A2 Present Tense 15 min read Easy

French Expressions with Faire: Weather & Hobbies (Faire)

Use il fait for weather and faire du/de la for activities to sound naturally French.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'faire' + 'de' + {le|m}/{la|f} to describe hobbies and weather conditions perfectly every time.

  • Use 'Il fait' for weather: 'Il fait beau' (It is nice out).
  • Use 'faire' + 'de' + article for hobbies: 'Je fais du vélo' (I go cycling).
  • Remember: 'de' + 'le' becomes 'du', and 'de' + 'les' becomes 'des'.
Subject + Faire + (de + article) + Activity/Weather

Overview

Mastering the verb faire (to do, to make) is essential for A2 French learners, as it unlocks natural expression for two common areas: weather conditions and engaging in activities or hobbies. Unlike English, where you might use "to be" for weather or specific verbs for actions, French frequently employs faire as a versatile pro-verb. Understanding its specific applications with impersonal il for atmospheric conditions and with partitive articles for general activities is crucial for moving beyond basic sentence structures.

This grammatical pattern reflects a distinct French linguistic framing of actions and environmental states, where an active verb implies influence or ongoing condition rather than a static state. By integrating faire correctly, you will significantly enhance your ability to describe your environment and personal interests in a fluid and idiomatic manner, distinguishing your French from a literal translation.

Conjugation Table

Subject Pronoun Conjugation English Equivalent
:-------------- :---------- :-----------------
Je fais I do/make
Tu fais You (informal) do/make
Il/Elle/On fait He/She/One does/makes
Nous faisons We do/make
Vous faites You (formal/plural) do/make
Ils/Elles font They do/make

How This Grammar Works

French utilizes faire in a distinct manner for weather and activities, reflecting nuanced linguistic principles. For weather expressions, faire is employed with the impersonal subject il. This il does not refer to a person or object; it functions solely as a grammatical placeholder, similar to the "it" in English "it is raining." The French construction il fait conceptually treats weather as something the environment "makes" or "produces," rather than a static state of being.
This contrasts with English "it is hot" and emphasizes an active atmospheric condition, making il fait chaud (it is hot) the standard.
For activities and hobbies, faire is combined with partitive articles (du, de la, de l', des). Partitive articles convey the idea of "some" or "any" of something, rather than a whole or specific item. When you say Je fais du sport (I do sports), you are engaging in some amount of sport generally, or the activity of sport, not a single, quantifiable unit of "sport." This is a critical distinction, as omitting the partitive article or using a definite article (le, la, les) would fundamentally alter the meaning or sound unnatural.
The partitive article is essential for indicating a general, ongoing practice or engagement in an activity, emphasizing the action itself rather than a completed, countable object. When negating these expressions, a general rule applies: partitive articles, along with indefinite articles (un, une, des), simplify to de (or d' before a vowel) after a negative construction like ne...pas. For example, Je fais de la natation becomes Je ne fais pas de natation (I do not swim).

