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A1 adverb #400 most common 9 min read

presque

Top 400

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips presque in 30 Seconds

Explanation presque in your Level:

At the A1 level, 'presque' is one of the first adverbs you will learn to modify your basic sentences. It is primarily used to express that an action is nearly finished or that a time is approaching. For example, 'J'ai presque fini' (I have almost finished) is a vital phrase for any student. At this stage, you should focus on its placement: usually right before the adjective or after the first part of the verb in compound tenses. You will also see it used with numbers, such as 'Il est presque huit heures'. The goal at A1 is to use 'presque' to add a layer of accuracy to your simple statements about daily life, routines, and immediate needs. It helps you avoid being too binary (yes/no, finished/not finished) and allows for more natural communication.

At the A2 level, you begin to use 'presque' in more varied contexts, including with negative structures like 'presque rien' (almost nothing) or 'presque jamais' (almost never). You will start to notice that 'presque' can modify not just verbs and adjectives, but also other adverbs and prepositional phrases. For instance, 'Il habite presque à côté' (He lives almost next door). You will also learn the specific compound word 'presqu'île' and understand that this is the rare case where elision occurs. At A2, 'presque' becomes a tool for comparison, as in 'C'est presque aussi grand que...' (It's almost as big as...). This level requires you to be more comfortable with the word's placement in more complex sentence structures, including those with object pronouns.

By the B1 level, you should be using 'presque' fluently to express nuances in your opinions and descriptions. You will use it to soften your statements or to provide more precise details in narratives. For example, 'C'était presque un accident' (It was almost an accident). You will also start to distinguish 'presque' from its synonyms like 'quasiment' and 'à peu près', choosing the one that best fits the context. B1 learners use 'presque' to describe emotional states or abstract concepts, such as 'Je suis presque sûr' (I am almost sure). You will also encounter 'presque' in more formal written texts, where it might modify long noun phrases or complex verbal constructions. Your understanding of 'presque' now includes its role in managing the flow of information and setting expectations for the listener.

At the B2 level, you are expected to use 'presque' with a high degree of precision and to understand its rhetorical effects. You might use it for emphasis or irony. You will also be comfortable using 'presque' in complex grammatical environments, such as with the subjunctive or in hypothetical 'si' clauses. For example, 'Si j'avais eu presque assez d'argent, je l'aurais acheté'. You will also recognize the use of 'presque' in idiomatic expressions and more sophisticated vocabulary. At this level, you should be able to explain the difference between 'presque' and 'près de' in terms of both grammar and meaning. You will also start to see 'presque' used in professional and academic contexts to qualify data and observations, showing a sophisticated grasp of the word's utility in formal discourse.

At the C1 level, your use of 'presque' is indistinguishable from that of a native speaker. You understand the subtle stylistic differences between 'presque', 'quasiment', and 'quasi'. You can use 'presque' to create specific literary effects, such as the 'presque-dit' (the almost-said) or to describe liminal states of being. You will encounter 'presque' in philosophical texts and high-level literature where it is used to explore the boundaries of language and reality. Your mastery includes the ability to use 'presque' in very long, complex sentences without losing the logical thread. You also understand the historical development of the word and how its usage has evolved. At C1, 'presque' is not just a vocabulary word; it is a tool for nuanced expression and sophisticated thought.

At the C2 level, you have a complete mastery of 'presque' and all its nuances, including its most obscure uses. You can appreciate the word's role in the works of great French writers and philosophers who use the concept of the 'presque' to define human experience. You are aware of the rare instances where 'presque' might be used in a way that challenges standard grammar for stylistic reasons. You can use 'presque' to navigate the most delicate social and professional situations, using it to imply meaning without stating it directly. Your command of the word allows you to play with its meaning, using it in puns, wordplay, and complex metaphors. At this level, 'presque' is a fully integrated part of your linguistic repertoire, used with effortless precision and creative flair.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

presque in 30 Seconds

Presque is the French word for 'almost' or 'nearly', used to show proximity to a goal.
It is an invariable adverb, meaning it never changes its form regardless of gender or number.
Placement is key: it usually goes before adjectives and between verbs in compound tenses.
The only common elision occurs in 'presqu'île'; otherwise, it remains 'presque' even before vowels.

