By taking the time to understand how the French language works, you'll be able to speak French naturally, and read and write in French. We know this can be one of the more challenging parts of your course, and we’re here to help! You can browse the topics, do a search in the top right corner of this page, or start a new conversation. Don’t be shy!
The difference between addressing friends as "les amis" or "mes amis"
When greeting a group of friends, what's the difference between: Salut les amis (Lesson 2.1) Bonqour les amis (Lesson 4.2) À la prochaine fois les amis (Lesson 7.2 Bonjour mes amis (Lesson 19.1) In each situation the speaker is t...
3 replies - Last post by Diana-S1 - July 28, 2014
Comment dit-on I am learning French en français?
Bonjour tout le monde, Comment dit-on *I am learning French* en français? Je suis apprends le français, or j'apprends le français?
3 replies - Last post by julia-c13 - July 26, 2014
Why add "aller" after Je vais?
I have come across thé sentence "Je vais aller au musée la semaine prochaine" in lesson 6.3. I'm wondering why you would need "aller" if je vais means "I am going." It seems to translate as I am going going to the museum next week. Any help or insight wo...
3 replies - Last post by julia-c13 - July 22, 2014
In lesson 9.9 we are introduced to some new conjunctions, one of which is 'lorsque'. Can anyone clarify if/how the usage of 'lorsque' differs from that of 'quand', as they have the same meaning (when). Thank you!
4 replies - Last post by SisterLuna-- - July 8, 2014
Pouvez-vous m'aider? Is there a difference between the expressions "Est-ce que tu veux.." and "voulez-vous..."? Like, is one more polite than the other? Thanks
5 replies - Last post by Liam-H1 - July 6, 2014
When to use the French subjunctive tense
Could someone please explain in a simple way when to use the subjunctive tense in French. Thank you.
3 replies - Last post by Marie-Claire-Riviere - July 6, 2014
the use of 'l' in l'on peut vous joindre
In 4.3 Booking a table, what does the 'l' refer to in the phrase ' ou l'on peut vous joindre '
4 replies - Last post by Marie-Claire-Riviere - July 6, 2014
Hi folks. I just began with Rocket French and am a beginner. So far I love the program and I'm enjoying it very much. But I have a question: The sentence is 'il me faut un nouveau crayon'. If I look at Google translate, 'me faut' is translated 'I nee...
10 replies - Last post by Marie-Claire-Riviere - July 6, 2014
Currently working through lesson 1.14 quantities. I have noticed that when referring to negative plurals the des becomes de can someone please explain this to me? To my mind even thought it is negative the noun is still plural so it should be des but th...
2 replies - Last post by kate--175 - June 19, 2014
J'espère que tu n'as rien de cassé. (L 7.4)
Lesson 7.4 makes a point of using "de cassé" for "broken", as in J'espère que tu n'as rien de cassé. - I hope that you have nothing broken. but then goes on to use: Je n’ai rien cassé - I have not broken anything. Am I right in thinking that both forms a...
5 replies - Last post by toru e - June 18, 2014
Vous êtes venue me voir hier.
"Vous êtes venue me voir hier." (Lesson 4.12) Does "venue" imply the "vous" are all feminine? And if so, why is it not "Vous êtes venues me voir hier." Am I missing something in the grammar rules? Merci
4 replies - Last post by Jane-P1 - May 27, 2014
Grammar question in CH.4 lesson 3 Booking a Table
Bonjour! I got confused with this phrase: Avez-vous un numéro de téléphone où l'on peut vous joindre? I just want to clear up the "l'on." Why couldn't it have said, on peut vous joindre? I just don't know where the L came from. Merci beaucoup!
9 replies - Last post by toru e - May 19, 2014
Does Il y a always mean "There are" or can it have another meaning depending on the sentence
2 replies - Last post by toru e - May 19, 2014
What's the difference between the verbs tense veux and voule?
Hello, I'm from Brazil and I'm studiying the lessons 1.2, 1.3 and 1.4 in French Rocket Languages. I have two questions: 1) What's the difference between the verb tense veux and voule? Both mean the verb "need", right? 2) when I should use the verb tens...
1 reply - Last post by Diana-S1 - May 14, 2014
Past tense or adjective - M-C?
In lesson 9.2, there is a question in the conversation that says, "Vous avez votre nom et vos coordonnees inscrits dessus?" My question is about the word "inscrits." Originally I was wondering why there was an "s" at the end, when the past participle is ...
