French Grammar Points That Sound Weird but Are 100% Correct
Introduction: Wait, That’s French?—When Perfect Grammar Sounds Like a Mistake
You’ve been studying French for a while. You’ve learned the basics, gotten comfortable with conjugation tables, and even started having conversations. But then—out of nowhere—you hear a French speaker say something that makes your inner grammar student do a double take.
“Moi, j’en ai pas.”
“Si, je l’ai déjà fait.”
“Il faut que je sois prêt.”
“C’est moi qui l’ai fait.”
You blink. That can’t be right… can it?
Actually, yes.
Welcome to the fascinating world of French grammar structures that sound wrong—but aren’t. These are the phrases that make new learners pause, scratch their heads, or second-guess themselves—because they break expectations. Maybe they sound overly casual. Maybe they involve unexpected word order. Maybe they contradict what your textbook told you. But here’s the thing:
They’re 100% grammatically correct. And in many cases, they’re essential to sounding like a real French speaker.
In this article, we’re going to walk you through the quirks, twists, and oddities of French grammar that seem suspicious at first glance but are absolutely legit. Whether you’re an intermediate learner or a fluent speaker who still occasionally doubts a phrase you’ve heard, you’ll gain a deeper understanding—and some peace of mind. Because in French, sometimes what sounds “weird” is actually what makes you sound native.
Let’s unpack these grammatical curveballs—and learn to love them.
Part I: “Moi, j’en ai pas.” – When Double Subjects Are Totally Normal
What It Sounds Like:
Redundant. Like someone’s just repeating themselves for no reason.
What It Is:
Completely standard in spoken French.
French often uses dislocated constructions like:
Moi, j’aime bien. – Me, I like it.
Lui, il va venir. – Him, he’s going to come.
These might sound odd to English speakers who avoid repetition, but in French, they’re used for emphasis, clarity, and style. They’re also common in casual speech.
👉 Yes, it’s correct. No, it’s not just filler.
Part II: “Si” Instead of “Oui” – Arguing With Positivity
What It Sounds Like:
Confusing. Why use “si” when the answer is yes?
What It Is:
A brilliant French logic trick.
French uses “si” to answer “yes” to a negative question or statement:
Tu n’as pas fait tes devoirs ?
— Si, je les ai faits !
(Yes I did, despite your assumption I didn’t.)
It’s a way of contradicting a negative, and there’s no perfect equivalent in English.
Textbooks rarely explain it well—but native speakers use it all the time.
Part III: “C’est moi qui l’ai fait.” – Why It’s “C’est” and Not “Je Suis”
What It Sounds Like:
Wrong subject-verb agreement.
What It Is:
A perfectly correct case of cleft sentence structure.
“C’est moi qui l’ai fait.” literally means “It is me who did it.”
Even though moi is technically a disjunctive pronoun, the verb still agrees with the relative clause subject (here: “je” → “ai fait”).
👉 It’s “l’ai fait,” not “l’a fait,” because je is doing the action, even though moi is emphasized.
This construction is used to focus or emphasize one part of the sentence—often a person or a reason.
Part IV: “Il faut que je sois…” – The Subjunctive Strikes Again
What It Sounds Like:
Overly complicated or fussy.
What It Is:
A normal, everyday expression of necessity that requires the subjunctive mood.
“Il faut que je sois prêt.” (I have to be ready.)
“Il faut que tu viennes.” (You need to come.)
Why not just say “je dois venir”? Because “il faut que…” introduces a subordinate clause, which requires the subjunctive.
The subjunctive may sound weird to English speakers, but in French, it’s a necessary tool for expressing:
Obligation
Doubt
Emotion
Hypothetical scenarios
🎯 Even beginner-level phrases like Il faut que j’aille… (I have to go…) use it.
Part V: “Ne… Pas” Getting Ghosted – The Dropped “Ne” in Real Life
What It Sounds Like:
Wrong or incomplete negation.
What It Is:
Colloquial French in action.
In spoken French, people often drop the “ne” from negative constructions:
Je ne sais pas → Je sais pas
Tu n’as rien vu → T’as rien vu
This is called “ne-dropping”, and while it’s technically informal, it’s widely accepted in speech.
Even in semi-formal conversation, “je sais pas” is more common than “je ne sais pas.” But in writing or formal settings, you need to include the “ne.”
So yes, “J’en ai pas” is real French.
Part VI: “Il y a eu” – The Past Tense of “Il y a”?
What It Sounds Like:
Clunky or excessive.
What It Is:
Correct past tense of “there is/are” → “il y a.”
Yes, “il y a” can be conjugated into past, future, and more:
Il y a eu un problème. – There was a problem.
Il y aura une réunion. – There will be a meeting.
It may sound odd because the structure seems fixed, but “il y a” is just a verb phrase, and verbs get conjugated.
Part VII: “Elle s’est laissée convaincre.” – Why “laissée” Has an “-e”
What It Sounds Like:
Too many agreements.
What It Is:
One of the trickiest agreement rules in French grammar.
In reflexive past participles with “se laisser” + infinitive, the past participle does agree with the subject if the subject is the object of the infinitive.
Elle s’est laissée convaincre. – She let herself be convinced.
(Here, “elle” is both subject and object → agreement with laissée)
This is rare, but totally correct—and considered high-level French.
Part VIII: “En voilà une idée !” – That Word Order Though…
What It Sounds Like:
Yoda-speak.
What It Is:
An idiomatic expression meaning “What an idea!” or “That’s a fine idea!” (sarcastic)
The structure “En voilà…” means something like “Now that’s a…”
En voilà une surprise. – Now that’s a surprise.
En voilà une bêtise. – Now that’s a stupid thing to say.
It’s idiomatic, old-fashioned sounding—but still used in playful or sarcastic tone.
FAQs: French Grammar That Sounds Weird but Isn’t
Q: Are these expressions all used in real life or just written French?
Most are very common in speech (especially “moi, j’en ai pas” or “si”), while some like “elle s’est laissée convaincre”are more typical in writing or advanced conversation.
Q: Should I use “ne… pas” or just drop the “ne”?
Use “ne” in writing and formal settings. In casual speech, dropping it is fine—and sounds more natural.
Q: Why do French speakers use “si” instead of “oui”?
To contradict a negative question or assumption. It's logical once you get the hang of it.
Q: Is it okay to use dislocated subjects like “Moi, je…”?
Yes, they’re extremely common in spoken French. It adds emphasis and sounds more native.
Q: How do I get better at recognizing these quirks?
Listen to French podcasts, movies, and real conversations. Patterns will start to emerge—and they’ll stop sounding weird.
Q: Are these grammar points taught in schools in France?
Yes—especially at the later stages. Many French natives follow these rules without realizing how complex they are!
Q: What’s the weirdest “correct” structure in your opinion?
Probably the reflexive agreement in “Elle s’est laissée convaincre.” Even French people have to think twice about it.
Q: Is it bad if I still say “Je ne sais pas” instead of “Je sais pas”?
Not at all. It’s grammatically correct—it just sounds a little more formal.
Want to Sound Like a Native—Quirks and All?
At Polyglottist Language Academy, we help learners go beyond memorizing rules. We show you how the language really works—how French people actually speak, write, and think.
Whether you’re just starting out or ready to fine-tune your grammar and sound fluent, our small-group French classes (3–6 students) are designed to help you confidently understand—and use—structures that even surprise the textbooks.
We offer beginner, intermediate, and advanced online and in-person French classes in the Bay Area and beyond.
👉 Explore our classes and sign up today at Polyglottist Language Academy.