Formation Pattern

1
Forming expressions with faire for weather and activities follows predictable patterns, but precise article usage and word order are critical. Adherence to these structures ensures grammatical correctness and natural fluency. Pay particular attention to the choice of partitive article, which must agree in gender and number with the noun it precedes.
2
1. Weather Expressions:
3
These use the impersonal construction il fait followed by an adjective or a noun (often preceded by du).
4
| Structure | Example (Adjective) | Example (Noun with du) | Translation |
5
| :----------------- | :------------------------ | :------------------------- | :--------------------------- |
6
| Il fait + Adjective | Il fait froid. | Il fait du vent. | It's cold./It's windy. |
7
| | Il fait beau. | Il fait du soleil. | It's nice weather./It's sunny. |
8
| | Il fait chaud. | Il fait un temps magnifique. | It's hot./The weather is magnificent. |
9
2. Activities/Hobbies Expressions:
10
These always involve a subject, a conjugated form of faire, and a partitive article (du, de la, de l', des) followed by the activity noun. In negation, the partitive article changes.
11
| Structure (Affirmative) | Example | Translation |
12
| :---------------------------------- | :-------------------------------- | :------------------------- |
13
| Subject + faire + du (m. sg.) | Nous faisons du ski. | We ski. |
14
| Subject + faire + de la (f. sg.)| Elle fait de la danse. | She dances. |
15
| Subject + faire + de l' (vowel) | Je fais de l'équitation. | I do horse riding. |
16
| Subject + faire + des (pl.) | Ils font des randonnées. | They hike. |
17
3. Negation Pattern:
18
In negative sentences, the partitive article consistently reduces to de (or d' before a vowel), regardless of the noun's gender or number.
19
| Structure (Negative) | Example | Translation |
20
| :------------------------------------ | :-------------------------------- | :------------------------------- |
21
| ne + faire + pas de + Noun | Vous ne faites pas de sport. | You do not play sports. |
22
| ne + faire + pas d' + Noun (vowel) | Il ne fait pas d'athlétisme. | He does not do athletics. |
23
4. Question Pattern:
24
Questions can be formed using inversion, est-ce que, or simply intonation.
25
Inversion: Fais-tu du jogging ? (Do you jog?)
26
Est-ce que: Est-ce que vous faites de la cuisine ? (Do you cook?)
27
Intonation: Tu fais des courses ? (You're doing groceries?)

When To Use It

The versatility of faire makes it indispensable for A2 learners, covering a wide range of situations related to weather and personal activities. You will primarily employ these constructions to describe current or habitual conditions and actions.
For Weather Conditions:
Use il fait to describe general atmospheric sensations, temperature, or the overall pleasantness of the weather. This encompasses how the weather feels.
  • Il fait froid aujourd'hui, couvrez-vous bien. (It's cold today, dress warmly.)
  • Demain, il fera beau; nous pourrons sortir. (Tomorrow, it will be nice weather; we'll be able to go out.)
  • Il fait un temps magnifique pour se promener. (It's magnificent weather for a walk.)
For Activities and Hobbies:
Faire is broadly used for engaging in many types of activities, sports, artistic pursuits, academic tasks, and even certain chores. It denotes the general practice of an activity, rather than a specific instance or game.
  • Sports and Physical Activities (excluding ball/team sports, musical instruments):
  • Elle fait du yoga chaque matin. (She does yoga every morning.)
  • Nous faisons de la randonnée en montagne. (We go hiking in the mountains.)
  • Mon frère fait des arts martiaux le soir. (My brother does martial arts in the evening.)
  • Artistic and Creative Pursuits:
  • Je fais de la peinture pendant mon temps libre. (I do painting in my free time.)
  • Ils font de la photo depuis longtemps. (They have been doing photography for a long time.)
  • Household Chores and Everyday Tasks:
  • Vous devez faire la vaisselle après le dîner. (You must do the dishes after dinner.)
  • Je fais le ménage tous les samedis. (I do the housework every Saturday.)
  • Ma mère fait les courses le mercredi. (My mother does the grocery shopping on Wednesdays.)
  • Academic and Professional Tasks:
  • Tu as fait tes devoirs pour demain ? (Have you done your homework for tomorrow?)
  • Nous allons faire un exposé sur l'histoire. (We are going to do a presentation on history.)
  • Idiomatic Expressions (some common at A2):
  • Faire attention (to pay attention): Fais attention en traversant la rue. (Pay attention when crossing the street.)
  • Faire la queue (to queue/wait in line): Nous avons dû faire la queue longtemps. (We had to queue for a long time.)
  • Faire la grasse matinée (to sleep in late): Le dimanche, j'aime faire la grasse matinée. (On Sundays, I like to sleep in late.)

