Basic

Hey Isis:
We (France) are still standing!
You, you are going down!
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Let's Simplify the French Grammar
for Learning, Improving or Reviewing

This blog created in May 2014 does not replace courses with a French-native tutor.

3100 visits from Argentina, Bangladesh, China, Ecuador, France, Germany, Lithuania, Malaysia,
Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sweden, Turkey, UK, Ukraine, the USA, etc. (as of May 2016)
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Table of Contents - Table des Matières

A - About the French Language
Origin of the word "Français"
60% of English words come from the ancient French
In which countries do people speak French?

B - How to Learn French

How Long does Learning French Take?
Level Evaluation Test
Levels and Assignments

Best Methods / Programs for Learning French

Dictionaries, Grammar Books, Vocabulary, Translation

C - The Essential (Phonetic, Grammar, Vocabulary)

I -- Phonetic & Pronunciation 
Vowels, Consonants, Liaison, Digraphes, etc.

II -- Main Grammar Rules & Conjugation
Details: see Table of Contents of the Grammar Section

III -- Vocabulary and Expressions
Greetings & Politeness.
Time, Days, Months, etc. 

Prices, Directions, Measurement, Weather, Temperature

D - Tricky Stuff
Basic Rules that Trick Everybody
False Friends that are very confusing
E - Etiquette & Faux-pas
What you should say or not say

F - Practicing
How to Practice according to your level

G - 130 Websites for Phonetic, Grammar, Podcasts, Vocabulary, Conjugation,
Business French, Translation, Learning Programs, Literature, Movies, Newspapers, Radios, Schools, TV, etc.

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Recommended Websites
(out of the 130 sites listed in Chapter G at the bottom of this blog)
Basic French Vocabulary with audio www.languageguide.org/french/vocabulary
French conjugation of any verb www.leconjugueur.com  Eng: http://leconjugueur.lefigaro.fr/ukindex.php
Sound of 2500 French words http://french.about.com/od/vocabulary/a/audiodictionary.htm
French News www.france24.com/fr/  (Arabic & Eng. versions available)
Business French Vocabulary  www.e-anglais.com/ressources/glossary.html
Studies in France? www.campusfrance.org/en Much more in Chapter G, section 9
French-speaking people worldwide www.contactsfrancophones.com
                  Free i-books in French www.numilog.com Click on EbookGratuit - You need to create an account
French magazines delivered worldwide (190 countries including the USA) www.uni-presse.fr
Podcasts - Balladifs
Beginner and +
                   www.podcastfrancaisfacile.com  (click “Debutants” at the very top)
https://itunes.apple.com/us/itunes-u/bon-depart-beginners-french/id380227515?mt=10
https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/coffee-break-french/id263170419?mt=2
https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/learn-french-daily-lessons/id322504749?mt=2
Intermediate and +
The News www.franceinfo.fr/programmes-chroniques/podcasts
The News www.france24.com/fr/emissions/
Any subject (for cell / pour mobile) www.canalacademie.com/mobile/index.php
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A - About the French Language - Au sujet du françaisw
"Honi soit qui mal y pense" (Shame on who thinks evil of it) - "Dieu et mon droit" (God and my right).
These 2 French sentences are still today the mottos of United Kingdom and of the British sovereigns.w 

> Origin of the name "France" - Origine du nom "France"

The name "Franc" comes from "Frank" as for the Germanic Frank tribes that settled around 380 AD in a big part of today France, originally a Celt and Gaelic territory occupied by the Romans since 45 BC. The Frank Clodowig became the first King of the Franks or Rex Franciæ in 481 with the name of Clovis 1st. It is only in 1130 under King Philippe Auguste that "France" became the official name. Today, Germans still call France "Frankreich" or the Republic of the Franks. The adjective "français" (French) was pulled out from the name France. History of France summarized from 2000 BC to 2014: click http://frenchhist.blogspot.com
> 60% of English Words comes from the French - 60% des mots anglais viennent du français

Around 60% of the English words come from the ancient French combined to the French Norman. Listen to this (click lesson 1 then 01a): www.cod.edu/it/streamingmedia/academicaudio/French01/french_01.html . More recently, French gave around 1300 words to English as for examples Accusation, Application, Buffet, Bureau, Camouflage, Captain, Client, Coupe, Crayon, Déjà Vu, Document, Entrée, Entourage, Entrepreneur, Finance, Fuselage, General, Hotel, Immigrant, Lieutenant, Lingerie, Marine, Masquerade, Parachute, Petite, Renaissance, Restaurant, Résumé, Reveille, Sabotage, Signal, Tour de Force, Vaudeville, Voire-Dire, etc.

Some French words have been transformed: Bar (from the ancient Barre: stand); Barbecue (from Barbe-queue: roast from chin to tail); Beverage (from Breuvage: drink); Cab for Taxi (From Cabriolet, originally a 2-seat carriage); Computer (from the verb Computer: To count / collect); Department (from Département: District); Limousine (From the Limousin region); Mayday (from Venez m'aider: Come to help); Tennis (from Tenez - Catch it, a term used to start the "Jeu de Paume" game, ancestor of the Tennis game), etc.
Some French words are used in other languages: Au pair, Art, Attaché, Avant-garde, Café, Chaise-lounge (From Chaise longue), Coup, Defense, Evidence, Hotel, Mariachi (From Marriage), March, Memoir, Protégé, Sabotage, Renaissance, Restaurant, Tranche, etc.
When 2 words in English and French seem alike, there is 90 % chance they have the same meaning. But be very careful about the "False Friends": see Chapter D.
> In which countries do people speak French? - Dans quels pays parle-t-on français?

According to a projection by Forbes, NY Times and Laval University (Canada), French speakers will be around 450 million in 2040 because of a high birthrate in Francophone (French-speaking) countries. In a 2013 article, the New York Times mentioned a study that ranks the French language as world second for Business, equal to Chinese, after the English. The French-speaking zone accounts for 20% of the world trade exchange of goods. French is still the official language for Diplomacy (and the UN) as well as for the Olympic Games and is equal to English in 9 international organizations such as IMF, NATO, OECD, UNESCO, World Bank, etc. 

Today, over 220 million people use French daily as their first or everyday language. Each year, up to 500 000 persons in non French-speaking countries worldwide attend classes to learn the "Langue de Molière". Many language centers such as the Alliances Françaises, the Lycées Français, and local schools propose French courses in 130 non French-speaking countries.

Besides France, 34 countries such as Belgium, Burkina, Canada, Cameroon, Chad, Gabon, Haiti, Lebanon, Luxemburg, Mali, Monaco, Senegal, Switzerland, Tunisia, etc., have French as an official or main language. A large majority of people in Algeria, Cambodia, Congo, Djibouti, Ivory Coast, Laos, Madagascar, Morocco, etc., speak fluently French and use it for everyday conversations. In India, Israel, Romania, Vietnam, and even in the USA (Alabama, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Vermont), a significant number of people still use French on daily basis. A fair number of people are able to speak basic French in Egypt, Germany, Hungry, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Russia, UK, Ukraine, etc. French was the official language of Russian Tsars and aristocracy.
The "Francophonie" Organization is a cultural & political organization that regroups 77 countries. Austria, Czech Republic, Greece, Egypt, Estonia, Poland, Qatar, Serbia, Ukraine, Uruguay, etc., are members of the Francophonie despite French-speaking people are minority in these countries. www.francophonie.org

> Several Types of French Language .. even in France! - Plusieurs types de français .. même en France!
French-speaking people from Belgium, Senegal, Switzerland, etc., have some different expressions and even some different ways to count in French. In Quebec and Louisiana, people speak the original French language and other "francophones" people have sometimes hard time to understand all of their expressions.
If you travel around France, you discover that some local expressions are different in Paris and in Corsica, Martinique, Provence, French Polynesia, French Guyana, French Caledonia, and the Réunion island. But after few months of studying French, you will be able to understand everyone, at least for a basic use.

> Origins and Foreign Words in French - Origines et mots étrangers en français

As for the other Romance languages, French mostly comes from Latin. But unlike for the Italian or Spanish languages,  Latin does not count for more than 55% of the modern French. Several ancient languages such as Celt, Gaelic, and Greek are also accounting for around 15%. One of the main input came later from the Frank language (with Germanic Scandinavian origins) representing around 15% of today French. Besides, 10% of the French terms still come from ancient dialects or old regional languages such as the Langue d'Oc. More recently, French "integrated" foreign terms, either for cultural reasons or because they have a practical use as for examples: Bistro comes from Russian; Alcool, Sorbet, Tarif, etc. from Arabic; Discount, Parking, Train, Weekend, etc. from English (around 150 words); Vasistas (small window) comes from German Was ist das; Yaourt (yogurt) from Bulgarian; Artisan, Bravo, Macaron, from Italian; Cargo, Chocolat from Spanish; etc.

B - How to Learn - Comment Apprendre

> How Long Does Learning French Take? - Combien de temps pour apprendre?

Think about your native language: how long did it take to be able to speak? The time you will spend depends on your ability to learn and to memorize, the efforts you put in, your regularity in working and practicing, how fast you lose your shyness, and what are your final goals: Just for tourism? To watch movies? To work? To read literature? Anyway, don't expect to understand and speak French after studying only few months, 1 or 2 hours a week. You find more details in the section "Levels and Assignments" below.
Be careful with Learning programs that promise "Speak French in 15 days" with revolutionary stuff; there is no "miracle"! Of course, if you stay for a while in the country where the language is spoken, you make quick progresses; unfortunately, not everyone has this opportunity.
> Level Evaluation Test - Evaluation de niveau
If you never learned French or studied it for only 1 year in school, skip the test and go directly to the next section, paragraph "True Beginner". You must be at least Beginner Confirmed for this test that evaluates your actual level and / or to find out about your "weaknesses" in Grammar rules and Vocabulary. If you cannot give the right answer to at least 15 questions of "Premiere Serie" without a book / help, you need to go back to the Grammar and / or Vocabulary from the very beginning. To access the test, click: www.french-in-cannes.fr/fr/testeval_fr.php#test_evaluation
> Levels and Assignments - Niveaux and Labeurs
Below, you find the main levels and corresponding work; there is no way in skipping any of these stages!
Homework cannot be skipped either: in addition to the classes, any learner should spend at least 2 hours per week working at home, not just in bus or subway or when they have "some spare time". A learning Program can be complementary but if you learn by yourself with a program [See below "Bad and Good Methods"], the amount of time is higher and a minimum practice with a French native tutor is inevitable to support your personal work.
~~ True Beginner - Vrai débutant (Never took classes or had 1 year in school more than 5 years ago). Any beginner must first attend several classes of phonetic with pronunciation training: If you don't understand people or if they don't understand you, all your work would be for nothing [See Chapter C The Essential, Section Phonetic, Courses P1 to P7]. After the Phonetic, you need at least 3 hours a week for 3 months working with a French native tutor: you learn a first set of grammar rules [see Chapter C The Essential, Section Grammar, Courses 1 to 13] along with 12 / 14 important verbs at the Present tense, and the vocabulary for greetings, everyday basic stuff, as well as numbers 0 to 20. A Learning program (On line, Podcasts, etc.) can only be complementary as homework. Check Chapter G "Links of Interest" at the bottom, Sections 2 and 5.
~~ Beginner Confirmed - Débutant confirmé (Can introduce self, ask for / give directions, understand a menu and order in French, buy simple items, understand simple short sentences, etc.). To reach this level once you achieved the True Beginner session, you have to learn more grammar rules [See Chapter C The Essential, Section Grammar, Courses 14 to 20, including the Past and Imperfect tenses], 20 more verbs at Present tense, numbers 21 to 1000, and more basic vocabulary. This take up to 3 more months working at least 3 hours a week, not including homework. Classes with a French native tutor are mandatory. A program (Podcasts, etc.) is complementary. Check Chapter G "Links of Interest" at the bottom, Sections 2 and 5.
~~ Intermediate - Intermédiaire (Can have simple conversations, write a short note, describe symptoms of the flue, read a simple article and understand headlines news, etc.). To pass from Beginner Confirmed to Intermediate level, it generally takes up to 3 or 4 months working at least 3 hours a week, not including homework. The main goal is to confirm knowledge and to learn complementary Grammar Rules [Chapter C The Essential, Section Grammar, Courses 21 to 25], 2 or 3 more tenses of the conjugation and more vocabulary. Practice is also an important part of this level: conversations with French natives are highly recommended. Listening at Podcasts in French is very useful. Check Chapter G "Links of Interest" at the bottom, Section 7. 

~~ Independent - Indépendant (Can express feelings, describe an object in detail, understand / write a 3-line elaborated message, read most articles, etc.): it takes 3 or 4 more months, 3 hours a week, to reach this level from Intermediate. A review of the conjugation and grammar is sometimes justified at this point. Some complementary grammar rules, not mentioned in this blog, could be added [see Grammar Books section below] along with more verbs. You also need to read articles, to watch French movies (it's better with French subtitles) and to practice conversation with French natives (tutors or not), all this to develop easiness in speaking and to increase your vocabulary. Check Chapter G "Links of Interest" at the bottom, Section 7 
~~ Advanced - Avancé (Can discuss about various subjects, write an email for work, understand any article or movie, make simple jokes, etc.): To reach this level, most Independent level people need at least 5 months living in France and / or practicing with French natives (tutors or not) at least 8 hours a week. Reading articles, books, magazines, and / or watching French movies with French subtitles is also a necessary daily exercise. Check Chapter G "Links of Interest" at the bottom, Section 7
~~ Expert - Expert (Can have conversations with French people about everything from art or cuisine to philosophy or work, can understand or tell any French jokes, read literature, tell an elaborate story, etc.). Advanced people need to spend at least 6 months studying and practicing French for 4 to 6 hours on regular basis every week conversing with French natives. Of course, staying in France for at least 6 or 7 months is the best way. Check Chapter G "Links of Interest" at the bottom, Sections 7 and 8.
~~ Specialized - Thématique (Expert level specialized in a particular field such as Business, Economy, Engineering, Medicine, Politics, etc.) In this case, there is no alternative: you need to contact a school such as the Alliance française to take at least 12 classes of 1 hour each with an experienced specialized teacher. You can also check Chapter G "Links of Interest" at the bottom, Section 2, Paragraph Thematic.
> Bad & Good Methods / Programs for Learning - Bonnes et mauvaises façons d'apprendre
~~ Does your brain prefer the morning?  Votre cerveau préfère-t-il le matin?
We feel better after a good night sleep, right? Well, your brain feels better too and it has space for new information. So, you better work the morning preferably after the breakfast. However, some people's brain is working better the evening ... You know yourself! If you are not sure, you can test your "capacity" by learning 10 French words the morning and the following day 10 other words the evening. Which time is the best for you? You find out by testing yourself the day after. By the way, the bus and subway are not good environment for beginners for 70% of the cases.

~~ Is There a Good Method such as Flash Cards, etc.?  Y-a-t'il de bonnes méthodes?
Sorry, there is not any "miracle" method! Once again, it depends on each person ability in learning. Flash Cards, as well as Learning programs, can be helpful for basic vocabulary but it is proved that they rarely work for conjugation and grammar rules, never for "street expressions" and conversations. 
One method must be avoided: learning a same verb at several tenses at the same time, then do the same with another verb, etc.; it is confusing and inefficient! The best way is first to focus on the Present tense of each of the 33 most important French verbs presented in Course 5 and 6 of the Grammar chapter below. Only once you mastered the Present tense, go to the Past tense, then the Imperfect, etc. You need patience and perseverance with French tenses!

Passed the Beginner Confirmed level (see above: Levels), you should start watching movies with French subtitles at least 2 hours a week; If it is too hard, watch the video with English subtitles then with French subtitles. Download movies (free & legal) here: http://flecampus.ning.com/profiles/blogs/cinema-dossier-pedagogique-fle (In the site, you have to scroll down to find the list)

~~ Learning Programs, etc. - Programmes d'apprentissage, etc.

Oh oui, there are plenty of Programs such as Assimil, Frantastique, Pimsleur, Rosetta Stone, Teach Yourself, Tell me More French, Speedlingua, etc. Be careful with Learning programs that promise "Speak French in 15 days" with revolutionary stuff; there is no "miracle" method! Most of the programs are good for learning vocabulary but, as I demonstrate below in "Don't neglect ... ", nothing replaces a French native tutor for the expressions and live practice, particularly if you are a Beginner. You could say: he claims that because he is a teacher. I am referring to actual experiences: many students who learned French with a program had bad surprises the first time they talked to Parisians. Why? Because they didn't know their expressions.
Which program is the best? Difficult to answer since it depends on each one perception but some of them have good critics: Fluenz, Frantastique, Pimsleur, and Speedlingua with live support by several Alliance Francaise branches worldwide. For more details, check Chapter G "Links of Interest" at the bottom, Section 5. If you cannot attend classes, there is an option for Beginner Confirmed and over: the Phone classes with a native teacher; contact me for details frenchinnewyork@aol.com . 

