A practical guide to French grammar
French grammar can look like a long list of rules, but a handful of patterns do most of the work: articles and gender, pronouns, verb conjugation in the main tenses, and word order. Get those right and your French becomes clear, even when your vocabulary is still growing.
The sections on this page explain each topic with examples. This guide suggests an order to learn them in and shows where grammar makes the biggest difference in TEF Canada and TCF Canada.
A sensible order to learn French grammar
Start with articles and gender, because every noun needs them. Next, subject pronouns and the present tense of the most common verbs (être, avoir, aller, faire). Then adjectives and their agreement, and prepositions of place and time.
Once those feel natural, move on to the past (passé composé and imparfait), the future, and object pronouns. Sentence structures such as questions, negation and connecting ideas tie everything together.
The mistakes that matter most
Some errors make a sentence hard to understand; others are small slips. Prioritise the ones that change meaning: the wrong tense, a missing "ne… pas", or a pronoun that points to the wrong person.
Agreement errors ("une grand maison" instead of "une grande maison") rarely block understanding, but they add up in writing. Fix them when you reread, after you've got your ideas down.
- Je ne suis pas allé au travail hier.: I didn't go to work yesterday. (negation around the auxiliary)
- Quand j'étais petit, je jouais au hockey.: When I was little, I used to play hockey. (imparfait for habits)
- Je le lui ai donné.: I gave it to him/her. (object pronoun order)
Passé composé or imparfait?
This is the question learners ask most. Use the passé composé for completed actions and events in a story: "Hier, j'ai visité le musée." Use the imparfait for background, descriptions and habits: "Il faisait beau et il y avait beaucoup de monde."
A simple test: if you could say "used to" or "was …ing" in English, the imparfait is usually right. If the action happened once and moved the story forward, choose the passé composé.
Grammar in TEF Canada and TCF Canada
In writing tasks, grammar accuracy and the range of structures you use both count. A text with clear sentences, correct tenses and a few well-used connectors reads far better than one that tries complex structures and loses control.
In speaking, aim for correct, natural sentences rather than perfection. Fixing a mistake yourself ("je suis allé… pardon, je suis allée") is normal and shows control. Check the official exam sites for how each task is assessed.
French grammar: common questions
Which French tenses should I learn first?
The present, the passé composé and the near future ("je vais + infinitive"). Together they let you talk about what you do, what you did and what you're going to do. Add the imparfait and the simple future next.
How do I know if a noun is masculine or feminine?
Learn each noun with its article. Some endings help, such as "-tion" usually being feminine and "-ment" usually masculine, but there are exceptions, so the article is the safest guide.
Do I need to learn the subjunctive?
Eventually, yes: it follows common expressions like "il faut que" and "je veux que". Learn it after you're comfortable with the main indicative tenses, starting with those everyday triggers.
How much grammar do I need for the TEF Canada?
Enough to express your ideas clearly and accurately in everyday and work situations. Solid control of the main tenses, pronouns, agreement and connectors goes a long way.