When Not To Use It

While faire is incredibly versatile, misapplication can lead to ungrammatical or unnatural-sounding French. It is crucial to distinguish contexts where other verbs are specifically required, even if English might use a general "do" or "make."
1. Specific Weather Phenomena:
Do not use faire for weather events that have their own dedicated, impersonal verbs. These verbs inherently describe the action of precipitation or similar occurrences.
  • Incorrect: Il fait pleut.
  • Correct: Il pleut beaucoup aujourd'hui. (It's raining a lot today.)
  • Incorrect: Il fait neige.
  • Correct: Il neige en hiver. (It snows in winter.)
2. States of Being or Identity:
For expressing states of being, characteristics, or identity, the verb être (to be) is always used, not faire.
  • Incorrect: Il fait grand.
  • Correct: Il est grand et fort. (He is tall and strong.)
  • Incorrect: Ceci fait important.
  • Correct: Ceci est important pour le projet. (This is important for the project.)
3. Taking or Having:
For actions involving "taking" something, consuming, or having certain experiences, the verb prendre (to take, to have) is the appropriate choice.
  • Incorrect: Je fais une douche.
  • Correct: Je prends une douche chaque matin. (I take a shower every morning.)
  • Incorrect: Nous faisons un café.
  • Correct: Nous prenons un café après le repas. (We have a coffee after the meal.)
4. Playing Games or Musical Instruments:
For engaging in ball sports, team games, or playing musical instruments, the verb jouer (to play) is specifically required, typically with specific prepositions (à for games/sports, de for instruments).
  • Incorrect: Il fait du tennis.
  • Correct: Il joue au tennis le week-end. (He plays tennis on weekends.)
  • Incorrect: Elle fait de la guitare.
  • Correct: Elle joue de la guitare dans un groupe. (She plays the guitar in a band.)
5. Direct Actions with Specific Verbs:
When a more precise verb exists for an action, it should be preferred over the more general faire. While faire la cuisine is common, one would manger (to eat) rather than faire manger (to make eat, or cause to eat).
  • Incorrect: Je fais manger une pomme.
  • Correct: Je mange une pomme chaque jour. (I eat an apple every day.)

Common Mistakes

French learners frequently encounter specific pitfalls when using faire expressions, often due to direct translation from English or misunderstanding of French grammatical principles. Addressing these errors systematically will reinforce correct usage.
1. The "To Be" Trap for Weather:
Incorrectly using être instead of faire for general weather conditions is perhaps the most common error. This stems from the English "it is cold/hot."
  • Error: Il est chaud / Le temps est froid
  • Correction: Il fait chaud (It is hot) / Il fait froid (It is cold)
  • Why it's wrong: French perceives atmospheric conditions as something that "makes" the condition, not as a static state of being for the impersonal subject il. The concept is active rather than passive.
2. Omitting or Misusing Partitive Articles for Activities:
Another frequent mistake is dropping the partitive article (du, de la, de l', des) before an activity noun, or using a definite article (le, la, les).
  • Error: Je fais sport / Nous faisons le sport
  • Correction: Je fais du sport (I do sports) / Nous faisons du sport (We do sports)
  • Why it's wrong: The partitive article is obligatory here to indicate that you are engaging in some amount or the general activity of the noun, not a specific, countable item. Without it, the phrase is incomplete or grammatically incorrect. Using a definite article (le) implies doing all of the activity, which is typically nonsensical for hobbies.
3. Incorrect Negation of Partitive Articles:
Forgetting to reduce partitive articles to de (or d') in negative constructions is a persistent issue for many learners.
  • Error: Je ne fais pas du vélo
  • Correction: Je ne fais pas de vélo (I don't cycle)
  • Why it's wrong: This follows a general rule in French where indefinite and partitive articles (un, une, des, du, de la, de l') simplify to de after negation. This rule does not apply to definite articles (le, la, les) or possessive adjectives.
4. Confusing Faire with Jouer:
While both can translate to "to play" or "to do" in English, French distinguishes between playing games/instruments (jouer) and engaging in other activities (faire).
  • Error: Il fait de la guitare (meaning he plays the guitar)
  • Correction: Il joue de la guitare (He plays the guitar)
  • Why it's wrong: Jouer is the dedicated verb for games (with à) and musical instruments (with de). Using faire here would imply making a guitar or doing something with a guitar in a general sense, not playing it.
5. Incorrect Vous Conjugation:
A very common error, even among young native French speakers, is to conjugate vous faire as vous faisez.
  • Error: Vous faisez
  • Correction: Vous faites (You do/make)
  • Why it's wrong: Faites is the correct, albeit irregular, second-person plural form of faire in the present tense. Faisez is a non-standard, hyper-regularized form.

