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!
Hello. In lesson 6.7 we are given the phrase “Ma soeur est moins grande que mon frère” in English “My sister is less tall than my brother” meaning “smaller”. Can “plus petite” be used instead of “moins grande”. To me that would be a better phrase, “smalle...
2 replies - Last post by CharlesH58 - March 4, 2024
module 5 with all the pronouns is a huge and very frustrating barrier
I don't know if it's the course or if it is me, but I am completely stuck.The grammar about the pronouns won't get into my brain, there were some exceptions that weren't explained and maybe it's cause I am learning french through my second language.It has...
3 replies - Last post by ArminZ - February 4, 2024
Hello, let me first apologise if this has been raised before. In lesson 5.2 the sentance “nous avons de charmants tableaux par ici” is translated as “we have some charming pictures over here”. My question is why “de charmants tableaux” and not “des char...
5 replies - Last post by Santjie - January 31, 2024
chapter 5.8 "y" and "en" are not used for people?
I am currently working on chapter 5.8 It states that “y” and “en” are not used to replace people.“But it’s important to note that like y, en can’t be used to replace people.” But there are examples where it replaces people.J’ai trois frères → J’en ai troi...
4 replies - Last post by Peter--252 - January 26, 2024
Hi - I still don't understand when to use the three different forms of asking this question in French. Please help….
1 reply - Last post by Mitchell-Rocket-Languages-Tutor - January 10, 2024
Indirect Object Prounouns and Negations
In lesson 5.7 Indirect Object Prounouns, which by the way I am finding very hard, we are given the sentence “Ils vont livrer des colis à Monsieur Richard” and the negative sentence “Ils ne vont jamais livrer des colis à Monsieur Richard” should the “des” ...
1 reply - Last post by Mitchell-Rocket-Languages-Tutor - January 10, 2024
I am a mere beginner, so this question might seem elementary to some. Combine ça coûte? means “how much does this cost?”.Combine coûte une pomme? means, “ how much does an apple cost?". How does one ask “How much does this/that apple cost?”? And can you g...
2 replies - Last post by Marshall-lH - October 30, 2023
Present tense or not when using "depuis"?
Quote from lesson outlining the use of “depuis”: "Notice how these actions started in the past, but they're still ongoing - they haven't finished yet. We would normally use the present perfect (i.e. "have done") or the present perfect continuous (i.e. "ha...
1 reply - Last post by Mitchell-Rocket-Languages-Tutor - October 30, 2023
"et on paye une caution que l'on récupère à la fin." This sentence means one/we pay a deposit that one/we get back at the end. Can someone explain why it's "que l'on" instead of just "que on" for that we/that one? What is the l apostrophe for? Thank you.
1 reply - Last post by RobertC106 - October 22, 2023
Hi all, in lesson 3.3 the phrase “allez, monte” is translated “come on, get on”. I appreciate that “allez” is an imperative form of “aller” and is a general instruction that can mean “come on, hurry, be quick” a word to get people moving and “monte” com...
2 replies - Last post by CharlesH58 - October 17, 2023
Can you please explain “je viens de goûter"? It is translated as “I just tasted ” but " je viens" is in the present tense. And “je viens ” means “ I come”. Is this just a French idiom? Thank you.
2 replies - Last post by Marshall-lH - October 3, 2023
What's the difference between Je suis perdue and Je suis perdu (3.2)
Hi there, I am working through the platform, on lesson 3.2 and I noticed that there are two sentences that are similar. I am trying to understand when one would use “Je suis perdu” vs “Je suis perdue”. Thanks! Sandya
1 reply - Last post by RobertC106 - August 11, 2023
Ils n’en veulent acheter aucune ??
Lesson 11.7 (revised) I must be missing something here. Why is it :ils n’en veulent acheter aucuneand not :ils ne veulent en acheter aucune. Robert
3 replies - Last post by Mitchell-Rocket-Languages-Tutor - July 17, 2023
It says in 9.6 (The past with être) that“Just keep in mind that you are always unlikely to hear la liaison used between the tu or vous forms (es or êtes) and a vowel sound that follows them.”This is followed by a sentence where the french speaker does not...
3 replies - Last post by RobertC106 - June 26, 2023
Bonjour tout le monde, in lesson 4.3 the following sentence “où l'on peut vous joindre” is translated as “where you can be contacted” or “where one can contact you”. The translation seems straight forward except for the “l” befor “on”. I don't underst...
15 replies - Last post by CharlesH58 - April 28, 2023
"ne pas penser": Subjunctive, indicative, or else?
From what I've learned, the subjunctive is used only if the subjects of the main and side clauses are different (apart from some exceptions such as sentences connected by “bien que”). But what if I want to say, e.g., “I don't think I can do it”? - “Je ne ...
2 replies - Last post by Mitchell-Rocket-Languages-Tutor - April 11, 2023
I'm on level 2 and trying to get my head around pronoun order. This sentence sums up some of my confusion "Je vous ai rajouté un peu d'huile et j'ai gonflé vos pneus." Why does the vous go before the verb in the first phrase of the sentence, but vos goes ...
