Module Four

Feature	Details
Duration	16 weeks (4 months)
Modules	8
CEFR Level	C1–C2 (Advanced to Mastery)
Weekly Study	Approximately 5 hours
Prerequisites	Completion of Intermediate French (B1–B2)
Primary Focus	Written expression, style, and precision
Assessment	8 module tasks, a portfolio, and a final thesis paper

Skill	Required Level
Grammar	All tenses except literary tenses
Vocabulary	Around 2,500 words
Writing	Can write 200-word essays
Reading	Can read simple novels and news articles
Listening	Can follow French films with subtitles

#	Outcome	Assessed In
1	Use all French tenses, including literary ones, with accuracy	Modules 1, 2, 8
2	Write complex, well-structured essays on abstract topics	Modules 3, 5, 7
3	Understand and use idiomatic and cultural expressions	Modules 4, 6
4	Adapt style and register for any audience	Modules 5, 6, 7
5	Read and analyse French literature	Module 2, 8
6	Write professional documents with confidence	Module 7
7	Argue a position with nuance, concession, and counter-argument	Modules 3, 8
8	Self-edit and refine your own writing like a professional writer	All modules

Descriptor	How This Course Develops It
Write clear, well-structured texts on complex subjects	Modules 3, 5, 7, 8 build advanced essay skills
Express yourself with precision and nuance	Modules 4, 5 focus on idioms, style, and register
Understand a wide range of demanding, longer texts	Module 6 covers literary analysis and reading
Use language flexibly for social, academic, and professional purposes	Module 7 focuses on professional writing
Produce clear, detailed, and well-structured text with controlled use of organisational patterns	Module 8 integrates everything into a thesis paper
Understand implicit meaning, humour, and cultural references	Module 4 covers idioms, expressions, and cultural nuance

Day	Activity	Time
Monday	New grammar or concept lesson	60 min
Tuesday	Reading and vocabulary expansion	60 min
Wednesday	Extended writing task (draft)	60 min
Thursday	Stylistic analysis or literary reading	60 min
Friday	Self-editing and peer feedback	45 min
Weekend	Free writing or personal project work	Flexible

Component	Weight	Description
Module writing tasks	30%	Eight graded pieces, one per module
Literary commentary	10%	A written analysis of a French literary passage
Professional document	10%	A CV, motivation letter, or report
Portfolio	10%	Revised versions of your best three pieces from the course
Peer review participation	10%	Feedback on two classmates' work per module
Final Thesis Paper	30%	A 600–800 word thesis on a complex topic

Type	Title	Purpose
Required	Grammaire Progressive du Français — niveau avancé	Advanced grammar reference
Required	Expression écrite — Niveau 4 (Cle International)	Advanced writing practice
Required	One French novel (chosen by the learner)	Literary reading practice
Recommended	Le Bon Usage (Grevisse) — or a simplified grammar reference	Advanced grammar depth
Recommended	A French newspaper (Le Monde, Le Figaro, Libération)	Contemporary written French
Recommended	A bilingual dictionary (Larousse, Le Robert)	Precise vocabulary lookup
Optional	A book of French idioms and expressions	Module 4 support

Path	Focus
DALF C1 exam	Advanced written and oral exam for university admission
DALF C2 exam	Mastery-level exam for native-like fluency
University study in French	Academic writing, research, and thesis work
Professional French careers	Translation, diplomacy, journalism, teaching
Literary or creative writing	Writing stories, essays, or poetry in French

4. Main Lessons

Lesson 1: Understanding Time Layers

Definition

A time layer is a level of time within a story. When you tell a story in the past, you can also talk about something that happened before that past. This is called a "layer" of time.

Why It Is Important

At the beginner and intermediate levels, you only needed one layer of time. At the expert level, you need several. Real stories often involve events that happened at different times.

Simple Explanation

Think of a cake with many layers. The bottom layer is the earliest time. The middle layer is the next time. The top layer is the most recent time. In French, each layer uses a different tense.

The Three Main Time Layers

Layer	Meaning	Tense Used
Layer 1	The past (events that are finished)	Passé composé / Imparfait
Layer 2	Before the past (events that happened earlier)	Plus-que-parfait
Layer 3	The future before another future event	Futur antérieur

Real-life Example

"When I arrived at the party, my friend had already left." The leaving happened before the arriving. Two time layers.

School Example

"When the teacher entered, the students had finished their work." The finishing happened before the entering.

Home Example

"By the time we arrived, mum had cooked dinner." Cooking happened before arriving.

Nigerian Example

"When we reached Lagos, the ceremony had already started." Starting happened before reaching.

Illustration

TIME LAYERS — A VISUAL
======================

   PAST-BEFORE-PAST        PAST               NOW
   (plus-que-parfait)      (passé composé)    (present)

        |                    |                  |
        V                    V                  V

   "She HAD LEFT."  -->  "I ARRIVED."  -->  (I am here now)

   In order:

   Layer 2 (earlier)  ---->  Layer 1 (later)  ---->  Now

   The cake has many layers.
   So does time in a story.

Mini Summary

Time layers describe events that happen before or after other events. The past tense describes the main past. The plus-que-parfait describes the past before that past. The futur antérieur describes events in the future that come before other future events.

Lesson 2: The Plus-Que-Parfait

Definition

The plus-que-parfait is the "past before the past." It describes something that had already happened before another event in the past.

Why It Is Important

In storytelling, you often need to mention earlier events. The plus-que-parfait lets you do this smoothly.

Simple Explanation

Think of a football match. You are watching the second half. But you want to talk about the goal that was scored in the first half. That is the plus-que-parfait: it refers to something that happened earlier in the past.

How It Is Formed

The plus-que-parfait is formed using avoir or être in the imparfait, plus the past participle.

Part	What It Is	Example with manger
Auxiliary (imparfait)	avais, avais, avait, avions, aviez, avaient	j'avais
Past participle	mangé, fini, vendu, etc.	mangé
Full form	—	j'avais mangé

Examples with Avoir

Subject	Form	Meaning
j'	avais mangé	I had eaten
tu	avais mangé	you had eaten
il / elle	avait mangé	he / she had eaten
nous	avions mangé	we had eaten
vous	aviez mangé	you had eaten
ils / elles	avaient mangé	they had eaten

Examples with Être

Subject	Form	Meaning
j'	étais allé(e)	I had gone
tu	étais allé(e)	you had gone
il / elle	était allé(e)	he / she had gone
nous	étions allé(e)s	we had gone
vous	étiez allé(e)(s)	you had gone
ils / elles	étaient allé(e)s	they had gone

Agreement rule: Just like in the passé composé, past participles agree with the subject when using être. They do not agree when using avoir.

