French Writing Blog
Grammar guides, writing tips and exam preparation for French learners — from complete beginners to advanced candidates preparing for TCF, TEF, DELF or DALF.
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Exam Preparation10 French Transition Words That Will Boost Your TCF Writing Score
The right French connectors link your ideas, signal your level to the examiner, and help you hit your word count naturally. Here are the ten most useful transition words for TCF Tasks 2 and 3.
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VocabularyThe Most Common French Nouns Every B1 Learner Should Know (With Gender)
The most frequently used French nouns for B1–B2 learners, grouped by topic — people, time, place, work, and abstract concepts — each with the correct article and gender.
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French GrammarHow to Conjugate Être and Avoir (And Why Every French Tense Depends on Them)
Être and avoir are the two most important French verbs. They form every compound tense in the language and appear in dozens of fixed expressions. Here is everything you need to know.
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Exam PreparationTCF Canada Writing Tasks: Exact Word Counts for Tasks 1, 2, and 3
The TCF Canada Expression Écrite requires you to complete three tasks in 60 minutes, each with a strict minimum word count. Learn the exact minimums for Tasks 1, 2, and 3 and how to hit them every time.
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VocabularyIs It Le or La? 25 French Nouns That Always Catch Learners Out
25 French nouns whose gender contradicts the suffix rules or looks completely unexpected — grouped by the type of confusion they cause, with the correct article for each.
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Writing TipsHow to Look Up French Verb Conjugations Online: A Practical Guide
Looking up a French verb conjugation should take seconds. Here is how to get the most out of every lookup — which tenses to prioritise, what to notice, and how to turn each search into lasting memory.
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Writing TipsHow to Count Words in French: What Counts as a Word (And What Doesn't)
In French exams, the word-count minimum is strict. Learn exactly what examiners count — contractions, hyphens, formulas — and how to estimate your total accurately in real time.
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Writing TipsHow to Practise French Writing Online Without a Teacher or Subscription
You do not need a teacher or subscription to improve your French writing. A consistent daily method, the right reference tools, and accurate word-count feedback are all you need.
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Writing TipsFrench Accent Marks: Complete Guide to É, È, Ê, À, Ç, Œ, and Ù
French has four accent marks and one ligature, each with a specific job. Some change pronunciation, some change meaning, and some are historical. Here is what each one does.