3 replies - Last post by RobertC106 - February 28, 2023
I am still not sure as to why in nous sommes interesses the s sound is not being said aloud. S is before a vowel
3 replies - Last post by cheeessssssseeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! - February 9, 2023
While studying, I realised that there were different in, at words used in French which got me confused. I did a little digging and am trying to understand how en is different from dans. E.g. Je le ferai en trois jours vs Je le ferai dans trois jours. Doe...
2 replies - Last post by Mitchell-Rocket-Languages-Tutor - November 10, 2022
Leçon 7.4 - Why d'aller and not just aller?
In lesson 7.4, they state: “”Ils me permettent d'aller à Nice" to mean they are allowing (permitting) me to go to Nice. What is the rule that requires it to be d'aller instead of aller? Thanks!
3 replies - Last post by Mitchell-Rocket-Languages-Tutor - October 3, 2022
Question from lesson 2.3 conversation
The question here states, “Avez-vous fait votre valise vous-même ?”. Isn't that supposed to be “Avez-vous faire votre valise vous-même?"
3 replies - Last post by RobertC106 - September 8, 2022
She isn’t going to sell them to us
Hello, Please could someone explain why “He isn’t going to sell them to us”- Il na va pas nous les vendre, is correct. But why is ‘Il na va pas les vendre à nous’ incorrect?
3 replies - Last post by Vin1957 - September 2, 2022
Why is « stressés » plural in this sentence
In Lesson 14.5 which talks about the subjunctive, there is the sentenceIl est possible qu’on ait l’air stressés.which in English is: It is possible that we seem stressed.Now in English, the adjective “stressed” is modifying “we”, but isn't « stressés » ...
2 replies - Last post by Peter--252 - June 27, 2022
Order of direct and indirect pronouns
Bonjour,in the lessons it is stated that if we have both an indirect and a direct object pronoun (both 3rd person), the direct one comes first. The examples mostly follow this rule, but in lesson 9.8, I stumbled across the sentence “Il lui l'a lancé”. Why...
1 reply - Last post by Margaret-RocketLanguages - April 25, 2022
"Désolée d'être si fatiguée" Why feminine?
I came across this example explaining “désolé”, is “désolée” and “fatiguée” feminine only when the speaker is female? Thank you!
2 replies - Last post by YangS8 - April 13, 2022
Désolée d'être si fatiguée. I'm wondering what the d' is doing in this sentence? Désolée = Sorry (f)etre = to be si = sofatiguée = tired (f)
3 replies - Last post by RobertC106 - March 17, 2022
Lesson 14.5 Inconsistant translation
In this lesson:"We will leave soon to the beach" is translated as:"Nous partons bientôt à la plage"But "We will leave soon" is translated as:"Nous allons bientôt partir"Why isn't "We will leave soon to the beach"translated as "Nous allons bientôt partir ...
3 replies - Last post by Janet33 - March 15, 2022
Other than, asseyons-nous, I can't recall ever seeing a present tense, imparfait or simple future form of s'asseoir (to sit down, etc.) used.Present tense seems to always be in the form of être assis (to be seated). Par exemple, je suis assis (I am seate...
5 replies - Last post by Mitchell-Rocket-Languages-Tutor - January 27, 2022
Does Rocket French have a little touch pad I can bring up on screen with all the accents needed for the written exercises? I have a French laptop but it doesn't have some of the accents that are necessary, I would like to just be able to click on the co...
1 reply - Last post by La gouttelette - December 5, 2021
I was joking with a French friend. I wrote:S'ils m’éclateront, je t’éclaterai.I thought putting both in future tense was correct.She wrote back (after a laugh) that I should use subjunctive…S'ils m'éclatent, je t'éclaterai. I searched my grammar book and ...
1 reply - Last post by Mitchell-Rocket-Languages-Tutor - August 4, 2021
In lesson 17.0, "preparing a party" I see two different spellings the past participle of prévoir.Quelle sorte de surprise as-tu prévue...Qu'est-ce que tu as prévu comme surprise ?Why are there two differet spellings?Todd
4 replies - Last post by Mitchell-Rocket-Languages-Tutor - July 1, 2021
placement of toujours in passé composé
Bonjour. I'm wondering why toujours comes before the negation in (L 20.3),et John n'a toujours pas trouvé de qui on parlait la dernière fois.(and John still hasn't found out who we were talking about last time.)I don't remember seeing this before. Is it t...
5 replies - Last post by Mitchell-Rocket-Languages-Tutor - July 1, 2021
Question from Lesson 17.0 - Preparing a Party
In the dialog of lesson 17.0, “Preparing a Party," Eric says: Je pensais que l’on pourrais faire la fête dans le jardin et inviter tous ses amis et la famille. Everything makes sense to me except for one thing: why did he say “que l'on pourrais"? I would ...
11 replies - Last post by RobertC106 - June 30, 2021
Variable pronunciation of the final 'e'
Hi,I am trying to understand when the final ‘e’ of certain words seems to be pronounced ‘eh’.For example, carte blanche sounds like “cart-eh blanche" even though carte alone has a silent ‘e.’I assume it's due to the associated words in the sentence, but n...
