In this French grammar lesson you will learn how to use certain in French.
In this lesson you will learn about:
- how to use certain in French
- how certain is used in sentences
- how you can quiz yourself on how to use certain in French
- how to practice with flashcards on certain in French
- how and why you should use the courses of Language Atlas to learn French
Please refer to the French B1 Curriculum to get a better overview of French grammar, if you are curious about how this fits in the overall structure of French B1.
By the end of the lesson you will know all about how to use certain in French!
Table of Contents
Certain before the Noun = Particular / Some
“Certain(e)” in French can be used to mean “particular” or “some” when it is placed BEFORE a noun.
You want to highlight the vagueness of something or someone.
- certain(e) = particular / some
J’ai rencontré un certain M. Smith.
I met a certain Mr Smith.
Il a un certain charme.
He has a certain charm.
Une certaine personne.
A particular person.
La ville a un certain charme.
The city has a certain kind of charm.
Il est d’un certain âge.
He is of a certain age.
Certains rêves sont bizarres.
Certain dreams are strange.
Certain after the Noun = Sure
“Certain” in French can be used to mean “sure” when it is placed AFTER a noun.
You want to highlight that you are sure of something.
- certain = sure
Je suis certain de trouver un moyen.
I’m sure I will find a way.
Je suis certain qu’il est heureux.
I’m sure that he’s happy.
C’est certain qu’elle est morte.
She’s definitely dead.
Example Sentences on How to use Certain in French
The final section of this lesson on how to use certain French is about seeing the adjective in action.
This is valuable because you can improve your understanding on how to use certain in French through examples.
Here you can find the sentences of the previous chapters, neatly stored in one place.
J’ai rencontré un certain M. Smith.
I met a certain Mr Smith.
Il a un certain charme.
He has a certain charm.
Une certaine personne.
A particular person.
La ville a un certain charme.
The city has a certain kind of charm.
Il est d’un certain âge.
He is of a certain age.
Certains rêves sont bizarres.
Certain dreams are strange.
Je suis certain de trouver un moyen.
I’m sure I will find a way.
Je suis certain qu’il est heureux.
I’m sure that he’s happy.
C’est certain qu’elle est morte.
She’s definitely dead.
Quiz Yourself on How to use Certain in French
At the end of every lesson you can do a small quiz.
You will see the sentences of the previous chapter.
You will either need to fill in the blanks, choose the correct multiple choice option, or both.
Once you are done the correct answer will be shown.
You can redo the quiz as many times as you want!
How to Practice With Flashcards for This Lesson
Using flashcards is an absolute necessity when it comes to learning a language!
It is the best way to memorize what you learn, you can personalize your progression because it adapts to your actions, and all flashcards have audio to improve your hearing and pronunciation.
Please read our article on how to learn a new language for more information.
There are two ways to practice with Flashcards for this lesson.
- Anki
- The Flashcards in our Courses
Anki is a free software with which you can create and practice flashcards.
After you have downloaded Anki, you can get our French B1 Anki Deck.
This Anki Deck contains 2,028 flashcards with which you can practice absolutely everything for French B1.
All the flashcards have text, images, explanations, and audio.
You can also use our courses that have flashcards integrated alongside lessons with audio, quizzes and much more!
However, I am sure you are wondering, what are your courses, and why should I take them?
The Courses of Language Atlas
Have you ever wondered what the best way is to learn a new language?
I have been learning languages for over 20+ years and I was always frustrated with books, courses, and classes that I had tried.
It never really seemed to work for me.
I wanted to learn a language in the most effective and efficient way, and there was nothing out there for me.
So I thought, “why not make something myself?“.
Using my experience and by doing research I created Language Atlas, a platform where people can learn French and Spanish in the most effective and efficient way.
I created free lessons and quizzes so that there would always be a easy and accessible way for people to learn or brush up on their language skills.
However, I also created courses that are much more comprehensive and in-depth.
The courses of Language Atlas have:
- 800+ Lessons with audio
- 800+ Quizzes
- 10,000 Flashcards with explanations, images, and audio
- A gamified way of learning a new language
- A vibrant community (including support from me)
You can register for free and try the French A0/A1 and Spanish A0/A1 Courses for free!
This includes over 60 lessons and quizzes, 500 flashcards that adapt to how you learn, and access to the community (including support from me).
All you have to do is study 30 minutes a day and you will be fluent in no time!
Don’t miss out – register for free and start learning!