Real-life Example

Quand je suis arrivé à la gare, le train était déjà parti. → "When I arrived at the station, the train had already left."

School Example

Quand le professeur est entré, les élèves avaient fini leurs devoirs. → "When the teacher entered, the students had finished their homework."

Home Example

Quand je suis rentré, ma mère avait préparé le dîner. → "When I came home, my mother had prepared dinner."

Nigerian Example

Quand nous sommes arrivés à Abuja, la fête avait déjà commencé. → "When we arrived in Abuja, the party had already started."

Illustration

THE PLUS-QUE-PARFAIT — A VISUAL
===============================

   FORMULA:
   auxiliary (imparfait)  +  past participle

   With avoir:
   j'avais + mangé       = j'avais mangé
   il avait + fini       = il avait fini
   nous avions + vu      = nous avions vu

   With être:
   j'étais + allé(e)     = j'étais allé(e)
   elle était + venue    = elle était venue
   ils étaient + partis  = ils étaient partis

   Timeline:

   PLUS-QUE-PARFAIT        PASSÉ COMPOSÉ
   (earlier past)          (later past)

        |                       |
        V                       V

   "J'avais mangé"  -->   "Je suis sorti."

   I had eaten  -->  I went out.

Mini Summary

The plus-que-parfait describes the past before the past. It is formed with avoir or être in the imparfait, plus a past participle. It answers the question "What had already happened?"

Lesson 3: The Futur Antérieur

Definition

The futur antérieur is the "future before the future." It describes something that will have happened before another future event.

Why It Is Important

At the expert level, you often need to describe plans that depend on earlier future events. The futur antérieur lets you say things like "By next year, I will have finished."

Simple Explanation

Imagine you are planning a trip. You will arrive at the airport. But before that, you will have packed your bags. That earlier action — the packing — is the futur antérieur.

How It Is Formed

The futur antérieur uses avoir or être in the futur simple, plus the past participle.

Subject	Auxiliary in Future	Past Participle	Full Form
j'	aurai	mangé	j'aurai mangé
tu	auras	mangé	tu auras mangé
il / elle	aura	mangé	il aura mangé
nous	aurons	mangé	nous aurons mangé
vous	aurez	mangé	vous aurez mangé
ils / elles	auront	mangé	ils auront mangé

With Être

Subject	Auxiliary in Future	Example	Meaning
je	serai	je serai allé(e)	I will have gone
tu	seras	tu seras allé(e)	you will have gone
il / elle	sera	il sera allé	he will have gone
nous	serons	nous serons allé(e)s	we will have gone
vous	serez	vous serez allé(e)(s)	you will have gone
ils / elles	seront	ils seront allés	they will have gone

Common Time Markers

French	English
d'ici…	by…
avant…	before…
quand…	when…
dès que…	as soon as…
une fois que…	once…
l'année prochaine	next year

Real-life Example

D'ici la fin de l'année, j'aurai fini mes études. → "By the end of the year, I will have finished my studies."

School Example

Quand tu arriveras, j'aurai déjà commencé l'examen. → "When you arrive, I will have already started the exam."

Home Example

Quand ma mère rentrera, j'aurai préparé le dîner. → "When my mother comes home, I will have prepared dinner."

Nigerian Example

D'ici 2030, notre pays aura construit beaucoup de nouvelles écoles. → "By 2030, our country will have built many new schools."

Illustration

THE FUTUR ANTÉRIEUR — A VISUAL
==============================

   FORMULA:
   auxiliary (futur simple) + past participle

   With avoir:
   j'aurai + mangé       = j'aurai mangé
   il aura + fini        = il aura fini

   With être:
   je serai + allé(e)    = je serai allé(e)
   elle sera + venue     = elle sera venue

   Timeline:

   NOW            FUTUR ANTÉRIEUR        FUTUR SIMPLE
                  (earlier future)       (later future)

    |                    |                      |
    V                    V                      V

    "Je vais    -->   "J'aurai mangé"  -->  "Je sortirai"
     manger"           (I will have          (I will go
                        eaten)                out)

   The earlier future event uses the futur antérieur.
   The later future event uses the futur simple.

Mini Summary

The futur antérieur describes the future before the future. It is formed with avoir or être in the futur simple, plus a past participle. Use it with time markers like d'ici and quand.

Lesson 4: The Conditionnel Passé

Definition

The conditionnel passé means "would have." It describes things that did not happen but could have happened.

Why It Is Important

The conditionnel passé is used for regrets, missed opportunities, and imaginary past situations. It is one of the most expressive tenses in French.

Simple Explanation

Think of a missed bus. You did not catch it. But you could have caught it if you had run faster. That "could have caught" is the conditionnel passé.

How It Is Formed

The conditionnel passé uses avoir or être in the conditional present, plus the past participle.

Subject	Auxiliary in Conditional	Example	Meaning
j'	aurais	j'aurais mangé	I would have eaten
tu	aurais	tu aurais mangé	you would have eaten
il / elle	aurait	il aurait mangé	he would have eaten
nous	aurions	nous aurions mangé	we would have eaten
vous	auriez	vous auriez mangé	you would have eaten
ils / elles	auraient	ils auraient mangé	they would have eaten

With Être

Subject	Auxiliary	Example	Meaning
je	serais	je serais allé(e)	I would have gone
tu	serais	tu serais allé(e)	you would have gone
il / elle	serait	il serait allé	he would have gone
nous	serions	nous serions allé(e)s	we would have gone
vous	seriez	vous seriez allé(e)(s)	you would have gone
ils / elles	seraient	ils seraient allés	they would have gone

Common Uses

Use	Example	Meaning
Regret	J'aurais dû étudier.	I should have studied.
Missed opportunity	Nous aurions pu partir plus tôt.	We could have left earlier.
Imaginary past	Il aurait été content.	He would have been happy.
Speculation about the past	Elle serait partie hier.	She supposedly left yesterday.

Real-life Example

Si j'avais su, j'aurais agi différemment. → "If I had known, I would have acted differently."

School Example

J'aurais pu avoir une meilleure note. → "I could have had a better grade."

Home Example

Nous aurions dû partir plus tôt. → "We should have left earlier."

Nigerian Example

Si nous avions quitté Lagos plus tôt, nous aurions évité le trafic. → "If we had left Lagos earlier, we would have avoided the traffic."

