A2 · Elementary Chapter 7

Everyday Expressions and Opinions

4 Total Rules
40 examples
6 min
Rules in This Chapter Quick Practice

Chapter in 30 Seconds

Sound like a local by mastering everyday idioms and expressing your unique point of view.

  • Use 'avoir' to describe physical sensations like hunger and fear.
  • Talk about the weather and your favorite activities using 'faire'.
  • Construct clear sentences to share your thoughts and beliefs with others.
Speak your mind and live the French way!

What You'll Learn

Hey there, language explorer! You’ve already nailed the basics of French, haven’t you? Awesome! Now, let’s take your conversational skills up a notch with 'Everyday Expressions and Opinions.' This chapter is all about making your French sound more natural and confident. You’ll dive into some super useful idiomatic expressions that native speakers use all the time. First, we’ll tackle how to express basic needs and feelings with 'avoir' (to have). Forget I am hungry – in French, you have hunger (avoir faim)! We’ll master saying you’re hungry, thirsty, or even scared, just like a true Francophone. Next up, you’ll learn the versatile 'faire' (to do/make). Ever wanted to describe the weather, like saying 'it’s beautiful' (il fait beau) or 'it’s cold' (il fait froid)? Or perhaps chat about your hobbies, like 'doing sports' (faire du sport) or 'swimming' (faire de la natation)? 'Faire' is your go-to verb for all that! Don't worry, we'll also have a solid review of the French present tense (Le Présent). It’s the backbone of everything we're learning here, handling current actions, habits, and even near-future plans. This ensures all your new expressions are used flawlessly. And finally, the exciting part: expressing your own thoughts! You’ll learn how to confidently share your opinions using penser que (to think that), croire que (to believe that), and trouver que (to find/think that), always followed by que and a full sentence. This means you won’t just be listening; you’ll be an active participant in any conversation! By the end of this chapter, you won't just know French words; you'll be able to naturally describe your daily life, chat about the weather and your hobbies, and most importantly, voice your own opinions. Ready for real French conversations? Let's go!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: describe physical needs and feelings using 'avoir' expressions.
  2. 2
    By the end you will be able to: discuss weather conditions and leisure activities using 'faire'.
  3. 3
    By the end you will be able to: conjugate regular and common irregular verbs in the present tense accurately.
  4. 4
    By the end you will be able to: introduce personal opinions using 'que' clauses.

Chapter Guide

Overview

Welcome, language explorers, to your next exciting step in mastering French grammar A2! You've already built a fantastic foundation, and now it’s time to unlock the secrets to sounding more like a native speaker. This chapter, "Everyday Expressions and Opinions," is your gateway to engaging in more natural and confident conversations. We’re moving beyond basic sentences and diving into the idiomatic heart of the language, equipping you with essential tools for daily interactions.
At the CEFR A2 level, the goal is to communicate simply and directly about routine tasks and common topics. This guide will help you do just that, focusing on practical phrases that pop up constantly in French daily life. By the end of this chapter, you won't just understand words; you'll understand *how* French speakers express themselves, making your journey towards fluency much smoother and more enjoyable. Get ready to enhance your everyday French expressions and learn how to confidently voice your opinions in French!
We'll cover core verbs like avoir (to have) and faire (to do/make) in their most common idiomatic uses, review the all-important French present tense, and empower you to share your thoughts using verbs like penser, croire, and trouver. This isn't just about memorizing phrases; it's about understanding the logic behind them and integrating them seamlessly into your speech. Let's make your French truly shine!

