The apostrophe and apposition in French
Sign up for free to get all information about private lessons and our available group courses (A1, A2, B2, B2, C1, C2)
Sign up for freeWe offer both private lessons and organized group courses
Sign up for free to get all available courses or contact one of our teachers yourself!
Louis C.
20.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Jacques B.
20.00 €/h
No free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Kassandra G.
25.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Our offer
The apostrophe (French: l'apostrophe) can reference to the punctuaction (') but here it is a noun or pronoun that is not related to the rest of the sentence. It is used to interpellate the person we are talking to.
Lesson outline
HideThe apostrophe as a punctuaction in French
The apostrophe (') is a sign that replaces one of the vowels (a, e, i, o) when the next word itself begins with a vowel or a mute h.
Meaning:
You cannot say
- le animal
- le auto
- je écoute
- si il vient
- lorsque on
- le histoire
| Vowels | Examples | Translation |
|---|---|---|
| a | l'animal | (the animal) |
| e | j'écoute | (I listen) |
| i | s'il vient | (If he comes) |
| o | lorsqu'on | (When we) |
| h | l'histoire | (the story) |
Have a question?
Take online language lessons with a professional teacher
- Native & verified teachers
- Free trial lesson
- Learning materials included
Ada I. 
12.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Olivia L. 
25.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Céline C.
20.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Benjamin F.
25.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
SImona A. 
27.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Mathieu H.
17.50 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Makhlouf Katia M. 
12.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Nicolas L.
20.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Stefaan L.
30.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Rocío M. 
14.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Ada I.
12.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Olivia L.
25.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Céline C.
20.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Benjamin F.
25.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
SImona A.
27.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Mathieu H.
17.50 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Makhlouf Katia M.
12.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Nicolas L.
20.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
The apostrophe as a noun in French
The word put in apostrophe, noun or pronoun, designates the animated being or the personified thing to whom someone speaks. It is an independent word, without function in the sentence.
It can be:
- a person
- a thing
- an object
| Examples | Translation |
|---|---|
| John, où est ce que tu vas ? | (John, where are you going ?) |
| Maman, fais moi confiance. | (You can trust me, mom) |
| Et toi, est ce que tu vas voter pour lui ? | (What about you, are you going to vote for him ?) |
The apposition in French
The apposition (French: l'apposition) is a nominal noun or group that refers to another noun hat it follows or directly precedes. It can be a noun placed directly after the noun, like an epithet adjective or separated by a comma (,).
It is most often a noun joined to another that designates the same being, to know a quality. It can also be
- a pronoun,
- an infinitive
- a relative proposition
| Apposition | Examples | Translatios |
|---|---|---|
| Noun or nominal group | Elle porte une robe de princesse | (She is wearing a princess dress) |
| pronoun | Ma fille, elle même, viendra te l'apporter | (My own daughter will bring it for you) |
| infinitive | Autre chose, apporter une couverture quand on va à la montagne en hiver | (One more thing, bring a blanket if we go the mountains) |
| relative proposition | Mon frère, qui est un garçon très intelligent, a pourtant échoué. | (My brother who is a smart boy, managed to fail) |
Apposition vs. Apostrophe in French
It is necessary that you distinguish an apostrophe to an apposition sentence. The apostrophe calls out a person and is an independant word instead of the apposition which is a nominal element placed in the dependence of another nominal element.
The apostrophe can be like the imperative because it interpellates something or someone. Therefore, it is used in the direct speech (style) and cannot be in the indirect speech.
To differenciate the both nouns, you can put the apostrophe in the indirect speech, then you will notice that the word in apostrophe comes out of the quotation. It cannnot be preserved in the indirect speech.
