French Grammar for BeginnersCEFR A1 Level
Start your journey with basic grammar concepts and simple sentence structures.
Start your French grammar journey with A1 beginner lessons. Learn essential French grammar rules including basic sentence structure, present tense, articles, and simple phrases. Perfect for absolute beginners with clear explanations and practical examples.
Articles
Learn French definite articles (le, la, les), indefinite articles (un, une, des), and when to use each type.
Personal Pronouns
Learn the basic French personal pronouns (je, tu, il, elle, nous, vous, ils, elles) and how to use them in simple sentences. Understand the distinction between formal 'vous' and informal 'tu', as well as gender differences in third person plural pronouns.
Noun Gender
Understand French noun genders (masculine and feminine) and learn common patterns to identify gender from word endings.
Present Tense
Conjugate French verbs in the present tense across the three main verb groups (-er, -ir, -re) and common irregular verbs.
Basic Word Order
Learn fundamental French sentence structure. French follows Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) order like English, but with important differences in adjective placement, pronoun position, and question formation. Master these patterns to build correct simple sentences.
Negation
Form negative sentences in French using ne...pas and other negative expressions like ne...jamais, ne...rien, ne...personne.
Numbers 1-100
Master French numbers from 1 to 100. French counting has some unique patterns, especially in the 70s, 80s, and 90s which use a vigesimal (base-20) system inherited from Gaulish. Learn to count, use numbers in dates, prices, and everyday situations.
Questions
Form questions in French using intonation, est-ce que, inversion, and question words like qui, que, où, quand, pourquoi.
Basic Questions
Learn to ask yes/no questions and use question words (qui, quoi, où, quand, pourquoi, comment, combien) in French. Master the three ways to form questions: intonation, est-ce que, and inversion. Essential for everyday conversations.
Adjectives
Use French adjectives correctly with gender and number agreement, placement rules, and common irregular forms.
Possessive Adjectives
Express ownership in French with possessive adjectives (mon, ma, mes, ton, ta, tes, etc.). Unlike English, French possessives agree with the gender and number of the thing possessed, not the owner. Master these essential words for talking about belongings and relationships.
Noun Gender
Learn how French nouns are either masculine (le) or feminine (la). Discover patterns and endings that help predict gender, common exceptions, and why gender matters for adjectives and articles. Essential foundation for correct French.
Plural Nouns
Learn to form plurals in French. Most nouns add -s to become plural (invisible in speech but important in writing). Some nouns have special plural forms with -x or -aux endings. Master both regular and irregular plural patterns.
Basic Adjectives
Learn how French adjectives agree with nouns in gender and number. Discover which adjectives go before or after the noun, how to form feminine and plural forms, and master common irregular adjectives like beau, nouveau, and vieux.
Time Expressions
Master French time expressions for telling time, days of the week, months, and describing when things happen. Learn to say aujourd'hui (today), demain (tomorrow), hier (yesterday), and use expressions like le matin, l'après-midi, and le soir for different parts of the day.
Common Verbs (être, avoir)
Master the two most essential French verbs: être (to be) and avoir (to have). These irregular verbs are used constantly in everyday speech and form the basis for compound tenses. Their conjugations must be memorized as they are highly irregular.
Basic Prepositions
Learn essential French prepositions for location, time, and direction. Master à (at/to), de (from/of), dans (in), sur (on), sous (under), avec (with), and others. Understand when prepositions combine with articles to form contractions like au, aux, du, des.