The French adverb presque is a fundamental building block of the language, functioning as the direct equivalent of the English word 'almost' or 'nearly'. It is used to indicate that a state, action, or quantity is very close to being realized but has not quite reached that point. In the hierarchy of French adverbs of degree, presque sits just below total completion, making it indispensable for expressing nuances in time, quantity, and probability.

Core Function: To express proximity to a limit or a goal without reaching it. It modifies verbs, adjectives, and other adverbs.

Whether you are talking about the time of day, your progress on a task, or the frequency of an event, presque provides the necessary wiggle room to be accurate without being absolute. It is a versatile tool that appears in both high-register literature and the most casual street slang, bridging the gap between 'not yet' and 'done'.

J'ai presque fini mes devoirs pour ce soir.

One of the most interesting aspects of presque is its psychological weight. When a French speaker says 'C'est presque prêt' (It's almost ready), they are signaling that the final result is imminent. It creates a sense of anticipation. However, it can also be used to soften a negative statement, such as 'Il n'y a presque plus de pain' (There is almost no bread left), which sounds slightly less definitive than saying there is none at all.

Frequency of Use: It is one of the top 500 most used words in the French language, appearing in nearly every conversation involving time or progress.

Il est presque minuit, nous devrions rentrer.

In academic contexts, presque is used to define limits in mathematics or logic, such as 'presque partout' (almost everywhere). In daily life, it is the savior of the unpunctual, allowing one to say 'Je suis presque là' (I'm almost there) while still being five minutes away. Understanding the 'almost-ness' of presque is key to understanding the French perception of boundaries and completion.

Ce film est presque aussi bon que le premier.

Grammatical Placement: Usually placed immediately before the word it modifies, whether that is an adjective, an adverb, or a prepositional phrase.

Elle a presque tout mangé.

C'est presque incroyable !

Using presque correctly involves understanding its syntax and its interaction with different parts of speech. Unlike some adverbs that can float around a sentence, presque is quite disciplined; it almost always precedes the element it qualifies. This precision is what allows it to modify a wide range of meanings, from 'almost all' to 'almost never'.

Modifying Adjectives: When modifying an adjective, place 'presque' directly before it. Example: 'C'est presque impossible' (It's almost impossible).

When you use presque with verbs in simple tenses (present, imperfect, future), it usually follows the verb. For example, 'Je mange presque tout' (I eat almost everything). However, in compound tenses like the passé composé, the adverb is sandwiched between the auxiliary verb and the past participle: 'J'ai presque fini'. This is a standard rule for short adverbs in French and is vital for sounding natural.

Nous sommes presque arrivés à destination.

A common construction involves using presque with negative structures. 'Presque pas' means 'hardly any' or 'almost not', while 'presque rien' means 'almost nothing'. These are very common in spoken French to downplay an amount or an effort. For instance, 'Il ne travaille presque pas' (He hardly works at all).

Modifying Quantifiers: It frequently modifies words like 'tous' (all), 'tout' (everything), or 'personne' (nobody). Example: 'Presque personne n'est venu' (Almost nobody came).

Il y a presque cent personnes dans la salle.

Another important usage is with time. In French, you can say 'Il est presque huit heures' (It is almost eight o'clock). Note that in this context, presque functions as a softener for the specific hour. It is also used in the phrase 'presque jamais' (almost never), which is the standard way to express low frequency.

Je ne regarde presque jamais la télévision le matin.

Comparison: Use 'presque aussi... que' to say 'almost as... as'. Example: 'C'est presque aussi grand que ma maison'.

Il a presque autant d'argent que son frère.

Finally, remember that presque is an adverb and does not change based on gender or number. It remains 'presque' whether you are talking about one boy, ten girls, or an abstract concept. This makes it one of the easier words to master once you understand its placement rules.

In the rhythm of daily French life, presque is everywhere. If you walk into a bakery (boulangerie) late in the afternoon, you might hear the baker say, 'Il n'y a presque plus de baguettes' (There are almost no baguettes left). This usage is crucial for managing expectations in service environments. It is a word of transition, signaling that a state is about to change.

In the Workplace: You will hear it during status updates. 'Le projet est presque terminé' is a standard phrase in every office from Paris to Lyon.

On French television or radio, news anchors use presque to report statistics that are nearing a milestone. 'Le chômage a presque atteint son niveau le plus bas' (Unemployment has almost reached its lowest level). It provides a level of precision that 'environ' (about) lacks; 'environ' implies an estimate, while presque implies a shortfall.

