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Kieran Ball

The whole of the French language can be broken down into several different structures. If you take any sentence from any French book or any utterance, you will see that it fits into one of these structures.

I remember one weekend, I was writing some lessons for the week ahead, when I suddenly realised this. I noticed that there are a certain number of structures in French, and that every sentence follows one of these structures. I spent the rest of the weekend working out all the structures, and I wrote them all down.

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The whole of the French language can be broken down into several different structures. If you take any sentence from any French book or any utterance, you will see that it fits into one of these structures.

I remember one weekend, I was writing some lessons for the week ahead, when I suddenly realised this. I noticed that there are a certain number of structures in French, and that every sentence follows one of these structures. I spent the rest of the weekend working out all the structures, and I wrote them all down.

Every structure you learn gives you the ability to say a huge amount. Some structures are used more than others, but all the structures together make up the whole French language. Once you’ve learnt how a structure works, all you have to do is insert different words into the slots and you have a sentence.

This course introduces you to structure 9. I’ve limited each course to one structure so as not to overburden you. By looking at just one structure at a time, you can really get to grips with it and understand its usage. It will help to clarify the French language and make it more like a reflex rather than something you have to think about as is it were a maths equation.

Each structure can also help to propel you to fluency; if you can manipulate the structures at high speed, you can start to say anything you want without having to thing about how to say it.

This course contains plenty of practice opportunities for you to revise what you’ve learnt and it also contains some hints and tips on how best to learn and memorise the structures and the vocabulary that goes with them. You’ll learn how to make questions out of structure 8, how to make statements and how to turn positive statements negative.

The Building Structures in French series is set out using the same learning techniques as the 3 Minute French courses. You can work through the course in three minute chunks, enabling anybody to learn French, no matter how little time you have.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Learn about the ninth structure in the french language
  • Get to grips with how easy it is to manipulate this structure and say what you want with it
  • Get plenty of opportunity to practise using this structure
  • Learn about how in french, you use the word "quand" differently to how you use "when" in english
  • Complete lessons in 3 minute chunks – perfect for the busy learner
  • Build your own sentences without memorisation
  • Get more familiar with the future tense in french
  • Speak from the very first lesson

Syllabus

Introduction
Chapter 2
Chapter 1
Chapter 2a
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Breaks down the French language into manageable structures, which can help beginners grasp the fundamentals more easily and build a solid foundation
Offers lessons in short, three-minute chunks, making it easier for learners with busy schedules to fit language learning into their day
Focuses on a single structure at a time, allowing learners to deeply understand its usage and avoid feeling overwhelmed by too much information
Emphasizes building sentences without rote memorization, which can help learners develop a more intuitive understanding of the language
Provides practice opportunities to revise what has been learned, reinforcing understanding and retention of the material
Highlights the differences between the usage of "quand" in French and "when" in English, addressing a common point of confusion for English speakers