How This Grammar Works

This chapter focuses on essential building blocks for natural French conversation, starting with idiomatic expressions and then moving to opinion-sharing. First, we tackle expressions using the verb avoir (to have). Unlike English, where we "are" hungry or thirsty, French speakers "have" these states. For example, instead of saying "I am hungry," you'll say J'ai faim (I have hunger / I am hungry). Similarly, Tu as soif ? (Do you have thirst? / Are you thirsty?) and Il a peur des araignées. (He has fear of spiders. / He is afraid of spiders.) are common. Remember to conjugate avoir correctly in the present tense: j'ai, tu as, il/elle/on a, nous avons, vous avez, ils/elles ont.
Next, we explore the incredibly versatile verb faire (to do/make). This verb is a workhorse in French, especially for describing weather and hobbies. For weather, you'll often hear Il fait beau. (It makes beautiful. / The weather is nice.) or Il fait froid. (It makes cold. / It's cold.). For hobbies and activities, faire is your go-to: Je fais du sport. (I do sport. / I play sports.), Nous faisons de la natation. (We do swimming. / We swim.), or Elle fait du vélo. (She does bike. / She cycles.). Pay attention to the use of du/de la/de l' after faire for activities.
A solid understanding of the French present tense (Le Présent) is crucial for all these expressions. It's used for actions happening now, habitual actions, and even near-future plans. For example, Je parle français. (I speak French.), Nous mangeons tous les jours. (We eat every day.), and Ils partent demain. (They leave tomorrow.). This tense underpins your ability to use avoir and faire expressions fluidly.
Finally, to express your thoughts, you'll master verbs like penser (to think), croire (to believe), and trouver (to find/think). These are always followed by que (that) and a complete sentence. For instance, Je pense que c'est une bonne idée. (I think that it's a good idea.). Tu crois qu'il va pleuvoir ? (Do you believe that it's going to rain?). And Nous trouvons que ce film est excellent. (We find that this movie is excellent.). These phrases allow you to actively participate and share your viewpoint in any conversation.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong: "Je suis faim."
✓ Correct: "J'ai faim." (I am hungry.)
*Explanation:* In French, you don't "be" hungry or thirsty; you "have" hunger (avoir faim) or thirst (avoir soif). Always use the verb avoir for these states.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: "Il est froid aujourd'hui."
✓ Correct: "Il fait froid aujourd'hui." (It's cold today.)
*Explanation:* When describing the weather, French typically uses the impersonal expression il fait (it makes) with adjectives like froid (cold), chaud (hot), beau (beautiful), etc.
  1. 1✗ Wrong: "Je pense il est intelligent."
✓ Correct: "Je pense qu'il est intelligent." (I think that he is intelligent.)
*Explanation:* Verbs of opinion like penser, croire, and trouver must always be followed by que (that) before introducing a new clause or opinion.

Real Conversations

A

A

Bonjour ! Tu as faim ? On va déjeuner ? (Hello! Are you hungry? Shall we have lunch?)
B

B

Oui, j'ai faim et j'ai aussi un peu soif. Il fait chaud aujourd'hui ! (Yes, I'm hungry and I'm also a little thirsty. It's hot today!)
A

A

Qu'est-ce que tu fais ce week-end ? Tu fais du sport ? (What are you doing this weekend? Are you playing sports?)
B

B

Non, je ne fais pas de sport. Je pense que je vais lire un livre et me reposer. (No, I'm not playing sports. I think that I'm going to read a book and rest.)
A

A

Tu crois que ce restaurant est bon ? (Do you believe that this restaurant is good?)
B

B

Oui, je trouve que la cuisine est excellente ici. Et le service est super aussi ! (Yes, I find that the food is excellent here. And the service is great too!)

Quick FAQ

Q

What's the main difference between penser que and trouver que?

Penser que means "to think that" and expresses a general opinion or belief. Trouver que means "to find that" and implies an opinion based on personal experience or perception.

Q

Why do French speakers say "J'ai faim" instead of "Je suis faim"?

French uses avoir (to have) for many physical or emotional states that English uses "to be" for. It's an idiomatic difference you simply need to learn!

Q

Can I use faire for all weather descriptions?

Faire is used for general weather conditions (e.g., il fait beau, il fait froid). For precipitation, other verbs like il pleut (it's raining) or il neige (it's snowing) are used.

Q

Is que always required after penser, croire, and trouver when expressing an opinion?

Yes, when these verbs introduce a full clause expressing an opinion, que is essential to link the main verb to the subordinate clause.

Cultural Context

These everyday expressions are woven into the fabric of daily French conversation. Using avoir faim/soif or il fait beau/froid will instantly make you sound more natural and less like you're translating directly from English. Expressing opinions with penser que, croire que, and trouver que is fundamental to engaging in discussions. French speakers value clear and well-articulated viewpoints, so mastering these phrases allows you to participate more fully and authentically in social interactions.

Key Examples (8)

1

J'ai trop faim, on commande une pizza ?

I'm so hungry, should we order a pizza?

Expressions with Avoir: Hungry, Thirsty, Afraid (Avoir faim, soif, peur)
2

Tu as soif ? Je peux t'apporter un verre d'eau.

Are you thirsty? I can bring you a glass of water.

Expressions with Avoir: Hungry, Thirsty, Afraid (Avoir faim, soif, peur)
3

Il fait très chaud aujourd'hui, je vais à la plage.

It is very hot today, I am going to the beach.

French Expressions with Faire: Weather & Hobbies (Faire)
4

Je fais du vélo tous les matins avant le travail.

I go cycling every morning before work.

French Expressions with Faire: Weather & Hobbies (Faire)
5

Je regarde un film sur Netflix.

I am watching a movie on Netflix.

French Present Tense: Mastering Verbs (Le Présent)
6

Tu finis ton travail à quelle heure ?

