Traps even natives fall into

Traps Even Native Speakers Fall Into

Even educated French speakers make systematic errors. Mastering these distinctions will place you above many natives.

Après que + Indicative (NOT Subjunctive)

One of the most widespread errors: après que takes the indicative, not the subjunctive. The logic is clear — "after" refers to a completed action (reality), unlike "avant que" (before = uncertainty).

• ✅ *Après qu'il est parti...* (correct: indicative)
• ❌ *Après qu'il soit parti...* (incorrect but extremely common)

Pallier (Direct Transitive — No "à")

*Pallier* takes a direct object. Writing *pallier à* is incorrect, though nearly universal in spoken French.

• ✅ *pallier les difficultés*
• ❌ *pallier aux difficultés*

Censé vs. Sensé

• Censé = supposed to (*Il est censé venir* — He is supposed to come)
• Sensé = sensible, having sense (*une remarque sensée* — a sensible remark)

Balade vs. Ballade

• Balade (one L) = a walk, a stroll
• Ballade (two L's) = a ballad (poetic or musical form)

Davantage vs. D'avantage

• Davantage = more (*J'en veux davantage* — I want more)
• D'avantage = of advantage (*Il n'y a pas d'avantage à attendre* — There is no advantage in waiting)

Quoique vs. Quoi que

• Quoique (one word) = although (*Quoique fatigué, il continua*)
• Quoi que (two words) = whatever (*Quoi que vous fassiez...*)

Malgré que — The Eternal Debate

Purists consider *malgré que* incorrect (preferring *bien que*). However, it has been used by major authors (Gide, Proust). At C2 level, know the debate and choose your camp.