Memory Trick

To solidify your understanding and recall of faire expressions, associate its core function with active involvement and environmental conditions. Think of faire as the verb of Functionality and Fluidity in French. If something is Felt (weather conditions) or Freely done as an activity, faire is often the verb you need.

- Feeling the weather? Il fait chaud. (faire for temperature/conditions)

- Frequently doing an activity? Je fais du sport. (faire for hobbies/actions)

This alliteration and conceptual linkage can help you quickly select faire over other verbs like être or jouer in appropriate contexts. Remember that faire emphasizes an action or a prevailing condition, making it your go-to for describing how the world is actively behaving or what you are actively engaging in.

Real Conversations

Understanding faire expressions in authentic contexts reveals their natural flow in everyday French. These examples show how speakers integrate faire into quick exchanges, social media, and more formal discussions, often using informal contractions or nuanced phrasing.

1. Casual Conversation/Texting:

- A: Ça va, Jean ? Il fait beau ce matin, on fait quoi ? (How are you, Jean? The weather's nice this morning, what are we doing?)

- B: Salut ! Oui, il fait super beau. J'ai envie de faire du vélo si tu veux. (Hi! Yes, it's super nice. I feel like cycling if you want.)

2. Describing Hobbies/Weekend Plans:

- A: Qu'est-ce que tu aimes faire le week-end ? (What do you like to do on weekends?)

- B: Moi, j'adore faire de la cuisine et faire des photos. (Me, I love cooking and taking photos.)

3. Social Media Caption:

- Journée parfaite pour faire de la rando ! ⛰️ Il fait un soleil magnifique ! (Perfect day for hiking! ⛰️ It's magnificently sunny!)

4. Chores/Responsibilities:

- N'oublie pas de faire la vaisselle avant de partir. (Don't forget to do the dishes before leaving.)

- J'ai beaucoup de devoirs à faire ce soir. (I have a lot of homework to do tonight.)

5. Impersonal Observations:

- Ah, il fait frais ce soir, je vais prendre une veste. (Ah, it's cool tonight, I'm going to take a jacket.)

- Quand il fait nuit, il faut être prudent. (When it's dark, you have to be careful.)

These examples illustrate that faire is not confined to formal language but is integral to conveying routine activities and observations in an approachable, modern French style. Notice the common liaisons, such as between fait and un (il fait un soleil), which smooth the spoken language.

Contrast With Similar Patterns

To truly master faire, it is essential to understand its boundaries and how it differs from other verbs that might seem similar or translate similarly in English. Distinguishing faire from jouer, il y a, and prendre is key to avoiding common errors and speaking French idiomatically.
1. Faire vs. Jouer (To Play):
Both verbs can relate to leisure activities, but their usage is distinct. Jouer is specific to games and musical instruments, while faire covers a broader range of general activities and sports.
| Feature | Faire | Jouer |
| :---------------- | :------------------------------------ | :------------------------------------- |
| Usage | General activities, sports (non-ball/team), chores, creative arts | Ball/team sports, board games, musical instruments |
| Preposition | du / de la / de l' / des (partitive) | à (for games/sports), de (for instruments) |
| Examples | faire du ski, faire de la cuisine, faire de la natation | jouer au football, jouer aux cartes, jouer du piano |
| Nuance | Engagement in an activity, typically without a specific opponent or score (except in general terms like faire du sport) | Active participation in a game with rules or producing music |
  • Il fait de la gym trois fois par semaine. (He does gymnastics three times a week.)
  • Elle joue aux échecs très bien. (She plays chess very well.)
2. Il fait vs. Il y a (There is/are):
Both are impersonal weather constructions, but il fait describes conditions or temperatures, often with adjectives, while il y a indicates the presence of elements, usually with nouns.
| Feature | Il fait | Il y a |
| :---------------- | :------------------------------------ | :-------------------------------------- |
| Usage | General conditions, temperature (adjectives or specific nouns like du vent, du soleil colloquially) | Presence of elements (nouns) |
| Examples | Il fait chaud. (It's hot.)Il fait du vent. (It's windy.) | Il y a du soleil. (There is sun/It's sunny.)Il y a des nuages. (There are clouds.) |
| Conceptual | Describes how the atmosphere is or acts | States what exists in the atmosphere |
  • Aujourd'hui, il fait un temps agréable. (Today, the weather is pleasant.)
  • Attention, il y a du brouillard ce matin. (Careful, there is fog this morning.)
3. Faire vs. Prendre (To Take/To Have):
While faire implies