On est presque arrivés, encore deux minutes !

In social settings, presque is often used to exaggerate or emphasize a point. A friend might say, 'J'ai presque eu une crise cardiaque !' (I almost had a heart attack!) after a jump scare. This hyperbolic use is very common in informal conversation. It is also a key component of the phrase 'presque rien', used to describe a very small amount of something, often in a self-deprecating way.

At Home: Parents use it with children constantly: 'Tu as presque fini ton assiette ?' (Have you almost finished your plate?).

Il fait presque nuit dehors.

In sports commentary, you will hear it when a player narrowly misses a goal: 'C'était presque dedans !' (It was almost in!). The word captures the drama of the 'near miss'. Whether it's a weather report saying it's 'presque l'été' or a GPS telling you that you've 'presque atteint votre destination', the word is a constant companion in the French-speaking world.

C'est presque trop facile pour être vrai.

Finally, in the realm of philosophy and art, the 'presque' is a subject of study. The famous French philosopher Vladimir Jankélévitch wrote about the 'je-ne-sais-quoi' and the 'presque-rien', emphasizing the importance of those tiny, almost imperceptible differences that define our experience of reality.

While presque is relatively straightforward, English speakers often stumble on a few specific areas. The most common error is related to elision. In French, many words ending in 'e' drop the vowel and add an apostrophe before a word starting with a vowel (like 'le' becoming 'l''). However, presque is an exception. You should almost never write 'presqu''.

The 'Presqu'île' Exception: The only common word where 'presque' elides is 'presqu'île' (peninsula). Writing 'presqu'arrivé' is a common spelling mistake for learners.

Another mistake involves the confusion between presque and près de. While both can mean 'nearly' or 'close to', près de is used specifically for distances or quantities with numbers, whereas presque is more general. For example, 'Il est presque dix heures' is correct, but 'Il est près de dix heures' is also used to mean 'close to ten'. However, you cannot say 'Je suis près de fini'; you must say 'J'ai presque fini'.

Incorrect: J'ai presqu' fini. Correct: J'ai presque fini.

Word order in compound tenses is another pitfall. English speakers might want to say 'J'ai fini presque' (following the 'I finished almost' logic), but in French, the adverb must come before the past participle: 'J'ai presque fini'. Placing it at the end of the sentence is grammatically incorrect and sounds very unnatural to native ears.

Presque vs. Environ: 'Environ' means 'about' or 'approximately' (could be more or less). 'Presque' means 'almost' (it is less than the target).

Il y a presque 20 personnes (meaning 18 or 19). Il y a environ 20 personnes (meaning 18, 19, 21, or 22).

Lastly, learners often forget the 'ne' when using 'presque' in negative sentences like 'Je n'ai presque rien mangé'. Even though 'presque' isn't a negative word itself, it often pairs with 'rien', 'plus', or 'jamais', which require the 'ne' in formal and written French (though it is often dropped in casual speech).

French offers several synonyms for presque, each with its own nuance and register. Understanding these alternatives will help you sound more like a native speaker and allow you to be more precise in your descriptions.

Quasiment: This is the most common synonym in everyday spoken French. It is slightly more informal than 'presque' and is used in exactly the same way. 'C'est quasiment impossible' is very common.

Another close relative is quasi. This is often used as a prefix or an adverb in more formal or journalistic contexts. For example, 'une quasi-certitude' (a near certainty). It is shorter and punchier than 'presque' but serves the same function of indicating proximity to a state.

Il est quasiment impossible de trouver une place de parking ici.

When dealing with numbers and quantities, you might use à peu près or environ. As mentioned before, these mean 'approximately' and can imply that the number is slightly higher or lower than the stated amount, whereas presque always implies it is slightly lower.

Près de: Used primarily with numbers or distances. 'Il y a près de dix kilomètres' (There are nearly ten kilometers).

C'est à peu près ce que je pensais.

In more literary or old-fashioned French, you might encounter pour ainsi dire, which translates to 'so to speak' or 'as it were', but is often used to mean 'almost'. For example, 'Il est, pour ainsi dire, le chef de la famille'. This is much more formal and less common in daily speech.

Il a presque fini, il ne lui reste que deux pages.