Illustration

THE CONDITIONNEL PASSÉ — A VISUAL
=================================

   FORMULA:
   auxiliary (conditional present) + past participle

   With avoir:
   j'aurais + mangé      = j'aurais mangé
   il aurait + fini      = il aurait fini

   With être:
   je serais + allé(e)   = je serais allé(e)
   elle serait + venue   = elle serait venue

   Compare three sentences:

   FUTURE:      "Je mangerai."       (I will eat.)
   CONDITIONAL: "Je mangerais."      (I would eat.)
   COND. PAST:  "J'aurais mangé."    (I would have eaten.)

   The conditionnel passé expresses regrets and unreal pasts.

Mini Summary

The conditionnel passé means "would have." It is used for regrets, missed opportunities, and imaginary past situations. It uses avoir or être in the conditional present, plus a past participle.

Lesson 5: The Subjonctif Passé

Definition

The subjonctif passé is the past form of the subjunctive. It is used after expressions of emotion, doubt, and necessity when the action has already happened.

Why It Is Important

At the expert level, you will need to express feelings about past events. The subjonctif passé lets you do this precisely.

Simple Explanation

Remember the subjunctive? It appears after expressions like il faut que and je suis content que. When the action in the subjunctive clause has already happened, you use the subjonctif passé instead.

How It Is Formed

The subjonctif passé uses avoir or être in the subjunctive present, plus the past participle.

Subject	Auxiliary	Example with avoir	Example with être
que je	aie / sois	que j'aie mangé	que je sois allé(e)
que tu	aies / sois	que tu aies mangé	que tu sois allé(e)
qu'il / elle	ait / soit	qu'il ait mangé	qu'elle soit allée
que nous	ayons / soyons	que nous ayons mangé	que nous soyons allé(e)s
que vous	ayez / soyez	que vous ayez mangé	que vous soyez allé(e)(s)
qu'ils / elles	aient / soient	qu'ils aient mangé	qu'elles soient allées

Common Triggers

Expression	Example	Meaning
Je suis content(e) que…	Je suis content que tu sois venu.	I am happy that you came.
Je suis désolé(e) que…	Je suis désolé que tu n'aies pas pu venir.	I am sorry that you could not come.
Il est dommage que…	Il est dommage qu'il soit parti.	It is a pity that he left.
Je doute que…	Je doute qu'elle ait fini.	I doubt that she finished.
Il faut que…	Il faut que tu aies fini avant midi.	You must have finished before noon.

Real-life Example

Je suis content que tu sois venu à la fête. → "I am happy that you came to the party."

School Example

Le professeur est content que nous ayons fini nos devoirs. → "The teacher is happy that we finished our homework."

Home Example

Je suis désolé que tu aies dû attendre. → "I am sorry that you had to wait."

Nigerian Example

Je suis fier que mon frère soit devenu médecin. → "I am proud that my brother became a doctor."

Illustration

SUBJONCTIF PRÉSENT vs. SUBJONCTIF PASSÉ
=======================================

   SUBJONCTIF PRÉSENT (action happens now or in future):
   "Je suis content que tu VIENNES."
                   ^^^^^^^
                    present action

   SUBJONCTIF PASSÉ (action already happened):
   "Je suis content que tu SOIS VENU."
                   ^^^^^^^^^^^
                    past action

   FORMULA:
   subjunctive auxiliary + past participle

   With avoir:      que j'aie mangé
   With être:       que je sois allé(e)

Mini Summary

The subjonctif passé is the past form of the subjunctive. It uses avoir or être in the subjunctive present, plus a past participle. It appears after emotions, doubts, and necessities that refer to past events.

Lesson 6: Comparing the Four Advanced Tenses

Definition

This lesson puts all four advanced tenses together so you can see the differences clearly.

Why It Is Important

Each tense has a specific use. Mixing them up leads to unclear writing. Knowing the difference makes you a precise writer.

Simple Explanation

Think of four different tools. A hammer, a screwdriver, a saw, and a drill. Each one is for a different job. The four advanced tenses are the same — each one has its own special use.

The Four Tenses Compared

Tense	Meaning	Use	Example
Plus-que-parfait	had done	Past before past	J'avais mangé.
Futur antérieur	will have done	Future before future	J'aurai mangé.
Conditionnel passé	would have done	Imagined past, regret	J'aurais mangé.
Subjonctif passé	that I had done	Emotion about past	Que j'aie mangé.

The Pattern

THE FOUR ADVANCED TENSES — ONE PATTERN
======================================

   All four follow the SAME pattern:

   AUXILIARY in a specific tense + PAST PARTICIPLE

   Plus-que-parfait:   auxiliary in IMPARFAIT + participle
   Futur antérieur:    auxiliary in FUTUR SIMPLE + participle
   Conditionnel passé: auxiliary in CONDITIONAL + participle
   Subjonctif passé:   auxiliary in SUBJONCTIF + participle

   Once you know the pattern, you know all four.

Real-life Example

Consider one verb — manger:

J'avais mangé. — I had eaten. (before another past event)
J'aurai mangé. — I will have eaten. (before another future event)
J'aurais mangé. — I would have eaten. (but I did not)
Que j'aie mangé. — That I had eaten. (after an emotion)

School Example

The teacher might ask: "Rewrite this sentence in the four advanced tenses." You can do it because you know the pattern.

Home Example

In a letter to a relative, you might use two or three of these tenses to talk about your year.

Nigerian Example

Si j'avais su que la fête serait si belle, j'aurais invité plus d'amis. → "If I had known the party would be so beautiful, I would have invited more friends."

Illustration

FOUR TENSES — ONE PICTURE
=========================

                          PAST PARTICIPLE
                                |
                                |
   IMPARFAIT + participle  --> Plus-que-parfait
   FUTUR + participle      --> Futur antérieur
   CONDITIONNEL + participle --> Conditionnel passé
   SUBJONCTIF + participle --> Subjonctif passé

   The auxiliary changes. The participle stays.
   Learn the four auxiliaries, learn the four tenses.

Mini Summary

All four advanced tenses follow the same pattern: an auxiliary in a specific tense plus a past participle. The auxiliary changes; the participle stays the same. Learn the four auxiliaries and you know all four tenses.

Lesson 7: Tense Harmony (Concordance des Temps)

Definition

Tense harmony means keeping tenses consistent when you tell a story or describe a situation. It is the art of matching tenses so your writing flows smoothly.

Why It Is Important

Without tense harmony, your writing sounds choppy and unclear. With it, your writing sounds professional and natural.

Simple Explanation

Think of a musician. She does not suddenly change key in the middle of a song. In the same way, a writer does not suddenly change tense in the middle of a story. The tenses should match.