~~ Good and Bad Tutors - Bons et mauvais tuteurs / profs
As I always say "There is no bad students, only bad teachers" but "A teacher cannot force anyone in succeeding": Students need to work on their own after each class! Anyway, when you hire a tutor / teacher, make sure she / he has at least 4 years of experience in teaching French as a second language. Except if you just want some practice at the Advanced level, do not try your luck with amateurs tutors who propose "45 minutes of French class for only $25". The best reference is a person with degrees who already teaches French as a second language at the Alliance Française, in a Bilingual school or at the Lycée Français. You pay more but you get more!
I also want to talk about teaching kids and teens: as a parent, make sure to hire someone who has at least 4 years of experience in teaching kids or teens. Even the best tutor is not automatically efficient with young learners.
~~ Do not neglect street expressions - Ne négligez pas les expressions
As you learn a second language, you need to know street expressions. It could seem superfluous but actually you will often use / hear them while visiting or living in the country. This is why Learning Programs cannot replace experienced native tutors. Here are some examples that demonstrate my point: In the USA, waiters bring a (free) glass of tab water with any meal. French restaurants rarely have this custom and you need to ask "some water please". So you ask "de l'eau, s'il vous plait" .. wrong: the waiter propose Evian or Vittel or Perrier and you pay for it; you should ask for a "Carafe d'eau" that is free with any meal. Another example: You order a croissant in a bakery: "Un croissant, s'il vous plait"; then the vendor answers "Avec ceci?" or "Ce sera tout?" You are lost because your program didn't teach you it means "Anything else?". Another case: you let someone passes first, and you say "S'il vous plait" (Please) .. wrong: you just said Hurry up!; the right expression is "Je vous en prie". Last but not least: You get in a cab and say to the driver Take me to ... that you translate into "Bonjour, prenez-moi ..." Mistake! You just said "Pick me up ... ". The right way is "Bonjour, je vais ... ". I could mention many other examples. To know basic expressions, visit my blog http://speakfrenchenough.blogspot.com/
> Dictionaries, Grammar Books, Vocabulary - Dictionnaires, Grammaires, Vocabulaire
~~ Buying / Renting a book for studies? Check Chapter G "Links of Interest" at the bottom, paragraph 3

~~ Dictionaries / Online Translation - Dictionnaires / Traduction en ligne: There is no doubt about it: the 2 best dictionaries are "Petit Larousse" (official Dictionary of the French Academy) and "Petit Robert". Both have pocket and extended versions that you can find in large libraries or at Amazon.com. Be aware that they both have Dictionaries for definitions and for translation. There are other good dictionaries on the market: Oxford, Robert & Collins, and Webster's. Online translation can be hazardous but it is helping for basic sentences. Check Chapter G "Links of Interest" at the bottom, Section 4.

~~ Grammar Books & Websites - Livres et sites de Grammaire:     

Again: unlike in English, it is imperative to know well the Grammar even to speak basic French.

- True Beginners should avoid learning everything from a classic 250-page grammar books: it's confusing and discouraging. It's better to first learn the basic rules as presented below in "The Essential" chapter then "go deeper" with grammar books such as:Teach Yourself Beginner's Grammar; CLE International Beginners (Text in French only, Immersion style). They are found at amazon.com or at bookdepository.com. There are several good websites presenting grammar rules: check Chapter G "Links of Interest" at the bottom, Section 2.
- Beginner Confirmed should review the Grammar rules of Courses 6 to 20 in Chapter C below and check the sites mentioned in Chapter G "Links of interest", sections 2 and 7.

- Independent to Advanced level students can perfect their French Grammar with the book "Difficultés Expliquées du Français" (in English) found at bookdepository.com. There are also some websites to perfect your knowledge in French Grammar: check Chapter G "Links of Interest" at the bottom, Sections 2 and 7.

~~ Vocabulary - Vocabulaire      

As a True Beginner, learning French vocabulary is one thing, you also need to know the pronunciation! The help of a French-native tutor is essential. However, you cannot spend thousands of dollars / euros just to learn all vocabulary with them. A cheap complementary way is to buy a book with audio version: I recommend French in 10 minutes a day  or Make Over Your French in Just 3 Weeks (Let's say 8 weeks!) both with CD; they are available at Amazon.com. You can also check the audio websites mentioned in Chapter G "Links of Interest" Section 4.
As a Beginner Confirmed, you can increase your vocabulary without forgetting the pronunciation using a Learning Program in parallel to the classes: check chapter G "Links of Interest" at the bottom, Section 5. There are also some good audio websites listing vocabulary mentioned in chapter G, Section 4.
Beyond the Intermediate level, the best way is to watch documentaries or movies with French subtitles and, of course, to have conversation with French natives. Reading articles is efficient as soon as your pronunciation is fine. Check Chapter G "Links of Interest" at the bottom, Section 7.
Business and Work in French: Go to chapter G at the bottom, Section 2, paragraph "Thematic".
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C - The Essential - L'Essentiel

Do not rush in studying all the courses below: take your time to assimilate each one and practice!

I - PHONETIC - LA PHONETIQUE

> Introduction & Alphabet:

~~ If you don't understand locals, what the point of speaking their language? Beginners should first attend phonetic classes including practice with a French native tutor. This section should help beginners in discovering the basic French Phonetic but does NOT replace a French tutor.

~~ Alphabet:  a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z    www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ieHV9eGxw0 
       Special Vowels:   à  â  é  è  ê  ë  î   ï  ô  û  ù   -  œ    
Attention: Spelling the alphabet is not essential but you must be able to spell your name.
> Course P1 (Cours P1): 5 Vowels without an accent (Voyelles sans accent)

~~ 5 voyelles sans accent: a - e - i - o - u. All French vowels  have a specific sound and use; check this video www.youtube.com/watch?v=FgTqqLTJvnc . Let's look at them one by one: The French vowel A is alike the English a in Car. The vowel E is alike the E of Angel; it is fully pronounced when it is inside any word such as in Atelier, Cela, Cheval, Evénement, Lever, Melon, Longuement, Vendredi, etc.; it is also fully pronounced when it is ending the following words: Le, Je, Ce, De, Me, Ne, Te, Se and Que. But it is almost silent when it is ending any other words such as in Age, Entrée, Montre, Petite, Site, Une, Ville, etc.: www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Lej50KeYtU . The French i is alike ee in the English word See. The French O sounds alike the English o in So. The French U is difficult to pronounce for non French-speaking people and there is no way to explain its sound in writing; watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QaiWSsKrCw . The vowels Y, Œ and vowels with accent are presented in the next Course. 
Note: French vowels and consonants are sometimes "married", creating groups of 2 or 3 letters  with 1 particular sound called "Correlation" in English: see "Digraphes" and "Trigraphes" in Course P5. 
Note for Spanish-speaking people: Be careful not to pronounce the French "E" as the Spanish "E". If you do so, you change the meaning of some French words; example: Le (Masc. singular The in French) pronounced Le with Spanish accent sounds like Les (Plural The) in French.   

> Course P2:  Vowel "Y" -- 9 Vowels with Accent -- 2 Vowels with Trèma -- Vowel "Œ"

~~ Voyelle Y: it has several different uses. At the beginning of a word it is as Y in Yoga; when it is ending a word it has a simple ee sound as in See. When it is inside a word, Y can be used in 2 ways: Y in Mystère is alike the 1st Y in the English Mystery; but Y can also be "married" to the vowels a or o then used again in the same word as the Y in yeah. Examples: "Pays" (Country) is pronounced Pay / ee, Payer and Payé (To pay or Paid) are both pronounced Pay / yea. The verb Essayer (To try or To attempt) is pronounced essay / yea. Envoyer (To send) is Envoa / yea. "Loyer" (The rent) is pronounced Loah / yea. "Crayon "is pronounced Cray / yonh. In the French word Royal, Y is used as in English but Roy is pronounced roa ("Roy" is the old French word for King): Roa / yal.  Here is an "amateur" video for Y www.youtube.com/watch?v=UCBanyxfwWQ

~~ 9 voyelles avec accent: à - â - é - è - ê - î - ô - û - ù.  Each of these vowels has a specific "job" in French words and sometimes make a big difference between 2 identical words; examples: "Cote" without accent on the O means Quotation / Classification, while "Côte" with accent on the O (ô has a deeper sound) means Coast / Rib -- "Patte" without accent means Paw, while "Pâte" (â has a deeper sound) means Dow, "Pâtes" at plural means Pasta, and "Pâté" means Block.  Visit these sites for their sounds: www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtuOtVjbj24   www.languageguide.org/french/grammar/pronunciation/old.html 
My advice: Beginners should first remember the 3 most important French vowels with an accent: é - è - ê . www.youtube.com/watch?v=6L3opwbpVxk To make it easier for now, they can all be used as the é of Résumé; you will work later on their sound differences. Other vowels with accent, all different in sound, can be progressively learned later one by one.
Note: In some cases, the accent does not change the pronunciation: Là (there) same as La (the Fem.) - Dû (due) same as Du (some of) - Sûr (sure) same as Sur (on) - etc. The accent is just placed to differentiate 2 similar words or "Homonymes" at writing.
~~ 2 voyelles avec Trema: ë and ï (spelling: e Tréma; i Tréma) They often have the same sound as the simple i and simple e but they impose to pronounce ALL letters in a word (in spite of any other rules of Courses P4 & P5). Example: Maïs means Corn and is pronounced Ma/eess; Mais with a simple "i" means "But" and is pronounced Mea. Other cases: Noël - Jamaïque - Hawaï - Moët - etc. www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtuOtVjbj24 at 3:36

~~ Voyelle Œ: it is originally Latin and is often married to another vowel. Its sound changes according to the word: "œ" is similar to a deep French E in Nœud (Bow) and Vœux (Wishes); to an open French E in Bœuf (Beef), Cœur (Heart), and Œuf (Egg); to a guttural "pushed" French E in œil (Eye). www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wk8PybBUMqg   www.youtube.com/watch?v=iXFynsfazno    www.youtube.com/watch?v=I1dNfa_uIME  

> Course P3: The Consonants (Les consonnes)

~~ Most of the Consonnes have the same use (not the same alphabet sound) in both English and French: B, D, F, J, K, L, M, N, P, R, T, V, X, Z. Their uses can be different in Italian, Portuguese and Spanish.

~~ Several Consonants have a specific use in French: C, Ç, G, H, Q, S, W  >>  C before e, i, y is always soft as in Cent - C before a, o, u is alike K as in Coton - Ç ("C cédille") is only used before a, o, u and is "soft" as in Français (franssais) or Garçon (garsson) - G before e, i, y always sounds as in Generation but when it is followed by U before e, i, y, it sounds as in Guide - G before a, o, u always sounds as in Good - H is always silent in French, except in Ch which is alike Sh in English - Q is often married to U: Qu are always used alike a K such as in Qui (kee), Qualité (Kalité), etc. - S is used as in English, except between 2 vowels it sounds like Z as in Liaison or Maison and SS is strong as in Essentiel or Passion - W is used alike a simple V (in German too): Volkswagen = Volksvagen - Wagon = Vagon.
Audio site for these consonants: www.languageguide.org/french/grammar/pronunciation/consonants.html 
~~ The consonant T followed by ie is sometimes used as "ss" (Greek origin): Acrobatie (ssi); Diplomatie (ssi); Ineptie (ssi); Inertie (ssi); etc. But most of the time T + ie is used as a classic T (Latin origin) like in Amnistie, Partie, Sortie, etc. The ending "tion" is always pronounced as "ssion" as in Abolition, Introduction, Production, Situation, etc.

> Course P4: Consonants ending any word are NOT pronounced, except ...

~~ This is a hard part for many non French-speaking people: Consonants that are ending a word are NOT pronounced; only C, F, L are pronounced. Example: Client is actually pronounced Clienh - Grand is pronounced Granh - Petit is pronounced Peti - Marcher is pronounced Marché [Digrammes Course P5] - Venez is pronounced Vené [Digramme: Course P5] - etc. But L in Animal, Avril, Cheval, Spécial, etc., C in Bec, Donc, Duc, Sec, etc., F in Actif, Bref, Oeuf, Veuf, etc., are pronounced. Be aware that, despite this rule, the C of Accroc, Blanc, Banc, Escroc, Franc, Porc is not pronounced, nor the F of Cerf and Nerf, nor the L of Fusil, Gentil, Outil and Persil. Check this audio site: www.languageguide.org/french/grammar/pronunciation/final_consonants.html

There are exceptions where ending consonants other than C, F, L, are pronounced: The ending R of verbs with Infinitive in IR such as Courir, Finir, Partir; Voir; etc.; of 1-Syllable words such as Car, Jour, Mer, Par, Pour, Soeur, Soir, etc.; of words ending with EUR such as Couleur, Docteur, Erreur, Peur, Serveur, etc. (not in Monsieur); the ending S of Plus (only when it means More); of Fils (as Son - Not when it means Wires); of Tous (except when followed by the article Les); of Sens (Direction or Sense); of Mars (Month of March - Planet); of As (Ace); etc. The ending T is pronounced in But (Goal), Est (East), Au fait / En fait (By the way / Actually), Impact, Intact (Intact), Net (Clean), Ouest (West), etc., and in the numbers Sept (7) and Huit (8). Be aware that the ending D is pronounced in Sud (South) but not in Nord (North).
My advice: Beginners should NOT pronounce any ending consonant of any French word until they master the whole process: it works for 95%. Also: Remember that the endings ER and EZ are always pronounced "é".

Note: When the letter E follows the last consonant of a word, only the consonant is pronounced: Petit > Peti BUT Petite > Petite --- Grand > Gran BUT Grande > Grande. This is frequent with Adjectives at Feminine.

Note: Be careful with the "Liaison" [Course P6] that could make you think ending consonants are pronounced.

Note: All ending consonants of English words used in French are pronounced: Blog, Parking, Weekend, etc.

> Course P5: Correlations or 2 or 3 letters having 1 specific sound

~~ Digraphes & Trigraphes are groups of 2 or 3 letters having 1 specific sound (Correlations) such as "OO" of Zoo in English. You must learn them because they are the heart of the French Pronunciation! Let's regroup them by identical sound when it is possible:  ai; êt; et (last 2: only at the end of a word) --- er; ez (at the end of a word) -- an; en; em -- au; eau -- ein; un; in; im; ain; aim -- ill -- ou; où -- on; om -- ess -- elle -- ette -- eil -- eu -- ien -- euil -- tion -- ch -- gn.  Click these links for audio: www.youtube.com/watch?v=dItB-rz3Me8  www.languageguide.org/french/grammar/pronunciation/    www.youtube.com/watch?v=a-Sp-KwHg-w

Note: some Digraphes and Trigraphes have their pronunciation changed when a vowel is placed just after: an; en; em -- ein; un; in; im; ain; aim -- on; om.  Example: An (Year) = Digramme [ã] awnh  -- Ane (Donkey) = all letters are pronounced [ɑn] ann
Note: The correlation "ill" is generally pronounced eeye such as in Chantilly (chanteeyee), Famille (fameeye), Fille (feeye), Sillage (seeyage), etc., but "ill" is just pronounced eel in Ville, Village, Tranquille, and in the numbers Mille, Millier, Million, Milliard. www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTPXTetNL4g

> Course P6: La Liaison (Linking sound between 2 words)

~~ The (dangerous) "Liaison" or "Words linking" is a way in making the sound softer between 2 words. For that purpose a "shadow" of the ending consonant is created and placed in front of the next word only when it begins with a vowel or H. Knowing this rule is important to understand French people; keep in mind that consonants ending a word are NOT pronounced in 95% of the cases [Course P4]. Examples of sound with Liaison: Les hommes > lè zomme - Les automobiles > Lè zautomobile - Les enfants > Lè zenfants - Des affaires > Dè zaffaires - Ils ont > il zont - Vous êtiez > Vou zêtiez - Il est arrivé > Il es tarrivé - C'est évidemment étonnant > C'è tévidemmen tétonnant - etc.  Check this video www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZfyCvOBV3w

Note: The word "Et" (And) is never "linked" to avoid misunderstandings. In few other cases, the Liaison is avoided to prevent a confusing / weird sound. Also: The "d" of Grand sounds like T in Liaison: Un grand arbre > un gran tarbre. It avoids a feminine sound to the adjective Grand at masculine (Feminine = Grande).

> Course P7: Sound of Words
To have an idea of the sound of French words, visit this audio site:  http://french.about.com/od/vocabulary/a/audiodictionary.htm (in the site, click on each letter of the alphabet)

II - MAIN GRAMMAR RULES - LES REGLES DE BASES

Table of Contents - Table des Matières

1 Masculine & Feminine; Plural -- 2 Articles; Elision (L' - D' - Qu'); Partitifs (Some of); Possessive Form -- 3 Conjugation: Verb Groups; Past Participle --
4 Subject Pronouns; The Present tense -- 5  To be & To have; Reflexive Verbs -- 6 Thirty one Important Verbs -- 7 Negative Forms --
8 Interrogative Forms & Pronouns -- 9 Numbers 0 to 20; Ranking -- 10 C'est & Il est (It's) -- 11 Adjectives; Comparative & Superlative -- 12 To ... From ... --
13 Little Words you should know -- 14 The Past tense -- 15 The Imperfect Tense -- 16 Possessive Adjectives (My, Your, .. ) -- 17 More Numbers & Around --
18 The Future Tense -- 19 Adverbs -- 20 Object Pronouns (It / Them + To me, To her) --  21 En & Y -- 22 That / Who / Whom / Whose --
23 Conditional; Imperative; Subjunctive -- 24 Personal Pronouns (Moi, Toi ..) -- 25 This; These; That + Which; Which one; of which. -- 26 Progressive Form --
27 Punctuation of Prices (important difference US / Europe)

> Important 
Unlike in English, you cannot skip learning the French Grammar. It seems a huge task since Grammar rules are numerous and most of them have exceptions: an average French Grammar book is 250-page thick. With this selection of essential rules I try to simplify your work: unlike Grammar books, I do NOT mention what is superfluous or making things really confusing. Maintenant, c'est plus facile! (Now it's getting easier!)
As you learn the rules below, limit yourself to 1 COURSE a day and make sure to assimilate each one before to go to the next Course.

As you begin to practice, you find out that a fair number of basic sentences are often translated word by word from English, Italian, Portuguese or Spanish to French. But thematic sentences are rarely translated word by word and rarely corresponding in words order; this is when a good Grammar knowledge and a good French tutor are mandatory. 

> Course 1 (Cours 1): Le Masculin et le Féminin -- Le Pluriel

~~ Masculine or Feminine genders apply to Nouns, Adjectives, Articles, Pronouns, etc. Unlike in Spanish or Italian, the French endings rarely tell the gender of nouns: Cloporte (bug) is Masculine but Porte (door) is Feminine. Therefore, you need to remember the gender as you learn any noun. Profession nouns have their ending changing from masculine to feminine: Serveur > Serveuse; Acteur > Actrice; Professeur > Professeure; Boucher > Bouchère - etc. Adjectives have their ending agreeing either with Masculine or Feminine: Petit or Petite; Grand or Grande; Nouveau or Nouvelle; Heureux or Heureuse; Sur or Sure; etc.
Note: The endings ale, elle, enne, euse, ette, esse, ère, ice, tion, and ure are signs of Feminine gender. The ending age is sign of masculine. Also, for countries, regions and US States, the ending E indicates a feminine gender in 99% of the cases: Allemagne, Angleterre, Bavière, Belgique, France, Italie, Normandie, Californie, etc. Exceptions: Masculine despite their ending E: Cambodge, Mexique, Mozambique, Suriname, and Zimbabwe --- Any other Vowels than E or any Consonants ending the names of country, region and US States indicate a Masculine gender: Equateur, Est (East), Japon, Kent, Luxembourg, Nord (North), Pays Basque, Ouest (West), Alabama, Texas, Sud (South), etc.

