audio, practised until you get them right on three separate days, and brought back when your own French shows a mistake on them.

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