Examples:
| Direct style | Indirect style | Translations |
|---|---|---|
| Toi, chante nous quelque chose ! | Il lui a dit de nous chanter quelque chose | (He told him to sing them something) |
| Amis, buvons à la santé de notre frère ! | Il a dit à ses amis de boire à la santé de leur frère | (He told his friends to drink in favor of their brother) |
| William de Cambridge est le deuxième héritier de la monarchie anglaise | Il a dit que William de Cambridge est le deuxième héritier de la monarchie anglaise | (William of Cambridge is the second heir to the throne of England) |
Exercises
- Fill in the blank exercice about the apostrophe in French
- Multiple choice questions about the apposition in French
Fill in the blank exercice about the apostrophe in French
Correct the following words with the apostrophe if necessary. Leave the blank empty if there is no apostrophe necessary.
Bonne chance !
Example: Le avion → l'avion
1. La hache →
(The axe)
2. La île →
(The island)
3. La image →
(The image)
4. Le horloge →
(The clock)
5. Le abricot →
(The apricot)
6. La hélice →
(The propeller)
7. La harmonica →
(The harmonica)
8. La alouette →
(The lark)
9. La hauteur →
(The height)
10. Le histoire →
(The story)
Multiple choice questions about the apposition in French
Exercises
- Fill in the blank exercice about the apostrophe in French
- Multiple choice questions about the apposition in French
Fill in the blank exercice about the apostrophe in French
Correct the following words with the apostrophe if necessary. Leave the blank empty if there is no apostrophe necessary.
Bonne chance !
Example: Le avion → l'avion
1. La hache →
(The axe)
2. La île →
(The island)
3. La image →
(The image)
4. Le horloge →
(The clock)
5. Le abricot →
(The apricot)
6. La hélice →
(The propeller)
7. La harmonica →
(The harmonica)
8. La alouette →
(The lark)
9. La hauteur →
(The height)
10. Le histoire →
(The story)
Multiple choice questions about the apposition in French
What our students say
Unlike in other platforms, all our teachers are manually verified by our professional team. Trust in the experiences of our students.
Hello,
My name is Tiska. I am a French Teacher with experiences with adults and teenagers in Public Education (USA) and Language Schools. I am holding a Master Degree in FLE (Teaching French as a Foreign Language).
Join a small group of learners of 2 or 3 for conversation lessons with me. An article or video to watch before the lesson and a conversation with personalized corrections during the lesson. This option saves you at least 10 euros per lesson on Colanguage.
Group opening:
Monday and/or Wednesday from 17:30 to 18:30 (French time).
Level: intermediate (B1)
Also, standard French lessons
- level A2 (low intermediate)
- 2 hours a week
- ask for schedule
Don’t know your level? Ask for a free level test.
I give Skype lessons to people who need or want to improve their French language. I like to use material from the internet (videos, article etc.) to introduce a theme which leads to a lesson and a conversation.
I like to create engaging learning with my students. I will give as homework a document to watch or to read with comprehension exercises so the time we have on skype is only speaking practice and explanation if needed.
I can help you prepare DELF-DALF Exams or work on specific needs (as professional French).
Really like to speak about all the subjects with the student especially those the student like so it gives the motivation to speak in the foreign language.
The free first lesson is organize to know your tastes, your level and your needs so we can plan the next lessons about the objectives you fixed.
J. V.
I highly recommend Tiska because she quickly and efficiently types up my mistakes in chat without interfering the flow of the conversation. She adapts to the situation and helped me to express myself on higher-level issues. She also has very organized lesson plans but uses humorous and engaging material to help make the learning process fun. Also, she spent a year in the States so she can draw from that experience to help teach you if you are an English speaker.
Tiska G.
I want to help people to improve the level of their chosen language.
I couldn't imagine a better teacher than Nancy! Together with Nancy you find the right method for you to improve your French in a fun and personal way. I would recommend her to everyone!
Nancy C.
I am a graduate of Bachelor of Secondary Education major in Social Science. I am a holder of a Professional License as Teacher. I have also teaching certificates like TESOL and TEYL. I have 2 years teaching experience as ESL Teacher. I can make our class fun and engaging. Come, let's learn English together.
G. P.
Ella is a delightful and brilliant teacher. She works as a part-time teacher and with the Philippine government. Her study method is based on the level of the students and the goals they want to achieve.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Lowella V.
