Key French Grammar Rules for AP French

Subject-Verb Agreement

The subject and verb must agree in number (singular/plural).
In French, the verb form changes based on the subject pronoun.
Collective nouns can take either singular or plural verbs depending on context.

Verb Conjugations (Regular and Irregular)

Regular verbs follow predictable patterns based on their endings (-er, -ir, -re).
Irregular verbs do not follow standard conjugation rules and must be memorized.
Conjugation varies by subject pronoun and tense.

Tenses (Present, Past, Future, Conditional)

Present tense indicates current actions or states.
Past tense (passé composé) is used for completed actions; imparfait describes ongoing past actions.
Future tense expresses actions that will happen; conditional indicates hypothetical situations.

Mood (Indicative, Subjunctive, Imperative)

Indicative mood states facts or asks questions.
Subjunctive mood expresses doubt, desire, or emotion; often triggered by specific conjunctions.
Imperative mood gives commands or requests.

Gender and Number Agreement (Nouns, Adjectives)

Nouns are either masculine or feminine; adjectives must agree in gender and number with the nouns they modify.
Plural forms of nouns and adjectives typically add -s, but some have irregular plural forms.
Gender can often be determined by the noun's ending, but exceptions exist.

Articles (Definite, Indefinite, Partitive)

Definite articles (le, la, les) refer to specific nouns.
Indefinite articles (un, une, des) refer to non-specific nouns.
Partitive articles (du, de la, des) indicate an unspecified quantity of something.

Pronouns (Subject, Object, Relative, Possessive)

Subject pronouns (je, tu, il/elle, etc.) replace the noun performing the action.
Object pronouns (me, te, le/la, etc.) replace the noun receiving the action.
Possessive pronouns (mon, ton, son, etc.) indicate ownership.

Negation

Negation in French typically uses "ne…pas" around the verb.
In spoken French, the "ne" is often dropped, especially in informal contexts.
Other negation forms exist for specific contexts (e.g., "ne…jamais" for "never").

Question Formation

Questions can be formed by inversion (verb-subject), using "est-ce que," or by raising intonation.
Question words (qui, que, où, quand, comment, pourquoi) are used to ask specific questions.
Inversion requires subject-verb agreement.

Adjective Placement

Most adjectives follow the noun they modify, but some common adjectives (e.g., beau, grand) precede the noun.
Adjective placement can change the meaning of the sentence.
Agreement in gender and number is required.

Adverb Formation and Placement

Adverbs are often formed by adding -ment to the feminine form of adjectives.
Adverbs typically follow the verb they modify but can also appear at the beginning of a sentence for emphasis.
Placement can vary based on the type of verb (e.g., passé composé).

Prepositions

Prepositions (à, de, en, pour, avec, etc.) indicate relationships between nouns and other elements in a sentence.
Some verbs require specific prepositions to convey the correct meaning.
Prepositions can also indicate time, place, and direction.

Comparatives and Superlatives

Comparatives are formed using "plus…que" (more…than) or "moins…que" (less…than).
Superlatives are formed using "le plus" (the most) or "le moins" (the least).
Irregular adjectives have unique comparative and superlative forms (e.g., bon -> meilleur).

Passive Voice

The passive voice emphasizes the action rather than the subject performing it.
Formed using the verb "être" + past participle; the past participle must agree in gender and number with the subject.
Commonly used in formal writing and when the doer is unknown or irrelevant.

Reflexive Verbs

Reflexive verbs indicate that the subject performs an action on itself and are formed with reflexive pronouns (me, te, se, etc.).
The reflexive pronoun must agree with the subject in person and number.
Common in daily routines and expressions of feelings.