Conjugation of 'Faire' (Present)

Pronoun Conjugation
Je
fais
Tu
fais
Il/Elle/On
fait
Nous
faisons
Vous
faites
Ils/Elles
font

Meanings

The verb 'faire' (to do/make) is used idiomatically to describe weather conditions and participation in hobbies or sports.

1

Weather

Describing atmospheric conditions.

“Il fait chaud.”

“Il fait mauvais.”

2

Hobbies/Sports

Participating in an activity.

“Je fais du tennis.”

“Tu fais de la natation.”

Reference Table

Reference table for French Expressions with Faire: Weather & Hobbies (Faire)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Il fait + adj
Il fait beau.
Negative
Il ne fait pas + adj
Il ne fait pas beau.
Question
Fait-il + adj ?
Fait-il beau ?
Affirmative
Je fais + de + art
Je fais du vélo.
Negative
Je ne fais pas + de + noun
Je ne fais pas de vélo.
Question
Fais-tu + de + noun ?
Fais-tu du vélo ?

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Je pratique une activité sportive.

Je pratique une activité sportive. (Hobbies)

Neutral
Je fais du sport.

Je fais du sport. (Hobbies)

Informal
Je fais du sport.

Je fais du sport. (Hobbies)

Slang
Je me bouge.

Je me bouge. (Hobbies)

Uses of Faire

Faire

Weather

  • Il fait beau It is nice

Hobbies

  • Je fais du ski I ski
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Examples by Level

1

Il fait beau.

It is nice weather.

2

Je fais du sport.

I do sports.

3

Il fait froid.

It is cold.

4

Tu fais de la danse.

You do dance.

1

Il fait du vent aujourd'hui.

It is windy today.

2

Je ne fais pas de natation.

I don't do swimming.

3

Nous faisons du vélo le dimanche.

We go cycling on Sundays.

4

Est-ce que vous faites de la guitare ?

Do you play guitar?

1

Il fait un temps magnifique pour faire du ski.

It's beautiful weather for skiing.

2

Elle ne fait plus de gymnastique.

She doesn't do gymnastics anymore.

3

On fait de la randonnée en montagne.

We go hiking in the mountains.

4

Il fait gris, donc je ne fais pas de jardinage.

It's grey, so I'm not doing gardening.

1

Il fait un froid de canard, je préfère faire de la lecture.

It's freezing, I prefer reading.

2

Il fait souvent du brouillard dans cette région.

It's often foggy in this region.

3

Je fais de la photo depuis trois ans.

I've been doing photography for three years.

4

Ne fais pas de bruit, il fait la sieste.

Don't make noise, he's taking a nap.

1

Il fait un temps à ne pas mettre un chien dehors.

The weather is terrible.

2

Il fait preuve d'une grande passion quand il fait de la peinture.

He shows great passion when painting.

3

Il fait un soleil radieux, idéal pour faire de l'équitation.

It's sunny, ideal for horseback riding.

4

Il ne fait jamais de compromis quand il fait de la musique.

He never compromises when playing music.

1

Il fait un temps de saison, propice à faire de la cuisine.

The weather is seasonal, perfect for cooking.

2

Il fait la pluie et le beau temps dans ce département.

He calls all the shots in this department.

3

Il fait de l'escrime avec une précision chirurgicale.

