Grammar Points

Type: Si Clause (1/3) the possible option

Meaning: if met, results will take place in the future

Si + présent, futur

Type: Si Clause (1/3) unlikely to happen

Meaning: if met, results will take place in the future

Si + imparfait, conditionnel présent

(if + simple past, present conditional)

Type: Si Clause (1/3) the possible option

Meaning: if met, results will take place in the future

Si + présent, futur

Type: Si Clause (1/3) unlikely to happen

Meaning: if met, results will take place in the future

Si + imparfait, conditionnel présent

(if + simple past, present conditional)

Type: Si Clause (1/3) purely hypothetical

Meaning: Condition wasn't met in the past, but if it had been, the results would have occurred.

Si + plus-que-parfait, conditionnel passé

(if + past perfect, past conditional)

When an adjective follows the noun it is...

(ex. une maison ancienne)

the noun is literal

(an ancient house)

When an adjective is before the noun it is...

(ex. mon ancienne maison)

the noun is metaphorical

(my former house)

This adverbial pronoun replaces: à + a thing/idea

the adverbial pronoun is: y

This conjunction means "because"

It is used in spoken and informal French.

the adverbial pronoun is: en

This conjunction means "because"

It is used in spoken and informal French.

It can also start a sentence with a comma

the conjunction is: parce que

This conjunction means: because/for

It is used in formal French, mainly in written form

the conjunction is: car

This conjunction means: when/while

It is used to highlight two actions that happens at the same time, in parallel.

(Think split screen)

This conjunction is: pendant que

This conjunction means: when/while

It is used to introduce a specific moment, habituel situation, or a sequence of events

This conjunction is: quand

This conjunction means: when/while

Is essentially the formal version of: quand

This conjunction is: lorsque

This conjunction means: while/whereas

It works the same as pendant que (two things happening at the same time), but it often carries an undertone of: surprise, contract, unfairness, or concession

This conjunction is: alors que

(not to be confused with: alors)

This conjunction means: at the moment when

It is used to talk about simulations actions. Pinpoints the act moment two things happen

This conjunction is: au moment où

This is used to express contrast. It implies contrast and draws attention to a difference between two states/actions

This expression is: tandis que

This conjunction means: so/therefore

Used with logical arguments or when the consequences feel inevitable. Is used in informal writing.

A comma before this conjunction is enough

This conjunction is: donc

This conjunction means: so/then

Looser in register. Often suggests a sequence, a practical conclusion, or a consequence.

A comma before this conjunction is enough

This conjunction is: alors

(not to be confused with alors que)

This conjunction means: consequently

Formal; used in essays, reports, and arguments.

Usually proceeded by a semicolon or a period, and followed by a comma

This conjunction is: par consèquent

This conjunction means: as a result

Formal; used in announcements and official texts.

Usually proceeded by a semicolon or a period, and followed by a comma

This conjunction is: en consèquence

This means: so that

It is used when you want to emphasize: a time, place manner, or reason

c'est ... que

This means: so that

It is used when you want to emphasize: a subject (with the emphasized element doing the action)

c'est ... qui

This means: what

It replaces an: abstract or unspecified thing + de

ce dont

This means: what

It refers to the subject of the verb which follows

ce qui

This means: what

It refers to the object of the verb which follows

ce que

This is a tense

Musts with this verb tense:

The person performing the action is the same as the subject

Is always proceeded by "en"

Covers 3 main ideas: manner, simultaneity, + cause

this is: the gérondif (the present participle)

verb creation: stem (nous verb form minus -ons) + -ant

This is a negation which means: no

This negation is: ne ... pas

This is a negation which means: never

This negation is: ne ... jamais

(opposite of toujours)

This is a negation which means: no longer/not anymore

This negation is: ne ... plus

(opposite of encore)

This is a negation which means: neither ... nor

This negation is: ne ... ni ... ni

This is a negation which means: not yet

This negation is: ne ... encore

(opposite of déjà)

This is a negation which means: nothing

This negation is: ne ... rien

(opposite of tout)

This is a negation which means: hardly/scarcely

This negation is: ne ... guère

(opposite of beaucoup)