~~ Plural of Nouns & Adjectives: most of them take an S at the end (Never pronounced; see Course P4 above). Nouns ending with "au" and with "eu" generally take an "x" such as in Chateaux or Feux. The ending "al" changes into "aux" such as in Général > Généraux or International > Internationaux.
Note: S is never added to proper names at plural. Also: Some words are always Plural: Condoléances (condolences); Gens (people); Vacances (vacations); Toilettes (when it means Restroom); etc.

> Course 2:  Articles -- Elision (L', M', S', etc) -- Partitifs (Some of ..) -- Possessive Forms
~~ Articles: Definite The = Le (masc.), La (fem.), Les (plural); L'... (Elision) --- Indefinite A = Un (masc.), Une (fem.), Des (plural). All French articles agree in gender and number (Plural) with their noun therefore an article often tells you the gender and number of the noun. There is an article before a noun in French in 98% of the cases. Watch these videos about: Definite Articles www.youtube.com/watch?v=054MD3i3RDE  Indefinite Articles www.youtube.com/watch?v=xw1sORGoEOY
Note: Unlike in English, there is a plural to the French Indefinite Articles Un / Une (A in English) = "Des". Example: Cars are parked in the alley = Des voitures sont garées dans l'allée.
~~ Elision such as L'... - D'... - M'... - Qu'... - etc. The Elision is a way to shorten Definite Articles Le and La and some of the Pronouns when they are placed just in front of word beginning with a Vowel or H. There is NO Elision with Les, Un, Une and Des. Examples: Le homme = L'homme - La automobile = L'automobile - Le an = L'an - Je ai = J'ai (I have) - Je me appelle = Je m'appelle (My name is ...) - Jusque à .. = Jusqu'à .. (Until ..) - Ce que elle veut = Ce qu'elle veut (What she wants.. ) - etc. 
My advice: When pronouncing words with Elision, just say the 2 parts as it was 1: L'automobile > Lautomobile - J'ai > Jai - Je m'appelle > Je mappelle - etc.

~~ Partitifs as Some .. or Some of .. (Some bread; Some milk; etc.). They agree in gender and number with the object: Du (De le contracted) for masculine, De la for feminine, De l' for any word beginning with a vowel or H, Des for any plural word. Examples: I would like some ... : J'aimerais du pain / de la moutarde / de l'eau / des fraises / etc.
Note: French Adverbs of Quantity (In English: A lot; more; less; as many as; etc.) are always followed by "de" or "d' " (never by du, de la, de l', des). Examples: beaucoup de fraises / plus de pain / moins de moutarde / autant d'oignons / plus d'eau - etc.
Note: Some is sometimes translated into Un peu de ... or Quelques ..  to emphasize a limited quantity alike "a bit" or "few". Examples: Un peu d'eau (some water) - Un peu de sel (a bit of salt) - Quelques jours (few days).
~~ Origin alike From what / where something is made: De or D' are used for products / objects / food / etc. Examples: La Moutarde de Dijon (Mustard from Dijon) - L'huile d'olive (Oil from olive) - Un vin de Bordeaux - etc. [See also Course 12]

~~ Possessive Forms (Peter's bike; The screen of the computer; etc.). Basically, all French Possessive Forms work like: The .... of ..... . They are made of a Preposition + Article that agree in gender and number with the possessor: Masculine = Du .. (De le contracted) -- Feminine = De la ..  -- Masc. or Fem. before Vowel or H = De l' .. -- Any plural = Des .. -- Before any First name = De .. or D' .. . Examples: La balle du bébé - Le sac de la femme - L'écran de l'ordinateur - La chambre des filles - Le vélo de Sophie / d'Alain - Le hamburger de Mac Donald - La maison des Clinton{s} - Les employés de Michelin.
> Course 3: Tenses of the Conjugation -- The Past Participle -- The 3 Groups of Verbs

Conjugation of French verbs: www.leconjugueur.com  Eng: http://leconjugueur.lefigaro.fr/ukindex.php

~~ The French conjugation has 21 tenses (as in Spanish) but people actually use only 7 tenses for everyday conversations: Infinitive, Past Participle, Present, Past, Imperfect, Future, and Conditional. 2 other tenses are occasionally used for particular cases: Imperative and Subjunctive. 
~~ The Infinitive of a French verb is indicated by its 2 last letters. There are 3 different Infinitive endings: ER, IR, or RE. Examples: To go = Aller; To finish = Finir; To understand = Comprendre.
~~ The Participe Passé or PP (Past Participle) is NOT the Past Tense but it is an important "formula" you need to know: it is used for the making of the Passé Composé [Past tense - Course 14] or used as an Adjective in various cases. Examples: J'ai mangé (mangé = PP  of Manger, To eat) = I have eaten / I ate - C'est compris (Compris = PP of Comprendre, To include / To understand) = It's included / It's understood - C'est ouvert (Ouvert = PP of Ouvrir, To open) = It is open - etc.
~~ The French grammar dispatches verbs in 3 confusing groups based on the ending at the Infinitive, on which verb is regular or irregular, on the ending of the 1st and 2nd persons at Present, etc. Let's simplify and place all verbs with Infinitive in ER in the 1st group, all verbs with infinitive in IR in the 2nd group, and all verbs with infinitive in RE in the 3rd group. Among other conveniences, this simplified system makes the Past Participle (described above) easier to remember in the 1st group: all verbs with Infinitive in ER have the ending "é" at Participe Passé; Examples: Aller, Allé (To go) - Arriver, Arrivé (To arrive) - Marcher, Marché (To walk) - Essayer, Essayé (To try) - etc. Unfortunately, in the 2 other groups, the endings of the PP vary. Still, it makes the whole conjugation easier to remember.

Note: As you learn any verb conjugation, make sure to remember at least the 1st person singular "Je" (I) and the 2nd person plural "Vous" (You, Formal) that you will use many times. Examples: Je suis ... (I am ...) - Je vais ... (I am going ..) - Je voudrais (I would like) - Vous avez ...  (You have, Formal) ... - Vous pouvez ..? (Would you ..?) - etc.
My advice: Do not make a big case of "Regular" or "Irregular" stuff: it make things harder in remembering the French verb conjugation!
~~ 129 most important French verbs: True Beginners should first check Courses 5 and 6 below for the 33 verbs they must learn / know at Present tense. Here is a list of 129 verbs you need to learn progressively once you have reached the Beginner Confirmed level http://monsu.desiderio.free.fr/atelier/freqverb.html 

> Course 4: Subject Pronouns I, You, He, She, We, etc. -- The Present Tense
~~ The Subject Pronouns (Les Pronoms sujets)
You must remember the 9 French Subject Pronouns to be able to conjugate any French verbs and to understand French people. If you compare to English, you find out that some of the French Pronouns have a different and specific use. Singular Persons: Je is I -- Tu is You informal / familiar -- Il is He or sometimes It -- Elle is She -- On is equivalent to "We" or "One" or "it", always singular and often used for 1 small or large group of people including the person who speaks. Plural Persons: Nous is We -- Vous is You formal or for several people -- Ils is They masculine plural -- Elles is They feminine plural (The ending S of Ils / Elles is NEVER pronounced). Here is a video about these Pronouns www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LBvMfR7fWc 
Note: Elle (She) or Elles (She plural) are also used for any objects that are feminine. 
Note: Je ("I") can get an Elision in front of a verb beginning with a vowel or H: J'ai; J'habite; J'avais; J'allais; etc.
~~ The Present tense (Le temps Présent) of the 3 groups of verbs
The Present Tense tense is used for present actions, for progressive actions, and even sometimes for actions in the future. It is recommended to focus only on the Present tense until you know perfectly the conjugation of the 33 most important French verbs [see below Courses 5 and 6]. Learning several tenses at the same time is difficult and confusing! Let's find out how the Present tense works in French:
- Present of verbs ending with ER at Infinitive (see course 3): Most of the verbs in ER (around 40 % of all French verbs) have their "root" or Radical made from the Infinitive without ER. The Present endings are the same according to each person: e - es - e - ons - ez - ent . Examples: Parler (To talk / To speak): keep the root Parl > je parle - tu parles - il / elle / on parle - nous parlons - vous parlez - ils / elles parlent -- Arriver (To arrive): keep the root Arriv > j'arrive - tu arrives - il / elle / on arrive - nous arrivons - vous arrivez - ils / elles arrivent.
Note: Few verbs with ER at Infinitive do not follow this rule: Aller (To go): Je vais, Tu vas, Il / Elle / On va, Nous allons, Vous allez, IIs / Elles vont -- Essayer (To try): J'essaie, Tu essaies, Il / Elle / On essaie, Nous essayons, Vous essayez, Ils / Elles essaient -- etc.
- Present of Regular & Irregular verbs ending with IR: Unfortunately, they do not have an easy "pattern" as for the previous group. Although the "root" is often based on the Infinitive without the R or the IR, sometimes there is more to remove. The endings change according to each person and sometimes from a verb to another; generally it is necessary to memorize each verb conjugation. However, most of the verbs have the endings as follows: s - s - nothing or t - ons - ez - ent. Examples: Finir (To finish): je finis - tu finis - il / elle / on finit - nous finissons - vous finissez - ils / elles finissent -- Partir (To leave): je pars - tu pars - il / elle / on part - Nous partons - Vous partez - ils / elles partent -- Voir (To see): je vois - tu vois - il / elle / on voit - nous voyons - vous voyez - ils / elles voient. Note: The verbs Pouvoir and Vouloir are ending by "x" at the 1st and 2nd persons singular: Je peux, Tu peux, .. -- Je veux, Tu veux, .. (X is not pronounced)
- Present of Regular & Irregular verbs ending with RE: The verbs of this group do not have an easy pattern either. Although the "root" is often based on the Infinitive without the RE, sometimes there is more to remove. The endings change according to each person and sometimes from a verb to another; generally it is necessary to memorize each verb conjugation. However, a fair number of verbs have the endings as follows: s - s - d or t - ons - ez - ent. Examples: Connaitre (To know): je connais - tu connais - il / elle / on connait - nous connaissons - vous connaissez - ils / elles connaissent -- Prendre (To take): je prends - tu prends - il / elle / on prend - nous prenons - vous prenez - ils / elles prennent.
Check this video about the Present Tense www.youtube.com/watch?v=OktGnM5lJ58 
Note: Most of the Regular and Irregular verbs of any group at Present have the same endings for the first 2 Plural persons: Nous ... ons and Vous ... ez. Examples: Nous avons, Nous allons, Nous pensons, etc. Vous avez, Vous allez, Vous pensez, etc. There are only few exceptions among common verbs such as Être, Faire, Dire.
> Course 5: To be (Etre) & To have (Avoir) -- The Reflexive Verbs
~~ Auxiliary Verbs Être and Avoir
Être (To be) is the most important verb in French (as in many other languages): Je suis; Tu es; Il / Elle / On est; Nous sommes; Vous êtes; Ils / Elles sont. 
Note: "To be" of English expressions is sometimes translated into Avoir (To have) in French. Examples: I am hungry / thirsty = J'ai faim / soif (I have hunger / thirst) - I am hot = J'ai chaud (I have warmth) - He is cold = Il a froid (He has cold) - You are right = Vous avez raison (You have reason) - etc. 

Avoir (To have) is used many times a day and is also used for the Passé Composé (Past tense - Course 14): J'ai (Elision of Je ai); Tu as; II / Elle / On a; Nous avons; Vous avez; IIs / Elles ont.   See above Note for To be.
Here is a video about Etre and Avoir: www.youtube.com/watch?v=84olv0BM4oY
My advice: Be careful in pronouncing the last plural persons of Être and Avoir, Ils sont / Elles sont and Ils ont / Elles ont: the "Liaison" [See Phonetic - Course P6] in Ils ont / Elles ont makes them sound like Ils zont - Elles zont. Pronouncing well the Z sound is important to avoid any confusion with Ils sont / Elles sont of the verb Être, where the S is strong. 
~~ The Reflexive Verbs: Around 15 % of everyday French verbs are "Réfléchis" (or "Pronominaux"). They are very important verbs used for any action made by / for self. Based on an "original" non-reflexive verb, they are always preceded by a Reflexive Pronoun (different from the Subject Pronoun). At the Infinitive, each of these verbs is preceded by "Se" or "S' ". In conjugation, the Reflexive Pronoun is placed just before the verb and is matching with each person: Me, Te, Se, Nous, Vous, Se. In some cases, Me, Te, and Se are shortened in front of a vowel or H, becoming M', T', S'  [Elision: Course 2]. Examples: My name is Thierry = Je m'appelle Thierry - She gets up at 6 am = Elle se lève à 6 heures (BUT: Elle lève la lampe non reflexive = She lifts the lamp) - You get ready = Vous vous préparez (BUT: Vous préparez le repas non reflexive = You prepare the meal) - They get dressed = Ils s'habillent - Nous nous amusons = We have fun - etc.
Note: In some case, the Reflexive Pronouns change even at the Infinitive to agree with the person; let's take S'assoir (To sit down) in the sentence "Now we are going to sit down" = Maintenant, nous allons nous assoir NOT Nous allons s'assoir - You are going to get dressed = Tu vas t'habiller NOT Tu vas s'habiller - etc.
Learners should know the meaning of these 10 Reflexive verbs: To wear the name of .. = S'appeler (Je m'appelle ...) -- To get up = Se lever (Je me lève) -- To wake up at = Se réveiller à (Je me réveille à ..) -- To get dressed = S'habiller (Je m'habille) -- To go to bed = Se coucher -- To get ready = Se préparer -- To sit down = S'asseoir -- To take care of = S'occuper de -- To stroll = Se promener -- To make a mistake = Se tromper.
Note: Some verbs are "Semi Reflexive" meaning they cannot be conjugated at all persons or are not really for actions by self. Example: Il s'agit de .. (It is about ..) has no other person than "il" (It).
> Course 6: Thirty One Important Verbs (in 2 parts)  
This course in 2 parts presents 6 special & important Irregular verbs with particular & frequent uses and 25 essential "everyday" verbs. Learners should already know To be (Etre) and To have (Avoir) at Present and the meaning of 10 important Reflexive verbs [see Course 5].
My advice: As you learn Irregular verbs such as Aller, Devoir, Pouvoir, Venir, etc, you will notice that most of them have a commune pattern at the Present tense. Let's take Aller and Venir: Je vais, tu vas, il va, nous allons, vous allez, ils vont and Je viens, tu viens, il vient, nous venons, vous venez, ils viennent. Did you find the pattern? Look at both of them: the first 3 persons Je, Tu, Il and the last person Ils, begin with the same letters, while both the 4th and 5th persons Nous et Vous use the Infinitive as a root (All.. & Ven..). There are only few exceptions such as the verbs Faire and Dire. This could help a bit in remembering many Irregular Verbs!     For the conjugation of all these verbs, visit www.leconjugueur.com 

1 - You first need to learn Six Special Irregular Verbs at Present tense. Why "Special"? Because they are used several times a day and each has different uses. 

