The high-value patterns that get you talking.

• il y aThere is / there are. Invariable, used for singular and plural.Il y a un problème = There is a problem
• je voudrais + inf / nounI would like. Polite conditional of vouloir, for requests and wishes.Je voudrais un café = I'd like a coffee
• il faut + infOne must / it's necessary to. Impersonal, expresses obligation.Il faut manger = One must eat
• pouvoir + infTo be able to / can. Expresses ability or permission.Je peux aider = I can help
• vouloir + infTo want to. Direct expression of desire or intention.Je veux partir = I want to leave
• devoir + infTo have to / must. Expresses obligation or necessity.Je dois travailler = I have to work
• c'estIt is / this is. Used for general statements, identifying or describing.C'est bon = It's good
• il est / elle estHe is / she is. Used with adjectives or before a profession (no article).Il est professeur = He is a teacher
• aller + infGoing to (near future). Present of aller plus an infinitive.Je vais manger = I'm going to eat
• être en train de + infTo be in the middle of doing. Stresses an action happening right now.Je suis en train de manger = I'm (in the middle of) eating
• depuisSince / for. With the present tense for actions still ongoing.J'habite ici depuis deux ans = I've lived here for two years
• venir de + infTo have just done (recent past). Present of venir plus de plus an infinitive.Je viens de manger = I've just eaten
• avoir besoin deTo need. Literally 'to have need of' a noun or an infinitive.J'ai besoin d'aide = I need help
• avoir envie de + inf / nounTo feel like / to want. Literally 'to have desire of'.J'ai envie de dormir = I feel like sleeping
• il y a + timeAgo. Placed before a duration to mean 'X time ago'.Il y a deux jours = Two days ago
• être en train de vs venir deOngoing now (en train de) versus just finished (venir de). Contrast the two.Je suis en train de lire / Je viens de lire = I'm reading now / I've just read