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Reviews summary

Structure 9 french grammar explained simply

According to learners, this course offers a clear and structured approach to understanding a specific aspect of French grammar: Structure 9. Students appreciate the breakdown into manageable 3-minute chunks, which makes learning easy to fit into a busy schedule. The focus on building sentences logically rather than just memorizing rules is highlighted as a highly effective method. Reviewers mention that the course provides ample practice opportunities and helps clarify potentially confusing points, such as the use of 'quand'. While largely positive, some learners note that focusing on only one structure might require prior knowledge or supplemental learning for a broader understanding of French.
Helps clarify specific grammar points.
"The explanation of 'quand' was very clear and finally made sense to me."
"Understanding how Structure 9 works has cleared up a lot of confusion I had."
"The future tense part was explained well, building on the structure."
"Clarified key points I was unsure about."
Includes opportunities to practice concepts.
"Plenty of exercises are included to help solidify understanding of the structure."
"The practice sections were very useful for applying what was taught in the lessons."
"I appreciated the chance to practice building sentences using the new structure."
"Good amount of practice material provided."
Learning in short, manageable segments.
"The course is broken down into very short lessons, which is great for fitting study into my busy day."
"I love the 3-minute chunk approach, it makes learning French feel much less daunting and very achievable."
"Short lessons, easy to follow, perfect for dipping in and out when I have a few minutes free."
"The modular structure is fantastic for busy professionals or anyone short on time."
Focuses on understanding grammar structures.
"Understanding the structure makes building sentences so much easier than just memorizing."
"This method of breaking down French into structures really clicks with me; it simplifies complex grammar."
"It's helpful to see how sentences are built, not just what the rule is. Great approach."
"I feel like I can actually construct sentences now, not just repeat phrases."
Focuses on just one grammar structure.
"While the depth is good, focusing on only one structure means you need other resources for a broader view."
"This course is great for Structure 9, but you definitely need prior knowledge or other courses for context."
"It's a deep dive into one specific area, which is fine, but perhaps not for total beginners needing a wide introduction."
"Excellent for its specific topic, but limited in scope."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Building Structures in French - Structure 9 | French Grammar with these activities:
Review Basic French Grammar
Reinforce foundational grammar concepts to better understand the nuances of Structure 9.
Show steps
  • Review verb conjugations for present, past, and future tenses.
  • Practice sentence construction with basic vocabulary.
  • Review common French articles and pronouns.
Review 'French Grammar For Dummies'
Solidify your understanding of French grammar with a comprehensive guide.
Show steps
  • Read the chapters related to verb tenses and sentence structure.
  • Complete the practice exercises at the end of each chapter.
  • Use the book as a reference when encountering difficult grammar points.
Sentence Building Exercises
Practice constructing sentences using Structure 9 to internalize its patterns.
Show steps
  • Create 10 sentences using the structure with different verbs.
  • Translate English sentences into French using Structure 9.
  • Convert positive sentences into negative and interrogative forms.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Explore 'Short Stories in French for Beginners'
Read short stories to see Structure 9 in context and improve comprehension.
Show steps
  • Read one story per week, focusing on identifying Structure 9 usage.
  • Look up unfamiliar vocabulary and phrases.
  • Summarize each story in your own words.
Create a Short Story Using Structure 9
Write a short story to creatively apply Structure 9 in a narrative context.
Show steps
  • Brainstorm a plot and characters for your story.
  • Write a draft of the story, focusing on using Structure 9 frequently.
  • Revise and edit the story for grammar and clarity.
Help Others in Online Forums
Reinforce your understanding by explaining Structure 9 to other learners.
Show steps
  • Find online French learning forums or groups.
  • Answer questions related to grammar and sentence structure.
  • Explain Structure 9 in simple terms to help others understand it.
Create a Presentation on Structure 9
Prepare a presentation to demonstrate your mastery of Structure 9.
Show steps
  • Outline the key aspects of Structure 9.
  • Create slides with examples and explanations.
  • Practice delivering the presentation to a friend or family member.