Comparison of Synonyms: 'Presque' (Standard), 'Quasiment' (Informal/Common), 'Quasi' (Formal/Short), 'À peu près' (Approximate).

How Formal Is It?

Formal

"La réforme est presque achevée."

Neutral

"J'ai presque fini mon travail."

Informal

"C'est presque bon, t'inquiète."

Child friendly

"On est presque arrivés au parc !"

Slang

"C'est quasiment du lourd, ce truc."

Fun Fact

The word 'presque' is one of the few French words that resists elision before a vowel, unlike 'puisque' or 'lorsque'. This makes it a bit of a rebel in French grammar rules!

Pronunciation Guide

UK /pʁɛsk/

US /pʁɛsk/

The stress is equal on the single syllable, but in a sentence, it often carries a slight rhythmic emphasis.

Rhymes With

fresque grotesque arabesque burlesque romanesque gigantesque picaresque livresque

Common Errors

Pronouncing the final 'e' (it should be silent).
Using an English 'r' instead of the French guttural 'r'.
Adding an extra syllable at the end.
Confusing the vowel sound with 'u' (prusque).
Making the 's' sound like a 'z'.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 1/5

Very easy to recognize as it usually corresponds to 'almost'.

Writing 2/5

Requires care with elision rules (avoiding presqu') and placement in compound tenses.

Speaking 1/5

Easy to pronounce and very useful for daily communication.

Listening 1/5

Clearly audible and distinct in most conversations.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

fini tout rien jamais prêt

Learn Next

quasiment environ à peu près seulement déjà

Advanced

liminalité approximation imminence quasi-totalité imperceptible

Grammar to Know

Adverb Placement

J'ai presque fini (between auxiliary and participle).

Negative Structures

Je ne mange presque rien (ne... presque rien).

Elision Exception

Presque ne s'élide pas, sauf dans presqu'île.

Invariability

Presque ne change jamais de forme.

Modification of Quantifiers

Presque tous les étudiants sont là.

Examples by Level

J'ai presque fini mon café.

I have almost finished my coffee.

Presque follows the auxiliary verb 'ai'.

Il est presque midi.

It is almost noon.

Used with time expressions.

Elle est presque prête.

She is almost ready.

Modifies the adjective 'prête'.

C'est presque fini.

It's almost finished.

Common short phrase.

Nous sommes presque arrivés.

We have almost arrived.

Used with the verb 'arriver' in passé composé.

J'ai presque dix euros.

I have almost ten euros.

Modifies a quantity.

Il fait presque chaud aujourd'hui.

It is almost warm today.

Modifies the adjective 'chaud'.

Le chat est presque noir.

The cat is almost black.

Modifies a color adjective.

Il n'y a presque plus de lait.

There is almost no milk left.

Used in a negative construction 'ne... presque plus'.

Je ne mange presque jamais de viande.

I almost never eat meat.

Used in the construction 'ne... presque jamais'.

Elle a presque tout mangé.

She ate almost everything.

Modifies the pronoun 'tout'.

C'est presque la même chose.

It's almost the same thing.

Modifies a noun phrase.

Il y a presque cent personnes ici.

There are almost a hundred people here.

Modifies a large number.

Le train part dans presque cinq minutes.

The train leaves in almost five minutes.

Modifies a time duration.

J'ai presque oublié ton anniversaire !

I almost forgot your birthday!

Modifies the verb 'oublier'.

Il habite presque en face de chez moi.

He lives almost opposite my house.

Modifies a prepositional phrase.

C'est presque impossible de choisir.

It's almost impossible to choose.

Modifies the adjective 'impossible'.

Il n'y avait presque personne à la fête.

There was almost nobody at the party.

Used with 'personne'.

Le film était presque trop long.

The movie was almost too long.

Modifies the adverb 'trop'.

J'ai presque fini de lire ce livre.

I have almost finished reading this book.

Modifies the verbal phrase 'fini de lire'.

C'est presque un miracle qu'il soit là.

It's almost a miracle that he is here.

Modifies a noun phrase with an article.

Il a presque réussi son examen.

He almost passed his exam.

Indicates a near success.

Nous avons presque tout prévu pour le voyage.

We have planned almost everything for the trip.

Modifies 'tout' in a compound tense.

Le ciel est presque entièrement bleu.

