⚠️ False Friends (Faux Amis)

Words that look similar but have different meanings - these cause BIG problems!

Most Dangerous False Friends for Business

French	❌ WRONG	✅ CORRECT	Real Meaning
Actuellement	Actually	Currently, At present	Actually = En fait
Éventuellement	Eventually	Possibly, Perhaps	Eventually = Finalement
Formation	Formation	Training, Course	Formation = Formation (military)
Responsable	Responsible	Manager, In charge	Responsible = Responsable (de)
Assister à	Assist to	Attend	To assist = Aider
Passer un examen	Pass exam	Take exam	Pass = Réussir
Demander	Demand	Ask, Request	Demand = Exiger
Ancien	Ancient	Former, Previous	Ancient = Antique
Présenter (qqn)	Present	Introduce	Present = Présenter (qch)
Déception	Deception	Disappointment	Deception = Tromperie
Animer (réunion)	Animate	Lead, Host, Run	Animate = Donner vie

💡 Very common: "I assist to this meeting" ❌ → "I attend this meeting" ✅ | "We need a formation" ❌ → "We need training" ✅

Grammar Rule #1: Modal Verbs - NO "TO" AFTER!

Modals: can, could, may, might, must, shall, should, will, would (+ ought to)
Rule: Modal + VERB (infinitive without "to")

❌ WRONG	✅ CORRECT
We must to go	We must go
You should to try	You should try
I can to help	I can help
We will to discuss	We will discuss

💡 Why: French says "Je dois aller" but English is "I must go" (no "to")!

Grammar Rule #2: Present Perfect vs Past Simple

Present Perfect: have/has + past participle (for duration with since/for)
Past Simple: verb-ed (for specific past time)

❌ WRONG	✅ CORRECT
I work here since 2020	I have worked here since 2020
We have finished yesterday	We finished yesterday
She knows him since last year	She has known him since last year

💡 Rule: since/for/still = Present Perfect | yesterday/last week/ago = Past Simple

📝 Grammar Rules (Page 2)

Grammar Rule #3: Prepositions with Numbers

BY = amount of change | TO = final number | OF = quantities with units

❌ WRONG	✅ CORRECT
Sales increased of 20%	Sales increased by 20%
We grew at 50 employees	We grew to 50 employees
An increase by 20 units	An increase of 20 units

Grammar Rule #4: Prepositions of Time

Prep	Use With	Examples
AT	Times, moments	at 9am, at noon, at midnight
ON	Days, dates	on Monday, on May 5th
IN	Months, years, seasons	in June, in 2025, in summer

💡 Common errors: "in Monday" ❌ → "on Monday" ✅ | "at the morning" ❌ → "in the morning" ✅

Grammar Rule #5: Articles (a, an, the)

Important: French uses articles more than English!

❌ WRONG (too much article)	✅ CORRECT
The life is beautiful	Life is beautiful
I like the music	I like music (general)
I am manager	I am a manager
She is engineer	She is an engineer

💡 Rule: No article for general things | Use "a/an" with jobs | Use "the" when specific

Grammar Rule #6: Common Verb Errors

❌ DON'T SAY	✅ SAY
I am agree	I agree
I am disagree	I disagree
The informations are	The information is (uncountable!)
An advice	Some advice (uncountable!)
Make a formation	Provide training / Give training

Grammar Rule #7: Say vs Tell

SAY = don't need person | TELL = must mention person

SAY	TELL
He said "hello"	He told me that...
She said it was good	She told them to wait

💡 Error: "He said me" ❌ → "He told me" ✅ | "She told that" ❌ → "She said that" ✅

📝 Quick Reference (Page 3)

Most Common French Speaker Errors

❌ DON'T SAY	✅ SAY
I am agree	I agree
We must to go	We must go
I work here since 2020	I have worked here since 2020
I assist to the meeting	I attend the meeting
The responsible will call	The manager will call
We need a formation	We need training
Actually, I live in Paris	Currently, I live in Paris
I am manager	I am a manager
The meeting is in Monday	The meeting is on Monday
We start at the morning	We start in the morning
Let me present you John	Let me introduce you to John
Thank you for your comprehension	Thank you for your understanding
I stay available	I remain available / I'm available
I have a doubt	I have a question / I'm not sure
Pass an exam	Take an exam (pass = succeed)

✅ Self-Check Before Speaking

☐ Did I put "to" after a modal verb? (Remove it!)
☐ Am I talking about duration? (Use present perfect with since/for)
☐ Did I say "assist to"? (Change to "attend")
☐ Did I say "actually" when I mean "currently"?
☐ Did I forget "a/an" before a job? (Add it!)
☐ Am I using the right preposition? (at/on/in)

💡 Focus on: (1) Modal verbs (no "to") - very common | (2) False friends - embarrassing! | (3) Present perfect with since/for - sounds very French without it