The Main Rules

Main Clause	Subordinate Clause	Example
Present	Present or future	Je pense qu'il est là.
Past	Imperfect	Je pensais qu'il était là.
Past	Plus-que-parfait	Je pensais qu'il avait été là.
Future	Future	Je penserai qu'il sera là.
Conditional	Conditional	Je penserais qu'il serait là.

Real-life Example

Il a dit qu'il viendrait. → "He said that he would come." Notice the main verb is past and the subordinate verb is conditional.

School Example

Le professeur a expliqué que la leçon était difficile. → "The teacher explained that the lesson was difficult."

Home Example

Ma mère a dit qu'elle avait préparé le dîner. → "My mother said that she had prepared dinner."

Nigerian Example

Mon père m'a dit qu'il avait voyagé à Londres quand il était jeune. → "My father told me that he had travelled to London when he was young."

Illustration

TENSE HARMONY — A VISUAL
========================

   MAIN CLAUSE TENSE       SUBORDINATE TENSE
   -----------------       ------------------

   PRESENT       --------> Present / Future

   PAST          --------> Imperfect / Plus-que-parfait

   FUTURE        --------> Future

   CONDITIONAL   --------> Conditional

   Match tenses to keep your writing smooth.

   WRONG:  Je pensais qu'il EST là.
   RIGHT:  Je pensais qu'il ÉTAIT là.

Mini Summary

Tense harmony means keeping tenses consistent in a story. The main clause sets the tone, and the subordinate clause follows. Match them carefully.

Lesson 8: The Plus-Que-Parfait vs. Passé Composé

Definition

Both tenses describe the past. But the plus-que-parfait describes an earlier past, while the passé composé describes the main past action.

Why It Is Important

Mixing these two up is one of the most common advanced errors. Knowing the difference is a sign of mastery.

Simple Explanation

Think of two dominoes. The first one falls, then the second. The first one uses the plus-que-parfait. The second uses the passé composé.

The Comparison

Tense	Meaning	Timeline
Plus-que-parfait	had done	Earlier past
Passé composé	did / have done	Later past

Examples

French	English
Quand je suis arrivé, elle avait déjà mangé.	When I arrived, she had already eaten.
Quand le film a commencé, nous avions déjà acheté les billets.	When the film started, we had already bought the tickets.
Quand il a téléphoné, j'avais déjà quitté la maison.	When he called, I had already left the house.

Real-life Example

Quand je suis arrivé à la fête, mes amis étaient déjà partis. → "When I arrived at the party, my friends had already left."

School Example

Quand la cloche a sonné, les élèves avaient déjà rangé leurs livres. → "When the bell rang, the students had already put away their books."

Home Example

Quand je suis rentré, ma sœur avait déjà fait ses devoirs. → "When I came home, my sister had already done her homework."

Nigerian Example

Quand nous sommes arrivés au marché, les vendeurs avaient déjà fermé leurs boutiques. → "When we arrived at the market, the sellers had already closed their shops."

Illustration

PLUS-QUE-PARFAIT vs. PASSÉ COMPOSÉ
==================================

   TIMELINE:

   PLUS-QUE-PARFAIT       PASSÉ COMPOSÉ       NOW
   (earlier past)         (later past)

        |                      |               |
        V                      V               V

   "Elle avait mangé" --> "Je suis arrivé" --> (now)

   English:
   "She had eaten"    --> "I arrived"       --> (now)

   The earlier action = plus-que-parfait.
   The later action = passé composé.

Mini Summary

The plus-que-parfait describes the past before the past. The passé composé describes the main past action. Use them together to show the order of events.

Lesson 9: The Futur Antérieur in Real Life

Definition

The futur antérieur describes actions that will be finished before another future event.

Why It Is Important

At the expert level, you will often talk about plans and timelines. The futur antérieur is essential for this.

Simple Explanation

Think of a trip. You will arrive at the airport at 8 a.m. But before that, you will have packed your bags, checked in, and passed through security. All those earlier actions use the futur antérieur.

Examples

French	English
Quand tu arriveras, j'aurai fini le dîner.	When you arrive, I will have finished dinner.
D'ici demain, elle aura terminé son projet.	By tomorrow, she will have finished her project.
Nous aurons visité Paris avant de rentrer.	We will have visited Paris before returning home.
Quand le film commencera, j'aurai acheté les billets.	When the film starts, I will have bought the tickets.

Real-life Example

D'ici vendredi, j'aurai fini tout mon travail. → "By Friday, I will have finished all my work."

School Example

Quand l'examen commencera, nous aurons révisé toute la matière. → "When the exam starts, we will have revised all the material."

Home Example

Quand ma mère rentrera, j'aurai préparé le dîner. → "When my mother comes home, I will have prepared dinner."

Nigerian Example

D'ici 2035, notre pays aura construit de nouvelles routes et de nouveaux ponts. → "By 2035, our country will have built new roads and new bridges."

Illustration

FUTUR ANTÉRIEUR IN REAL LIFE
============================

   NOW      FUTUR ANTÉRIEUR        FUTUR SIMPLE
             (earlier future)       (later future)

    |              |                      |
    V              V                      V

   "Je vais  -> "J'aurai fini"     -> "Tu arriveras"
    étudier"     (I will have           (You will
                  finished)              arrive)

   Order of events:
   1. I will finish (futur antérieur)
   2. You will arrive (futur simple)

Mini Summary

The futur antérieur describes actions that will be finished before another future event. Use it with quand, d'ici, and avant de.

Lesson 10: The Conditionnel Passé for Regrets

Definition

The conditionnel passé is often used to express regret about something that did not happen.

Why It Is Important

Regrets are a part of human life. The conditionnel passé lets you express them with precision and elegance.

Simple Explanation

Think of a path you did not take. You could say: "I should have taken that path." That is a regret. In French, that is the conditionnel passé.

Common Expressions of Regret

French	English
J'aurais dû…	I should have…
J'aurais pu…	I could have…
J'aurais voulu…	I would have liked…
J'aurais aimé…	I would have loved…
Il aurait fallu…	It would have been necessary to…
Nous aurions dû…	We should have…

Examples

French	English
J'aurais dû étudier plus.	I should have studied more.
J'aurais aimé te voir.	I would have loved to see you.
Nous aurions dû partir plus tôt.	We should have left earlier.
Il aurait fallu réserver à l'avance.	It would have been necessary to book in advance.

Real-life Example

J'aurais dû écouter mes parents. → "I should have listened to my parents."

School Example

J'aurais dû commencer mes révisions plus tôt. → "I should have started my revision earlier."

