5 Mistakes Commonly Made When (Re) Learning French

If you learned French at school several years (or even decades) ago, it’s tempting to skip the first few levels when coming back to the language. You might think you probably remember all the basics, after all.

But in reality, there’s a lot of things you probably forgot! And even what you do remember can be quite hazy.

But you’ll get a lot out of having really solid foundations. And this time, (re)learning them should be easier.

I recommend using resources that will guide you through the beginner level. For example, I really like the excellent books of CLE International, especially for beginners, such as:

• Grammaire progressive du français
• Vocabulaire progressif du français

After you have nailed down the basics, then you can gradually climb back up to the intermediate or advanced level you had before.

** Le truc en plus **
Vocabulary :

• Reprendre le français (= taking up French again)
• À peu près (= more or less)
• Les débutants (= beginners.)

Click here to find everything from CLE International:
Books by CLE International
***

For instance, you’ll get much further in French once you’re confident with:

a) Basic conjugations

Regular verbs and a selection of irregular ones, such as learning le présent (= present tense) for :

Marcher (= to walk, regular 1st group verb)
Je marche
Tu marches
Il marche
Nous marchons
Vous marchez
Elles marchent

Être (= to be)
Je suis
Tu es
Il est
Nous sommes
Vous êtes
Elles sont

Avoir (= to have)
J’ai
Tu as
Il a
Nous avons
Vous avez
Elles ont

Pouvoir (= can, to be able)
Je peux
Tu peux
Il peut
Nous pouvons
Vous pouvez
Elles peuvent

Prendre (= to take)
Je prends
Tu prends
Il prend
Nous prenons
Vous prenez
Elles prennent

Click here to learn more:
7 Common French Verbs You Need To Know

b) Tenses, and when to use them

Things like using le subjonctif (= subjunctive mode,) as in:
Je suis contente que tu sois là. (= I’m happy that you’re here.) and more.

Click here to learn more:

• French Grammar: French Subjunctive Made Easy
• L’impératif – Give Orders and Advice with the French Imperative
• How to Know Which Past Tense to Use in French: Passé composé vs imparfait vs passé simple

c) Building negative sentences
Using ne […] pas in negative sentences, like: Je ne suis pas sûre. = I’m not sure.

d) Building a question
Correct French questions use:
– l’inversion (= inverting subject and verbs) like: Le musée est-il ouvert ? (= Is the museum open?)
– or Est-ce que (= “Is it that… ?”) like: Est-ce que le musée est ouvert ? = Is the museum open?

Click here to learn more:

• Understand Fast Spoken French: Questions Aren’t Obvious
• Asking Questions in French: Est-ce que vs. Qu’est-ce que

e) Basic French pronunciation

Especially the weirdest sounds like the French “u” sound, French “R”, or the nasal vowels like an – in – on !

Click here to learn more:

• How to Pronounce the French “R”
• French Sounds: How to pronounce “ou” vs “u”
• French Pronunciation Fundamentals – é, è and “eu.”
• French Pronunciation Fundamentals Part 2 : Nasal Sounds
• French Pronunciation Fundamentals Part 3 : “U” / “OU”
• 5 Mistakes You’re Making with the French “Ain” Sound

All of this can be a bit overwhelming, but with a good method and a little bit of regular practice, it will give you a solid foundation for the rest of your learning.

But textbook French is not all there is.