3 replies - Last post by Mitchell-Rocket-Languages-Tutor - June 8, 2021
Salut encore, Chapter 12.1 highlighted my issues with “de", as in the writing task, I kept getting it wrong ("de" when “des” was needed and vice versa). I am clear on “beaucoup de” - always “de”: beaucoup de coutumes / beaucoup de vin.But then again with...
1 reply - Last post by Mitchell-Rocket-Languages-Tutor - May 5, 2021
Does anyone know a good site for practicing my verb conjugation?
1 reply - Last post by Mitchell-Rocket-Languages-Tutor - May 5, 2021
French literautre vocab and grammar
Bonjour-I am currently reading my second book in French- The adventures of Clara if anyone is familiar with it. As there are no translations, I was hoping for some clarification on some of the passages.Ils lui posent beaucoup de questions, ils veulent tou...
4 replies - Last post by CalliW - April 11, 2021
present subjunctive in reference to past tense ?
It appears that when the present subjunctive is indicated, it's also used to refer to the past tense. As in, Je suis surpris que la décoration soit aussi belle.(I am surprised that the decoration is so beautiful.)J'ai été surpris que la décoration soit au...
8 replies - Last post by RobertC106 - March 24, 2021
Miscellaneous Questions- French Level 1
Bonjour! Sometimes I would like clarification on phrases or concepts that don't necessarily fit into a lesson. This will be my forum post dedicated to hopefully getting my random questions answered. Any and all help is truly appreciated! 1. Ça te dit? Wh...
27 replies - Last post by CalliW - March 19, 2021
Salut tout le monde, I feel a bit unsure about the use of ce, cela, ca In chapter 9.2 we have the sentence “cela fait plus d'une heure…” and I keep wanting to say “ca fait” or “ce fait”. When do I use which and in howfar are they interchangeable? Il faut ...
2 replies - Last post by Desi2020 - March 16, 2021
Why on earth is it considered a good idea to expand our conversation using Future Tense in Level 1 Lesson 6 when Future tenses are not even taught until Level 2 Lesson 9, and then at the end of that set of lessons????? It simply confuses and reduces enjoy...
3 replies - Last post by Desi2020 - March 8, 2021
“Il y a plus de lait dans le frigo.” ( In module 12.8)In casual speech it means the opposite to what it does in formal speech. How would the listener know what to believe?
6 replies - Last post by RobertC106 - February 24, 2021
From lesson 7: Can you explain the the need for “elles” at the end of this question? I understand the noun follows the verb in questions, but usually having reversing the order would be a simple declarative. In this case, it would make no sense for elle t...
8 replies - Last post by RobertC106 - February 24, 2021
Module 5 Grammar & Vocab Questions
To Whom it May Concern:There are grammar and vocab instances that I would like clarification on:The role of ‘aucun’.- 5.6‘Sans aucun doute’ means ‘without a doubt’; 'sans doute' translates to ‘without doubt.’ ‘Aucun problème' means ‘no problem.’ What exac...
12 replies - Last post by CalliW - February 16, 2021
Lesson 12.7 starts off with the sentence:Vous ne pouvez pas ouvrir un compte en banque.Shortly thereafter, we are advised that, "When there is an indefinite article « un, une » ... in a negative construction, the article changes to « de »".This is clearly...
4 replies - Last post by RobertC106 - February 15, 2021
Bonjour. When I first saw the sentence …Oui, et on va voir que ce n'est pas si terrible que ça et que quelquefois, c'est même amusant !… I wondered what the que ça was for. Then I learned that que ça can mean as that, so that the sentence makes more sense...
2 replies - Last post by RobertC106 - February 15, 2021
Confusion about the translation of new, newer and newest
I am having difficulty understand the adjectives and comparative adjective that are used for new, newer, newest. Seems like nouveau (nouvel) (m), nouvelle(f), nouveaux(m. p.), and nouvelles(f. p.) are the adjectives. What is the use of neuve and neuf? ...
5 replies - Last post by Liss-Rocket-Languages-Tutor - February 8, 2021
From L11.5Vous pourrez partir, si vous avez fini vos devoirs.(You will be able to leave, if you have finished your homework.)This strikes me as very peculiar. It seems that this would normally be phrased as either, You will be able to leave, when you have...
3 replies - Last post by Mitchell-Rocket-Languages-Tutor - February 5, 2021
Lesson 20.1 "Ils ont des nouveaux actes"
Hi, I'm confused by this phrase as it appears in lesson 20.1. I thought that when the adjective ("nouveaux") is placed before the noun, you should write “de” rather than “des”. Is this not always the case?Thanks in advance
1 reply - Last post by Mitchell-Rocket-Languages-Tutor - February 3, 2021
Just a point I'm curious about. In 1.14 I saw the expression “par train” to mean “by train”, “par voiture” to mean “by car”, etc. I also use Duolingo in parallel to Rocket French and they taught the expression, “en train”, “en voiture”, etc. Are both vali...
5 replies - Last post by devbanana - February 3, 2021