What time do you finish work?

French Present Tense: Mastering Verbs (Le Présent)
7

Je pense que nous allons gagner ce match.

I think that we are going to win this match.

Expressing Opinions (Penser, Croire, Trouver)
8

Je trouve que ce restaurant est un peu surcoté.

I find that this restaurant is a bit overrated.

Expressing Opinions (Penser, Croire, Trouver)

Tips & Tricks (4)

💡

The 'Avoir' Rule

Whenever you want to say 'I am [state]', pause and ask if it's a physical need. If yes, use 'avoir'.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Expressions with Avoir: Hungry, Thirsty, Afraid (Avoir faim, soif, peur)
⚠️

The 'Faites' Trap

Never say 'vous faisez'. Even though most -re verbs end in -ez, 'faire' is irregular. It's 'vous faites'.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: French Expressions with Faire: Weather & Hobbies (Faire)
💡

Focus on endings

Memorize the -er, -ir, -re endings first.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: French Present Tense: Mastering Verbs (Le Présent)
💡

The 'Que' Rule

Always use 'que' after 'penser' and 'croire' when followed by a full sentence.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Expressing Opinions (Penser, Croire, Trouver)

Key Vocabulary (7)

la faim hunger la peur fear le temps weather / time penser to think croire to believe trouver to find / to think chaud hot

Real-World Preview

tree-pine

A Day at the Park

Review Summary

  • Sujet + Avoir (conjugated) + [faim/soif/peur/chaud/froid]
  • Il fait + [weather] / Sujet + Faire + [activity]
  • Verbe d'opinion + que + [Full Sentence]

Common Mistakes

In French, hunger is something you 'have', not something you 'are'. Using 'être' is a literal translation from English that sounds wrong in French.

Wrong: Je suis faim.
Correct: J'ai faim.

You cannot omit 'que' (that) in French like you can in English. It is the essential bridge between the verb and the opinion.

Wrong: Je pense c'est bon.
Correct: Je pense que c'est bon.

When talking about the weather, always use 'il fait'. 'Il est chaud' would refer to an object or a person being physically hot to the touch.

Wrong: Il est chaud.
Correct: Il fait chaud.

Next Steps

You're doing fantastic! Mastering these everyday expressions is a huge step toward fluency. Keep practicing, and soon you'll be debating your favorite topics in French!

Write 3 sentences about the weather today and how it makes you feel.

Listen to a French weather forecast on YouTube and identify 'il fait' expressions.

Continue to: Talking About Completed Actions

Quick Practice (10)

Choose the correct verb.

Je ___ ce film génial.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: trouve
Trouver + adjective.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Expressing Opinions (Penser, Croire, Trouver)

Find the mistake.

Find and fix the mistake:

Je suis soif.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: suis
Should be 'J'ai'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Expressions with Avoir: Hungry, Thirsty, Afraid (Avoir faim, soif, peur)

Fill in the correct form of avoir.

Je ___ faim.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: ai
Je takes 'ai'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Expressions with Avoir: Hungry, Thirsty, Afraid (Avoir faim, soif, peur)

Select the correct form for 'Ils'.

Ils ___ le livre.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: finissent
Ils takes -issent.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: French Present Tense: Mastering Verbs (Le Présent)

Correct the sentence.

Find and fix the mistake:

Je ne fais pas du sport.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Je ne fais pas de sport.
Negative requires 'de'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: French Expressions with Faire: Weather & Hobbies (Faire)

Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'faire'.

Il ___ beau.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: fait
Third person singular for weather.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: French Expressions with Faire: Weather & Hobbies (Faire)

Choose the correct verb.

___-tu soif ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: As
Tu takes 'as'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Expressions with Avoir: Hungry, Thirsty, Afraid (Avoir faim, soif, peur)

Choose the correct article.

Je fais ___ vélo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: du
Vélo is masculine.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: French Expressions with Faire: Weather & Hobbies (Faire)

Select the correct verb.

___ du tennis.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Je fais
Faire is used for individual activities.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: French Expressions with Faire: Weather & Hobbies (Faire)

Fill in the correct verb.

Que ___ -tu de cette situation ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: penses
Penser de = opinion.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Expressing Opinions (Penser, Croire, Trouver)

Score: /10

Common Questions (6)

French conceptualizes these states as things you 'possess' rather than qualities you 'are'.
Yes, 'J'ai très faim' is perfectly natural.
In French, weather is an action that the environment 'does'. 'Il est' is reserved for descriptions of people or objects.
No, use 'jouer à' for team sports with balls or equipment.
French uses inversion or 'est-ce que' instead of 'do'.
Look at the infinitive ending.
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Talking About Completed Actions
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