The sky is almost entirely blue.

Modifies another adverb 'entièrement'.

La situation est presque devenue incontrôlable.

The situation almost became uncontrollable.

Placed between auxiliary and past participle.

Il n'y a presque aucune chance de gagner.

There is almost no chance of winning.

Used with 'aucune'.

C'est presque insultant de proposer si peu.

It's almost insulting to offer so little.

Modifies an adjective used as a judgment.

Il a presque fallu appeler la police.

We almost had to call the police.

Modifies the impersonal verb 'falloir'.

Le résultat est presque identique au précédent.

The result is almost identical to the previous one.

Modifies 'identique'.

Elle a presque atteint son objectif de vente.

She has almost reached her sales target.

Modifies the verb 'atteindre'.

C'est presque dommage de partir maintenant.

It's almost a shame to leave now.

Modifies the noun 'dommage'.

Il ne reste presque plus d'espoir.

There is almost no hope left.

Negative construction with 'espoir'.

Cette œuvre est une presque perfection.

This work is a near perfection.

Used as an adjectival modifier for a noun.

Il a agi avec une presque indifférence.

He acted with a near indifference.

Nuanced description of behavior.

C'est presque par hasard qu'ils se sont rencontrés.

It's almost by chance that they met.

Modifies a prepositional phrase of manner.

Le silence était presque palpable dans la pièce.

The silence was almost palpable in the room.

Literary use with 'palpable'.

Il n'y a presque pas d'exception à cette règle.

There are almost no exceptions to this rule.

Used to define a strict limit.

Son discours était presque une déclaration de guerre.

His speech was almost a declaration of war.

Metaphorical use.

Elle a presque réussi à me convaincre.

She almost succeeded in convincing me.

Modifies the verb 'réussir'.

C'est presque trop beau pour être vrai.

It's almost too good to be true.

Common idiomatic expression.

L'ontologie du presque définit son œuvre tardive.

The ontology of the 'almost' defines his late work.

Used as a substantive concept.

Il existe une presque-totalité de preuves contre lui.

There exists a near-totality of evidence against him.

Used with a hyphen to form a compound noun.

C'est dans ce presque rien que réside le génie.

It is in this 'almost nothing' that genius resides.

Philosophical use of 'presque rien'.

Sa voix n'était plus qu'un presque murmure.

His voice was no more than a near whisper.

Highly stylistic use.

L'auteur explore la zone du presque-dit.

The author explores the zone of the 'almost-said'.

Literary concept.

Il y a une presque-unanimité sur ce sujet délicat.

There is a near-unanimity on this delicate subject.

Formal compound noun.

Le temps semble s'être presque arrêté.

Time seems to have almost stopped.

Used with a reflexive verb in infinitive.

Elle a frôlé la presque-perfection technique.

She brushed against near technical perfection.

Sophisticated noun modification.

Common Collocations

presque tout

presque rien

presque jamais

presque toujours

presque fini

presque impossible

presque sûr

presque personne

presque partout

presque trop

Common Phrases

C'est presque ça.

— You're almost there / That's nearly it. Used when someone is close to the right answer.

Tu as presque trouvé la réponse, c'est presque ça !

Presque rien.

— Almost nothing. Used to describe a very small amount.

Combien ça coûte ? Presque rien.

À presque tous les coups.

— Almost every time / Nearly always. Used for high frequency.

Il gagne à presque tous les coups.

Presque pas.

— Hardly any / Almost not. Used for very low quantity or degree.

Il n'y a presque pas de vent aujourd'hui.

Presque fini !

— Almost done! A common exclamation of progress.

Encore une minute et c'est presque fini !

Presque personne.

— Hardly anyone. Used to describe a small crowd.

Presque personne n'est venu à la réunion.

Presque partout.

— Almost everywhere. Used for ubiquity.

On voit des vélos presque partout à Paris.

Presque jamais.

— Almost never. Used for very rare events.

Je ne mange presque jamais de fast-food.

Presque toujours.

— Almost always. Used for very frequent events.

Il pleut presque toujours en automne ici.

C'est presque trop.

— It's almost too much. Used for excess.

Merci pour le cadeau, c'est presque trop !

