Mastering French Noun Gender: Easy Patterns to Remember
One of the biggest challenges in GCSE French is remembering whether a noun is masculine or feminine. Even native speakers do not always know the gender. Watch the president of France, Emmanuel Macron, get it wrong! https://www.tiktok.com/@loicsuberville/video/7423373524074597665?lang=en-GB Warning: mild swearing. But here’s the good news: you don’t always have to guess or memorise everything. In many cases, the spelling (especially the ending) of a French … Continue reading Mastering French Noun Gender: Easy Patterns to Remember
Ou vs Où in French: What’s the Difference?
If you’re learning French, you’ve probably come across ou and où and thought: They sound the same… so why are they spelled differently? You’re not alone! This is a very common point of confusion for GCSE and IGCSE students (and honestly, plenty of adults too 😄). The good news? The difference is actually very simple once you know what to look for. Let’s break it … Continue reading Ou vs Où in French: What’s the Difference?
The H aspiré in French: What It Is and Why It Matters
For many learners of French, the letter h is confusing. It’s never pronounced like the English h, yet it still affects how French sounds and flows. To make things trickier, there are two types of h in French: h muet and h aspiré. Understanding the difference is essential for accurate pronunciation and grammar. Let’s break it down. First things first: the French h is always … Continue reading The H aspiré in French: What It Is and Why It Matters
Turn Good French into Great French
Boost Your GCSE French Writing Go Beyond “très” with These Intensifiers! When writing in French, many students rely on basic intensifiers like très (very) or trop (too). While these words are useful, using a wider range of intensifiers will make your writing sound more advanced and help you stand out in your GCSE exams. Let’s explore some effective alternatives and how to use them confidently. … Continue reading Turn Good French into Great French
🥶 French Expressions for Cold Weather (and What They Really Mean!)
I lived in south-west France for two decades. When you imagine the south of France, you probably picture fields of sunflowers, ripening grapevines and sitting outside a little village café sipping a cold drink. Right? When I first moved to the Lot region, just south of the better-known Dordogne, I had no idea how cold the winters would be! Looking at the weather forecast today, … Continue reading 🥶 French Expressions for Cold Weather (and What They Really Mean!)
Remembering Where to Put French Adjectives: The BAGS Rule! 🎒
If you’ve ever wondered why some French adjectives come before the noun (un petit chien) while most come after (un chien intelligent), the answer lies in one simple acronym: BAGS. 🧠 What does BAGS mean? BAGS stands for Beauty, Age, Goodness, and Size — the four types of adjectives that usually come before the noun they describe. Here’s a handy breakdown: 💅 B – Beauty … Continue reading Remembering Where to Put French Adjectives: The BAGS Rule! 🎒
When to Pronounce the “S” in Plus
French learners often wonder when to pronounce the s in plus. The answer depends on meaning and context — and it’s actually quite logical once you see the patterns! ✅ When You Do Pronounce the “S” 🚫 When You Don’t Pronounce the “S” In these cases, the s stays silent. 🎧 Pronunciation Summary Meaning or Context Pronunciation Example Translation “More” (positive) /plys/ or /plyz/ Je … Continue reading When to Pronounce the “S” in Plus
Practice makes perfect
The best sites to practise French verb conjugation – perfect for GCSE French, IGCSE French and KS3 French. ⭐ 1. Conjuguemos – conjuguemos.com ⭐ 2. Kwiziq French – kwiziq.com ⭐ 3. WordReference Conjugator – wordreference.com/ ✨ Together, these three give students: Here are some more you might like to try: Conjugation reference + practice 🔹 More gamified practice 👉 For GCSE/IGCSE learners, Conjuguemos and Kwiziq … Continue reading Practice makes perfect
Espadrilles: The Timeless Summer Shoe
I was happy to see this wall of espadrilles whilst visiting a market with friends in the Pyrénées-Orientales department near Perpignan this summer. Light, comfortable, and effortlessly chic – espadrilles are a summer staple that have stood the test of time. With their signature canvas or cotton fabric and natural jute rope soles, these shoes have been worn for centuries. For me, they are a … Continue reading Espadrilles: The Timeless Summer Shoe
🎉 Fun Summer French Activities Pt 3
Part 3 – Try these activities to create good habits for learning French over the year. Improve French whilst having fun. Suitable for KS3 French, Common Entrance exams, GCSE amd IGCSE students and beyond. To get the full list to your inbox, pop your email below. 🗼Culture 🚲Watch a video about the Tour de France on the 1jour1actu website. The transcript appears below the video … Continue reading 🎉 Fun Summer French Activities Pt 3