~~ Aller (Irregular) means To go; example: Je vais au restaurant = I go to the restaurant. But the verb Aller is also used for the Near Future or Futur Proche such as I am going to... Example: "Je vais partir" = "I am going to leave". French people use the Futur Proche even for replacing the real Future tense: I will go to France in July = Je vais aller en France en juillet. The verb Aller is also used for the question How are you? Comment allez-vous? or Comment ça va? (Informal). Note: To a cab, "Take me to ... " = Je vais ... / Nous allons ... NOT "Prenez-moi .. " ( = Pick me up). Note: For "I went" to Paris / the US / Japan / etc. (To go Past tense), French often say J'ai été à .... (I have been) instead of Je suis allé à ....
~~ Devoir (Irregular) means To have to: Je dois partir = I must go. The verb Devoir can be used instead of Falloir (To be mandatory); French often use "Il faut ... " as It is mandatory to ... but Falloir requires to be followed by the Subjunctive while Devoir only requires to be followed by an Infinitive: I got to go = Il faut que je parte or Je dois partir. Until you know the Subjunctive, I recommend you use the verb Devoir for "It is necessary / mandatory to ...". Besides, at the Conditional tense, Devoir means "should": Il devrait (Cond.) arriver = He should be arriving. Devoir also means To owe.
~~ Faire (Irregular) means To do / To make. But it can be used for many other cases: for the weather: il fait beau = It's a suny day - for the temperature: Il fait froid = It is cold; Il fait 20 degrees = it is 20 degrees - for a caution: Fais attention = Be careful - for a request: Faites-moi plaisir = Do me a favor - for billing: Ca fait .. = The amount is .. - for shoe size: Vous faites du combien? Etc.  Note: Made in France = Fabriqué en France Not Fait en France.
~~ Pouvoir (Irregular) means To be able to, such as I can = Je peux. But Pouvoir at the Conditional Tense expresses a possibility or an option: Nous pourrions venir si nous avions le temps = We could be coming if we have time. Besides, the Interrogative form of Je peux (I can) is Puis-je (May I). Example: May I help you? = Puis-je vous aider? Not Peux-je.
~~ Venir (Irregular) means To come such as I come with you: Je viens avec vous. But it is also used to express an action that was just achieved: Examples: I just finished = Je viens de finir; We have just arrived = Nous venons d'arriver. In this case, Venir conjugated + "de" + Infinitive is alike Just + Past tense in English; There is NO other way in French to express Just + past tense.
~~ Vouloir (Irregular) means To want such as: I want = Je veux. But it is also used at Conditionnal for a request, for ordering: Je voudrais 1 baguette - I would like 1 baguette. My advice: In restaurants, it is better to say "J'aimerais" for ordering (it really means I would like) instead of Je voudrais (which means I would want). "J'aimerais" works better with French waiters: they generally become more attentive!  Je voudrais can be used in any other cases.
2 - Here are Twenty Five Essential Verbs you should know at the Present Tense:  (R) = Regular easy to conjugate
To arrive = Arriver (R) -- To ask = Demander (R) -- To buy = Acheter -- To call / phone = Appeler / Téléphoner (R) -- To drink = Boire -- To eat = Manger -- To give = Donner (R) -- To know (people & basic knowledge) = Connaitre -- To know (strong knowledge; not people) = Savoir  -- To leave = Partir -- To like / love = Aimer (R) -- To look for (Cab, location, subway) = Chercher (R) -- To need = Avoir besoin de -- To order = Commander (R) -- To pay = Payer -- To put = Mettre -- To reserve = Réserver (R) -- To say = Dire -- To stay = Rester (R) (in a hotel = Résider (R)) -- To take = Prendre (Cab: "Take me to .." = Je vais ..) -- To talk / speak = Parler (R) -- To understand = Comprendre -- To visit (only for locations) = Visiter (R) -- To walk = Marcher (R)  For the conjugation visit www.leconjugueur.com        More Verbs: Check G "Links of Interest" Section 2.
> Course 7: Les Formes Négatives
Do not skip the Negative Forms: Besides the Adverb "Non" (No), the French language, alike the English, includes several Negative forms according to the meaning. All French Negative Forms include 2 words  that are only surrounding the conjugated part * of a verb. Parisian people often skip the "ne" which is the first part of the French Negative but the second part MUST be placed in the sentence.
~~ Let's begin with the most often used: Ne ... Pas (Not). Examples: Je ne suis pas (I am not) - Je ne peux pas (I can't) - Nous n'allons pas (We do not go) - Il n'est pas venu (He didn't come) - Elle ne s'est pas levée (She didn't get up) - etc. In a Parisian way to speak, "ne" disappears: Je suis pas - Nous allons pas - etc.
* Negative Forms are never surrounding an Infinitive or a Past Participle [including in the Past tense - Course 14]. Examples: Ne pas Entrer (Do not enter) - Je n'ai pas mangé (I didn't eat) - Elle n'est pas venue (She didn't come) - etc.
Note: the 2nd word of a Negative is the most important one: Pas, Plus, Rien, Jamais, etc. See below.
~~ The other Negative forms are positioned the same way as Ne ... pas: Ne ... plus (Not anymore) - Ne ... rien (Not .. anything - Nothing) - Ne ... aucun / aucune (Not .. any / None) - Ne ... personne (Not .. anyone - Nobody) - Ne ... jamais (Not .. ever / Never) - etc. There is also the form Ni ... Ni ... (nor ... neither). Sometimes, negative are "reinforced" with a 2nd adverb. Examples: Je ne vais jamais plus au cinema (I don't go anymore to movie theaters).
My advice: Be careful with Ne ... plus (not anymore): do NOT pronounce the S of Plus; if you pronounce the S, it means "more". This is important because many French now skip the "Ne" of Negative Forms as for example: Je veux plus (S not pronounced) instead of Je ne veux plus which means I do not want anymore. When the S of Plus is pronounced as in Je veux plus, it means I want more. Pronouncing the S changes everything!
Note: Ne ... que is NOT a Negative Form: it means "only". Example: Je ne bois que de l'eau = I only drink water. Sometimes, Parisian people can also say: Je bois seulement de l'eau. Seulement = Only.
Note: Some Negative Forms can be "inversed" in few cases and there can also be 3 parts in an "inversed" Negative; Examples: Personne n'est venu (Nobody came) - Rien ne tourne plus rond dans le monde (Nothing goes well anymore in the world).
> Course 8: Interrogative Forms & Pronouns Who? How Much? When? etc. + At which...? In which ...?
Should we look at the Interrogative Forms? D'accord! (Ok!) There are 4 main systems of Interrogative forms in French! Add a 5th system for At which ...? In which ...? To which .. ?
1 - The most common forms are: Est-ce que (alike: Is .. ? - Are .. ? - Do .. ? - Did .. ? - Should ..? - etc.) followed by a normal sentence. Examples: Est-ce que le service est compris? (Is the Service included?) - Est-ce que vous avez des fruits? (Do you have fruits?) - Etc.  Qu'est-ce que is for any question beginning with "What" in English. Examples: Qu'est-ce que je dois faire? (What should I do?) - Qu'est-ce que c'est? (What is that / this?) - etc. 
Note: These 2 forms are NOT used with Interrogative Pronouns [See Paragraph 3].
2 - Less used is the "Reversed Interrogative" where the verb is before the subject alike in English: Êtes-vous le directeur? (Are you the manager?) - Aimeriez-vous une boisson? (Would you like a beverage?) - etc. This system is often used with Interrogative Pronouns [Paragraph 3 below].
Note: Unlike in English, the Reversed form is NEVER used with proper names such as Is James the director? For this case, French use Est-ce que..... Example: Est-ce que James est le directeur? [See Paragraph 1]
3 - The system with Interrogative Pronouns works as in English: the Pronoun is placed at the beginning of the sentence generally followed by a reversed form verb subject: Comment allez-vous? (How are you?) - Qui est-il? (Who is he?) - Que désirez-vous (What do you desire / want?) - Combien êtes-vous? (How many are you?) - Combien ça coute? (How much is it?) - Quand arrivez-vous? (When are you arriving?) - Où allez-vous (Where are you going?) - Pourquoi partez-vous (Why are you leaving?) - etc..  [See also: En and Y Course 21 - Qui & Que Course 22 - Which? Course 25] 
Note: An hyphen " - " or Trait d'Union is always placed between the reversed verb subject; this means you cannot insert any word between these 2 elements.
Note: More and more French people place the Interrogative Pronoun at the end of a "Direct" Interrogative sentence [below]: Ça coûte combien? (That cost how much?) - Tu pars quand? (You leave when?) - etc.
4 - The "Direct Interrogative": since the 60's the French are more and more often using a "direct" form without reversed Interrogative or without Est-ce que / Qu'est-ce que. The tone is higher at the end of the sentence. Examples: Vous voulez vous assoir? (You want to sit down?) - Je peux vous aider? (I can help you?) - Ça va? (It is going? Informal) - Etc.
Some videos to help: www.youtube.com/watch?v=isJQd5etn14  www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRQCi-Mvto0   www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLFcL6MRdx0
5 - At which ... ? In which .... ? The French Preposition "A" + quel or quelle are placed at the beginning of the Interrogative system # 2. Examples: In which hotel do you stay? A quel hotel résidez-vous? -- At what time .. ? A quelle heure ..? -- etc.
> Course 9: Numbers & Ranking (Les Nombres et le Classement)
~~ It's time to learn the Numbers from 0 to 20. Once you are comfortable with those numbers, you can go on to 100 [Course 17]. There is a small difficulty with numbers because they have a specific construction type from 1 to 16 then it changes for 17, 18 and 19 and again for 20. Examples: Zéro, Un, Deux, Trois, Quatre, Cing, Six, Sept, Huit, Neuf, Dix, Onze, Douze, Treize, Quatorze, Quinze, Seize, then Dix-sept, Dix-huit, Dix-neuf, then Vingt. Listen to their sound www.languageguide.org/french/numbers  www.youtube.com/watch?v=ifZZ_bAferU 
My advice: Make sure to pronounce well Deux (2 - Daeeh) and Douze (12 - Duuz) as well as Six (6 - Seess) and Seize (16 - Saze). Their sounds are close and confusions are frequent.
~~ Ranking numbers such as First, Second, etc., are actually pretty simple to remember in French: after Premier / Première (Fem.), all numbers are ending with "ième". Examples: Deuxième, ... , Quinzième, ... ,  Vingt et unième, ... , Cinquantième, ... , Soixante troizième, ... Centième, ... Millième, ... etc.
Note: The ranking numbers are important because they are used in any address with "Arrondissement" (Districts of the 3 largest French cities - There are 20 in Paris), as well as for floors, centuries, school grades, and sports. But for Days and Monarchs, only "Premier "(First) is used, then the numbering is normal: First of May = 1er (premier) mai - Third of may = 3 (trois) mai, NOT troisième mai --- King Louis the 14th = Roi Louis Quatorze, NOT Roi Louis le Quatorzième.
> Course 10: It is / This is / These are = Il est or C'est or Ce sont?
The confusing C'est and Il est are used a lot. Both Impersonal Expressions mean It is / This is. So when do we use C'est and when do we use Il est? Here are their most important allocations:
~~ C'est (Elision of Ce est) is used: with Proper Names (C'est Pierre) - with Stressed Personal Pronouns (C'est moi / toi / lui ..) - To emphasize on Adverbs or Adjectives for judgment without any noun (C'est bien / C'est vraiment loin / Ce n'est rien / C'est assez / C'est terrible / C'est intéressant / C'est jolie  / C'est possible / etc.) - To identify someone / something through a noun (C'est un docteur / C'est un chien / C'est un idiot / etc.) - To formulate an opinion (C'est une bonne idée / Ce n'est pas mon avis / Ce n'est pas ça / etc.) - To indicate a period but NOT the time (C'est lundi / C'est en mai / C'est trop tard / etc.). 
Note: The plural of C'est is "Ce sont" NOT Ces sont. Examples: Ce sont les Dupont - Ce sont les meilleures - etc.
Note: Ça (That) is never used with Être (To be)
~~ Il est is used for / with: The time & Simple Adverb for timing: Il est 8 heures / Il est 23 heures / Il est tard / etc. - To express doubt / possibility / assertion with a verb: Il est difficile d'y croire / Il est possible de le faire / Il est important de savoir / etc. "Il est" is also often used as He is or It is for Masculine or a Neutral Subject: Il est gentil / Il est dans l'armoire / Il est bleu / Il est long / etc. There is also a feminine: "Elle" is used for humans, female animals and objects at feminine: J'ai une nouvelle voiture; elle est confortable et économique (I have a new car; it is comfortable and economic)
> Course 11: Les Adjectifs Qualificatifs -- Le Comparatif & le Superlatif
Let's talk about the Adjectives such as Ancient, Good, Large, Old, Open, Red, etc. French Adjectives agree with the gender and number of their nouns. As I mentioned in Course 1, some Adjectives have their ending changing to adapt to the gender and number. French Adjectives never take a capital. There are 2 important rules to remember about Adjectives:
~~ Their positioning changes:
Rule number 1 for the Adjectives: B A G S  > French adjectives are placed before the noun only when they express Beauty - Age - Goodness - Size. Otherwise, they always go after the noun. Example: Une belle fille - Un bon gateau - Un vieux chateau - Une grande valise -/- Un camion rouge - Une femme élégante - Un ordinateur puissant - Une voiture rapide - etc. Some Adjectives are made from the Present Participle: Surprising = Surprenant - Alarming = Alarmant - etc.
Note: Be careful with "La dernière semaine" & "La semaine dernière". When dernier / dernière is before the noun, it means the last in series; when it is after the noun, it means the past one. Also: "Ancien" (Ancient / Former) can also mean Valuable when placed after the noun: Un ancien directeur (a former manager) BUT Un meuble ancien (a valuable / collectible piece of furniture). 
~~ Some Adjectives change before a Vowel or H:
Some adjectives have 2 masculine "versions" according to what letter follows: Nouveau (New at Masculine) become Nouvel (New at Masculine) in front of a vowel or H. Example: Un nouveau camion - Un nouvel ordinateur. Same change for Beau (Beautiful at Masculine) that becomes Bel (Beautiful at Masculine) in front of a vowel or H: Un beau chateau - Un bel arbre. Same for Vieux (Old) that becomes Vieil: Un vieux camion - Un vieil homme. Nouvel, Bel and Vieil are actually pronounced alike the Feminine Nouvelle, Belle, Vieille.
The Comparative and Superlative of Adjectives:
As .. than - The most - The .. est - The less .. - etc.
~~ The Comparative: alike in English, the Comparative is made of 2 words surrounding the adjective. To compare physical or mental features, as ... as  ... is translated by Aussi ... que ... . Example: Il est aussi grand que son père (he is as tall as his father). When the Comparative expresses an idea of quantity alike, as much / many as ..., or more than ... or less than ... , it is translated by: Autant .. que ... or Plus .. que ... or Moins .. que ... . Example: Il est plus grand que son père (he is taller than his father).
~~ The Superlative: unlike in English, there is no ending " ...est" such as The cutest. In the French Superlative, everything is alike The most + adjective or The less + adjective. Also, the definite article (The) agrees with masculine or feminine or plural: Le / La / Les plus ... (the most ..) or Le / La / Les moins ... (the less ..). Examples: The most beautiful = Le plus beau (Masc.) or La plus belle (Fem.) or Les plus beaux (Masc. Plural) or Les plus belles (Fem. Plural). There are also 3 special forms in Superlative: The worst = Le pire / La pire / Les pire --- The best = Le meilleur + object or person / La meilleure + fem. object or person / Les meilleurs + masc. plur. objects or persons / Les meilleures + fem. plur. objects or persons -- The best  + verb or verb + better for action is always Le mieux ... . Examples: Ça va mieux (It's going better) - C'est le mieux que je puisse faire (It is the best I can do) - Le mieux est de partir maintenant (The best way is to leave now / We better leave now). There is no Feminine or Plural agreement in this last case.
> Course 12:  To ...  &  From ... (Au, En, Aux, A & Du, De, D', Des) + Location
How to say .. to .. ( .. to the restaurant; .. to the opera; .. to France ..; etc.) and .. from .. ( .. from the office; .. from the station; .. from Japan; etc.)? They are not always the same for basic locations such as a house, a theater, a restaurant or for a country, a region, or a city [See also "Y" Course 21]. Besides, these Prepositions agree with the Masculine, Feminine or Plural of the location or country.
~~ Basic Locations such as Home, Restaurant, Theater, etc.: 
"To the" + masculine = Au .. -- "To the" + feminine = A la .. -- "To the" + word beginning with a vowel or H = A l'.. -- "To the" + plural (Masc. or Fem.) = Aux .. .
"From the" + masculine = Du .. -- "From the" + feminine = De la .. -- "From the" + word beginning with a vowel or H = De l'.. -- "From the" + plural = Des .. .
Note: "in" + basic location is translated alike "into" which is "Dans"; examples: In the garden = Dans le jardin - In the kitchen = Dans la cuisine - In the restaurant = Dans le restaurant - etc
~~ Countries / Regions / Cities and US States:   [Gender of countries / states: see the Note in Course 1]
"To.. " + Country masculine = Au .. -- "To .. " + feminine = En .. -- "To .. " + plural (Masc. or Fem.) = Aux .. -- "To .." + any city in the world = À .. . Note: in France / in the USA / in Egypt / etc. = Same translation as for "To ..." (not for US states: see next).
"To ... " + US States Masculine = Dans le .. ; except Texas = Au .. -- "To ... " + US States Feminine = En ..
"From the" + Country = Du .. -- "From the" + feminine = De la .. -- "From the" + word beginning with a vowel or H = De l'.. -- "From the" + plural = Des .. . -- "From the" + any city in the world = De... or D'...
"From the" + US States: Masculine = du .. -- Beginning by vowel =  D' .. -- Feminine = de la .. .
~~ In Interrogative: At / In which + basic location? The preposition "à" + quel or quelle are placed at the beginning of the Interrogative "Reversed" form [see Course 8]. Examples: à quel hotel résidez-vous? (In which hotel do you stay?) -- à quelle station descendez-vous? (At which stop do you get off?).
Note: For Schedule (stores, etc.) such as "From ... to ..." please, see "Time, Date, ..." chapter below
> Course 13: Little Words you need to know (Petits Mots à savoir)  Alphabetical order - Eng. to Fr.
Above = Au-dessus -- Actually = En réalité / En fait -- After = Après -- Again = Encore -- Ago = Il y a ... -- A bit of = Un peu de -- A lot of = Beaucoup de -- Already = Déjà -- Also =  Aussi -- As well = Egalement -- Always = Toujours -- Around = Autour de [Around + number: see Course 17] -- Because = Parce que -- Before = Avant -- Behind = Derrière -- Below = En-dessous -- Beside / On the side =  A côté -- Besides = En outre -- But = Mais -- By the way = Au fait -- Each = Chaque -- Even = Même -- Few + plural = Quelques -- Finally (As for ending) = Enfin -- First (Primarily) = D'abord -- From (time / date) = Depuis -- From [Locations: see Course 12] -- Half  ... = Demi - ... or Une moitié de ... -- Here = Ici -- However = Toutefois -- If = Si -- In front of = Devant -- In / Into = Dans [see also Course 12] -- Less = Moins -- Many = Beaucoup -- More = Plus (S pronounced) -- Never = Jamais -- No = Non -- Now = Maintenant -- Ok = D'accord / ok -- On = Sur (on Monday: see Vocabulary) -- Only = Seulement -- Or / Either = Ou (no accent on u) -- Over there = Là-bas -- Rather = Plutôt -- Since = Depuis -- So = Si -- Same = Même -- Several = Plusieurs -- Some + plural = Quelques -- Some + singular = Un peu de -- There is / There are = Il y a -- There = Là (accent on the A) -- Then = Ensuite / Puis -- To [Locations: see course 12] -- Too much = Trop -- Under = Sous -- Until = Jusqu'à  -- Very much = Très / Beaucoup (for Thank you - Merci) -- With = Avec -- Without = Sans -- Yes = Oui -- Yes as Oh Yes I did! answering a negative assertion = Si -- Yet = Encore  
Note: Interrogative Pronouns When, Where, Who, etc.: Course 8 paragraph 4 -- Important French Pronouns "En" and "Y": Course 21 -- Pronouns This, That, etc.: Course 25
> Course 14: The Past tense (Le Passé Composé)
The Past tense or Passé Composé (not to mix up with the Imperfect: see next)
The Passé Composé is used for any finished action. You must know the Participe Passé (Past Participle) of a verb to be able to conjugate / create the Past tense: The French Past tense is composed (Composé) with the Auxiliary verb Avoir conjugated at Present + the Past Participle (PP) of the verb. Examples: I wrote = J'ai écrit (Avoir + PP of Écrire) -- We ate = Nous avons mangé (Avoir + PP of Manger) -- He understood = Il a compris (Avoir + PP of Comprendre) -- We won = On a gagné -- You finished = Vous avez fini -- etc.
There are 2 groups of exception: Avoir is replaced by Être with 25 generic verbs such as Aller, Arriver, Descendre, Devenir, Entrer, Intervenir, Monter, Mourir, Naitre, Partir, Parvenir, Passer, Remonter, Rester, Retourner, Revenir, Sortir, Tomber, Venir, etc., and with all Reflexive Verbs [see Course 5]. Examples: I was born in 2000 = Je suis né en 2000 (Être + PP of Naitre) -- He went to the museum = Il est allé au musée (Être + PP of Aller) -- She became pretty = Elle est devenue belle -- I got up = Je me suis levé -- He washed (himself) = Il s'est lavé -- etc.      For the conjugation: www.leconjugueur.com
Note: 10 verbs accept either Etre or Avoir at Past tense and their meaning changes: Je suis passé chez moi (I went by my home) or J'ai passé du temps (I spent time) -- Je suis descendu à la cave (I went down to the cellar) or J'ai descendu les chaises (I brought down the chairs) - etc. These verbs are: Descendre; Passer; Monter; Redescendre; Remonter; Rentrer; Repasser; Retourner; Resortir; Sortir. 
Note: Some Grammar books mention the verbs of "Movement" as exceptions using Être at Passé Composé; it is not true: Bouger (To move), Danser (To dance), Courir (To run), Marcher (To walk), Voyager (To travel) are conjugated with Avoir at Passé Composé, as most of other verbs.
Note: Some verbs seem to be at the Present tense: I was born = Je suis né (Past Tense of Naitre).
Note: For "I went to Paris / to France / to Japan / etc.", see "Aller" in Course 6 Note: Aller is not always used. 
> Course 15: The Imperfect (L'Imparfait) is often used by French people
The Imperfect or Imparfait.
What is the difference between Passé Composé and Imparfait? As I mentioned above The Passé Composé is for any finished action; the Imparfait is for any action going on in the past (as for a story) or for a progressive past action such as: I was thinking - She was sleeping - They were running - etc. French people use the Imparfait a lot. Example: Where did you spend your vacations? J'étais en France (I was beeing in France - Continuing action in the past). Another use for the Imperfect is when a Conditional sentence begins with "Si" (if): If I could, I would come = Si je pouvais (Imperfect), je viendrais (Conditional). Imperfect always follows "Si" wherever it is placed in a Conditional sentence; the Conditional tense is never following Si. 
My advice: Many people spend a lot of time in learning verbs at the Imparfait. But there is a "system" to get any verb at the Imparfait. How? First, you need to know the Present tense (mandatory to speak any language - See Course 4): the Imperfect root (Le radical) of any verb comes from its 1st Person Plural at Present such as Nous avons, Nous arrivons, Nous connaissons, etc. Remove "Nous" and the ending "ons": Nous avons or Nous arrivons or Nous connaissons. Take "av" or "arriv" or "connaiss" then add the Imperfect ending for each person: ...ais, ...ais, ...ait, ...ions, ...iez, ...aient. Example: J'arrivais (I was arriving); Tu arrivais (You were arriving); Il / Elle / On arrivait; Nous arrivions; Vous arriviez; Ils / Elles arrivaient.  Être is the exception: the Imperfect root of Être is NOT the 1st person plural at Present, it is "ét ..." : J'étais, Tu étais, etc.  Here is a video www.youtube.com/watch?v=_6s8dqT6nB0
> Course 16: My, Your, His, Her, etc., > Possessives Adjectives (Adjectifs Possessifs):
The French Possessive Adjectives (for My, Your, His, Her, .. ) do NOT work as the English ones: their agreement does NOT care who's the owner / possessor; French Possessive Adjectives agree in gender and / or number with what is possessed.
-- French Adjectives for My, Your, His, Her, agree with the Masculine or Feminine or Plural of the possessed object(s): MY = Mon (Masc.), Ma (Fem.), Mes (Plur.) -- YOUR = Ton, Ta, Tes -- HIS/HER = Son, Sa, Ses. Examples: My bike = Mon vélo (Masculine object) - My car = Ma voiture (Feminine object) - His wife = Sa femme (Feminine) - Her computer = Son ordinateur (Masculine object) - His books = Ses livres (Plural objects)
-- French Adjectives for Our, Your, Their, agree only with the number of possessed object(s) and do not care about Masculine or Feminine: OUR = Notre (for 1 object); Nos (for 2 or more objects) -- YOUR = Votre (1 obj.); Vos (2 obj. +) -- THEIR = Leur (1 obj.); Leurs (2 obj. +). Examples: Our kid (A couple has only 1 kid) = Notre enfant - Their kids (A couple has 2 kids or more) = Leurs enfants. 
Note: For a better sound, Masculine Pronouns are used in front of a Feminine object beginning with a vowel or H: His / Her automobile = Son automobile > Son is used instead of Sa, despite Automobile is feminine; it sounds better with the Liaison: Son nautomobile instead of Sa // automobile.
> Course 17: More Numbers (20 to 100) & Around ...
~~ Numbers 20 to 100 and 1 difficulty! [0 to 20 and Ranking numbers: see Course 9]. You will certainly succeed in remembering all the numbers but you could be annoyed by 70, 80 and 90: the original easy counting Septante, Octante, Nonante, has been changed into Soixante-dix (60+10), Quatre-vingt (4x20), and Quatre-vingt-dix (4x20+10). Except in Belgium where Septante, Octante, Nonante are still used, you have to deal with the "new" weird construction of 3 numbers! By the way, in Geneva, they use Septante, Huitante (80), Nonante. Check this audio site for all the French numbers www.languageguide.org/french/numbers
Note: Americans must be careful with numbers: the dot (US) is replaced by a coma (Europe). See Course 27.
~~ Around 12, Around 100, Around 1000, etc. To express "Around ... ", the ending "aine" is added to a normal number and the article "Une" precedes it: Around 10 = Une dizaine - Around 12 = Une douzaine - Around 20 = Une vingtaine .. etc .. Around 100 = Une centaine ... This "system" is only used with 10, 12, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60 and 100. For any other cases, the word "Environ" is placed before the number. Example: Environ 15; Environ 25; Environ 70; Environ 1 million; etc. There is another exception: Around 1000 = Un millier.
> Course 18: The Future Tense (Le Futur)
The Future tense. As in English, the French language has 2 options for expressing an action in the future:
~~ The verb Aller (To go) conjugated at Present + verb at the Infinitive: I am going to leave = Je vais partir; this formula is known as the "Near Future" or Futur Proche [See Course 6 - Aller]. French people use it in many ways, even for a far coming event. Example: Je vais aller en France dans 6 mois (I am going to go to France in 6 months)
~~ The real Future tense is rarely used in everyday conversations except for organizing or scheduling. When you want to inform your colleagues / friends / relatives that you will do something specific at a particular moment, you can use the Future tense. Unlike in English, the French Future tense is directly built inside the verb. Examples: I will be there = Je serai là -- He will come back = Il reviendra -- We will see = Nous verrons.
To remember the Future tense of any verb, you need to remember 2 formulas. Formula 1: For 95% of the verbs, we use the Infinitive as root (Le Radical) such as Marcher, Finir, Comprendre. The verbs ending in RE just lose the "e".  Formula 2: the Future endings are the same as the verb Avoir at Present tense: ai, as, a, ons, ez, ont. Examples: Je marcherai; Tu marcheras; Il / Elle / On marchera, Nous marcherons, etc. -- Je comprendrai; Tu comprendras; Il / Elle / On comprendra; Nous comprendrons, etc.  There are exceptions: several everyday Irregular verbs do NOT use the Infinitive as the root and have their own root (coming from Latin) to which you add the normal Future endings. Examples: Être = Ser .. (Je serai) - Avoir = Aur .. (J'aurai) - Aller = Ir .. (J'irais) - Faire = Fer .. (Je ferai) -  Venir = Viendr .. (Je viendrai) - Pouvoir = Pourr... (Je pourrai) - etc.  For the conjugation, visit www.leconjugueur.com 
Note: As in English, the Present tense is also used for an action in the future: Il revient en juin (He comes back in June) - Dimanche, je vais chez des amis (On Sunday, I go to friends' home).
> Course 19: The Adverbs (Les Adverbes)
The Adverbs: There are many different Adverbs in any language. A large number of adverbs are constructed the same way in French and English: the root is based on an Adjective and the ending "ement" or .." ly " in English is added. Examples: Curious > Curiously = Curieux > Curieusement -- Serious > Seriously = Sérieux  > Sérieusement - etc. However, there are cases where the Adverb is specific: Very = Très - Really = Vraiment - Well = Bien - Fast = Vite - Etc. Some Adverbs have no direct translation: Fortunately = Heureusement (Happily) - Unfortunately = Malheureusement (Badly) - etc. Some French "Adverbs" are actually verbs with the ending ANT (Present Participle): Astonishing = Etonnant - Fascinating = Fascinant - Exhausting = Epuisant - etc.
Note: Adverbs are often after the verb: Je vais bien; Elle vient souvent; C'est très beau; Il pleut beaucoup; etc. 
> Course 20  ... it / ... them -- To me; To him; To her; To us; etc. (Object Pronouns):
Here come the Direct Object Pronouns and Indirect Object Pronouns: What are these Pronouns used for? In a sentence including a simple subject + verb, the Object pronoun replaces the related  / recipient person or object often mentioned in a previous sentence or part of sentence. Examples of English Direct pronouns: We see them - I warm it up - etc. Examples of English Indirect Pronouns: He spoke to me - They sent to them - etc. --- Both Pronouns together: He brought it to me - I send it to them - etc. Unlike in English, French object Pronouns are placed before the verb they are related with. Examples: Je vais vous donner  .. (I am going to give you .. ) NOT Je vous vais donner NOR Je vais donner a vous.
My advice: Remember that the presence of "to" before a Pronoun in English is the sign for Indirect Pronoun in French:  to me - to him - to you - etc.
~~ The Pronoms Directs ( ... It / ... Them) agree with the masculine or feminine or plural of the persons or objects: Le, La, Les and L' with Elision. Examples: I give it (Masc.) = Je le donne - I take it (Fem.) = Je la Prends - You order them = Vous les commandez - He sends it = Il l'envoie - etc.
~~ The Pronoms Indirects (to me, to you, to him, to her, etc.) agree with the recipient person: Me, Te, Lui (for both Masc. & Fem.), Nous, Vous, Leur. Examples: I send him / her = Je lui envoie - They give us = Ils nous donnent - You tell (to) them = Vous leur dites - etc.
~~ What about both Direct and Indirect Pronouns together in a same sentence? There is a "trick" in their positioning: Indirect Pronouns come first just before the Direct Pronouns except for Lui and Leur (both begin with L as for Losers) that go after the Direct P.: Examples: I give it to you = Je vous le donne - He gave it to me = Il me l'a donné BUT He gives it to him = Il la lui donne - They gave it to them = Ils le leur ont donné - etc.
Note: In very few cases, Indirect Pronouns go after the verb and is changed into a Personal Pronoun [Course 24]. For example, at the Imperative tense "Give it to me!" is translated by "Donne-le moi!" NOT Donne-le me! Nor Me le donne!
Note: Be careful with the expression about "Missing someone". It is inversed in French: "I miss you" actually become like You to me miss = Tu me manques or Vous me manquez (NOT Je vous manque = You miss me).
> Course 21  The Important Pronouns "En" and "Y" (No direct translation in English)
The important Complement Pronouns En and Y are often used by French people in many sentences all day long. There are several possible uses and translations for each of these 2 very important little words. I call them "representatives" because they represent or replace objects, persons, facts, etc., that was just previously mentioned. There are often used to avoid repetitions of names, words or expressions.
The Pronouns En and Y are placed just after the Subject (Pronoun, etc.) and before the related verb that is conjugated (not the Past Participle). In a Negative sentence [Course 9], they are placed just after "Ne", before the conjugated part of a related verb. In Reversed Interrogative forms [Course 8], they are placed at the very beginning of the sentence.
Let's begin with En:
~~ "En" is often used as "Some of", to express an undefined quantity and to replace a noun previously mentioned (animal, object, person, profession, etc.). Examples: Do you want some cake? Yes, I would like some of it. = Veux-tu du gateau? Oui, j'en veux -  Do you know a good restaurant? Yes, I know a good one = Tu connais un bon restaurant? Oui, j'en connais un - Do you have batteries? Yes, I have different kinds = Vous avez des piles? Oui, j'en ai differents types - Does Peter want some wine? No, he doesn't drink wine = Pierre veut un peu de vin? Non, il n'en boit pas - Would you like some more? = En voulez-vous encore? - etc
"En" also means "from there" as for a location one is coming from. Examples: You went to the office? Yes, I come from there. - Tu a été au bureau? Oui, j'en viens.
"En" is also used for other various cases such as: I am not sure about it (of it) = J'en doute - I agree about it (of it) = J'en conviens - Count me in = J'en suis - I don't believe in that = Je n'en crois rien - etc.
Now let's look at Y:
~~ "Y" is not as often used as "En": it generally replaces "there" as for To there or In there. Examples: Are you at the office today? Yes, I am there all day = Etes-vous au bureau aujourd'hui? Oui, j'y suis toute la journée - Let's go! = Allons-y! - Martine never goes there = Martine n'y va jamais - Are you going there = Y vas-tu? - etc.
"Y" can also be used as "about it" alike "of it" (see "En" above) and as "in it": J'y pense (I think about it) - J'y crois (I believe in it) - J'y compte bien (I hope so) - J'y suis! (I got it!) - J'y veillerai (I will make sure about it) - etc.
Check this video for the use and the sound of En and Y www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-atHyYgS28
> Course 22   That or Who / Whom / Whose = Qui or Que / A qui / Dont

