French uses three constructions for weather: il fait + adjective, il y a + noun phrase, and impersonal verbs like il pleut and il neige. Mixing these three patterns is the main trap.
Pattern 1 — il fait + adjective: il fait beau, chaud, froid, mauvais, frais, doux, lourd. The il is a dummy subject — never use c'est or il est for weather. Pattern 2 — il y a + noun phrase: il y a du soleil, du vent, du brouillard, des nuages, de l'orage. The article follows partitive rules — du (masculine), de la (feminine), de l' (vowel), des (plural). Pattern 3 — impersonal verbs: il pleut (raining), il neige (snowing), il gèle (freezing). These stand alone — no extra noun needed.
Complete the weather expression.
| Expression | Example | Note |
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