He does fencing with surgical precision.

4

Il fait un froid glacial, personne ne fait de sport dehors.

It's freezing, nobody is doing sports outside.

Easily Confused

French Expressions with Faire: Weather & Hobbies (Faire) vs Faire vs Jouer

Learners mix up 'faire du' and 'jouer au'.

French Expressions with Faire: Weather & Hobbies (Faire) vs Il fait vs Il y a

Both describe weather.

French Expressions with Faire: Weather & Hobbies (Faire) vs Negative articles

Learners keep 'du/de la' in negative sentences.

Common Mistakes

✗

Il est beau

✓

Il fait beau

Weather uses 'faire', not 'être'.
✗

Je fais le sport

✓

Je fais du sport

Hobbies require partitive articles.
✗

Il fait froid

✓

Il fait froid

Correct, but watch for 'Il est froid' (the object is cold).
✗

Je fais du vélo pas

✓

Je ne fais pas de vélo

Negative placement.
✗

Je ne fais pas du vélo

✓

Je ne fais pas de vélo

Partitive becomes 'de' in negative.
✗

Il fait du soleil

✓

Il y a du soleil

Sun uses 'Il y a'.
✗

Je fais du football

✓

Je joue au football

Team sports use 'jouer à'.
✗

Il fait mauvais temps

✓

Il fait mauvais

Keep it simple.
✗

Je fais de la tennis

✓

Je joue au tennis

Gender and verb usage.
✗

Il fait de la pluie

✓

Il pleut

Weather verbs are often specific.
✗

Il fait de la neige

✓

Il neige

Use the verb 'neiger'.
✗

Je fais de la course

✓

Je fais de la course à pied

Be specific.
✗

Il fait chaud dehors

✓

Il fait chaud

Redundancy.

Sentence Patterns

Il fait ___ aujourd'hui.

Je fais ___ ___.

Est-ce que tu fais ___ ___ ?

Il ne fait pas ___ ___.

Real World Usage

Texting constant

Il fait beau, on fait du vélo ?

Social Media very common

Je fais de la rando aujourd'hui #nature

Job Interview common

Je fais de la natation pour rester en forme.

Travel common

Il fait quel temps à Paris ?

Food Delivery occasional

Il fait trop froid pour sortir, je commande.

Casual Chat very common

Tu fais quoi ce week-end ?

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⚠️

The 'Faites' Trap

Never say 'vous faisez'. Even though most -re verbs end in -ez, 'faire' is irregular. It's 'vous faites'.
🎯

Weather Feeling vs. Seeing

If you are describing the feeling (hot, cold, nice), use 'Il fait'. If you are naming a thing you see (sun, rain, snow), 'Il y a' or the specific verb (Il pleut) is often better.
💬

Grasse Matinée

French people love their 'grasse matinée' (fat morning). It literally means sleeping in until you feel like it. Use it to sound truly French!

Smart Tips

Always use 'Il fait' + adjective.

Il est beau. → Il fait beau.

Switch 'du/de la' to 'de'.

Je ne fais pas du vélo. → Je ne fais pas de vélo.

Individual = 'faire', Team = 'jouer'.

Je joue du vélo. → Je fais du vélo.

Use 'Il y a' for nouns.

Il fait du soleil. → Il y a du soleil.

Pronunciation

/fə.zɔ̃/

Faisons

The 'ai' in 'faisons' is pronounced like a schwa /ə/.

Rising for questions

Fais-tu du sport ? ↑

Yes/No question intonation

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Faire is like a 'Fair' weather friend; it shows up for the weather and your hobbies.

Visual Association

Imagine yourself holding a paintbrush (faire de la peinture) while standing in the rain (Il fait mauvais).

Rhyme

Pour le temps ou le sport, 'faire' est le mot fort.

Story

Pierre loves the outdoors. Every morning, he checks the window: 'Il fait beau!' He grabs his bike. 'Je fais du vélo,' he says. He never says 'Je suis du vélo' because he knows 'faire' is for activities.

