Keeping a conversation going in French can be easy and natural with the right phrases. This section covers common ways to show interest, ask follow-up questions, agree, disagree politely, and smoothly change topics.
Showing Interest
Expressing genuine interest encourages the other person to keep talking.
French Phrases
Expressing interest in someone’s story or thoughts.
English Example
Expressions for showing interest in someone’s story or thoughts.
French Examples
Expressions for showing interest in someone’s story or thoughts.
English Examples
Expressions for showing interest in someone’s story or thoughts.
Key Takeaway
Use phrases like Je vois, Ah bon ?, or Ça m’intéresse to show you’re listening and engaged.
| French Singular | French Plural | English Singular | English Plural | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Je vois. | Nous voyons. | I see. | We see. | Je vois ce que tu veux dire. | I see what you mean. |
| Ah bon ? | — | Oh really? | — | Ah bon ? C’est vrai ? | Oh really? Is that true? |
| C’est intéressant. | — | That’s interesting. | — | C’est intéressant ce que tu dis. | What you’re saying is interesting. |
| Vraiment ? | — | Really? | — | Vraiment ? Raconte-moi plus. | Really? Tell me more. |
| Ça m’intéresse. | — | That interests me. | — | Ça m’intéresse ce sujet. | That subject interests me. |
| Je comprends. | — | I understand. | — | Je comprends ton point de vue. | I understand your point of view. |
| C’est génial ! | — | That’s great! | — | C’est génial ! Continue. | That’s great! Go on. |
| Ah d’accord. | — | Ah, okay. | — | Ah d’accord, je vois mieux. | Ah, okay, I understand better. |
| Exactement. | — | Exactly. | — | Exactement ce que je pensais. | Exactly what I thought. |
| C’est super. | — | That’s great. | — | C’est super que tu sois là. | It’s great that you’re here. |
Asking Follow-up Questions
Follow-up questions keep the conversation moving and show you care.
French Phrases
Common ways to ask for more details or clarification.
English Example
Common ways to ask for more details or clarification.
French Examples
Common ways to ask for more details or clarification.
English Examples
Common ways to ask for more details or clarification.
Key Takeaway
Use Pourquoi… ?, Comment… ?, and Depuis quand… ? to dig deeper politely.
| French Singular | French Plural | English Singular | English Plural | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pourquoi ? | — | Why? | — | Pourquoi aimes-tu ce film ? | Why do you like this movie? |
| Comment ? | — | How? | — | Comment as-tu appris le français ? | How did you learn French? |
| Depuis quand ? | — | Since when? | — | Depuis quand travailles-tu ici ? | Since when have you been working here? |
| Qu’est-ce que ? | — | What? | — | Qu’est-ce que tu en penses ? | What do you think about it? |
| Où ? | — | Where? | — | Où vas-tu en vacances ? | Where are you going on vacation? |
| Qui ? | — | Who? | — | Qui t’a donné ce conseil ? | Who gave you that advice? |
| Combien ? | — | How many/how much? | — | Combien de temps restes-tu ? | How long are you staying? |
| Quel ? | Quelle ? | What/Which? | Quels ? Quelles ? | Quelle est ta couleur préférée ? | What is your favorite color? |
| Est-ce que… ? | — | Do/Does… ? | — | Est-ce que tu as déjà visité Paris ? | Have you ever visited Paris? |
| Peux-tu… ? | — | Can you… ? | — | Peux-tu m’expliquer ? | Can you explain to me? |
Agreeing Politely
Agreeing smoothly keeps the conversation positive and respectful.
French Phrases
Ways to show you agree without sounding too strong.
English Example
Ways to show you agree without sounding too strong.
French Examples
Ways to show you agree without sounding too strong.
English Examples
Ways to show you agree without sounding too strong.
Key Takeaway
Use C’est vrai, Je suis d’accord, or Exactement to agree politely.
| French Singular | French Plural | English Singular | English Plural | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Je suis d’accord. | — | I agree. | — | Je suis d’accord avec toi. | I agree with you. |
| C’est vrai. | — | That’s true. | — | C’est vrai, c’est important. | That’s true, it’s important. |
| Exactement. | — | Exactly. | — | Exactement ce que je pensais. | Exactly what I thought. |
| Tout à fait. | — | Absolutely. | — | Tout à fait d’accord ! | Absolutely agree! |
| Bien sûr. | — | Of course. | — | Bien sûr, tu as raison. | Of course, you’re right. |
| Je confirme. | — | I confirm. | — | Je confirme ce qu’elle dit. | I confirm what she says. |
| Absolument. | — | Absolutely. | — | Absolument, c’est essentiel. | Absolutely, it’s essential. |
| Sans doute. | — | Without a doubt. | — | Sans doute, c’est vrai. | Without a doubt, it’s true. |
| Je le pense aussi. | — | I think so too. | — | Je le pense aussi, vraiment. | I think so too, really. |
| C’est certain. | — | It’s certain. | — | C’est certain qu’il réussira. | It’s certain he will succeed. |
I agree with you.
