Posted by Laura K Lawless

In: Reading B1

Discussion of this reading exercise: 2

Learn about Modern French in part five of our series of bilingual articles on the development of French over the centuries.* Click any phrase for the English translation and related grammar lessons.

Note: Some of the tenses in this French article and its English translation don't match! In French, we use the present tense to describe historical events like this to evoke a sense of immediacy, whereas in English, we commonly use the past tense - learn more about historical French tenses.

*The Development of French

1. Birth of the French language
2. Dialects and regional languages
3. Middle French
4. *Classical French
5. Modern French

** The Status of French in the World

• More French reading practice