~~ That / Who = Qui or Que. Do not make any confusion between these Relative Pronouns and the Interrogative Pronouns [Course 8] or the Demonstrative Pronoun That [Course 25].
Caution: Some English-speaking people think that the French Pronoun "Qui" is only used in interrogation and translated into Who, such as Who are you? Qui êtes-vous? But "Qui" can also be used as "that" as explained below.
First, let's look at That or Who in English: The car that passes - The man who talks - etc. In French, "Qui" (That / Who) connects the Subject to its Verb while "Que" (That) connects the Object to the "group" Subject + Verb. Examples: La voiture qui est rouge (The car that is red) - Le chien qui aboie (The dog that barks) - C'est l'homme qui parle (It's the man who speaks) --- Le café que je bois est bon (The coffee that I am drinking is good) - Le bus que je prends est rapide (The bus that I take is fast) - etc.
Note: English American sometimes skips "that": The computer (that) I use is gray. You cannot skip it in French: L'ordinateur que j'utilise est gris.

~~ With Whom = Avec qui: He is the man whom I talked with = Il est l'homme avec qui j'ai parlé

~~ Whose / Whom Interrogative = A qui / Pour qui: Whose car is that? = A qui est la voiture? - Whom is the gift for? = Pour qui est le cadeau?

~~ Whose for related object / person = Dont: The cat whose fur is black = Le chat dont la fourrure est noire - The girl whose father is a cop = La fille dont le père est policier  

> Course 23: Conditional -- Imperative -- Subjunctive

3 tenses that Beginner Confirmed and + need to know: Conditional - Imperative - Subjunctive Present. 

~~ Conditionel: This tense is used for hypothetic or conditional situations as well as for politeness. The good new is that the roots (Radical) of all verbs at Conditional are the same as for the Future tense [Course 18] and you just have to add the endings of the Imperfect [Course 15]. Examples: He would walk = Il marcherait (Same root as Future: Marcher + Imperfect ending ait ) -- We would go = Nous irions (Same root as Future: Ir + Imperfect ending ions ) -- I would like = J'aimerais (Same root as Future: aimer + Imperfect ending ais ) -- Could you ... ? = Pourriez-vous ... ? -- Would you want ... ?  Voudrais-tu ... ?  [see also "Tricky Stuff .." below]

Note: When "Si" (if) is part of a "Conditional sentence", the verb immediately following Si is always at the Imperfect tense; the other verb is at the Conditional. Example: If I was a rich man, I would buy ... = Si j'étais (Imp.) un homme riche, j'achèterais ... -- I would come if I could = Je viendrais si je pouvais (Imp.).

~~ Impératif: For suggestion or command, everyone uses the Imperative. There are only 3 persons for this tenses in French: 2nd person singular (familiar You); 1st person plural (speaker is part of a group as We); 2nd person plural (formal or to a group You). The Imperative is based on the Present tense without Subject Pronouns but there are 2 exceptions where the imperative is particular: Être and Avoir (based on the Subjunctive). Examples of Imperative: Come in! = Entrez (formal) -- Take a seat = Asseyez-vous (formal) -- Be kind ... = Soyez aimable ... (formal) -- Let's go = Allons-y! -- Etc.   Note: see Please in "Etiquette & Faux-Pas".

~~ Subjonctif Présent: This is probably the most annoying tense of the French conjugation and the English Grammar doesn't have any direct equivalent. It is mandatory after sentences or verbs expressing obligation, will, desire or supposition, as well as after some specific words such as Avant .. (before that ...), Jusqu'à ce ... (until that ...), Où que (Wherever that ...), etc. The Subjunctive Present always begins with "que" and is made of the first 3 Persons Singular and the last Person Plural at the Present tense, while the 1st and 2nd Persons Plural (Nous - Vous) come from the Imperfect. Of course, there are exceptions for the Irregular Verbs Etre, Avoir, Aller, Faire, Finir, Pouvoir, Prendre, Venir, etc. Examples (Complete sentences): You will have to walk = Il faudra que vous marchiez -- I got to go = Il faut que je parte -- I don't want you going alone = Je ne veux pas que tu ailles seule -- We are sorry that you cannot come = Nous sommes désolés que vous ne puissiez venir -- etc.

