Learning to speak French perfectly well is obviously a serious challenge. The language has many traps ready for foreigners to fall into. That’s why I’ve put together a list of some very common mistakes I’ve heard French learners make. Why don’t we get rid of those right now?!
1. C’EST instead of IL EST (or vice versa)
Translating a little phrase like “it is” into French may seem simple to start with, but careful here! There are two possible expressions you may use: “C’est” and “Il est”. The trick is knowing when to use which!
2. DES instead of DE or D’
Exception: When you use the verb “Etre”, this rule does not apply! – Ce sont des poires becomes Ce ne sont pas des poires.
3. DE L’EAU instead of D’EAU
Articles can definitely be a pain in the butt! No doubt! When talking about plain water, watch out, for you may drown! So let’s clarify the various phrases you’re most likely to use.
Je veux de l’eau: simple affirmative sentence. But you’ll say: Je ne veux pas d’eau.
And finally, if you specify the quantity of water you’d like, you’ll say:
Je veux un verre d’eau / une bouteille d’eau.
4. DE LE instead of DU
This is another very common mistake French learners make. Let’s clarify that once and for all: DE + LE does not exist!!! Whenever you’re tempted to use that, switch it to DU instead, as in: La femme du boulanger est rigolote.
5. À LE instead of AU
Same as above. The preposition AU will be followed by a masculine noun and is none other than the contraction of À + LE.
On va au restaurant?
6. POUR instead of PENDANT
When you start learning French you learn that POUR means FOR. But whenever you refer to a period of time, this simple rule no longer works. PENDANT is the word you need then. J’étais en France pendant trois semaines.
Exception: You should use “POUR” to refer to a time frame, in a future context only. Je pars pour trois semaines.
7. C’EST LA MÊME instead of C’EST LA MÊME CHOSE
The tendency here is to translate “It’s the same” literally. If you only say “C’EST LA MÊME” in French, you’re translating “It’s the same one” – with “la” replacing a feminine object/person previously mentioned. The correct way of translating “It’s the same” is actually “C’EST LA MÊME CHOSE“.
Bon français!
Soso