Bonjour! Veux-tu apprendre français? ou l'améliorer?
My classes are structured according to my students' needs, I use different teaching methods and I rely on listening each of my students' expectations and goals. Dynamism and constant learning are my purposes in my classes.
I have worked as a French teacher for more than ten years.
I have academic studies in English and French from Montréal, Canada, where I lived for several years. I have a Bachelor in Teaching French as a foreign language from the Université de Bourgogne.
I learned French at an early age in immersion in a French-speaking region and I studied French formally for 11 years, obtaining a native level.
À bientôt!
J. J.
Natalia is a great teacher. She uses a variety of teaching methods and always considers my wishes and learning goals. The atmosphere is very pleasant, we speak a lot about random topics but also about situations from my work, which really helps to improve my conversation skills.
Natalia L.
We work with Janeke on improving her skills using situations from her work environment. Also, we discuss different topics, using a variety of materials. I have seen her French improve very quickly. Congratulations Janeke!
I want to help people to improve the level of their chosen language.
A. .
I can’t recommend Nancy highly enough. She’s a great teacher. Very patient, flexible and personable.
thanks for this Anne-Sophie. It is great to have you as a student.
Hello,
My name is Tiska. I am a French Teacher with experiences with adults and teenagers in Public Education (USA) and Language Schools. I am holding a Master Degree in FLE (Teaching French as a Foreign Language).
Join a small group of learners of 2 or 3 for conversation lessons with me. An article or video to watch before the lesson and a conversation with personalized corrections during the lesson. This option saves you at least 10 euros per lesson on Colanguage.
Group opening:
Monday and/or Wednesday from 17:30 to 18:30 (French time).
Level: intermediate (B1)
Also, standard French lessons
- level A2 (low intermediate)
- 2 hours a week
- ask for schedule
Don’t know your level? Ask for a free level test.
I give Skype lessons to people who need or want to improve their French language. I like to use material from the internet (videos, article etc.) to introduce a theme which leads to a lesson and a conversation.
I like to create engaging learning with my students. I will give as homework a document to watch or to read with comprehension exercises so the time we have on skype is only speaking practice and explanation if needed.
I can help you prepare DELF-DALF Exams or work on specific needs (as professional French).
Really like to speak about all the subjects with the student especially those the student like so it gives the motivation to speak in the foreign language.
The free first lesson is organize to know your tastes, your level and your needs so we can plan the next lessons about the objectives you fixed.
F. S.
Tiska has patience and is a very friendly and nice teacher. She always has a structure for each lesson and certainly accommodates when there is something specific I’d like to focus on. I definitely recommend her.
Tiska G.
Hi,
I m claudie , I m french and i have experience to teach french to foreign people.
I create in a school of langage in Spain a little faculty for my french lessons with a group from 15 years olds until 25.
The pupils were all the levels A1 until C2!
I was teaching as well with lillte children and adults in Spain and Rumania.
I m a very dynamic teacher with a lot of patient and empathy.
You will make a lot of progress!
J. .
Claudie is a wonderful, dedicated and very patient teacher. My goal was to speak French, because before, during lessons in my own country, I didn't feel comfortable speaking French and I couldn't manage to speak French without blocking. With Claudie, it's totally different. For over eight months, I took lessons with Claudie almost every week. Claudie gives me self-confidence and I learned a lot. We are talking about everyday life, but also about cultural subjects. She always manages to find interesting topics to discuss. We laugh a lot and I hope we will continue the lessons for a long time.
Claudie S.
Training is my passion. I like interacting with people. I am passionate about reading, watching movies, and music. I love to explore new places and have keen interest in arts and literature.I love meeting new people because every person is a whole new world you can learn from. I am also a keen reader and an enthusiastic traveller.
M. .
She is kind. She listen to me and tries to adapt the course to my expectations. She has all the books to prepare The DELF and DALF Exam which she offers for free to the student.
Hella K.