Note: To avoid the Subjunctive that is mandatory with the expression "Il faut .. " ( .. must ...), you can use the verb Devoir [Course 6] that is followed by the Infinitive: I got to go = Il faut que je parte or Je dois partir.    For the conjugation of these tenses, visit www.leconjugueur.com 

> Course 24:  Me, You, Him, Her, Us, You, Them (Personal Pronouns)

The Pronoms Personnels Moi, Toi (Informal), Lui, Elle, Nous, Vous, Eux (Masc. plural) / Elles (Fem. plural) are often used in French: they emphasize on an individual or allow to designate a specific person in a group or a particular group. At the Imperative, they sometimes work as Indirect Object Pronouns [Course 20] and are placed just after the verb. Examples: Lui, c'est le directeur (Him, it is the manager) -- Moi, je m'appelle Pierre (Me, I am Pierre) -- Eux? Ce sont des amis (Them? They are friends) -- Habille-toi! (Get dressed) -- Dépêchons-nous! (Let's Hurry up!) -- etc.

> Course 25: This; These -- That -- Which ..? Which one ..?  .. of which ..

~~ This; These: the French Pronoms Démonstratifs agree with the Masculine or the Feminine of the object / person: Ce (with Masc.) - Cet (with Masc. beginning with Vowel or H) - Cette (with Fem.). "These" (Plural) is always translated into Ces. Examples: Ce train - Ce garçon - Cet homme - Cet arbre - Cette femme - Cette automobile - Ces trains - Ces hommes - Ces femmes.

Note: The T of Cet is not pronounced [Phonetic - Course P4] but it is heard in the Liaison [Phonetic - Course P6]. Example: Cet arbre = Cè tarbre.

~~ That  (alike This or It) is translated into Ça. This Pronoun is never used with any object nor with Être (To be) except in "Ça y est!" (It's done!). Examples: C'est ça! = That's it! -  C'est quoi ça? = What is that? - Comment ça va? How is it going? - Ça marche! = It's working / ok / fine with me - Ça suffit! = It's enough! - etc.

Note: Do not make any confusion with the Relative Pronoun "... that ... " = ... que ... [Course 22]

~~ Which is translated in French by a Pronoun agreeing with the gender and number of the object: Quel (Masc.) - Quelle (Fem.) - Quels (Masc. Plural) - Quelles (Fem. Plural). The good news is that the sound is the same whatever the spelling. Examples: Quel étage? (Which floor?) - Quelle heure est-il? (What time is it?) - A quel endroit? (At what location / place?) - Quelles sont les nouvelles? (What are the news?) - A quelle heure est la réunion? (what's the schedule for the meeting?) - etc.

~~ Which one? (choice): This Interrogative Pronoun is for a choice between several persons or objects is translated into: Lequel (Masc.) - Laquelle (Fem.) - Lesquels (Masc. Plural) - Lesquelles (Fem. Plural). Again, the pronouns agree with their object(s). Examples: Which one (fem.) would you like? Laquelle aimeriez-vous? - Which ones of these glasses (Masc. plural)? Lesquels de ces verres? 

~~ ... of which ... (about which) / .. whom .. = "dont". This form is not always used in American English. There is not any agreement for this French pronoun and the ending "t" is not pronounced. Example: The man {of which} I am talking about = L'homme dont je parle [See also Course 22: That / Whom / Whose].
> Course 26: Forme Progressive (To emphasize an action going on)
~~ To emphasize or to underline an action going on, French use a particular formula: verb Etre conjugated at Present + en train de + Infinitive. Examples: Right now, I am working on a project = En ce moment, je suis en train de travailler sur un projet - The kids are sleeping since 8 pm = Les enfants sont en train de dormir depuis 22 h. Note: This form is sometimes used to express "impatience": Come on, I am working = Allons, je suis en train de travailler!
> Course 27: The Punctuation of prices - La Ponctuation des prix
~~ The punctuation is the same in most European languages. But Americans must be careful about the punctuation of prices: in the USA, they are written this way: $0.50 - $4.90 - $200.10 - 1,000,000.50. In France and other European countries, prices are written this way: 0,50€ - 4,90€ - 200,10€ - 1.000.000,50€ - etc. The DOT in US prices is replaced by a COMMA in European prices but the "saying" is almost the same way: 50 centimes - 4 euro 90 - 200 euro 10 - 1 million d'euro 50
z

III - EVERYDAY VOCABULARY AND EXPRESSIONS
When 2 words in English and French seem alike, there is 95 % chance they have the same meaning.
But be careful about the "False Friends": see Chapter D

> Vocabulary and Expressions - Vocabulaire et expressions

Everyday stuff + What does the clerk / vendor / waiter say? How to address them? How to order? Etc.: (no audio) http://speakfrenchenough.blogspot.com  Eng.
For the sound of basic vocabulary: www.languageguide.org/french/vocabulary   Eng.
2500 French words mostly with audio: http://french.about.com/od/vocabulary/a/audiodictionary.htm (In the site click on each letter) Eng.
Vocabulary explanations with some audio www.frenchlearner.com/vocabulary  Eng.
Etiquette, False Friends, etc.: see Chapters D, E and G "Links of Interest", Section 4.

> Greetings and Politeness  See also Chapter E for important Etiquette rules
Hello / Hi = Bonjour or Bonsoir (after 5 pm). NEVER use "Salut" it is informal.  Good morning = Bonjour.
How are you? = Comment allez-vous?  NEVER use "Ca va?" it is informal. 
Note: French do not say Comment allez-vous? to salute / greet someone as it is said sometimes in the USA.   
I am well, thank you, and you? = Je vais bien merci, et vous?.
Note: French never ask "How are you?" to cab driver, vendor, etc. nor to people they meet for the first time.
Good bye = Au revoir
See you soon (you will meet again) = A bientôt -- See you later (same day) = A plus tard -- See you later (in the next 2 or 3 hours) = A toute à l'heure. See you later Informal between friends: A plus / A toute.
Note: The preposition "A" before an Adverb of time or a day means "See you". Examples: A bientôt = See you soon - A plus tard (or "A plus" informal or "A+" in an informal email) = See you later - A demain = See you tomorrow - A lundi = See you Monday - A la semaine prochaine = See you next week - etc.
Have a good / nice day = Bonne journée (used before 2 pm) -- Have a good afternoon = Bonne après-midi (used at lunch time).
Have a good evening = Bonne soirée (used after 4 pm). French often wish a good evening.
Note: Bonne soirée is used as Good night with any people, even at 11 pm or 12 am. See next. 
Good night = Bonne soirée - Bonne nuit is only used with close friends and relatives: it is alike "Sleep tight".
Please = S'il vous plait > Only when you ask for something or for a service.
Please = Je vous en prie > When you do a favor to someone: Please come in / sit down = Entrez / Asseyez-vous, je vous en prie.
Thank you = Merci -- Thank you very much = Merci beaucoup -- Thank you so much = Merci infiniment.
You're welcome = Je vous en prie (formal) - De rien (popular way) - Y'a pas de quoi.
Excuse-me / Sorry / I beg your pardon / etc = Excusez-moi   French often say "Pardon" for sorry / excuse-me.
I will be (right) back = Je reviens (tout de suite) -- One moment please = Un instant s'il vous plait
Could / Can you ....? = Pouvez-vous ...? - Do you have ...? = Avez-vous ....?
Check your pronunciation: www.languageguide.org/french/vocabulary/time/
More vocabulary for politeness, phone, business, shopping, request, etc > http://speakfrenchenough.blogspot.com  (no audio)
> Time, Date, Days, etc - L'heure, la date, les jours, etc. 
For little words such as "From", "Until", "Ago", etc., please go to Course 12

The time (Le Temps): The word "Temps" is not used to ask or tell the time. It's the word "Heure" (Hour). To the question "Quelle heure est-il?" (What time / hour is it?), the answer is "Il est .. " (It is) followed by: A - Informal or B - Formal / Official. See below.  

A - The informal / friendly way is only used with relatives or friends that are in the same time region (Tourists don't use / hear it too much): Minuit (Midnight) - une heure (1 am) - deux heures (2 am) - trois heures - etc. ... Midi (noon) - une heure (1 pm) - deux heures (2 pm) - etc. - Minuit moins une (11:59 pm) --- ... 15 minutes = " ... et quart", for example Deux heures et quart (2:15 am or pm);  ... thirty minutes / half = " ... et demi", for example Midi et demi (noon and half - 12:30 pm); a quarter to ...  = " ... moins le quart", for example Dix heures moins le quart (a quarter to 10 am / pm). 

B - The formal / official way is mandatory for any appointment, transportation, store schedule, theaters, etc., or when you talk to anyone who is not in the same time region. There is not any AM or PM in French; it is a military time where only the word "heure" is used (NO "Midi", NO "Moins le quart", etc.) and everything else is in numbers: AM > 00h00 or Zéro heure (12 am) - 1h00 or Une heure (1:00 am) - 2h30 or Deux heures trente (2:30 am) - etc. ... PM > 12h00 or Douze heures (12 pm) - 13h00 or Treize heures (1:00 pm) - 14h45 or Quatorze heures quarante-cinq (2:45 pm) - ... - 16h10 or Seize heures dix (4:10 pm) - ... - 18h00 or Dix-huit heures (6:00 pm) - ... - 23h59 or Vingt trois heures cinquante neuf (11:59 pm) - Then another day begins: 00h00 or Zéro heure (12 am) ... etc. There is NO "24 heures" of course: it would mean that a 25th hour is beginning! But the expression is sometimes used for a whole duration: "Les 24 heures du Mans" (The 24 hours of Le Mans) is a famous car race that lasts 24 hours.
For the Pronunciation, visit the audio site www.languageguide.org/french/vocabulary/time/

Note: At what time .... ? = A quelle heure ... ? 
Note: Stores post their schedule this way: "Ouvert de 8 à 20 heures sauf dimanche et jours fériés" (Open from 8 am to 8 pm except Sunday and Holidays).

The Date and Day (La date et le jour)

~~ What is the date? Quelle est la date? C'est / On est le 24 mars 2014 or 24 / 03 / 2014 (it's March 24, 2014) - On est le lundi 24 mars (It's Monday, March 24, 2014).  
Note: After the verb, the article "le" comes first, followed by the day and the number before the month and the year. See the important Note below about the English on + day.
Note: Only the first day is "ranked" as First = Premier: Le premier mai (First of May); Le premier septembre (First of Sept.). All other days have a simple numbering: le 2 (deux) mai, not le deuxième mai; le 14 (quatorze) septembre, not le quatorzième septembre, etc.

~~ What day is it? Quel jour est-on? C'est / On est lundi (It's Monday). Here are all the days: Lundi (Monday) - Mardi - Mercredi - Jeudi - Vendredi - Samedi - Dimanche.
Note: There is NO article or preposition before a day alone without the date number; therefore "on" before a day is not translated. If "le" is placed before the day alone, it means "each". Examples: C'est jeudi (It's Thursday) -- C'est le jeudi (It's each Thursday). Also: "A" + day means "See you .. ": A lundi = See you Monday - A samedi = See you Saturday [more in "Greetings" above]

~~ The whole day = La journée - Daily = Quotidien / Quotidienne - The morning = Le matin - The afternoon = L'après-midi - The evening = Le soir - The whole evening = La soirée - The night = La nuit - The day before yesterday = Avant-hier - Yesterday = Hier - Today = Aujourd'hui - Tomorrow = Demain - The day after tomorrow = Après-demain -- The week = La semaine - Weekly = Hebdomadaire.

The Month (Le mois)

Months starting with January: Janvier - Février - Mars - Avril - Mai - Juin - Juillet - Aout - Septembre - Octobre - Novembre - Décembre -  Monthly = Mensuel - A trimester = Un trimestre -- Quarterly = Trimestriel.

The year = Une année (used with words) or Un an (with numbers). Examples: L'année prochaine (next year) - Il y a 20 ans (20 years ago).   Happy New Year = Bonne année    All my best wishes = Tous mes voeux
Check your pronunciation: www.languageguide.org/french/vocabulary/time/
> Prices, Directions, Measurements, Weight, Weather - Prix, directions, mesures, poids, temps. 

~~ Prices (Le prix) in France (and most Europe) include a coma instead of a dot and the currency is written after the number: 0,90€ (90 Centimes; Euro is not mentioned) - 2,30€ (Deux euros trente) - 56€ (Cinquante six euros) - 100,05€ (Cent euros cinq).
Note: In France, all prices are posted "TTC" = All taxes included. The VAT or TVA is 20% in France and Germany. "HT" or "Taxe non comprise" means Tax not included -- "Frais en sus" means Fees not included.

What is the price? = Quel est le prix? -- How much does it cost? = Combien ça coute? -- How much? = Combien? (Cashier, Taxi fare, Tickets) -- What is the rate? = Quel est le tarif? (Insurance, etc).

~~ Direction (La direction): Straight ahead = Tout droit (T not pronounced) - To the right = A droite - To the left = A gauche - In front = Devant - Behind = Derrière - Near by = Près de - Beside = A côté de.

North = Nord - South = Sud - West = Ouest - East = Est (Ending consonants pronounced for the last 3 words).

~~ Measurement, Size & Distance (La mesure, La taille & La distance) 

- How tall are you? Combien mesurez-vous? / Vous mesurez combien?  I am ...  Je mesure (meters & centimeters: 5'11 = 1,80 mètre -- 5'5 = 1,56 m.)
- Clothing and shoes (Sizes are not the same in France, compared to USA and UK):

What is your size (shoes)? = Combien faites-vous? / Vous faites du combien?  Je fais du ....  

What is your size (clothing)?  = Quelle est votre taille? Je fais du ....

Conversion: www.onlineconversion.com/clothing.htm

- Length & Distances (France uses the Metric System):

1 centimètre = 0.393 inch -- 1 mètre = 3.280 feet -- 1 kilomètre = 0.620 mile

How long / large is it?  Combien ça mesure? Ça fait .... 1 mètre - 200 mètres

How far (in kilometers) is located ... ?  A combien de kilomètres se trouve ... ?  C'est à 30 kilomètres.

Conversion: www.onlineconversion.com/length_common.htm

~~ Weight (Le poids)

1 kilogramme = 1000 grammes or 2.2 Pounds. 1 livre (Pound) = 500 grammes or half a kilogramme. 1 tonne = 1 ton

What is your weight? Combien pesez-vous? Je pèse ... 60 kgs (133 pounds) - 80 kgs (176 pounds) - etc 

How much does that weight? Combien ça pèse?  Ça pèse une livre (500 gr. / 1Lb) - 10 kgs (22 pounds) - etc. 

French still use "la Livre" (the Pound) for weight of vegetables, fruits, butter, when it's under the kilo: Une livre de fraises (1 pound of Strawberries) - Une demi-livre de beurre (Butter stick 250 gr.) - etc.

Conversion: www.onlineconversion.com/weight_common.htm

~~ Weather (Le temps)   

Weather forecast / Weather = La Météo -- What is the weather? = Quel temps fait-il? 

It's a beautiful day! = Il fait beau -- It's hot / cold / humid / rainy / stormy / windy = Il fait chaud / froid / humide / pluvieux / orageux / venteux - It's freezing = Il gèle - It's raining = Il pleut - It's snowing = Il neige - The wind = Le vent - A tempest = Une tempête - A storm = Un orage - The thunder = Le tonnerre - A lightning = Un éclair - Ice on the road = Verglas - A hurricane = Un ouragan - A tornado = Une tornade.
Note: Temps can also means: Time (that goes; See above) or Tense of Conjugation, NEVER Temperature.
~~ Temperature (La température - never "Temps"): Temperatures in Europe are in Celsius. Example: Il fait combien? Il fait 25 degrés (It is 25 degrees = 77 degrees)    Conversion site: www.onlineconversion.com/temperature.htm 

D - Tricky Stuff in French - Pièges du français

THOSE RULES / WORDS THAT TRICK EVERYBODY

These are the most common mistakes I hear during classes

~~ "Tu" or "Toi"? You should always use Vous as a formal You. Only when you know well a person, you can use the Informal "Tu". But what is "Toi"? The Pronoms Personnels "Moi", "Toi", "Lui", "Elle", etc. [Course 24], are used to emphasize on a person. When someone asks Comment vas-tu? (Informal "How are you?"), the good answer is: Bien, et  toi? (well, and you? informal), NOT Bien et tu ?

~~ "On" is alike "We" or "One" or "it", as for 1 group where the speaker includes self. It is singular: On est le 25 juin ("We" are / It's June 25th) - On va commencer ("We" are going to begin) - En France, on aime le pain (In France, "we" like bread) - Qu'est-ce qu'on entend? (What do "we" hear? What is this noise?) - etc.

~~ The English "Could" has 2 possible translations in French: it can be translated into the verb Pouvoir at the Conditional or the verb Pouvoir at the Imperfect. Examples: Could you give me... ? = Pourriez-vous (Cond.) me donner ... ? -- If I could, I would come = Si je pouvais (Imp.), je viendrais -- I could think = Je pourrais (Cond. Hypothetic) penser or Je pouvais (Imp. Past action) penser.

~~ Be careful with the Negative Ne ... plus (Not ... anymore): Do NOT pronounce the S of Plus; If you pronounce the S, it means "more". This is important since many French skip the "Ne" of Negative forms. For example, you can hear: Je veux plus (S not pronounced) which means I do not want anymore or Je veux plus (S pronounced) which means I want more. Pronouncing the ending S or not changes everything. [Course 7]

~~ Caution: Ne ... que is NOT a Negative form: it means "only". Examples: Je ne bois que de l'eau = I only drink water. [Course 7]

~~ Specific verbs for specific statements: Il est (it is) > for the time: "il est 8 heures" (It's 8 am); il est 20 heures (it is 8 pm) -- On est > for the day: "On est lundi" (it is Monday) -- Il fait (it makes) > for the weather & temperatures: Il fait beau / chaud / froid / mauvais - Il fait 22 degrés / etc. (It is a beautiful day / it is warm / cold - It's 22 degrees) -- C'est (It's) > To give the date or to describe something or express a judgment: Aujourd'hui, c'est le 30 juin (Today it's June the 30th); C'est bon (It's good); C'est beau (It's beautiful); C'est chaud (It's hot - food, liquid, etc.); C'est dommage (It's a pity) -- etc. [see next]

~~ The Verb Avoir (To have in French) is sometimes used instead of To be in English, for some basic statements: J'ai faim / soif > I have hunger / thirst (I am hungry / thirsty) - J'ai froid > I have cold (I am cold) - J'ai 30 ans > I have 30 years (I am 30 year old) - Vous avez raison > You have reason (You're right) - Nous avons fini > We have finished (We finished) - etc.
~~ Don't double the subject with Il / Elle: "Pierre, il est gentil" should be "Pierre est gentil" or "Cette femme, elle parle anglais et francais" should be "Cette femme parle ...."; etc. But there are few cases where it is allowed: "Ma femme et moi, nous allons souvent en France". (My wife and I, we often go to France).
~~ People vs Person: In French, "Les gens" or "Des gens" (People) is always plural. If you want to count individuals, you need to use "Personne": There is a lot of people = Il y a beaucoup de gens -- There are 2 people / persons = Il y a 2 personnes -- How many people? = Combien de personnes?

