What common French language mistakes do non-native French speakers make?

Non-native French speakers often make the following common mistakes:

1. Gender Errors – Confusing masculine and feminine nouns (e.g., le voiture instead of la voiture).

2. Wrong Verb Conjugation – Using incorrect verb forms, especially irregular verbs (e.g., je prend instead of je prends).

3. Incorrect Prepositions – Misusing prepositions (e.g., je vais à Paris vs. je vais en France).

4. Omitting Articles – French requires definite/indefinite articles more than English (e.g., J’aime chocolat instead of J’aime le chocolat).

5. False Friends (Faux Amis) – Words that look similar in English and French but have different meanings (e.g., attendre means to wait, not to attend).

6. Pronunciation Issues – Struggling with nasal sounds, silent letters, and liaison rules.

7. Using the Wrong Past Tense – Confusing passé composé and imparfait (e.g., il était tombé instead of il est tombé).

8. Overusing Direct Translations – Translating word-for-word from their native language, leading to unnatural phrases.

9. Neglecting Formality – Using tu instead of vous in formal situations.

10. Misplacing Adjectives – Some adjectives change meaning based on position (e.g., un grand homme means a great man, while un homme grand means a tall man).

Non-native French speakers often struggle with noun genders, "false friends," and complex verb conjugations. Pronunciation, especially nasal vowels and liaisons, poses challenges. "Manquer" usage and possessive adjective rules differ from English. Direct translations lead to errors. Awareness of these common mistakes aids in improving French fluency.