WHAT I OFFER:
Online French as a second language (FSL) courses for all levels, preparation for official exams (DELF, DALF, TCF), correction of academic work, translations, preparation for job interviews or public speeches. I also teach Spanish, as I speak it fluently and know about teaching techniques.
MY METHODOLOGY:
I focus on the student, my priority. First I find out what they know, and what their objectives and motivations are. Next, we define together a way forward. Thus, my classes are customized, and based on every student’s needs.
I make sure the learning atmosphere is mellow and agreeable, but never forget that my aim is the student’s improvement. Enjoyment contributes to progress, but some discipline is also necessary. I am used to balancing these two needs.
WHO I AM:
Having taught FSL full-time for 15 years and obtained the DAEFLE (Diploma of Aptitude in Teaching French as a Foreign Language) from the Alliance Française Paris allows me to balance the two elements a good teacher needs: experience and theory. I have worked with people of all levels, from beginners to very advanced, and all ages, from 6 to 86 years old. I also have a great deal of experience in the DELF/DALF tests preparation, with over 90% of success.
I have known for a long time that teaching was my vocation. I like sharing knowledge with others, helping them improve, and feeling that at the end of the day they know more than before. Loving my job and feeling useful is what motivates me to get up every day with a smile.
After a science baccalaureate, I studied audiovisual communication, because I have always been fond of transmitting information. However, I quickly realized I needed a more direct form of contact. During a trip to South America, I started teaching private classes, and immediately understood that was the path I had to follow.
WHY I AM A GOOD TEACHER:
Extensive experience allows me to go fast with quick learners, and to be extremely patient with those who need more time. I have learnt that there isn’t just one way of teaching something, and that some people have a preference for auditory, visual or action-oriented learning. As a private teacher, my priority is to listen to my student in order to adapt my methods to their needs.
Not only do I teach languages, I also provide my students with tools for self-teaching and making progress between classes, allowing them to maximize their investment. I regularly research the latest teaching tools, the evolution of teaching methods, and the neuropsychological findings in that area. This is a surprisingly vast topic.
MY CREDENTIALS:
You will find on my LinkedIn page many letters of recommendation from my students.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/benoit-cassagnau-2b2179176/
S. C.
Benoît is an exceptional instructor. I am so pleased I found him. He is professional, always prepared for class, and always patient. He never fails to correct my pronunciation, grammar and writing in French - yet, in a kind manner. His expertise and knowledge in ways to help improve my French are worth far more than the investment I have made. He goes above and beyond to make each class count. Benoît is the best French instructor I've ever had!
Benoit C.
Sari is an involved, responsible and hardworking student. With already an advanced level, its learning curve is very good. A pleasure to work with her.
Learning with a system and joy.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Because of its linguistic relationship with English, Norwegian is relatively easy to learn for people with a knowledge of English. About a third of the vocabulary can be understood by everyone either immediately or after a few lessons. The grammar is simpler than in German or Dutch, for example. The best prerequisites for learning this wonderful language!
My lessons are aimed at beginners and advanced learners (A1-B2).
I practise modern language teaching methods that I learned at the Folke University in Bergen. This means:
- We learn by talking a lot to each other
- We will work with images that encourage us to speak
- We are not bothered by mistakes, but rather enjoy new words and success stories
- We learn new words, spellings, sentences and pronunciations by building on what we already know
- We take grammar seriously where it is important. We don't let it limit us
- We learn easiest when we have fun and enjoy it.
Regardless of whether you are preparing for a job interview, are thinking of emigrating or are just there to enjoy the matter: My lessons adapt to your wishes.
The first introductory lesson is free. If you book several hours at once, you will receive a discount.
--------------------------
I was born in Luxembourg and have lived in Bergen / Norway for over 10 years. I work as a historian in a UNESCO World Heritage Museum and am in daily contact with Scandinavian history and the Norwegian language. I originally studied Scandinavian Studies, Medieval History and Archeology in Germany and Norway. I learned Norwegian about 20 years ago and taught for several years at the University of Bonn / Germany and the Folke University in Bergen / Norway. I speak 5 languages and can also read some historical languages (including Old Norse).
