Categories
Sentence pairs cover 43 error categories. Each one targets a specific mistake pattern that trips up learners at every level.
Choosing the wrong auxiliary verb in compound tenses — a classic trap for learners at every level.
Matching adjectives to the gender and number of the noun they modify, including irregular forms.
Using definite, indefinite, or partitive articles incorrectly — including gender-based article errors.
Translating English 'to be' literally when French requires a different construction entirely.
Placing adjectives before or after the noun — French word order doesn't follow English rules.
Incomplete or misplaced negation — missing ne, wrong placement of pas, jamais, rien, etc.
Choosing between c'est and il/elle est when introducing people, professions, or descriptions.
Misusing depuis, pendant, il y a, en, and other temporal constructions that differ from English.
Confusing the adjective bon with the adverb bien — a frequent error that changes meaning entirely.
Using très where beaucoup is required — très modifies adjectives and adverbs, not verbs.
Forming questions incorrectly — inversion, est-ce que, and intonation-only questions each have rules.
Forgetting that quantity expressions (beaucoup, trop, assez, peu) require de before the noun.
Choosing the wrong preposition with verbs and nouns — especially where English uses 'to' or 'of'.
Omitting the required de in expressions, infinitive constructions, or noun phrases.
Failing to contract à + le → au, de + le → du, or à + les → aux, de + les → des.
Adding redundant subject or object pronouns where French grammar doesn't allow them.
Choosing between c'est (identification) and il y a (existence/location) incorrectly.
Using a verb where French prefers a noun phrase, or vice versa — structural calques from English.
Confusing state of being (être) with movement or direction (aller) in common constructions.
Missing or misusing the reflexive pronoun with pronominal verbs — se lever, se souvenir, etc.
Placing direct and indirect object pronouns in the wrong position or using the wrong form.
Confusing their (leurs, agrees with noun) and the indirect object pronoun leur (invariable).
Using the wrong possessive form — mon/ma/mes, son/sa/ses — based on the possessed noun's gender.
Mixing up savoir (to know a fact or how to do something) with connaître (to be acquainted with).
Using depuis (ongoing since a point) vs pendant (duration) — they do not translate identically from English.
Using the wrong gender for professional titles — le médecin vs la médecin, une autrice vs un auteur.
Using trop (too much/many) where très (very) is needed, or the reverse — they signal different degrees.
Words that look like English equivalents but mean something different — actuellement, sensible, etc.
Translating 'to ask' as demander incorrectly — demander à vs demander de vs poser une question.
Failing to agree past participles with preceding direct objects or with subjects in être verbs.
Confusing a (third-person singular of avoir) with à (the preposition) — a common written error.
Writing et (and) instead of est (is) or vice versa — homophones that trip up even advanced writers.
Distinguishing between these four homophones, each with a distinct grammatical function.
Omitting required accents that change pronunciation or distinguish homophones — ou vs où, a vs à.
Over-capitalizing or under-capitalizing — French uses fewer capitals than English (nationalities, months, etc.).
Placing commas incorrectly — including the French convention of not separating subject from verb.
Forgetting that French typography requires a space before : ; ! ? » and after «.
Failing to mark plural on verbs, nouns, or adjectives in complex sentences with compound subjects.
Confusing the future tense (certainty) with the conditional (hypothesis or politeness).
Using y and en as pronouns incorrectly — y replaces à + place/thing, en replaces de + noun.
Distinguishing the definite plural article les from the possessive leur/leurs in writing.
Marking or omitting the plural -s on the possessive leur — agreement with the possessed noun.
Using poor discourse connectors — missing d'abord / ensuite / enfin, or mixing register levels.