~~ Conditional Sentence with If (Si): when "Si" (if) is part of a Conditional sentence, the verb following "Si" is always at the Imperfect tense; only the second verb is at the Conditional. Example: If I was a rich man, I would buy ... = Si j'étais un homme riche, j'achèterais ... -- If I could, I would come = Si je pouvais, je viendrais.
~~ I like it / I love it: English speaking people translate "I like it" by "Je l'aime" which means I love her / him. It should be: J'aime bien (nothing after) or J'aime ça (for food / beverage) or J'aime + article & object or verb at infinitive. "I love it" is translated into "J'adore ça".

~~ Position that changes the Adjective meaning: Be careful about the positioning of "dernière": La dernière semaine or La semaine dernière? When dernier / dernière is before the noun, it means the last of a series; when it is after the noun, it means past. Also: "Ancien" means Valuable when placed after the noun but when it is before the noun it means Former: Un meuble ancien (a valuable / collectible piece of furniture) - Un ancien directeur (a former manager). [More details: See Course 11]
~~ Verbs with a (too) close sound: be careful pronouncing these verbs that have a close sound: Attendre (To wait) - Atteindre (To reach) - Entendre (To hear) - Étendre (To spread) - Éteindre (To extinguish / To turn off) --- Apporter (To bring) - Emporter (To take out / away) - Importer (to import). There a couple of other cases with less important consequences if the pronunciation is wrong.
~~ They do NOT exist in French: the verb Departir for To leave; it's Partir. But Departure = Départ -- The verb Ascendre for To go up; it's Monter. But Ascenseur = Lift -- Descendre = To go down.
~~ Do NOT place any article / preposition before a day alone: I come on Monday = Je viens lundi -- I stay for 3 days = Je reste 3 jours -- etc. BUT: He comes every Monday = Il vient le lundi -- Also, the preposition "A" before a day or Adverb of time means "See you": A mardi = See you Tuesday - A demain = See you tomorrow - etc. On the other hand, before a date number you need to place "le": On est le 24 avril - C'est le 2 juin.
~~ Only the first day is "ranked" in French, other days have a "normal" numbering. Examples: Le premier avril; le premier septembre BUT le 2 avril or deux avril (NOT le deuxième avril); le 15 septembre or quinze septembre (NOT le quinzième septembre). This rule also applies for sovereigns: Francois 1er (Premier) - Louis 14 (Quatorze - NOT le quatorzième). A complete ranking is used for Arrondissements (city districts), Floors, Centuries, School grades, Sport. Example: Le vingt et unième siècle (The 21st century).
~~ "à" or "de" or no preposition? After these verbs followed by a verb at the Infinitive, you should put: Je commence à ... -- Je finis de ... -- Je veux (no prep.) ... -- Je sais (no prep.) ... -- Je vous demande de ... - Je vous remercie de + verb ... But: Je vous remercie pour + noun
~~ Very, Very much & Much more: French do not say "Très beaucoup" for Very much. Thank you very much is simply translated into "Merci beaucoup" or to show appreciation "Merci infiniment". "Vraiment" is used as "Very" (really) with adjectives expressing a top feeling or high judgment such as: Extraordinaire, Horrible, Incroyable, Merveilleux, Prodigieux, Superbe, Terrible, etc. The expression Much more is translated into "Bien plus".  

FALSE FRIENDS - FAUX AMIS

These are the most confusing

         English  >  French                                                              French  >  English    

   Actually = En fait / En réalité         > >           Actuellement = Now / At the moment
  Administration = Gouvernement                   Administration = Public services
  To Address (issue) = Résoudre                    Adresser = To send by post   S'adresser à = To address someone
  To Assume = Supposer                                Assumer = To take responsibility  Assumer la charge de = To be in charge of
  To Attend = Assister à  / Participer à            Attendre = To wait     S'attendre à .. = To expect (action / event)
  I am comfortable (people) = Je suis à l'aise    Confortable (French) is for furniture or clothing, never for people
  Department = Service / Rayon (store)          Un département = Administrative district of France (geography)
  Detour = Une déviation (mandatory)            Un détour = detour you decide to do (not mandatory)

  Engaged = Fiancé                                        Engager = To hire
  Entrée (US - Food) = Un plat                        Une entrée = Appetizer / Entrance
  Escrow = En dépot or En tierce main           Escroc = Swindler / Crook
  Eventually = Finalement                               Eventuellement = Possibly
  Gratuity (tip) = Un pourboire                         La gratuité = Free of charge 
  To introduce self = Se présenter                  Introduire = To put something into something / To initiate a topic

  Issue = Un problème                                    Une issue = Exit      Issue de secours = Emergency exit    
  Journey = Un voyage / Un périple                Une journée = An entire / whole day   A day = Un jour
  License (vehicle) = Permis                           Une licence = Diploma (Master)

  Location = Un lieu                                        Une location = Rental
  Patron = Client                                             Patron = Boss
  Position (job) = Emploi; Poste (Mascul.)         Une position = A physical position of the body 
  To post a notice = Afficher                           Poster = To post a letter / package
  Prescription =  Une ordonnance                  Une prescription = Legal ending of penal pursuit
  Presentation = Un exposé                           Une présentation = Showing a product, etc.
  Preservative = Un conservateur                  Un préservatif = Condom
  To register = S'inscrire                                 Enregistrer = To record (Music, voice, etc.)
  To resume = Reprendre / Redémarrer         Résumer = To summarize
  To return = Rendre / Retourner (location)    Retourner = To go back / To turn something over

  Résumé = Un Curriculum Vitae or CV         Un résumé = A summary of book, movie, etc.
  Sensitive = Sensible                                     Sensitif = Sensory
  Sentence =  Une phrase                              Une sentence = Penalty by court of law

   To report = Informer / Faire un rapport        Reporter = To postpone / To copy out

  Take me to ... (Taxi) = Je vais ....                   Prendre = To pick someone up (Taxi / car) / To take (object) 

  Tour (museum) = Une visite guidée             Un tour = Traveling around; Trick        Une tour = Tower

  Vacancy = Libre (room) / Vacant (job)          Vacances (always Plural) = Vacation

For Spanish-speaking people

  Entender = Comprendre             > >             Entendre = Escuchar

  Comprar = Acheter                                       Comprendre = Entender / Comprender / Incluir

w

                             E - Etiquette & Faux-pas (All these words are French)

~~ Never say "Salut" for Hello: it's very informal or for teens!  Use "Bonjour" or "Bonsoir" (after 4 pm). 

~~ Never say "Ça va?" for How are you?: It's very informal! It's "Comment allez-vous?" If you know a bit the person or to a teen you can say "Comment ça va?" (How is it going?).
~~ When can you say "Tu" (You informal)? "Tu" is used with friends and relatives. However, French are more "relax" nowadays and quickly get "familiar" with people they know a bit. Wait for a person to say "Tu" to you or to say "On peut se tutoyer" then you have the green light to use "Tu". Otherwise, you must use "Vous".

~~ Madame or Monsieur: The first time you meet someone or to any clerk, cab driver, Police officer, etc., you must say "Madame" or "Monsieur". With a kid or teen, you can avoid this formal way. For a young woman who is not married, French sometimes use "Mademoiselle" (it is now banned from any administrative document). 
~~ French people do not use the First name (Given name) when they meet someone for the first time and even the second time: they say Monsieur or Madame. If a French person uses your first name or says "Appelez-moi par mon prénom" (Address me using my first name) then you have the green light to use their First name.

~~ Do not directly translate the English sentence "I am ... " (Je suis ...) to give your name; It is "Je m'appelle .. ". However, if you include your position for business purpose, you can say "Je suis John Doe, professeur ... " or "Je suis Cathy Doe, directrice (VP) du service ..".

~~ French people rarely ask "Comment allez-vous? (How are you?) the first time they meet someone or to any cab driver / clerk / vendor, etc. They just say "Bonjour" or "Bonsoir". At a dinner or cocktail party, the first time, you can say Bonjour / Bonsoir, enchanté (Hello, glad) then give your name (+ job title for business purpose)

~~ Never use the French verb "S'introduire" for To introduce self; It is "Se présenter". Example: Let me introduce myself ... = Je me présente .. - Let me introduce you to ... = Je vous présente ....

~~ To a cab driver: Do NOT say "Prenez-moi ... " for "Take me... ". You are actually saying "Pick me up ... ". The right way is: "Bonjour, je vais ..." or "Bonjour, Nous allons ... " (2 passengers +).
~~ Do NOT say A bientôt (see you soon) to people you will probably never see again (cab driver, vendor). You can just say Au revoir (Good bye) or if you want to be agreeable, you can say Bonne journée (Have a nice day) before 1 pm or Bonne soirée (Have a nice evening) after 3 pm. Note: Bonne nuit (Good night) is familiar.
~~ Sorry; Excuse me; I apologize, etc. The French language has many way to say "Sorry". I recommend "Excusez-moi" because it works for everything from a simple apology to Excuse me when you want to ask something. On the other hand, French people use a lot "Pardon" to say Sorry and they answer "Y'a pas de quoi" or "De rien" for "It's all right". If you are sorry for someone that has a problem or if you apologize for a mistake or for being late, then you can use "Je suis désolé".
~~ Please is NOT "S'il vous plait" when you do a favor to others (with Imperative); it's "Je vous en prie": Have a seat please = Asseyez-vous, je vous en prie -- Please, come in = Entrez, je vous en prie -- After you, please = Je vous en prie. If you say "Entrez, s'il vous plait" it means "Move in now!". "Je vous en prie" is also used for "You're welcome" but the French people often say "De rien" or sometimes "Y'a pas de quoi". Of course, "S'il vous plait" (Please) is used to ask for something or for a service.
~~ "It is / was my pleasure" is NOT translated into "C'est / C'était mon plaisir.". The right (formal) way is: "Tout le plaisir est / était pour moi". "Ça m'a fait plaisir" is more cordial / friendly.
~~ "Au plaisir" is short for Au plaisir de vous revoir (It will be a pleasure to see you again). This sentence is not often used and is old way / country style. The formal way is: A bientot j'espère (See you soon I hope).
~~ In restaurants and cafés, it is better to say "J'aimerais" for ordering (which really means I would like) instead of "Je voudrais" (which means I would want). French always use Je voudrais but actually "J'aimerais" works better with French waiters: they are surprised and are more attentive and kind!
~~ I am so excited ... Be careful with the translation of "excited": In French, "Je suis très excité" can have a sexual connotation if you address someone. It is better to say: "Je suis très heureux(se)" as you see someone again or "Je suis très impatient(e)" when you expect something. However, French sometimes say "T'excite pas" or "Arrête de t'exciter" to friends or kids as a calming remark.
~~ I am confused should not be translated into Je suis confus, which means Sorry for my mistake. The good translation is: Je suis troublé or Je ne comprends pas.
~~ I thank you for ... (also in email / letter): Je vous remercie de + verb -- Je vous remercie pour + noun.
~~ Thank you for coming = Formal: Je vous remercie pour votre présence - Friendly: Merci d'être venu
~~ Bless you is A vos souhaits (formal) or A tes souhaits (informal). "Souhaits" means Wishes but it is not used for the new year wishes or for best wishes (See next).
~~ Best wishes / New Year wishes: For these wishes, French use "Voeux": "Tous mes voeux pour 2015" (All my wishes for 2015) - Tous mes voeux de Bonheur (All my wishes of happiness) - etc. See previous line.
~~ Good luck is not used the same way in French: Bonne chance (Good luke) is ONLY used for gambling and games. To cheer someone, French people say "Bon courage" (Keep courage) or "Bonne continuation" (mostly used in the countryside).
~~ Bon Appétit is alike Enjoy your meal / eating. Only the host / hostess are allowed to wish Bon Appétit at a dinner party, not the guests. In a restaurant, it's only the waiter / waitress / Maitre D who should use this expression. Enjoy your drinks is "A votre santé" (To your health); anyone can say "A votre santé". "A la votre" is familiar.
~~ A plus or A+: the informal expression "A plus" (A+ in emails) stands for A plus tard = See you later.
~~ Take Care do not exist in French. The closest is "Bonne continuation" (as for Good bye) but it is not used in main cities. "Prends soin de toi" as Take care of yourself is informal, only for the family.

F - Practicing - Pratiquer

As you stop using a second language for more than 4 months, you lose data and reflexes. Practicing requires at least 3 hours a week .. for ever!
What is the best way in Practicing?  Quel est le meilleur moyen de pratiquer? 
The answer is evident: Spend some time in France on regular basis! Ok but what if one cannot do that? There are several options according to the level: To take private lessons with a French native tutor (live or by phone); To attend group sessions of a Language center such as the Alliance Française (everywhere in the world); To read Newspapers, listen to Podcasts and/or watch movies [see "Links of Interest" Section 7 below]; To have a French friend who is serious and patient enough to chat with you on regular basis every week (hard to find!). 

Suggestions for practicing by level
- Beginners (after 3 months of lessons - A1 or 103 to 104) should "secure" their knowledge in Grammar and vocabulary. But at this level, practice is also about phonetic: it's a good idea to visit (again) these audio sites www.languageguide.org  http://french.about.com/od/vocabulary/a/audiodictionary.htm Most of the Beginners need to converse with a French tutor to get trained in understanding French sentences!

- Confirmed Beginners (6 months of lessons - A2 or 201) should regularly listen to podcasts in easy French such as www.podcastfrancaisfacile.com  After few weeks, if they feel comfortable with the French language, Confirmed Beginners can watch the news www.france24.com/fr/ (English version available) or a movie with English subtitles. Lessons with a French native tutor is a necessary complement to this work. See also "Links of Interest " Section 7 below.
- Intermediate and over (B2 and over - 301, etc.): must read articles in magazines or newspapers, watch French news, documentaries, and movies with French subtitles. Of course, conversation with French natives are the best for progressing. See also "Links of Interest" Section 7 below.
w 

G - Links of Interest - Liens Intéressants
Please let me know about any broken link: frenchinnewyork@aol.com

Chin   Deutsch   Eng   Esp  Jap   Pol   Port  = Language other than French available on a site

1 - About France & French stuff (General Info in English or French)                           v QUICK FIND v

850 French Websites in any field http://frenchwebsites.blogspot.com Half of them in Eng. + other lang.

About France and the French http://allmyfrenchblogs.blogspot.com Eng

About France (for tourism, etc.) http://knowaboutfrance.blogspot.com Eng

About Paris (for tourism, etc.) http://knowaboutparis.blogspot.com Eng

Almost everything about studies www.curiosphere.tv/ 
Distances, Size, Weight conversion www.onlineconversion.com                                                 <<  CONVERSION
European Union - Union Européenne http://europa.eu/index_fr.htm  Multi language

Francophonie Organization www.francophonie.org  Arab Eng  Esp
French American Exchanges www.facecouncil.org Eng
French Cultural Centers worldwide www.ifmapp.institutfrancais.com/les-if-dans-le-monde
French Cuisine & French Wines http://frenchwinesandfrenchdishes.blogspot.com Eng
French events in the US + News on line http://frenchmorning.com Fr & Eng
French History summarized + France Today: http://frenchhist.blogspot.com/ Eng
For all Francophiles & French Culture lovers around the world www.planetfrancophile.com
Maps of France, of Paris, of regions, etc: http://mapvisitfrance.blogspot.com/ Eng
Paris Interactive Map http://plan.paris.fr/
5000 pictures of France  www.france-voyage.com/travel-photos                                         
Photos from the works in French museums www.photo.rmn.fr/
2 - Help in Learning (Phonetic, Grammar, Conjugation, Business, Exercises)   See also "Podcasts" in Practicing

- Phonetic & Pronunciation                                                                                                              <<  PHONETIC
Audio site: www.languageguide.org    www.languageguide.org/french/grammar/pronunciation  Eng    
Audio site: www.languageguide.org/french/grammar/pronunciation/old.html  Eng
Audio site: http://phonetique.free.fr/alpha.htm 
Audio site: www.lepointdufle.net/apprendre_a_lire1/ain.htm#.UxzW4k2YZVc
Audio site: www.cod.edu/it/streamingmedia/academicaudio/French01/french_01.html Eng
Sound of many French words http://french.about.com/od/vocabulary/a/audiodictionary.htm  Fr. to Eng. (in the site, click on the letters)
Numbers sound: www.languageguide.org/french/numbers
Phonetic Correspondences (no audio) http://ielanguages.com/frenchphonetics.html Eng

- Grammar                                                                                                                                        <<  GRAMMAR
Note: I do not mention any Grammar correction sites; I tested several sites and got too many mistakes.
All levels audio www.cod.edu/it/streamingmedia/academicaudio/French01/french_01.html  Eng

All levels www.laits.utexas.edu/tex/  Eng
All levels www.bbc.co.uk/languages/french/mafrance/html/syllabus.shtml   Eng
All levels www.lepointdufle.net
All levels http://french.about.com/od/grammar/   Eng
Intermediate and + www.bonjourdefrance.com   www.synapse-fr.com/grammaire/GTM_0.htm
Advanced and +: www.synapse-fr.com/grammaire/GTM_0.htm
- Conjugation
Conjugation: any French verb www.leconjugueur.com  No need to speak Fr.
Conjugation: any French verb www.conjugation-fr.com 
Conjugation: any French verb http://la-conjugaison.nouvelobs.com 
Some Importants Verbs http://french.about.com/od/specificverbs/   Eng
- 129 most important French verbs
http://monsu.desiderio.free.fr/atelier/freqverb.html  Check also Course 6
- Numbers Spelling
Type a number to get the French spelling: http://leconjugueur.lefigaro.fr/frnombre.php
- Thematic / specialized French (Business, Commerce, Résumé, etc.)                                           << THEMATIC
Note: It is necessary to finish with the Beginner Confirmed level before to study Thematic French.
Dictionary Business & Commerce  www.e-anglais.com/ressources/glossary.html  Eng to Fr
At Work - From Confirmed Beginner level  www1.rfi.fr/lfen/pages/001/liste_cva_anglais.asp Eng to Fr  Copy & past
Many fields - From Confirmed Beginner level  www.bonjourdefrance.com/index/indexfranaff.htm
Various fields - From Confirmed Beginner level   www.lepointdufle.net/specialite.htm
Various fields - From Intermediate level  www.francaisenaffaires.com
- Level Evaluation
Beginner Confirmed and +  www.french-in-cannes.fr/fr/testeval_fr.php#test_evaluation
- Exercises                                                                                                                                        <<  EXERCISES
Levels above True Beginner http://avosplumes.org/teachers/grammar-exercises-beginner/ 
Levels above True Beginner www.bbc.co.uk/languages/french/mafrance/html/syllabus.shtml   Eng  Click Units then Activities
Levels above Beginner (only few subjects) www.columbia.edu/~ab410/drills.html some Eng
Levels above Beginner Confirmed audio www.lepointdufle.net/ressources_fle/exercices_de_francais.htm#.U7nP7U1OVVd
Levels above Beginner Confirmed http://leconjugueur.lefigaro.fr/exercice
Levels above Intermediate http://la-conjugaison.nouvelobs.com/exercice/
- Vocabulary: see paragraph 4 
3 - Books (Buying or Renting)   See also Literature in Practicing
Books for students and others with discount www.gibertjeune.fr Delivery in France only

Find various French books through www.amazon.com Type in Search: French Grammar  Eng
Good Grammar books delivered worldwide: www.bookdepository.com Type in Search: French Grammar   Eng
Hachette Publisher Teachers & Students site www.hachette-education.com
NYC French Institute Library www.fiaf.org/library/index.shtml Eng  (Largest French Library in the US; also rents DVD's)

4 - Dictionaries, Vocabulary & Translation  
Note: Be very cautious with online translation. I tested many sites and got several serious mistakes.