Home Example

J'aurais dû aider ma mère dans la cuisine. → "I should have helped my mother in the kitchen."

Nigerian Example

J'aurais dû visiter mon grand-père plus souvent. → "I should have visited my grandfather more often."

Illustration

THE CONDITIONNEL PASSÉ FOR REGRETS
==================================

   Think of two paths:

        /------ Path A (the one you took)
       /
   YOU
       \
        \------ Path B (the one you did not take)

   "I should have taken Path B."
   "J'aurais dû prendre le chemin B."

   Common phrases:

   J'aurais dû…      I should have…
   J'aurais pu…      I could have…
   J'aurais aimé…    I would have loved…

Mini Summary

The conditionnel passé expresses regret about things that did not happen. Use J'aurais dû for "I should have," J'aurais pu for "I could have," and J'aurais aimé for "I would have loved."

Lesson 11: The Subjonctif Passé After Emotions

Definition

The subjonctif passé is used after expressions of emotion when the emotion is about something that already happened.

Why It Is Important

At the expert level, you need to express complex feelings about past events. The subjonctif passé lets you do this precisely.

Simple Explanation

Think of a conversation with a friend. You want to say: "I am happy that you came." In French, this uses the subjonctif passé: Je suis content que tu sois venu.

Common Emotion Triggers

Trigger	Meaning	Example
Je suis content(e) que…	I am happy that…	Je suis content que tu sois venu.
Je suis triste que…	I am sad that…	Je suis triste qu'il soit parti.
Je suis fier / fière que…	I am proud that…	Je suis fier que tu aies réussi.
Je suis surpris(e) que…	I am surprised that…	Je suis surpris qu'elle ait dit ça.
Je regrette que…	I regret that…	Je regrette que nous ayons manqué le train.

Examples

French	English
Je suis content que tu sois venu.	I am happy that you came.
Je suis triste qu'elle soit partie.	I am sad that she left.
Il est dommage que tu n'aies pas pu venir.	It is a pity that you could not come.
Je suis fier que mon frère ait réussi.	I am proud that my brother succeeded.

Real-life Example

Je suis content que tu aies reçu mon message. → "I am happy that you received my message."

School Example

Le professeur est content que nous ayons bien travaillé. → "The teacher is happy that we worked well."

Home Example

Ma mère est fière que j'aie réussi mon examen. → "My mother is proud that I passed my exam."

Nigerian Example

Nous sommes fiers que notre équipe ait gagné la compétition. → "We are proud that our team won the competition."

Illustration

SUBJONCTIF PASSÉ AFTER EMOTIONS
===============================

   EMOTION + que + SUBJONCTIF PASSÉ

   "Je suis content" + "que" + "tu sois venu"
                              ^^^^^^^^^^^
                              subjunctive past

   The emotion is about a PAST event.
   So the subjunctive must be in the PAST form.

   Compare:
   PRESENT:  "Je suis content que tu viennes."    (you come now)
   PAST:     "Je suis content que tu sois venu."  (you came)

Mini Summary

The subjonctif passé appears after expressions of emotion about past events. Use phrases like Je suis content que and Je suis fier que. The verb in the subjunctive uses the subjunctive auxiliary plus a past participle.

Lesson 12: Common Traps and How to Avoid Them

Definition

A trap is a mistake that many learners make. Knowing the traps helps you avoid them.

Why It Is Important

At the expert level, small errors can make a big difference. Knowing the traps helps you write with precision.

Trap 1: Using Avoir with Être Verbs in the Plus-Que-Parfait

Verbs like aller and venir use être in all compound tenses.

Wrong: J'avais allé.

Right: J'étais allé.

Trap 2: Forgetting Agreement with Être

Just like in the passé composé, the past participle agrees with the subject when using être.

Wrong: Elle était allé.

Right: Elle était allée.

Trap 3: Mixing Up the Futur Simple and Futur Antérieur

The futur simple is for later events. The futur antérieur is for earlier future events.

Wrong: Quand tu arriveras, j'aurai fini — no wait, that's right.

Correct pair: Quand tu arriveras (later), j'aurai fini (earlier).

Trap 4: Using the Conditional After Si

Never use the conditional right after si. Use the imperfect instead.

Wrong: Si j'aurais su…

Right: Si j'avais su…

Trap 5: Forgetting the Subjunctive After Emotion

Expressions of emotion trigger the subjunctive, not the indicative.

Wrong: Je suis content que tu es venu.

Right: Je suis content que tu sois venu.

Comparison Table

Wrong	Right	Why
J'avais allé.	J'étais allé.	Aller uses être
Elle était allé.	Elle était allée.	Agreement with être
Si j'aurais su…	Si j'avais su…	Never conditional after si
Je suis content que tu es venu.	Je suis content que tu sois venu.	Emotion triggers subjunctive
Quand tu arriveras, je finirai. (if earlier action is meant)	Quand tu arriveras, j'aurai fini.	Futur antérieur for earlier action

Mini Summary

The main traps are: using avoir with être verbs, forgetting agreement with être, mixing up the two future tenses, using the conditional after si, and forgetting the subjunctive after emotions. Learn these and your writing will improve.

Lesson 13: Putting It All Together — A Full Model Text

Definition

This lesson shows a complete text using all four advanced tenses.

Why It Is Important

Seeing a full example helps you understand how the pieces fit together.

The Text

Hier, je suis allé à la fête de mon ami Chidi. Quand je suis arrivé, la fête avait déjà commencé. Les invités avaient mangé et ils dansaient. Chidi m'a dit qu'il avait préparé la fête pendant trois semaines.

Je suis désolé que je sois arrivé si tard. J'aurais dû partir plus tôt de chez moi. Mais j'avais un travail urgent à finir.

Chidi m'a souri. "Ce n'est pas grave," a-t-il dit. "D'ici la fin de la soirée, tu auras rencontré tous mes amis." Et il avait raison. J'ai passé une excellente soirée.

English: "Yesterday, I went to my friend Chidi's party. When I arrived, the party had already started. The guests had eaten and they were dancing. Chidi told me that he had prepared the party for three weeks.

I am sorry that I arrived so late. I should have left home earlier. But I had urgent work to finish.

Chidi smiled at me. 'It's okay,' he said. 'By the end of the evening, you will have met all my friends.' And he was right. I had a wonderful evening."

Breaking It Down

Sentence	Tense Used
je suis allé	Passé composé
la fête avait déjà commencé	Plus-que-parfait
Les invités avaient mangé	Plus-que-parfait
il avait préparé	Plus-que-parfait
Je suis désolé que je sois arrivé	Subjonctif passé
J'aurais dû partir	Conditionnel passé
tu auras rencontré	Futur antérieur

Mini Summary

A full text uses all four advanced tenses: plus-que-parfait, futur antérieur, conditionnel passé, and subjonctif passé. When you can write a text like this, you have mastered the module.