This is a negation which means: nobody

This negation is: ne ... personne

(opposite of tout le monde)

This is a negation which means: none

This negation is: ne ... aucun(e)

(opposite of tous/toutes)

This is a comparison that means: more than

This comparison is: plus ... que

(construction = subject + verb + plus + adj. + que + compared thing)

This is a comparison that means: less than

This comparison is: moins ... que

(construction = subject + verb + moins + adj. + que + compared thing)

This is a comparison that means: as ... as

This comparison is: aussi ... que

(construction = subject + verb + aussi + adj. + que + compared thing)

This means: for nothing/in vain

pour rien

This means: nothing but/just

rien que

This means: 1/2 (a fraction)

une moitié (noun)

un demi (adj.)

This means: 1/3 (a fraction)

un tiers

This means: 1/4 (a fraction)

un quart

This means: 3/4 (a fraction)

trois quarts

This means: 2/5 (a fraction)

deux cinquièmes

This means: 1/10 (a fraction)

un dixième

This is a time expression that means: as soon as

It's used for everyday choices; when wanting to say something happened the moment something else did. No delay, no gap.

Both parts of the sentence are in the future tense

This time expression is: dès que

This is a time expression that means: as soon as

It's used for literary/formal places; when wanting to say something happened the moment something else did. No delay, no gap.

Both parts of the sentence are in the future tense

This time expression is: dès que

This time expression is used to pinpoint a moment in time

Answers the question: quand ? (when exactly?)

This time expression is: à

This time expression is used to describe the duration needed to complete an action

Answers the question: how quickly?

This time expression is: en

This time expression means: for/during

This is an everyday preposition that tells the duration of an action, from beginning to end

Typically used in the past tense

This time expression is: pendant

This time expression means: for/during

This preposition that tells the duration of an action, from beginning to end; it is the more formal version, and so used in news reports, literature, and formal speeches.)

Typically used in the past tense

This time expression is: durant

This time expression means: for/since

This preposition is used for actions that started sometime before the present moment and are still ongoing.

Typically used in the present tense (though if we're speaking in/of the past, the imperfect is the tense used)

(ex. the door opened and is still opened)

This time expression is: depuis

This time expression means: as soon as/from

Indicates an immediate start. Emphasizes the exact moment something begins.

(ex. the moment the door opened)

This time expression is: dès

This time expression means: until/up to

Indicates an endpoint. Can refer to both time and space

(ex. the door stayed open until this point)

This time expression is: jusqu'à

This time expression means: about/around

Signals that you're not being exact.

Can be used with hours, parts of the day, seasons, years, and the historical past

This time expression is: vers

This conjunction means: before

Is straightforward. Always followed by an infinitive. Only works when the same person is doing both actions

This conjunction is: avant de + infinitive

This conjunction means: after having done

Only works when the same person is doing both actions

This conjunction is: après + infinitive/être + past participle

This adverb means: that's why

It's answering an implicit why? question

Instead of answering a logical step forward, it looks backward

This adverb is: c'est pourquoi

(structure: statement of cause + c'est pourquoi + consequence)

We use the present tense of devoir for…

Tone: Direct, frim

Use for: rules, safety, deadlines, instructions

We use the conditional tense of devoir for…

Tone: Polite, gentle

Use for: advice, suggestions, recommandations, diplomacy

This phrase means : provided that, as long as, or on the condition that.

It must always be followed by this specific mood and denotes a requirement

this phrase is : à condition que and is always triggers the subjunctive

(main clause + à condition que + subjunctive or à condition que + subjunctive, main clause)

This phrase means : unless or except if

It must always be followed by this specific mood and denotes exceptions/introducing a condition

this phrase is : sauf si and it triggers the indicative present

Used in everyday spoken French

(not to be confused with sauf — except)

This phrase means : except

This word is : sauf
it is used to exclude a specific item

(not to be confused with sauf si — unless)

This phrase means : in cause

It must always be followed by this specific mood and denotes precautionary or less likely scenario

This phrase is : au cas où

it must be followed by the conditional