3 replies - Last post by Michael-W - May 13, 2014
Bonjour tout le monde, I know both parlez and parler mean to speak or to talk, but I've noticed the two being used interchangeably and I don't quite get what the actual difference is besides the spelling. So if anyone could explain, that'd be great. Merci
4 replies - Last post by Marshlendel - May 11, 2014
When is des copines used in a sentence when talking about a group of women? Ex: Alice is going to lunch with a group of women Alice va déjeuner avec un groupe de femmes or Alice va déjeuner avec un groupe de copines Des copines is used for young...
3 replies - Last post by Jane-P1 - May 8, 2014
comment on expresse le concept de plus petit dans contexte sarcastique ou d’éloge? en anglais on adjoute le suffixe ( let) à la fin de mot pour faire le expression. en Arab on le parle tasqir
1 reply - Last post by Marie-Claire-Riviere - May 6, 2014
Is it necessary to reiterate with a collective pronoun, when listing more than one person?
Somewhat related to Lesson 2.10's theme, I heard that, when saying in French "Bill et moi,..." or "Sue et Ann,...", the sentence must be followed by the collective pronoun "nous" or "notre" before continuing with its predicate. Can you confirm and/or ...
5 replies - Last post by Marie-Claire-Riviere - May 3, 2014
Which articles to use with estimation
When estimating a person's age, when do you use an indefinite article, and a definite one? Both are used in examples in Lesson 1.15. Does including the object estimated make the difference? Elle a une soixantaine d'années, plus ou moins. = She is abo...
4 replies - Last post by Marie-Claire-Riviere - May 3, 2014
In lesson 14.4, the speaker is pronouncing the t on fait, while it usually is not pronounced, and there is no e after the t. Is there a reaon why the t is pronounced here but not at other times?
5 replies - Last post by Marie-Claire-Riviere - May 3, 2014
How do I know when to use de or des when asking a question using "combien"? For example, in the second counting lesson in the Language and Culture section, when asking how many apples (plural) are in the refrigerator, I would think "des" would be used be...
5 replies - Last post by Marie-Claire-Riviere - May 3, 2014
The web site About,com French Language has an article covering this under the title Quand, Lorsque, Lors de, Pendant Confusing French pairs
0 replies - Last post by Jim--153 - April 29, 2014
I am very much confused with , what is Masculine and feminine ,it is very confusing part for me , as how I can judge things and say that the particular one is Masculine and Feminine ,, and the La article .
1 reply - Last post by Jim--153 - April 26, 2014
faire expression de plus petit
comment on expresse le concept de plus petit dans contexte sarcastique ou d’éloge? en anglais on adjoute le suffixe ( let) à la fin de mot pour faire le expression. en Arab on le parle tasqir
2 replies - Last post by efageari-k - April 25, 2014
In lesson 9.6, there is a pronunciation error. There is a sentence, "Nous lancames une pierre dans la riviere." The word "lancames" is pronounced like the present tense, "lancons". This occurs in both the lesson and Test sections. Also, does anyone know ...
5 replies - Last post by jason-oxenham-founder - April 15, 2014
WHY SHOULD IT BE 'UNE TARTE AUX POMMES' (WHY AUX) AND NOT 'DES' ?
1 reply - Last post by lancish - April 12, 2014
In lesson 9.2, there is a question in the conversation that says, "Vous avez votre nom et vos coordonnees inscrits dessus?" My question is about the word "inscrits." Originally I was wondering why there was an "s" at the end, when the past participle is "...
1 reply - Last post by lancish - April 11, 2014
How do you spell words correctly in French. You see I am quite new. I have no idea how to improve or even spell in French Can you help me?
1 reply - Last post by lancish - March 25, 2014
Common English grammar mistake on your website
Dear Editor I just wanted to point out that on your welcoming page of "My Dashboard" after the "Salut" salutation, you have an English grammar mistake (or typo?), namely "where you are at". Of course, it should be "where you are". Hope you don't mind me p...
1 reply - Last post by lancish - March 25, 2014
Je suis allé(e) and je vais aller
Je suis allee and je vais aller - Please clarify how they are different. I know that the first is in the feminine form. Maybe I'm tired since it is very late and I have had a long day. My brain is running on empty right now .
6 replies - Last post by Cathy-W - February 6, 2014
Please tell me the difference between Ils ont & Ils sont ,maybe they have diferent meaning but sounds equal to me , when speaking to one how to make a difference of what I'm trying to say thank you
1 reply - Last post by toru e - January 31, 2014
How to use 'ce' 'ca' and 'du' 'de'
Salut tout le monde, J'espere pour les reponses pour les questions:- a) How do I use 'ce' and 'ca' correctly in sentences? Are they the same? b) How do I utilise 'du' and 'de'? Are they different? Merci beaucoup people! I look forward to learning more ...