Lesson 14: Writing About Regret and Missed Opportunity

Definition

Writing about regret means describing things you wish had happened differently. It uses the conditionnel passé.

Why It Is Important

Regret is a universal human feeling. At the expert level, you should be able to express it with precision and nuance.

Simple Explanation

Think of a film where the hero says: "If I had known, I would have done things differently." That is regret. In French, it uses the conditionnel passé.

The Formula

EXPRESSING REGRET
=================

   Si + plus-que-parfait     ,     conditionnel passé

   "Si j'avais su"           ,     "j'aurais agi autrement."
   (If I had known)                (I would have acted differently)

   The si clause uses the plus-que-parfait.
   The main clause uses the conditionnel passé.

Common Regret Phrases

French	English
J'aurais dû…	I should have…
J'aurais pu…	I could have…
J'aurais aimé…	I would have liked…
Si j'avais su…	If I had known…
Si seulement…	If only…
Je regrette de ne pas avoir…	I regret not having…

Real-life Example

J'aurais dû étudier plus sérieusement. Si j'avais travaillé plus dur, j'aurais eu une meilleure note. → "I should have studied more seriously. If I had worked harder, I would have had a better grade."

School Example

J'aurais aimé participer au club de débat, mais je n'avais pas le temps. → "I would have liked to join the debate club, but I did not have time."

Home Example

J'aurais dû aider ma mère plus souvent. → "I should have helped my mother more often."

Nigerian Example

Si nous avions quitté Lagos plus tôt, nous aurions évité le trafic. → "If we had left Lagos earlier, we would have avoided the traffic."

Illustration

REGRET — A VISUAL
=================

   PAST EVENT              MISSED OPPORTUNITY
   ----------              ------------------

   "I did not study."  --->  "I could have studied."

   In French:

   "Je n'ai pas étudié."  --->  "J'aurais pu étudier."

   Or:

   "Si j'avais étudié,"  --->  "j'aurais réussi."
   (If I had studied,)         (I would have succeeded.)

   The conditionnel passé expresses the "could have."

Mini Summary

Writing about regret uses the conditionnel passé. Use J'aurais dû, J'aurais pu, or J'aurais aimé. For imaginary pasts, use Si + plus-que-parfait + conditionnel passé.

Lesson 15: Final Review — The Four Advanced Tenses at a Glance

Definition

This lesson gathers everything you learned into one clear page.

Why It Is Important

Having one page with all four tenses helps you review quickly and use them in your writing.

The Master Table

Tense	Formula	Use	Example
Plus-que-parfait	Avoir/Être in imparfait + participle	Past before past	J'avais mangé.
Futur antérieur	Avoir/Être in futur simple + participle	Future before future	J'aurai mangé.
Conditionnel passé	Avoir/Être in conditional + participle	Regret, imaginary past	J'aurais mangé.
Subjonctif passé	Avoir/Être in subjunctive + participle	Emotion about past	Que j'aie mangé.

The Four Auxiliaries

Tense	Avoir Auxiliary	Être Auxiliary
Plus-que-parfait	avais, avais, avait…	étais, étais, était…
Futur antérieur	aurai, auras, aura…	serai, seras, sera…
Conditionnel passé	aurais, aurais, aurait…	serais, serais, serait…
Subjonctif passé	aie, aies, ait…	sois, sois, soit…

The Decision Flowchart

CHOOSING THE RIGHT TENSE
========================

   Do you want to express…

        +--- An earlier event in the past?
        |        |
        |        V
        |      PLUS-QUE-PARFAIT
        |      "J'avais mangé."
        |
        +--- An earlier event in the future?
        |        |
        |        V
        |      FUTUR ANTÉRIEUR
        |      "J'aurai mangé."
        |
        +--- A regret or missed opportunity?
        |        |
        |        V
        |      CONDITIONNEL PASSÉ
        |      "J'aurais mangé."
        |
        +--- An emotion about a past event?
                 |
                 V
               SUBJONCTIF PASSÉ
               "Que j'aie mangé."

   Match the tense to the meaning.

Mini Summary

You now know the four advanced tenses. Each one uses an auxiliary in a specific tense plus a past participle. Use the decision flowchart to choose the right one.

French	English	Simple Definition
le plus-que-parfait	the past before the past	The tense for earlier past events
le futur antérieur	the future before the future	The tense for earlier future events
le conditionnel passé	the past conditional	The tense for "would have"
le subjonctif passé	the past subjunctive	The past form of the subjunctive
la concordance des temps	tense harmony	Matching tenses in sentences
un auxiliaire	an auxiliary	A helping verb
un participe passé	a past participle	The verb's past form
un regret	a regret	Something you wish had been different
une occasion manquée	a missed opportunity	Something you did not do
l'imparfait	the imperfect	The tense for ongoing past actions
le subjonctif	the subjunctive	The tense for emotions and doubt
d'ici	by	Used with the futur antérieur
avant de	before	Used with the futur antérieur
déjà	already	Used with the plus-que-parfait
si seulement	if only	Expresses strong regret
J'aurais dû	I should have	Expresses regret
J'aurais pu	I could have	Expresses missed opportunity
J'aurais aimé	I would have liked	Expresses a wish about the past
quand	when	Time marker for tense harmony
une fois que	once	Introduces a future condition

French	English
1. J'avais mangé.	A. I would have eaten.
2. J'aurai mangé.	B. I had eaten.
3. J'aurais mangé.	C. That I had eaten.
4. Que j'aie mangé.	D. I will have eaten.
5. Je suis content que tu sois venu.	E. I am happy that you came.

Tense	Auxiliary Form
1. Plus-que-parfait	A. aurai
2. Futur antérieur	B. aie
3. Conditionnel passé	C. avais
4. Subjonctif passé	D. aurais

French	English	Simple Definition
Bonjour	Hello / Good day	Greeting used during the day.
Bonsoir	Good evening	Greeting used after about 6 PM.
Comment ça va?	How are you?	Asking about someone’s well-being.
Ça va bien	I’m fine	Answer meaning “I am well.”
Ça va mal	I’m not well	Answer meaning “I am not well.”
Comme ci, comme ça	So-so	Answer meaning “not good, not bad.”
Comment tu t’appelles?	What’s your name?	Informal question for name.
Je m’appelle…	My name is…	Telling your name.
Enchanté(e)	Nice to meet you	Polite phrase when meeting someone.
Au revoir	Goodbye	Saying farewell.
S’il vous plaît	Please (formal)	Polite request.
Merci	Thank you	Showing gratitude.
De rien	You’re welcome	Reply to “merci.”
Je te présente…	I introduce to you…	Introducing someone.

