Decisions… to make or to take?
Although I checked and learned that the English can make OR take a decision... the French don't have a choice 😉 In fact, I don't remember having heard an Anglophone “taking” decisions so far (but maybe I've no heard enough of them...)... they systematically seem to...
Playing Games
Play Games with Toys... that's what I call variety 😉 The same in French? Jouer à des Jeux avec des Jouets... that's what I call uniformity 😉 Could it be that the English language is A LOT more creative than the French language? Naaaaa.... there are cases when it's...
There are mushrooms… and fungus!
It's raining a lot these days and mushrooms started to show their heads in my lawn... which inspired me this post about... mushrooms. When a French speaks about “champignons”... think twice, especially if it doesn't quite make sense for you. We agree about the...
Emmener et Amener Vs. Emporter et Apporter
These four guys are terrible, they are easy to mix up and misuse. And let’s be true, a very large percentage of French do NOT use them properly… that tells a lot about the confusion! 1 – Porter Vs. Mener “Porter” means “to carry.” It is used with things which can’t...
Sweet cake and funny expressions…
We have two expressions made out of cake, almost the same as in English. 1) C'est du gâteau. Literally... it is some cake, your equivalent of It's a piece of cake 2) La cerise sur le gâteau. Literally... the cherry on the cake, your equivalent of Icing on the cake....
When does the day end and the night start?
Funny question because, intuitively, the darkness should be enough to tell. But, in France, there is a “rule.” There is a day and a night “official” time. It's day as long as the street lighting is not on. When the street lamps go on... then it's night. It's important...
Embarrassing Lookalikes !
Or should I say “soundalikes” ! Râper is not to rape, don't even think of making the mistake. Râper means to grate like in “grate some cheese over your macaroni” Now... if you hear that someone “râpe du fromage” - even if you find it incredibly funny... you must...
A Matter of Accent
When a French native tries to speak English to an English speaking person, it happens something that is called a French accent. A French accent is, in reality, just a French person pronouncing English words as best they can but with the rules of speaking French that...
French makes the headlines in the New York Times!
Louisiana will “import” French-speaking teachers this year to grow the roster of dual-language French immersion schools. (Article by Richard Fausset, Aug. 23, 2019) 65 have been recruited this year... not that many, though, for a State the size of Louisiana... and the...