10 Common English Mistakes French Speakers Make

Avoid these typical errors that French speakers make when learning English.

1. False Friends

"Actually" does NOT mean "actuellement" (currently). It means "en fait".

"Eventually" does NOT mean "éventuellement" (possibly). It means "finalement".

2. Forgetting the Subject

❌ "Is raining." → ✅ "It is raining." English always needs a subject!

3. Word Order with Adjectives

❌ "A car red" → ✅ "A red car". Adjectives come BEFORE the noun in English.

4. Pronunciation of "th"

French speakers often say "ze" instead of "the". Practice putting your tongue between your teeth!

5. Using "make" instead of "do"

❌ "I make my homework." → ✅ "I do my homework."

6. Forgetting "-s" in Third Person

❌ "She speak English." → ✅ "She speaks English."

7. Confusing "since" and "for"

"Since" = point in time (since 2020). "For" = duration (for 5 years).

8. Present Perfect Misuse

❌ "I live here since 2020." → ✅ "I have lived here since 2020."

9. Pronunciation of Final Consonants

Don't add vowel sounds: "important" is not "important-uh".

10. Literal Translation of Expressions

❌ "I have 25 years" → ✅ "I am 25 years old." English uses "be", not "have" for age.