Je suis d’accord avec toi.
'Je suis d’accord avec toi' means 'I agree with you.' The incorrect options either negate agreement or misuse verbs that don’t fit this meaning.
Disagreeing Politely
Disagreeing with kindness keeps the conversation respectful.
French Phrases
Soft ways to express a different opinion.
English Example
Soft ways to express a different opinion.
French Examples
Soft ways to express a different opinion.
English Examples
Soft ways to express a different opinion.
Key Takeaway
Phrases like Je ne suis pas sûr(e) or Tu as peut-être raison, mais… help you disagree gently.
| French Singular | French Plural | English Singular | English Plural | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Je ne suis pas sûr(e). | — | I’m not sure. | — | Je ne suis pas sûr de ça. | I’m not sure about that. |
| Je vois les choses différemment. | — | I see things differently. | — | Je vois les choses différemment, désolé. | I see things differently, sorry. |
| Pas vraiment. | — | Not really. | — | Pas vraiment d’accord cette fois. | Not really agree this time. |
| Tu as peut-être raison, mais… | — | You might be right, but… | — | Tu as peut-être raison, mais je pense autrement. | You might be right, but I think differently. |
| Je comprends, mais… | — | I understand, but… | — | Je comprends, mais je ne suis pas d’accord. | I understand, but I don’t agree. |
| C’est une autre façon de voir. | — | That’s another way to see it. | — | C’est une autre façon de voir les choses. | That’s another way to see things. |
| Je ne suis pas d’accord. | — | I don’t agree. | — | Je ne suis pas d’accord avec toi. | I don’t agree with you. |
| On peut être en désaccord. | — | We can disagree. | — | On peut être en désaccord, c’est normal. | We can disagree, it’s normal. |
| Je respecte ton avis, mais… | — | I respect your opinion, but… | — | Je respecte ton avis, mais pas le mien. | I respect your opinion, but not mine. |
| Je préfère voir les choses autrement. | — | I prefer to see things differently. | — | Je préfère voir les choses autrement. | I prefer to see things differently. |
I’m not sure about that.
Je ne suis pas sûr de ça.
'Je ne suis pas sûr de ça' means 'I’m not sure about that,' which is a polite way to express doubt. The incorrect options either affirm certainty or use unrelated verbs.
Changing the Subject Smoothly
Moving to a new topic without awkwardness.
French Phrases
Phrases to shift the conversation naturally.
English Example
Phrases to shift the conversation naturally.
French Examples
Phrases to shift the conversation naturally.
English Examples
Phrases to shift the conversation naturally.
Key Takeaway
Use À propos…, Au fait…, or Changeons de sujet… to switch topics smoothly.
| French Singular | French Plural | English Singular | English Plural | French Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| À propos… | — | By the way… | — | À propos, tu as vu le nouveau film ? | By the way, did you see the new movie? |
| Au fait… | — | By the way… | — | Au fait, comment va ta famille ? | By the way, how is your family? |
| Changeons de sujet… | — | Let’s change the subject… | — | Changeons de sujet, parlons voyage. | Let’s change the subject, let’s talk about travel. |
| Sinon… | — | Otherwise… | — | Sinon, quoi de neuf ? | Otherwise, what’s new? |
| En parlant de ça… | — | Speaking of that… | — | En parlant de ça, tu manges quoi ce soir ? | Speaking of that, what are you eating tonight? |
| Revenons à… | — | Let’s go back to… | — | Revenons à notre discussion précédente. | Let’s go back to our previous discussion. |
| D’ailleurs… | — | Besides… | — | D’ailleurs, as-tu des projets ce week-end ? | Besides, do you have plans this weekend? |
| Pendant ce temps… | — | Meanwhile… | — | Pendant ce temps, que fait ton frère ? | Meanwhile, what is your brother doing? |
| Bref… | — | Anyway… | — | Bref, parlons d’autre chose. | Anyway, let’s talk about something else. |
| Tu sais quoi ? | — | You know what? | — | Tu sais quoi ? J’ai une idée. | You know what? I have an idea. |
Using these categories and examples, you can confidently keep a French conversation flowing naturally and politely.
Flashcards (1 of 50)
- English Singular: I see.
- English Plural: We see.
- English Example: I see what you mean.
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
