Learning a new language comes with many challenges, obstacles and difficulties. You have to be disciplined and persevere if you wish to learn how to speak a new language. What are the key differences between the French and the English language? French uses gender for nouns (masculine or feminine), while English does not. French pronunciation can also be tricky due to accents and silent letters. In addition, both languages have different dialects and accents, making pronunciation a challenge. In this article, you will learn about the differences between learning English and learning French and some of the similarities between these two languages! If you are also into art, we suggest you check out the article introduction to the French language and the arts!
The Use of Gender in French vs English
Feminine
Masculine
English native speakers have a hard time understanding one important aspect of the French language, which is that this language uses gender. A language that uses gender means it has a feminine or masculine article that is used before every word. In other words, it means that saying "bring me the keys" implies knowing what "gender" the word "key" has and using it. There are no rules around the "gender" of a word, a person simply learns it by memory and knows what article to use (whether feminine or masculine) with each word.
Knowing if the word "dog" is feminine or masculine is not something an English student has to worry about. In English, words aren't assigned gender and students aren't required to know which article to use with each word. The English language has other types of challenges and difficulties, but learners always seem to point out the fact that English can be regarded as "easier" since it doesn't have gender.
People who learn French exercise their memory much more compared to others who learn English because in French they will have to memorize the gender of each word. This can be challenging but as a student, you'll come out of the other side with a much bigger hippocampus and better memory skills. So, continue reading to find out other differences between these two languages and if you wish you can also check out these 10 interesting quotes by French artists.
Differences Between Grammar and Sentence Structure
English and French differ significantly in grammar and sentence structure, making the learning process challenging for students of both languages. One key difference is word order! English follows a relatively strict subject-verb-object (SVO) order, whereas French, while generally following SVO, allows for more flexibility in certain cases. For example, in questions, English often relies on auxiliary verbs (Do you like apples?), while French uses inversion (Aimes-tu les pommes?).
Another major difference is the use of adjectives. In English, adjectives almost always precede nouns (a red car), while in French, most adjectives follow the noun (une voiture rouge), though some exceptions exist. Additionally, negation in French requires a two-part structure (ne...pas), whereas English simply adds not (Je ne sais pas vs. I don’t know). The use of prepositions also differs, as French often uses more specific prepositions compared to English, making direct translations difficult. Mastering these differences requires consistent practice!
If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his own language, that goes to his heart.
Nelson Mandela
Verb Conjugation Differences
Verb conjugation is one of the most complex aspects of learning French compared to English. English verbs are relatively simple, with minimal conjugation changes. Regular verbs only add -s in the third-person singular (he eats, she runs), while most past tenses are formed by adding -ed (played, walked). In contrast, French verbs are far more complex, requiring conjugation based on tense, mood and subject pronoun.
For instance, the verb manger (to eat) changes significantly across different tenses (je mange, tu manges, il mange). French also has three primary verb groups (-er, -ir, -re), each with different conjugation rules, whereas English treats all regular verbs similarly. Additionally, French has numerous irregular verbs (être, avoir, aller) that do not follow standard patterns. Another challenge is the use of compound tenses with auxiliary verbs (j’ai mangé = I have eaten), which can differ in structure from English. This makes French verb conjugation more challenging for English speakers. Here is a simple YouTube video to help you with your French verbs!
Find reliable French classes here!
Vocabulary and Formality Differences
Vocabulary and formality play a significant role in distinguishing English from French. While both languages share many cognates due to their historical connections (information, conversation, restaurant), false friends can cause confusion (actuellement means "currently," not "actually"). Additionally, French has more rigid formality rules in speech and writing. English speakers can often address others informally using "you", while French requires a distinction between "tu" (informal) and "vous" (formal/plural).
Using the wrong pronoun can come across as impolite. French also has formal expressions that are expected in professional or polite settings (Je vous prie d’agréer, Madame, Monsieur, mes salutations distinguées for formal letters). In contrast, English tends to be more direct and casual, even in business communication. Furthermore, while English has largely done away with distinctions between formal and informal speech, French retains many polite phrases and structures, making it crucial for learners to understand cultural expectations when speaking.
If you want to improve your French pronunciation you can try listening to the work of some famous French musicians and singers and pay attention to their phonetics and pronunciation.
Pronunciation Is the Key to Learning Any Language
Speaking is one of the key elements of the process of learning a language. No matter the level you are at, you'll always have lessons on grammar, vocabulary, writing, verbs, adjectives, nouns, past tense and of course, speaking and pronunciation. English and French are two languages that are pronounced differently and that have countless different dialects and accents. In English, you have British and American English, which sound different, but also have a different vocabulary!
Within each country, there are also different accents. For example, if you are from Texas you will sound different than someone that is from New York or Los Angeles. Same in England, a person from London will sound different than someone from Yorkshire or West Midlands. And it is the same for France. French people from Paris sound different from French people from Marseille or Lille. Additionally, French sounds even more different in Canada, Belgium, Madagascar, Haiti and many other countries where French is the official language. Here is an example of the differences between France and Belgium!
This shows that learning a language can be a little more complicated than it seems. This, however, doesn't mean that you have to learn and speak every dialect or use every accent. All it means is that you'll learn the language, but eventually, you'll come across someone that speaks a little different and you'll probably have a hard time understanding them or getting on the same page.
This is the beauty of having international experiences and meeting people from different places. Keep in mind that as a student you'll learn the common words and you won't be confused with different vocabulary or pronunciations.
Once you learn a new language you will be able to communicate with it but you have to keep in mind that you probably won't sound the same as a native speaker and that is okay. Learning a new language can be difficult and a lot of people put a lot of pressure on the spoken word part of a language, but the key lies in practice, even if that means sounding weird at first. If you are someone that puts a lot of emphasis on sounding great, go ahead and check out this article about the French pronunciation of famous global brands.
There Is a Different Number of Rules for Each Language
When you learn a new language you have to be aware of the fact that you'll have to learn a number of new verbs, adjectives, nouns, grammar and many other rules. Learning a new language can get easier as you move forward, but getting started can be slow and difficult. Before you start, you have to be aware of the challenges you'll face and make a promise to yourself that you'll do your best to overcome them.
Or else, you might end up quitting and won't reach your goals or objectives. If learning a language were easy everyone would speak every language in the world. However, this is not an easy task and you should keep in mind that it won't get easier any time soon. The key to learning a new language is being constant with your classes and during your free time. If you go to class but you don't practice during your free time you won't pass to the next level as quickly as other people who do practice at home. Here are our top 3 rules for learning a new language!
1️⃣ Consistency is Key
Regular practice, both in class and during your free time, is essential to making progress. Without it, learning will be slow and you may lose motivation.
2️⃣ Master Grammar and Vocabulary
Understanding verbs, nouns, adjectives and sentence structure is important. Each language has unique rules, so take time to learn them properly.
3️⃣ Adapt to Regional Differences
The same language can sound different depending on the country or region (e.g., French in France vs. Belgium). Be flexible and open to variations in pronunciation and vocabulary.
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