English	Informal (tu)	Formal (vous)
What’s your name?	Comment tu t’appelles?	Comment vous vous appelez?
How are you?	Comment ça va?	Comment allez-vous?

Tense	Formula	Example	Meaning
Plus-que-parfait	Avoir/Être in imparfait + pp	J'avais mangé.	I had eaten.
Futur antérieur	Avoir/Être in futur simple + pp	J'aurai mangé.	I will have eaten.
Conditionnel passé	Avoir/Être in conditional + pp	J'aurais mangé.	I would have eaten.
Subjonctif passé	Avoir/Être in subjunctive + pp	Que j'aie mangé.	That I had eaten.

Tense	Avoir (je)	Être (je)
Plus-que-parfait	j'avais	j'étais
Futur antérieur	j'aurai	je serai
Conditionnel passé	j'aurais	je serais
Subjonctif passé	que j'aie	que je sois

Meaning	Tense	Example
I ate	Passé composé	J'ai mangé.
I had eaten	Plus-que-parfait	J'avais mangé.
I will eat	Futur simple	Je mangerai.
I will have eaten	Futur antérieur	J'aurai mangé.
I would eat	Conditionnel présent	Je mangerais.
I would have eaten	Conditionnel passé	J'aurais mangé.

French	English
1. Bonjour	A. Goodbye
2. Au revoir	B. My name is…
3. Je m’appelle…	C. Hello
4. Merci	D. How are you?
5. Comment ça va?	E. Thank you

Number	French	Pronunciation (approximate)
0	zéro	zay-roh
1	un	uhn
2	deux	duh
3	trois	trwah
4	quatre	katr
5	cinq	sank
6	six	sees
7	sept	set
8	huit	weet
9	neuf	nuhf
10	dix	dees

Number	French	Pronunciation
11	onze	onz
12	douze	dooz
13	treize	trez
14	quatorze	ka-torz
15	quinze	kanz
16	seize	sez
17	dix-sept	dees-set
18	dix-huit	dees-weet
19	dix-neuf	dees-nuhf
20	vingt	van

Number	French
20	vingt
21	vingt et un
22	vingt-deux
30	trente
40	quarante
50	cinquante
60	soixante
70	soixante-dix
80	quatre-vingts
90	quatre-vingt-dix
100	cent

French	English	Gender
le père	father	masculine
la mère	mother	feminine
le frère	brother	masculine
la sœur	sister	feminine
le grand-père	grandfather	masculine
la grand-mère	grandmother	feminine
l’oncle	uncle	masculine
la tante	aunt	feminine
le cousin	cousin (boy)	masculine
la cousine	cousin (girl)	feminine

French	English	Simple Definition
un, deux, trois…	one, two, three…	Numbers for counting.
zéro	zero	The number 0.
dix	ten	The number 10.
vingt	twenty	The number 20.
cent	hundred	The number 100.
Quel âge as-tu?	How old are you?	Asking someone’s age.
J’ai … ans	I am … years old	Telling your age.
le père	father	Male parent.
la mère	mother	Female parent.
le frère	brother	Male sibling.
la sœur	sister	Female sibling.
le grand-père	grandfather	Father’s or mother’s father.
la grand-mère	grandmother	Father’s or mother’s mother.
l’oncle	uncle	Parent’s brother.
la tante	aunt	Parent’s sister.
le cousin / la cousine	cousin	Uncle’s or aunt’s child.
Combien de…?	How many…?	Asking about quantity.
Mon père s’appelle…	My father’s name is…	Introducing your father.
Ma mère s’appelle…	My mother’s name is…	Introducing your mother.

English	French	Literal meaning
I am 12 years old.	J’ai douze ans.	I have 12 years.
She is 10 years old.	Elle a dix ans.	She has 10 years.
He is 15 years old.	Il a quinze ans.	He has 15 years.

French	English
1. J’ai dix ans.	A. My mother’s name is…
2. Ma mère s’appelle…	B. How many brothers do you have?
3. Combien de frères as-tu?	C. I am ten years old.
4. Mon frère s’appelle…	D. My brother’s name is…
5. Quel âge as-tu?	E. How old are you?

English	French	Pronunciation (approximate)
Monday	lundi	luhn-dee
Tuesday	mardi	mar-dee
Wednesday	mercredi	mer-kruh-dee
Thursday	jeudi	zhuh-dee
Friday	vendredi	van-druh-dee
Saturday	samedi	sam-dee
Sunday	dimanche	dee-mansh

English	French	Pronunciation
January	janvier	zhahn-vee-ay
February	février	fay-vree-ay
March	mars	mars
April	avril	ah-vreel
May	mai	may
June	juin	zhwan
July	juillet	zhwee-yay
August	août	oot
September	septembre	sep-tahmbr
October	octobre	ok-tohbr
November	novembre	noh-vahmbr
December	décembre	day-sahmbr

English	French
1:00	Il est une heure.
2:00	Il est deux heures.
3:15	Il est trois heures et quart.
4:30	Il est quatre heures et demie.
5:45	Il est six heures moins le quart.
12:00 (noon)	Il est midi.
12:00 (midnight)	Il est minuit.

English	French
On Monday	le lundi
On Tuesday	le mardi
In January	en janvier
In May	en mai
In summer	en été

English	French	Months
Spring	le printemps	March, April, May
Summer	l’été	June, July, August
Autumn	l’automne	September, October, November
Winter	l’hiver	December, January, February

French	English	Simple Definition
lundi	Monday	First day of the work week.
mardi	Tuesday	Second day.
mercredi	Wednesday	Middle of the week.
jeudi	Thursday	Fourth day.
vendredi	Friday	Fifth day.
samedi	Saturday	Weekend day.
dimanche	Sunday	Day of rest.
janvier	January	First month.
février	February	Second month.
mars	March	Third month.
avril	April	Fourth month.
mai	May	Fifth month.
juin	June	Sixth month.
juillet	July	Seventh month.
août	August	Eighth month.
septembre	September	Ninth month.
octobre	October	Tenth month.
novembre	November	Eleventh month.
décembre	December	Twelfth month.
Quel jour sommes-nous?	What day is it?	Asking the day.
Quelle heure est-il?	What time is it?	Asking the time.
Il est … heures.	It is … o’clock.	Telling time.
Mon anniversaire	My birthday	The day you were born.
le matin	morning	Before noon.
l’après-midi	afternoon	After noon, before evening.
le soir	evening	After afternoon.
la nuit	night	Dark part of the day.