Career center

Learners who complete Building Structures in French - Structure 9 | French Grammar will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Language Tutor
A language tutor provides instruction in a particular language, and this course is helpful for aspiring French tutors. This course focuses on the structures that make up the French language, which is a crucial concept for a language tutor to grasp and explain. The emphasis on practice in the course will be beneficial in creating exercises for students. A language tutor will also need to know how to form questions, statements and negations, which this course covers.
Translator
A translator converts written text from one language to another, and this course may be useful for those looking to improve their French translation skills. Because this course focuses on specific sentence structures, as well as how to manipulate them, it can help a translator create more natural and accurate translations. The emphasis on practice in the course can further help to build fluency and confidence. The course also covers how to form questions, make statements and negations, skills essential to any translator.
Interpreter
An interpreter converts spoken language from one language to another, and this course may be useful to those looking to improve their French interpreting abilities. Since this course centers on learning specific sentence structures and how to manipulate them, it will aid an interpreter in quickly and accurately processing and converting spoken French. The course emphasizes practice which can assist in building fluency and confidence. Additionally, this course covers how to form questions, make statements and negations, which are fundamental skills for an interpreter.
Foreign Language Teacher
A foreign language teacher instructs students in a language other than their native tongue, and this course may be useful for teachers of French. This course focuses on the structures that make up the French language, which a teacher may use to explain grammar and sentence construction to students. The course also emphasizes practice, which can be used to design lesson plans and activities. Knowing how to manipulate language structures can help a foreign language teacher to explain how to form questions, statements and negations.
Localization Specialist
A localization specialist adapts content for a specific region or market, and this course may be useful for those who are focused on French-speaking markets. This course breaks down the way that the French language is constructed into distinct structures that can be manipulated, which may help a localization specialist adapt a product or service to feel natural in French. The course provides practice opportunities, which may assist in maintaining fluency and creating natural-sounding content. The course also covers how questions, statements and negations are formed, which is crucial to translating and adapting with accuracy.
Cultural Liaison
A cultural liaison facilitates communication and understanding between different cultural groups, and this course is useful for those working with French speakers. This course focuses on the structure of the French language and how to manipulate it, which will help a cultural liaison to improve cross-cultural communication by understanding how meaning is formed and conveyed. The course also covers how to form questions, statements and negations, which are necessary for facilitating discussions.
Bilingual Customer Service Representative
A bilingual customer service representative interacts with customers in more than one language to address their needs, and this course may be helpful for those who will interact with French-speaking clients. The course focuses on specific French sentence structures and their manipulation, which helps build a strong understanding of the language that is necessary for clear communication. The course emphasizes practice, which can help build fluency and confidence in speaking and understanding French. Learning how to formulate questions, statements, and negations is also very useful for a customer service representative.
Tour Guide
A tour guide leads groups of people through points of interest, and this course may be useful for a tour guide who leads tours in French-speaking areas or to French-speaking tourists. The course concentrates on French sentence structures and how to use and manipulate them, which is essential to clearly communicating with the group. The course also provides practice opportunities, which will help a tour guide speak with confidence. This course also covers how questions, statements and negations are formed.
Foreign Correspondent
A foreign correspondent reports news from another country, and this course may be useful for those who will be reporting from French-speaking regions. This course focuses on how to construct sentences in French and how to manipulate language structures, which will provide a foundation for communicating with sources. The practice opportunities in the course can help a foreign correspondent with fluency and confidence. This course also covers how to form questions, statements and negations, which are critical to any effective news gathering.
International Relations Specialist
An international relations specialist works with different countries on matters of diplomacy, trade, or collaboration, and this course may be useful for those engaging with French speaking regions. Because this course focuses on the structure of the French language, how to construct sentences, and how to manipulate these structures to express a range of ideas, it can help an international relations specialist in understanding cultural nuances and communicating more efficiently and effectively. The course also discusses how questions, statements, and negations are formed.
Foreign Service Officer
A foreign service officer works in embassies or consulates and promotes relations with other countries, and this course may be helpful for officers working in French-speaking regions. This course focuses on the structure of the French language and how to manipulate it, which is important for effective communication with local populations and government officials. The practice opportunities in the course can assist in building fluency. The course also covers how to form questions, statements and negations, which are important tools for communication.
Linguist
A linguist studies language and its structure, and this course may be useful for a linguist who is focused on the French language. The course focuses on the structural elements of French, which may be beneficial to a linguist when analyzing the language. The course also discusses how to manipulate language structures, which may offer insights into the mechanics of how language expresses different meanings. It explores how to form questions, statements and negations.
Content Creator
A content creator produces material for different platforms, and this course may be useful for creating content in French. This course uses distinct structures within the French language, including the ways in which they can be manipulated, and this may help a content creator to produce more natural and fluent sounding content. The included practice opportunities can aid in building confidence and fluency. The course also gives direction on how to form questions, statements and negations.
Immigration Officer
An immigration officer interviews and assesses people applying for entry into a country, and this course may be helpful to those working with French-speaking applicants. This course focuses on the structure of the French language and how to manipulate language structures, which is important for clear communication during interviews. The practice opportunities within the course can build confidence and fluency. The course also covers how to form questions, statements and negations.
Technical Writer
A technical writer creates documentation about how to use a product or service, and this course is helpful for technical writers who will produce documents in French. The course delves into the structural aspects of the French language, which is essential for a writer seeking to create documents that are both clear and correct. The course provides practice opportunities that can help writers maintain fluency. The course also covers how to construct questions, statements, and negations, thereby preparing a technical writer to translate documents with accuracy.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Building Structures in French - Structure 9 | French Grammar.
Provides a comprehensive overview of French grammar rules and concepts. It's particularly useful for beginners or those needing a refresher on fundamental grammar principles. The book offers clear explanations and numerous examples, making it an excellent resource for solidifying your understanding of French grammar. It can be used as a reference text throughout the course.
Offers a collection of engaging short stories designed for French learners. It's beneficial for expanding vocabulary and improving reading comprehension. While not directly focused on grammar structures, it provides exposure to how these structures are used in real-world contexts. This book is more valuable as additional reading to reinforce learning.

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