Dictionary Larousse www.larousse.fr/dictionnaires/bilingues  (sold at Amazon.com)
Dictionary online www.french-linguistics.co.uk/dictionary Eng
Dictionary Expressions and Terms www.mediadico.com/dictionnaire/expression
Dictionary definitions http://dictionnaire.reverso.net  Any language
Dictionary Business & Commerce  www.e-anglais.com/ressources/glossary.html  Eng to Fr
Vocabulary                                                                                                                                      <<  VOCABULARY
Vocabulary (audio) www.languageguide.org/french/vocabulary   Eng  
Vocabulary & Expressions (no audio) http://speakfrenchenough.blogspot.com/  Eng       
Vocabulary (Partly audio) www.frenchlearner.com/vocabulary   Eng 
Vocabulary & Expressions No audio www.bbc.co.uk/languages/french/mafrance/html/glossary/vocaba.shtml Eng
2500 words (mostly audio): http://french.about.com/od/vocabulary/a/audiodictionary.htm (In the site click on each letter) Eng.
Encyclopédie du français www.encyclopedie-incomplete.com + click Dictionnaire
Encyclopédie générale www.universalis.fr

Thematic French: translation in any field  http://dictionnaire.reverso.net    Any language
Translation (Compare translations of 2 or 3 sites to make sure it's right)                                             <<  TRANSLATION
Dictionary online www.french-linguistics.co.uk/dictionary  Eng
Translation online http://leconjugueur.lefigaro.fr/frtraduction.php
Translation online any professional terms http://dictionnaire.reverso.net/  Any language
Translation online www.wordreference.com  Any language
Translation online http://tr.voila.fr/  Any language
Find a professional translator www.proz.com  Eng  or contact me at frenchinnewyork@aol.com

5 - Learning Programs  See also "Podcasts" in Practicing      * Rating by users / students     $  Pay programs 
* About French language www.bonjourdefrance.com
*** Easy Duolinguo (select the language)  www.duolingo.com  Eng
** Easy French with BBC www.bbc.co.uk/languages/french  Eng
* Easy French for Beginners Confirmed and + www.francaisfacile.com
** French language in many fields for Beginners Confirmed and + www.tv5.org click on "Langue francaise"
** French Accent Magazine on line + paperback for all levels www.frenchaccentmagazine.com  $ 
*** Fluenz www.fluenz.com  Eng    $
** Frantastique www.frantastique.com  Deutsch  Eng  Esp   $
** Improve your French with Alliance Francaise www.fiaf.org/frenchclasses/elearning-speedlingua.shtml  Eng   $
* Learn French at home: www.learnfrenchathome.com/ Eng    $
** Pimsleur: www.pimsleur.com  Eng    $
6 - Level Evaluation + DELF, TEF, Citizenship, etc.                                     <<  EVALUATION
Beginner Confirmed and +  www.french-in-cannes.fr/fr/testeval_fr.php#test_evaluation

DELF Test preparation  www.bonjourdefrance.com/preparation-delf/index.html
TEF Test preparation  www.francais.cci-paris-idf.fr/telecharger-francais-3-0/
7 - Practicing: News, Literature, Magazines, Movies, Podcasts, Conversation, Radios, TV, Videos, Kids, etc.

Broadcasting Daily News  (see also TV below)                                                                                     <<  PRACTICE
Archives News and Documentaries www.ina.fr/   Video
France Info Radio www.franceinfo.fr     with APP for cell phones

France Television JT www.francetvinfo.fr/replay-jt   Video                                                                       <<  NEWS

France 24 - Worldwide French News Channel www.france24.com click "Francais" on the top right     Video

French Televisions Channels to watch on Internet www.frenchtv.to   Video
Radio France International RFI www.rfi.fr
Books and Literature on line
Books selection www.livres-a-lire.net
Books on line from the French National Library http://gallica.bnf.fr/?&lang=FR

Canal Académie with audio  www.canalacademie.com 
Download Books on your PC www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/search/?query=French+Language
Free i-books in French www.ilivri.com/catalogue Scroll down to Edition numerique gratuite

Literature with audio www.litteratureaudio.com
Magazines & Newspapers    # magazines & newspapers sold worldwide
# French magazines worldwide (190 countries including the USA) www.uni-presse.fr
European Press Translated www.voxeurop.eu/fr 
# Les Echos Finance newspaper  www.lesechos.fr

France Amerique magazine (sold in the USA) www.france-amerique.com
Le Canard Enchainé (news, satirical) http://lecanardenchaine.fr  (presentation only)
# L'Express magazine (alike Time, Moderate) www.lexpress.fr
# Le Monde newspaper  www.lemonde.fr
Le Monde Diplomatique www.monde-diplomatique.fr
# Le Nouvel Obs (alike Time, Social Democratic) http://tempsreel.nouvelobs.com
# Le Figaro newspaper (news, Conservative) www.lefigaro.fr
Liberation newspaper (news, Left) www.liberation.fr/
L'Equipe newspaper (sports) www.lequipe.fr
Marianne newspaper (news, satirical) www.marianne.net
# Paris-Match magazine (alike Time, Conservative) www.parismatch.com
Sciences en ligne www.scienceenligne.ca

Movies (free & legal)     See also "Videos" below                                                                                   <<  MOVIES
Archives movies, documentaries, TV, etc. www.ina.fr/
Movies with French subtitles http://flecampus.ning.com/profiles/blogs/cinema-dossier-pedagogique-fle in the site scroll down for the list

YouTube: Search for "Le Gitan" -  "Melodie en Sous-sol" - "Les Visiteurs" - "Le Placard", etc. Keep them using http://keepvid.com
Music & Songs
Archives documentaries, songs, TV, etc. www.ina.fr/
Free French songs to download www.auboutdufil.com/
Music  http://mediatheque.cite-musique.fr/masc/
Music: www.max2son.fr/
Podcasts (Baladiffs) & I-Tunes                                                                                                           
Easy French (Beginner Confirmed and +) www.podcastfrancaisfacile.com                                       <<  PODCASTS
France Info Radio (Intermediate and +) www.franceinfo.fr/programmes-chroniques/podcasts

Improve your French (Beginner Confirmed and +) www.synapse-fr.com/CordialPocket.htm
Radio France (Intermediate and +) www.radiofrance.fr/espace-pro/podcast-radio-france
RFI  Radio France Internationale (Intermediate and +) http://direct-radio.fr/radio/podcasts/480
French Radios (Intermediate and +) www.telerama.fr/radio/  Podcasts on the right side at mid-page

Various subjects in French (Intermediate and +) www.canalacademie.com   Podcasts at the bottom of site in "Contenu"
I-tunes Lessons (Beginner) https://itunes.apple.com/us/itunes-u/bon-depart-beginners-french/id380227515?mt=10 Eng
I-tunes Lessons (Beginner) https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/coffee-break-french/id263170419?mt=2 Eng
I-tunes Lessons (Interm.) https://itunes.apple.com/podcast/learn-french-daily-lessons/id322504749?mt=2 Eng
Live Conversation
French-speaking people worldwide (Intermediate and over) www.contactsfrancophones.com
In the USA, for Beginner Confirmed and above: contact me for details about phone conversations together: frenchinnewyork@aol.com
Practice with Speedlingua with the Alliance francaise www.fiaf.org/frenchclasses/elearning.shtml 
The French Institute Library NYC organizes conversations & debates www.fiaf.org/library/index.shtml  > Programs
In NYC? Check also this  http://library.fiaf.org/smedia/img/docs/practicefrench.pdf
Radios Stations (on the internet and on the air)                                                                         <<  RADIOS & TV             

Europe 1  www.europe1.fr
France Info www.franceinfo.fr  with APP for cell phones

Dozen of French Radios on line www.telerama.fr/radio/

Radio France (several stations in various fields): www.radiofrance.fr
Radio France International  RFI  www.rfi.fr  Can also be received live on air in many world regions (see in the site)
RTL Radio station www.rtl.fr
TV Channels (on line, by cable or satellite worldwide)

A dozen of French Television Channels to watch on the Internet www.frenchtv.to 
France 24 - Worldwide News Channel www.france24.com click "Francais" on the top right

TV5 Monde - Worldwide Channel in French with news, series, movies, etc www.tv5.org

TIVI 5 - Worldwide Channel in French for Kids and Teens www.tv5.org/TV5Site/tivi5 
NOTE: In the USA, "Dish Network" has a bouquet of 8 French Channels by satellite

Videos on line (free & legal)    See also "Movies" above

Archives movies, documentaries, TV, etc www.ina.fr/
Business www.bonjourdefrance.com/index/indexfranaff.htm
BBC Learning French: French videos with subtitles  www.bbc.co.uk/languages/french/talk/ 

ARTE Videos http://videos.arte.tv  Deutsch

Cartoon series by the French German Channel ARTE www.youtube.com/watch?v=6O1RnkGISBE

1970 Series: 1st World Mobile Police Brigade in Paris  www.youtube.com/watch?v=E8KiezBVPyk
Culture and Education Videos http://education.francetv.fr/
France Televisions Videos www.francetelevisions.fr

Videos on line  www.flevideo.com 

YouTube: Search for "Maigret" - "Brigades du Tigre" - "Les 5 Dernieres minutes" - etc. (To keep them: http://keepvid.com )

Kids                                                                                                                                                  <<  KIDS / TEENS
Books selection www.livres-a-lire.net

Games according to grades www.ecoledecrevette.fr/
Games all ages (kids) www.jeuxpourenfants.org
Games 4 to 10 y. old www.jeuxenfants.fr

TIVI 5 - Worldwide French Channel For Kids and Teens www.tv5.org/TV5Site/tivi5 

Teens
Books selection www.livres-a-lire.net
Culture and Education Videos http://education.francetv.fr/

Games and Tests: www.1001ados.com

Games www.divertissez-vous.com

Music: www.max2son.fr/
Music:  http://mediatheque.cite-musique.fr/masc/

Test your Culture www.quizz.biz

TIVI 5 - Worldwide French Channel for Kids and Teens www.tv5.org/TV5Site/tivi5 
Sciences en ligne www.scienceenligne.ca

8 - Improving, Specializing, Games, etc.

Almost everything for studies www.curiosphere.tv/ 
At Work - From Confirmed Beginner level  www1.rfi.fr/lfen/pages/001/liste_cva_anglais.asp Eng to Fr  Copy & past
Business from Intermediate level  www.francaisenaffaires.com
Crosswords with audio www.bbc.co.uk/languages/french/news/crossword/flash/

Culture site of the French Institutes www.culturetheque.com  Eng
Diplomacy: Le Monde Diplomatique www.monde-diplomatique.fr
Forum du droit / laws www.lexagora.net 

Games www.divertissez-vous.com

Easy French www.francaisfacile.com
Encyclopédie générale www.universalis.fr

Encyclopédie du français www.encyclopedie-incomplete.com

French Institute Library NYC www.fiaf.org/library/index.shtml  Eng

850 French websites http://frenchwebsites.blogspot.com Half of them in English and in other languages 

Practice with other French-speaking people (around the world) http://french.meetup.com/
Psychology www.psychologies.com

Reading with Languageguide www.languageguide.org/french/readings/

Sciences & Technology Minister http://www.science.gouv.fr/

Test your Culture www.quizz.biz 

Various subjects www.canalacademie.com 

Various subjects www.cerimes.fr/le-catalogue.html
Sciences en ligne www.scienceenligne.ca

9 - Schools Worldwide - Studying in France                                    <<  STUDYING IN FRANCE
Alliance française schools all over the world www.alliancefr.org/   Eng
Alliance française school Paris www.alliancefr.org Chinese, Deutch, Eng, Ita, Japan., Portug.
Art History, Museology, etc at Le Louvre www.ecoledulouvre.fr/  Eng  Esp
Arts at Ecole des Beaux-Arts, Paris www.ensba.fr/international/international.htm     English version????
Cooking at Le Cordon Bleu school www.lcbparis.com  Eng
Cooking at Alain Ducasse school  www.alain-ducasse.com  Eng
Cooking at Lenotre school www.lenotre.com/FR/Sections/Partage
Cooking classes in French www.atelierdeschefs.fr
French classes at Claudine's: study French in Burgundy www.lefrancaischezclaudine.com
French schools in the world www.scola.education.gouv.fr/
French classes in various French cities www.france-langue.fr   Multi language
French courses on the Riviera www.institutdefrancais.com Eng 
French classes on the Riviera www.azurlingua.com  Multi language

French American Cultural Organization: French courses in the US www.facecouncil.org Eng
French as a Second Language: FLE organization www.fle.fr Deutsch Eng Esp

Foreign degrees recognized in France www.ciep.fr/enic-naricfr/index.php Deutsch Eng Esp Portu

French American Exchanges www.facecouncil.org Eng
DELF test preparation www.bonjourdefrance.com/preparation-delf/index.html
Grants to study in France www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/france/studying-in-france/finance-your-studies/ Chin Deutsch Eng Jap Portug
Level evaluation (Beginner Confirmed and +) www.french-in-cannes.fr/fr/testeval_fr.php#test_evaluation
Language centers in France  www.fiaf.org/frenchclasses/study-abroad.shtml  Eng
School of Audio Visual Arts www.ina-sup.com Eng
Studying in France www.campusfrance.org/fr/ Eng Esp
Travel studies in France http://francehorizons.com Eng Pol Esp
Université La Sorbonne Paris www.english.paris-sorbonne.fr/ Eng
Université Sciences-Po www.sciencespo.fr/ Eng
University life in France www.crous-paris.fr/
Workshop at the Technology Museum Paris www.villette.com/fr/agenda/ateliers
Voyages en Français / Vacations in French www.voyagesenfrancais.fr
- Lodging in France for Students                                                                                         <<  STUDENT LODGING
Au Pair www.afj-aupair.org/apfrance.htm Eng
Au Pair www.frenchamericancenter.com/english/aupair.asp Eng
Housing for students www.crous-paris.fr/

Living in France www.campusfrance.org/en/page/finding-a-place-live Eng Esp
Low rates room for foreign students (must speak French) at a senior's home www.leparisolidaire.fr/

10 - Teachers / Instructors (non French-native and others)                                         <<  FOR TEACHERS
All about the French language www.bonjourdefrance.com

About France www.discoverfrance.net

All about France and the French http://allmyfrenchblogs.blogspot.com
Canal Académie with audio  www.canalacademie.com 
Culture and Education Videos http://education.francetv.fr/
Culture site of the French Institutes www.culturetheque.com 
DELF test preparation www.bonjourdefrance.com/preparation-delf/index.html
850 French websites in any field http://frenchwebsites.blogspot.com
Evaluation (Beginner Confirmed and over)  www.french-in-cannes.fr/fr/testeval_fr.php#test_evaluation 
Exercises: all levels above Beginner www.columbia.edu/~ab410/drills.html
Exercises: all levels above Beginner confirmed http://leconjugueur.lefigaro.fr/exercice
Exercises: all levels above Intermediate http://la-conjugaison.nouvelobs.com/exercice/
French as a Second Language: FLE organization www.fle.fr  Deutsch  Eng  Esp
French events in the US + News on line  http://frenchmorning.com
General teaching www.tenseignes-tu.com   
Levels evaluation (Beginner Confirmed and +) www.french-in-cannes.fr/fr/testeval_fr.php#test_evaluation
Many Related Links http://fle.asso.free.fr/liens/
Phonetic / sound of many French words: http://french.about.com/od/vocabulary/a/audiodictionary.htm  Eng.
Phonetic explanations / correspondences: (no audio) www.frenchlearner.com/vocabulary  Eng.
Teaching a Second Language www.didacticlang.eu/fr/
Thematic French studies www.francais.cci-paris-idf.fr/numerifos
Translation of thematic terms http://dictionnaire.reverso.net/  Any language
TV5 Monde (Worldwide French Channel with various learning pages) www.tv5.org  Click "Langue Francaise" at the top
- - Vocabulary: see 4

- - My Résumé / Mon curriculum: http://curriculumtbdl.blogspot.com/

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