3 replies - Last post by Marie-Claire-Riviere - January 15, 2014
Lesson 5.5 Plurals, Plurals has no quiz and my dashboard can't be finished with all green flags.
4 replies - Last post by jason-oxenham-founder - December 20, 2013
Please explain why there are two 'nous' in this sentence: Certainement, nous aussi nous avons des plats végétariens. Thanks! Pam
1 reply - Last post by Marie-Claire-Riviere - December 12, 2013
Dans la leçcon où on a visité la boutique de souvenirs (5.2?), on discute "quelque chose de". Comme chose est un mot féminin, pour quoi on dit "quelque chose de léger" et pas "quelque chose de légère"? Merci!
5 replies - Last post by Marie-Claire-Riviere - December 12, 2013
Hello, Is it correct grammar-wise to say: je ne parle pas français, bien que je parle anglais. ? Many thanks
1 reply - Last post by Marie-Claire-Riviere - November 25, 2013
On Language and Culture Lessons 14.7 we find: est certain que tu vas nous manquer. It is true that we are going to miss you. I believe the correct translation is "it is true that you're going to miss us".
2 replies - Last post by Marie-Claire-Riviere - November 25, 2013
In Rocket French Premium, 2.9 Where am I? (Part 2), it says that "Pour aller là?" translates to "How do I get there?" I'm confused. "Aller" is the verb infinitive, so how can it mean "I go"? I would expect to use "Pour vais là?"
2 replies - Last post by Marie-Claire-Riviere - November 25, 2013
est- je voudrais un chatte. parfait
1 reply - Last post by Marie-Claire-Riviere - November 25, 2013
Language and culture - Chapter 4.9
I am a beginner in French and am under the impression that all the articles have to match up with the nouns. If true shouldn't the following sentences be des pommes instead of de pommes? Je ne veux pas de pommes, merci. (from chapter 4.9) Je ne veux pl...
3 replies - Last post by Marie-Claire-Riviere - November 25, 2013
in "je veux une boisson froide" , is une used because boisson is feminine or bcos froide is feminine? I noted before that nouns which end in vowels are feminine, but froide is adjective so a bit confused!
2 replies - Last post by Marie-Claire-Riviere - November 25, 2013
Lesson 4.9 from positive to negative: Je ne veux plus de pommes, merci. I thought ne and pas always go together for negative. Is this another exception to the rule? Below is what I would have written. Je ne veux pas plus de pommes, merci. Aidez-moi s...
2 replies - Last post by Marie-Claire-Riviere - November 25, 2013
When do I use très and when do I use vraiment in the context of "very"? I've seen both words used for "very". Also, with the verb "pouvoir", when would I use "puis" versus "peux" with the pronoun "je"?
2 replies - Last post by Marie-Claire-Riviere - November 25, 2013
When to use Etre vs Avoir for Past Perfect Tense
TItle says it. If i remember my high school French you use Etre for verbs that indicate going somewhere and Avoir for everything else? Like " I got back to the hotel" Would be Je Suis Rendu A L'hotel? Am I right or wrong here?:)
3 replies - Last post by Marie-Claire-Riviere - November 25, 2013
In the Basic Numbers lesson, sometimes "J'en veux trois..." is used, and other times "Je veux quatre..." is used. Is it a difference in formality, kind of like "I would like..." vs. "I want..."?
2 replies - Last post by Marie-Claire-Riviere - November 25, 2013
I am still new to French, and I do not understand when you should use ça fait to say "it is" and when to use il est. Examples: il est ferme- it is closed combien ça fait?- how much is it? ça fait 60 euros- it is 60 euros I imagine that the answer is that ...
2 replies - Last post by Marie-Claire-Riviere - November 25, 2013
Is there an special rule to use the verbs ETRE AND AVOIR, as auxiliars, with other verbs, ? for example, can i use etre with finir, o aimer with etre? Because in the lesson 3.7 and 3.8 ALLEr used as auxiliar ETRE, is posible using AVOIR? Thanks
2 replies - Last post by Diana-S1 - November 15, 2013
Could someone explain why there needs to be two nous in the following please? J’espère que nous nous arrêtons bientôt Thankyou
11 replies - Last post by sir_alex - October 19, 2013