Often Confused With

presque vs près de

Près de is used for physical proximity or numerical approximations (nearly 10), while presque is more general.

presque vs environ

Environ means 'about' (can be more or less), while presque means 'almost' (always less than).

presque vs quasiment

They are synonyms, but quasiment is slightly more informal.

Idioms & Expressions

"Un presque rien"

— A trifle or a tiny thing that makes a big difference.

C'est un presque rien qui a tout changé.

literary

"Presque trop beau pour être vrai"

— Something so good it seems impossible.

Cette offre est presque trop belle pour être vraie.

neutral

"Il s'en est fallu de presque rien"

— It was a very close call.

Il a failli tomber, il s'en est fallu de presque rien.

neutral

"Le presque-dit"

— What is implied but not explicitly stated.

Il faut savoir lire le presque-dit dans ses lettres.

literary

"Presque à coup sûr"

— Almost certainly.

Il viendra presque à coup sûr.

neutral

"Presque du jour au lendemain"

— Almost overnight.

Il est devenu riche presque du jour au lendemain.

neutral

"Être presque au bout du rouleau"

— To be almost at the end of one's tether/energy.

Après ce marathon, je suis presque au bout du rouleau.

informal

"Presque à la lettre"

— Almost literally / Almost exactly.

Il a suivi les instructions presque à la lettre.

neutral

"C'est presque du vol"

— It's almost robbery (referring to a high price).

Vendre ce café à 10 euros, c'est presque du vol !

informal

"Presque un jeu d'enfant"

— Almost child's play (very easy).

Réparer ce vélo était presque un jeu d'enfant.

neutral

Easily Confused

presque vs Près

Sounds similar and relates to proximity.

Près is an adverb/preposition meaning 'near'. Presque is an adverb meaning 'almost'.

Il est près de moi (He is near me). Il est presque là (He is almost here).

presque vs Prêt

Sounds similar (homophone in some accents).

Prêt means 'ready'. Presque means 'almost'.

Je suis prêt (I am ready). Je suis presque prêt (I am almost ready).

presque vs Puisque

Ends with the same sound.

Puisque means 'since' or 'because'. Presque means 'almost'.

Puisque tu es là, aide-moi.

presque vs Lorsque

Ends with the same sound.

Lorsque means 'when'. Presque means 'almost'.

Lorsque je suis arrivé, il dormait.

presque vs Environ

Both used for approximation.

Environ is for 'about/around' a number. Presque is for 'almost' reaching a point.

Il y a environ 10 euros (9-11). Il y a presque 10 euros (9.50).

Sentence Patterns

Sujet + Verb + presque + Adjective

Il est presque prêt.

Sujet + Avoir/Être + presque + Participle

J'ai presque fini.

Sujet + ne + Verb + presque + rien/jamais

Je ne dors presque jamais.

Presque + tous/toutes + Noun

Presque tous les amis sont là.

C'est + presque + un/une + Noun

C'est presque une victoire.

Presque + aussi + Adjective + que

C'est presque aussi beau que Paris.

Il + ne + reste + presque + plus + de + Noun

Il ne reste presque plus de temps.

Une + presque + Noun

Une presque certitude.

Word Family

Nouns

How to Use It

frequency

Extremely high in all domains of life.

Common Mistakes

J'ai fini presque. → J'ai presque fini.
In French, adverbs of degree like 'presque' must come before the past participle in compound tenses.
Presqu'arrivé → Presque arrivé
Presque does not elide before a vowel. The 'e' is always kept.
Il est près de fini. → Il a presque fini.
'Près de' is for distance or numbers; 'presque' is for actions and states.
Presque gens sont là. → Presque tous les gens sont là.
'Presque' cannot modify a noun directly; it needs a quantifier like 'tous' or an article.
Je ne mange presque. → Je ne mange presque rien.
'Presque' needs a complement like 'rien', 'pas', or 'jamais' when used in a negative sense.

Tips

Placement in Passé Composé

Always put 'presque' after 'ai', 'as', 'a', etc. Say 'J'ai presque fini', not 'J'ai fini presque'.

The Elision Rule

Remember: No apostrophe! 'Presque' keeps its 'e' even before 'a', 'e', 'i', 'o', 'u'. 'Presque oublié' is correct.

Presque vs Environ

Use 'presque' when you are just below a target. Use 'environ' when you are guessing around a number.

Sounding Natural

Use 'quasiment' in casual conversations with friends to sound more like a native speaker.