These experiences will make learning Norwegian a lot easier for you. I know the pitfalls that await foreigners and which donkey bridges work well. My cultural-historical knowledge will not only give you an understanding of Norwegian culture and way of life, but will also help you in a practical way to be able to easily remember strange words and formulations at first glance and not to get lost in the thicket of countless dialects.
I am looking forward to our collaboration!
Vi snakkes,
Tom
G. P.
Specialized in teaching for many years, in him you will find a well prepared, expert, friendly and inspiring teacher with a creative and at the same time simple teaching method.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Tom H.
Hello,
My name is Tiska. I am a French Teacher with experiences with adults and teenagers in Public Education (USA) and Language Schools. I am holding a Master Degree in FLE (Teaching French as a Foreign Language).
Join a small group of learners of 2 or 3 for conversation lessons with me. An article or video to watch before the lesson and a conversation with personalized corrections during the lesson. This option saves you at least 10 euros per lesson on Colanguage.
Group opening:
Monday and/or Wednesday from 17:30 to 18:30 (French time).
Level: intermediate (B1)
Also, standard French lessons
- level A2 (low intermediate)
- 2 hours a week
- ask for schedule
Don’t know your level? Ask for a free level test.
I give Skype lessons to people who need or want to improve their French language. I like to use material from the internet (videos, article etc.) to introduce a theme which leads to a lesson and a conversation.
I like to create engaging learning with my students. I will give as homework a document to watch or to read with comprehension exercises so the time we have on skype is only speaking practice and explanation if needed.
I can help you prepare DELF-DALF Exams or work on specific needs (as professional French).
Really like to speak about all the subjects with the student especially those the student like so it gives the motivation to speak in the foreign language.
The free first lesson is organize to know your tastes, your level and your needs so we can plan the next lessons about the objectives you fixed.
S. .
Tiska is giving a great support to my 8 years daughter in this challenging period! We scheduled regularly lessons to improve her French language skill and to review grammars rules in a funny enjoyfull way. Super professional and very kind teacher!
Tiska G.
Dear future student,
My name is Mélanie, I am 40 years old, I am Belgian and I live near Brussels in Belgium.
I have 7 years of experience in teaching French as a foreign language. I have a degree in Modern Languages and Literature. I have an agrégation in higher secondary education. French is my mother tongue. Additionally I have a C2 level in Spanish.
I have taught adults (beginner - advanced) in various training institutions (CLL, CVO Semper, ...). I have taught both large and small groups. I can therefore adapt my teaching methods according to the number of people.
As far as my teaching methods are concerned, I create communicative exercises.
I always try to get the student to express themselves as much as possible. In case of groups, I create individual exercises, in groups of two or four.
I give homework in which the students have to write a short text related to a grammatical concept they have seen. I also give additional grammatical exercises.
I also test my students' knowledge. For example, during the course, I listen to my students and comment on their oral productions. I also do small listening comprehensions and reading comprehensions.
I can also explain certain grammatical points or translate certain words into the student's language if it is needed, but generally I always try to teach in the target language.
If my student is looking for a job, I can also help him/her to write his/her CV and cover letter and also prepare his/her interview.
If my student works in a company, I can also prepare exercises specific to the company's field. I have given courses to warehouse workers for Delhaize, to plumbers, to students in Tourism.
I also taught asylum seekers.
As far as teaching material is concerned, I use a lot of material from Zexperts fle https://leszexpertsfle.com/toutes-les-ressources-fle/ which I adapt to the objectives of the lesson. I also look for exercises in FLE manuals such as Totem, Edito, Alter Ego, Expression orale... Naturally, I adapt the exercises according to the needs of the student. I also look for songs in YouTube.
S. .
I have had about 10 lessons in French from Mélanie. We treated a lot of different subjects such as grammar, talking and listening exercises. Mélanie is a very good and patient teacher and I learned a lot in these lessons on how to communicate in French.
MELANIE B.
Hi! My name is Caterina and I'm a teacher.
I love learning new languages and meet new students.
