New for 2027: French Summer Camp Chamonix

The impersonal verbs like “Il neige”

Impersonal verbs are very useful for your daily conversation !

The pronoun “il” is used when describing the weather and for time related expressions. “Il” here represents the state of things – the world or universe at that moment.

Example :

	Il pleut Il neige.	It’s raining It’s snowing.
	Il fait chaud.	It is hot.
	Il fait froid.	It is cold.
	Il fait beau.	It is nice (outside).
	Il fait mauvais.	It is bad (outside).
	Il y a du vent.	It’s windy. (There is wind)

Il est six heures.		It is 6 o’clock.
Il est midi.		It is noon.
Il est trois heures dix.		It is 10 past 3.
Il est une heure moins dix.		It is 10 to 1.
Il est trois heures et demi.		It is half past three.
Il est neuf heures moins le quart.		It is a quarter to 9.
Il est huit heures quarante-cinq.		It is eight fourty-five.
Il est tôt.		It’s early.
Il est tard.		It is late.

The verb “falloir”is always used with ”il” and expresses what is needed or what must be done.

Example :

Il faut arranger la chambre. The room must be cleaned/tidied up.

Il faut aider les pauvres. One must help the poor.

Il ne faut pas être égoïste. One must not be selfish.

“Il y a” is used to express ‘there is’.

Il y a un ours sur la montagne. There is a bear on the mountain.

Il y a un passage secret derrière ce mur. There is a secret passage behind this wall.

“ Il y a” is used for : ___ ‘ago’.

Il y a un siècle, l’ordinateur n’existait pas. A century ago, the computer didn’t exit.

Now you’re ready for speaking with a French person on matters like time and weather ;-)

May 19th, 2026
Culture & Tradition Grammar for Dummies

How to order food in French like a local

For many French learners, one situation feels surprisingly stressful: ordering food in France. You arrive at the restaurant. The waiter walks over. Suddenly, every French word you have ever learned disappears from your brain. The good news? You do not need perfect French to eat out confidently in France. In fact, most…

May 11th, 2026
Grammar for Dummies

What French people really say vs what you learned in school

If you learned French at school, you might arrive in France with quite a shock. Not because the language is different, but because the way people actually speak is very far from textbook French. In class, you learn full, grammatically perfect sentences. In real life, French people tend to shorten…

January 26th, 2026
Grammar for Dummies

English Words in French: Watch Out for False Friends!

When learning French, many students feel relieved: “Great! French uses lots of English words!” And it’s true. In places like Morzine or Avoriaz, you will hear English everywhere — in shops, schools, and cafés. But be careful: some words look English and sound English… yet do NOT mean the same…

January 19th, 2026
Grammar for Dummies News

How to Learn French in Morzine-Avoriaz: Tips for Total Immersion

Learning French can be a fun and rewarding adventure – especially in France, where you can immerse yourself completely in the language and culture. Here are some tips to help you make the most of your time in Morzine-Avoriaz and improve your French every day. 🌟 1. Immerse Yourself…