English	French
Monday, June 5th	lundi cinq juin
Friday, December 25th	vendredi vingt-cinq décembre
Saturday, October 1st	samedi premier octobre

French	English
1. lundi	A. What time is it?
2. Quelle heure est-il?	B. Monday
3. Mon anniversaire	C. It is three o’clock.
4. Il est trois heures.	D. My birthday
5. en janvier	E. in January

French	English	Pronunciation
le pain	bread	luh pan
le fromage	cheese	luh froh-mazh
la pomme	apple	lah pom
la banane	banana	lah bah-nan
l’orange	orange	loh-ranzh
le poulet	chicken	luh poo-lay
le poisson	fish	luh pwah-son
le riz	rice	luh ree
les légumes	vegetables	lay lay-goom
le gâteau	cake	luh gah-toh
le chocolat	chocolate	luh shoh-koh-lah
la soupe	soup	lah soop

Course Outline

1. Course Introduction

2. Course at a Glance

Where This Course Sits

3. Who This Course Is For

Prerequisites in Detail

4. Course Learning Outcomes

5. Module Map

Grammar Focus

Vocabulary Topics

Writing Tasks

Grammar Focus

Vocabulary Topics

Writing Tasks

Grammar Focus

Vocabulary Topics

Writing Tasks

Grammar Focus

Vocabulary Topics

Writing Tasks

Grammar Focus

Vocabulary Topics

Writing Tasks

Grammar Focus

Vocabulary Topics

Writing Tasks

Grammar Focus

Vocabulary Topics

Writing Tasks

Grammar Focus

Vocabulary Topics

Writing Tasks

6. CEFR C1–C2 Alignment

7. Weekly Rhythm

8. Assessment Structure

9. Required and Recommended Materials

10. Course Policies

Correction Philosophy

Drafting Requirement

Peer Review

Reading Requirement

Academic Honesty

11. Where This Course Leads

12. Frequently Asked Questions (10 Questions)

Question 1: How long does the Expert course take?

Question 2: What level do I need before starting?

Question 3: Do I need to speak French fluently already?

Question 4: Will I learn the literary tenses?

Question 5: What is a thesis paper?

Question 6: How much reading is required?

Question 7: Is this course good for the DALF C1 exam?

Question 8: What is the biggest difference between this course and the Intermediate one?

Question 9: How much writing will I do?

Question 10: What comes after the Expert course?

13. Course Summary

Module One

1. Module Introduction

2. Learning Objectives

3. Warm-up Story

Amara's Missing Phone

4. Main Lessons

Lesson 1: Understanding Time Layers

Definition

Why It Is Important

Simple Explanation

The Three Main Time Layers

Real-life Example

School Example

Home Example

Nigerian Example

Illustration

Mini Summary

Lesson 2: The Plus-Que-Parfait

Definition

Why It Is Important

Simple Explanation

How It Is Formed

Examples with Avoir

Examples with Être

French	English	Pronunciation
l’eau	water	loh
le lait	milk	luh lay
le jus d’orange	orange juice	luh zhoo doh-ranzh
le jus de pomme	apple juice	luh zhoo duh pom
le thé	tea	luh tay
le café	coffee	luh kah-fay
le chocolat chaud	hot chocolate	luh shoh-koh-lah shoh
le soda	soda	luh soh-dah
le lait fraise	strawberry milk	luh lay frez

French	English
J’aime le chocolat.	I like chocolate.
Je n’aime pas le poisson.	I don’t like fish.
J’adore la pizza.	I love pizza.
Je déteste les oignons.	I hate onions.

French	English	Time
le petit-déjeuner	breakfast	morning
le déjeuner	lunch	midday
le goûter	afternoon snack	afternoon
le dîner	dinner	evening

French	English
une baguette	a baguette (long bread)
du beurre	butter
de la confiture	jam
un croissant	a croissant
du café au lait	coffee with milk
du chocolat chaud	hot chocolate

French	English
délicieux	delicious
bon	good
mauvais	bad
chaud	hot
froid	cold
sucré	sweet
salé	salty

French	English	Simple Definition
le pain	bread	A common food made from flour.
le fromage	cheese	Food made from milk.
la pomme	apple	A round fruit.
la banane	banana	A long yellow fruit.
le poulet	chicken	Meat from a chicken.
le poisson	fish	Animal that lives in water.
le riz	rice	Small white grains.
les légumes	vegetables	Plants we eat.
le gâteau	cake	A sweet food for celebrations.
l’eau	water	Clear liquid we drink.
le lait	milk	White drink from cows.
le jus d’orange	orange juice	Drink made from oranges.
le thé	tea	A hot drink.
le café	coffee	A hot drink.
le chocolat chaud	hot chocolate	A warm sweet drink.
J’aime	I like	Showing you enjoy something.
Je n’aime pas	I don’t like	Showing you don’t enjoy something.
Je voudrais	I would like	Polite way to ask.
C’est combien?	How much is it?	Asking the price.
L’addition	The bill	Paper showing what you owe.
le petit-déjeuner	breakfast	Morning meal.
le déjeuner	lunch	Midday meal.
le dîner	dinner	Evening meal.

English	French
I would like a coffee.	Je voudrais un café.
I like bread.	J’aime le pain.
I don’t like fish.	Je n’aime pas le poisson.
How much is it?	C’est combien?
The bill, please.	L’addition, s’il vous plaît.

French	English
1. le pain	A. water
2. l’eau	B. I would like
3. Je voudrais	C. bread
4. C’est combien?	D. The bill
5. L’addition	E. How much is it?

French	English	Pronunciation
la chemise	shirt	lah shuh-meez
le pantalon	trousers	luh pan-tah-lon
la robe	dress	lah rob
la jupe	skirt	lah zhoop
le manteau	coat	luh man-toh
le pull	sweater	luh pool
les chaussures	shoes	lay shoh-soor
les chaussettes	socks	lay shoh-set
le chapeau	hat	luh shah-poh
les lunettes	glasses	lay loo-net
le short	shorts	luh short
la cravate	tie	lah krah-vat

French	English	Pronunciation
rouge	red	roozh
bleu	blue	bluh
vert	green	vair
jaune	yellow	zhone
noir	black	nwahr
blanc	white	blahn
orange	orange	oh-ranzh
violet	purple	vee-oh-lay
rose	pink	rohz
marron	brown	mah-ron
gris	grey	gree