Word Web

fairebeaufroiddude lasportvélo

Challenge

Write 3 sentences about the weather today and 3 about your favorite hobbies using 'faire'.

Cultural Notes

French people love discussing the weather as a social lubricant.

Expressions like 'Il fait frette' are common for very cold weather.

Standard French is used, but 'faire' is often used for mountain sports.

Derived from Latin 'facere', meaning to make or do.

Conversation Starters

“

Il fait quel temps chez toi ?

“

Qu'est-ce que tu fais comme sport ?

“

Est-ce que tu fais de la musique ?

“

Comment est le temps en automne ?

Journal Prompts

Describe your ideal weekend using 'faire'.
Write a weather report for your city.
Compare your hobbies now to your hobbies as a child.
Discuss why weather affects your mood.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

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

Il ___ beau.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: fait
Third person singular for weather.
Choose the correct article. Multiple Choice

Je fais ___ vélo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: du
Vélo is masculine.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

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'.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

Arrange the words in the correct order:

All words placed

Click words above to build the sentence

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Il fait beau.
Standard word order.
Translate to French. Translation

It is cold.

Answer starts with: Il ...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Il fait froid.
Weather uses 'faire'.
Conjugate for 'Nous'. Conjugation Drill

Nous ___ du ski.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: faisons
Correct conjugation for 'nous'.
Match the activity. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: natation
Natation is feminine.
Select the correct verb. Multiple Choice

___ du tennis.

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

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

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

Il ___ beau.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: fait
Third person singular for weather.
Choose the correct article. Multiple Choice

Je fais ___ vélo.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: du
Vélo is masculine.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

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'.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

beau / fait / il

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Il fait beau.
Standard word order.
Translate to French. Translation

It is cold.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Il fait froid.
Weather uses 'faire'.
Conjugate for 'Nous'. Conjugation Drill

Nous ___ du ski.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: faisons
Correct conjugation for 'nous'.
Match the activity. Match Pairs

Faire de la...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: natation
Natation is feminine.
Select the correct verb. Multiple Choice

___ du tennis.

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

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Put the words in the correct order. Sentence Reorder

matin / du / fais / je / sport / le

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Je fais du sport le matin.
Translate this sentence to French. Translation

It is cold in Paris.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Il fait froid à Paris.
Match the weather with its meaning. Match Pairs

Match the pairs:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Il fait beau:It is nice out, Il fait mauvais:The weather is bad, Il fait froid:It is cold, Il fait chaud:It is hot
Fill in the correct form of the verb 'faire'. Fill in the Blank

Vous ____ du piano ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: faites
Fix the weather mistake. Error Correction

Le temps est mauvais.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Il fait mauvais.
Pick the right activity article. Multiple Choice

Elles font ____ randonnée.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: de la
Fill in the blank. Fill in the Blank

Il ne fait pas ____ soleil aujourd'hui.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: de
Translate to French. Translation

We are doing the cooking.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nous faisons la cuisine.
Choose the correct verb for a game. Multiple Choice

Je ____ au tennis.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: joue
Reorder the question. Sentence Reorder

fais / tu / que / est-ce / du / vélo / ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Est-ce que tu fais du vélo ?

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

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.

It becomes 'de'. This is a strict rule in French grammar.

Yes, it is highly irregular. You must memorize the forms.

Use 'Quel temps fait-il ?'

Yes, 'ils font'.

Because 'natation' is a feminine noun.

Yes, but be specific with your vocabulary.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

Spanish high

Hacer

Spanish doesn't use partitive articles for hobbies.

German moderate

Machen

German uses 'es ist' for weather.

Japanese moderate

Suru

Japanese weather is described with adjectives directly.

Arabic low

Fa'ala

No direct 'faire' equivalent for weather.

Chinese low

Zuo

Weather is described with 'tianqi' (weather) + adjective.

English moderate

Do/Make

English doesn't use a verb for weather.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
Expressions with Avoir: Hungry, Thirsty, Afraid (Avoir faim, soif, peur)
Next
French Present Tense: Mastering Verbs (Le Présent)

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