Presque rien

Use 'presque rien' to politely downplay a gift or a favor: 'Oh, ce n'est presque rien !'

The 'ne' Drop

In fast speech, the 'ne' often disappears. If you hear 'J'ai presque rien', it means 'I have almost nothing'.

Peninsula

The only time you use 'presqu'' is for 'presqu'île'. It's a great word to know for geography!

Almost as...

Use 'presque aussi... que' for comparisons. 'C'est presque aussi bon que le chocolat'.

Almost never

Don't forget 'presque jamais'. It's much more common than saying 'très rarement'.

Softening Blows

Use 'presque' to make a negative statement sound less harsh. 'C'est presque fini' sounds better than 'C'est pas fini'.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'Presque' as 'Press-K'. You are pressing toward the finish line, but you haven't crossed it yet. You are almost there!

Visual Association

Imagine a runner whose hand is just inches away from the finishing tape. That gap is 'presque'.

Word Web

almost nearly quasiment environ près de proximity limit progress

Challenge

Try to use 'presque' in three different ways today: once for time, once for a quantity, and once for a task you are doing.

Word Origin

From the Old French 'presque', which is a combination of 'près' (near) and 'que' (that/than). The word 'près' comes from the Latin 'pressē', meaning 'closely' or 'tightly'.

Original meaning: The original sense was 'closely that' or 'so near that', evolving into the modern sense of 'almost'.

Romance (Latin-derived)

Cultural Context

No specific sensitivities. It is a neutral, high-frequency functional word.

English speakers often use 'about' where French speakers would strictly use 'presque' or 'environ'. 'Presque' is more specific about being 'under' the limit.

Vladimir Jankélévitch's philosophical work 'Le Je-ne-sais-quoi et le Presque-rien'. The movie 'Presque' (2021) directed by Bernard Campan and Alexandre Jollien. The common phrase 'Presque célèbre' (Almost Famous).

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Time and Schedules

Il est presque l'heure.
Presque midi.
Dans presque une heure.
C'est presque fini.

Shopping and Money

Ça coûte presque rien.
J'ai presque assez d'argent.
Il n'y a presque plus de stock.
C'est presque gratuit.

Travel and Directions

On est presque là.
C'est presque à côté.
Presque au bout de la rue.
Le train est presque arrivé.

Work and Tasks

Le rapport est presque prêt.
J'ai presque tout fait.
C'est presque parfait.
On a presque terminé.

Emotions and Opinions

Je suis presque sûr.
C'est presque incroyable.
C'est presque dommage.
Je suis presque déçu.

Conversation Starters

"Tu as presque fini ton projet pour l'école ?"

"Est-ce qu'il est presque l'heure de manger ?"

"Tu penses que c'est presque impossible de gagner ?"

"Est-ce que tu vas presque toujours au même café ?"

"C'est presque l'été, tu as des projets ?"

Journal Prompts

Décris une tâche que tu as presque terminée aujourd'hui.

Y a-t-il quelque chose que tu ne fais presque jamais ?

Raconte un moment où tu étais presque en retard pour un rendez-vous important.

Qu'est-ce qui est presque parfait dans ta vie en ce moment ?

Décris un endroit où tu vas presque tous les jours.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Yes, in almost all cases, 'presque' precedes the adjective, adverb, or noun phrase it modifies. With verbs, it follows the simple verb or sits between the auxiliary and the past participle in compound tenses.

Only in the word 'presqu'île' (peninsula). In all other cases, even before a vowel, you keep the 'e': 'presque arrivé', 'presque impossible'.

They are synonyms. 'Presque' is the standard, neutral word. 'Quasiment' is very common in spoken French and feels slightly more informal.

Yes, 'presque pas' means 'hardly' or 'almost not'. Example: 'Il ne mange presque pas'.

Absolutely. 'Il est presque huit heures' means 'It's almost eight o'clock'.

In very formal or philosophical contexts, it can be used as 'le presque', but this is rare in daily speech.

Use the phrase 'presque jamais', usually preceded by 'ne': 'Je ne fume presque jamais'.

Yes, it never changes its spelling for gender or number.

Words like 'complètement' (completely) or 'tout à fait' (entirely) represent the finished state that 'presque' falls short of.

No, it typically modifies a specific element within the sentence like a verb or adjective.