I have experience in teaching Italian to foreign students and I also have the CEDILS certificate to teach Italian as second/foreign language.
During my classes I speak just Italian and I help you improve in all the abilities (listening, reading, speaking, writing).
I am also available for classes in specific fields, such as Literature, Italian History, Art, Linguistics, Academic writing and getting ready for Italian exams.
I prepare my classes using authentic materials (articles, videos, songs...) and exercises to improve grammar. Most of all, I let you talk to become confident in your speaking.
All the classes are personalized according to students' needs and requests.
I want you to achieve your goals.
G. P.
Very talented teacher, excellent preparation, young but at the same time experienced, with an excellent teaching method and a contagious smile. With her, you will learn Italian without getting bored for a second and without any problem. Absolutely recommended.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Caterina F.
Hello,
My name is Tiska. I am a French Teacher with experiences with adults and teenagers in Public Education (USA) and Language Schools. I am holding a Master Degree in FLE (Teaching French as a Foreign Language).
Join a small group of learners of 2 or 3 for conversation lessons with me. An article or video to watch before the lesson and a conversation with personalized corrections during the lesson. This option saves you at least 10 euros per lesson on Colanguage.
Group opening:
Monday and/or Wednesday from 17:30 to 18:30 (French time).
Level: intermediate (B1)
Also, standard French lessons
- level A2 (low intermediate)
- 2 hours a week
- ask for schedule
Don’t know your level? Ask for a free level test.
I give Skype lessons to people who need or want to improve their French language. I like to use material from the internet (videos, article etc.) to introduce a theme which leads to a lesson and a conversation.
I like to create engaging learning with my students. I will give as homework a document to watch or to read with comprehension exercises so the time we have on skype is only speaking practice and explanation if needed.
I can help you prepare DELF-DALF Exams or work on specific needs (as professional French).
Really like to speak about all the subjects with the student especially those the student like so it gives the motivation to speak in the foreign language.
The free first lesson is organize to know your tastes, your level and your needs so we can plan the next lessons about the objectives you fixed.
J. V.
I highly recommend Tiska because she quickly and efficiently types up my mistakes in chat without interfering the flow of the conversation. She adapts to the situation and helped me to express myself on higher-level issues. She also has very organized lesson plans but uses humorous and engaging material to help make the learning process fun. Also, she spent a year in the States so she can draw from that experience to help teach you if you are an English speaker.
Tiska G.
I want to help people to improve the level of their chosen language.
I couldn't imagine a better teacher than Nancy! Together with Nancy you find the right method for you to improve your French in a fun and personal way. I would recommend her to everyone!
Nancy C.
I am a graduate of Bachelor of Secondary Education major in Social Science. I am a holder of a Professional License as Teacher. I have also teaching certificates like TESOL and TEYL. I have 2 years teaching experience as ESL Teacher. I can make our class fun and engaging. Come, let's learn English together.
G. P.
Ella is a delightful and brilliant teacher. She works as a part-time teacher and with the Philippine government. Her study method is based on the level of the students and the goals they want to achieve.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Lowella V.
Bonjour! Veux-tu apprendre français? ou l'améliorer?
My classes are structured according to my students' needs, I use different teaching methods and I rely on listening each of my students' expectations and goals. Dynamism and constant learning are my purposes in my classes.
I have worked as a French teacher for more than ten years.
I have academic studies in English and French from Montréal, Canada, where I lived for several years. I have a Bachelor in Teaching French as a foreign language from the Université de Bourgogne.
I learned French at an early age in immersion in a French-speaking region and I studied French formally for 11 years, obtaining a native level.
À bientôt!
J. J.
Natalia is a great teacher. She uses a variety of teaching methods and always considers my wishes and learning goals. The atmosphere is very pleasant, we speak a lot about random topics but also about situations from my work, which really helps to improve my conversation skills.
We work with Janeke on improving her skills using situations from her work environment. Also, we discuss different topics, using a variety of materials. I have seen her French improve very quickly. Congratulations Janeke!