What most French apps actually train
Duolingo and Babbel are built around the daily return: streaks, hearts, leaderboards. That works for building a habit. It doesn't work for closing grammar gaps at B1–C1. Duolingo's grammar exercises are mostly multiple choice and translation with hints; Babbel has grammar notes but the drilling is thin. Neither has a module dedicated to the Subjonctif vs. Indicatif decision, or to which pronoun goes where, or to noun gender. These are the things that produce the same errors week after week in intermediate learners, and more exposure doesn't clear them.
Why the app uses typing, not multiple choice
Multiple choice tests recognition. You see four options and eliminate the wrong ones, or get lucky. Typing tests something else: you have to retrieve the form and write it out with nothing in front of you. Roediger & Karpicke (2006) showed that active recall produces stronger long-term retention than recognition practice. The difference is not subtle. Every exercise in Petit Béret is a typing exercise. No multiple choice anywhere.
Knowing the right answer when you see it and being able to produce it cold are not the same skill. Speaking and writing require the second one.
Six modules, each with a defined scope
Each module covers one grammar area. They're independent — focus on one or mix sessions across several.
- Conjugation: 2,000 verbs. The training module covers 5 tenses (Présent, Passé composé, Imparfait, Futur simple, Conditionnel présent) plus Subjunctive. The built-in Conjugator reference tool covers all 10 French tenses.
- Subjunctive: training the Subjonctif vs. Indicatif decision across four trigger categories — volition, emotion, doubt, fixed conjunctions. The point is the decision, not just the conjugated form.
- Pronouns: y, en, direct and indirect object pronouns. Placement logic and stacking order, always in full sentences.
- Prepositions: à, de, chez and 60 common patterns, each drilled in context rather than isolation.
- Noun Gender: le/la instinct for 7,000 nouns through pattern exposure, not lists to memorise.
- Accents: é, è, ê, ç, à through dictation. 300 traps where even native speakers sometimes guess.
How errors get tracked
The Mistakes Cabinet logs every error across all modules. An item isn't cleared until you get it right three times in a row. Your daily precision percentage per module shows on the home screen. The app counts cumulative days practised; that counter never resets. No streaks. What gets measured is accuracy over time, not whether you opened the app yesterday.
After a few weeks, the Mistakes Cabinet usually shows something most learners miss in the moment: five or ten forms driving most of their errors. Seeing it laid out is different from vaguely knowing it.
What Petit Béret is not
This is a grammar trainer. It doesn't teach vocabulary, conversation, or listening. It assumes you already have a working A1 base — articles, present tense, the alphabet. Most users come in at A2 or B1 with specific gaps they want to close. If you're starting from zero, start somewhere else first.
Frequently asked questions
How does Petit Béret compare to Duolingo for grammar?
Duolingo covers French grammar at A1–A2 depth through translation, multiple choice, and short grammar explanations. It's a reasonable way to build vocabulary and get comfortable with basic sentence patterns. Petit Béret covers A1–C1 with typing-only exercises and a separate module for each grammar point. The two are doing different things — Duolingo is for broad exposure, Petit Béret is for drilling the gaps you already have.
What CEFR level is Petit Béret for?
The modules cover A1 to C1, but the app assumes a working A1 foundation: basic articles, present tense, the French alphabet. Most useful from A2 onward. Starting from absolute zero? Use something else first.
Does the app work without an internet connection?
Yes, everything is in the app. No internet needed after the initial download.
How many French tenses does the conjugation module cover?
The training module drills five tenses — Présent, Passé composé, Imparfait, Futur simple, Conditionnel présent — plus the Subjunctive mode. Sessions can focus on one or mix them. The built-in Conjugator reference tool covers all 10 French tenses.
Is there a subscription fee?
No. The current version is free. A Pro tier is in development, but nothing to pay for yet.
Ready to practice?
Download Petit Béret and start building real French grammar accuracy today.
