Year 10 - French
Un travail bien fait : modal verbs in present tense
People and lifestyle: Ma carrière
Study Hub
Study Guides
This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit consolidates modal verbs in the present tense and introduces the conditional with vouloir in the context of career plans. There is also an extensive focus on word pattern rules, introducing new rules for the formation of adverbs from adjectives and adding in- or im- to mean 'opposite of'.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to use four modal verbs in the context of the working world.
Key Notes
- [eu] is pronounced as in 'deux', [oi] as in 'voir', and [ou] as in 'nous'.
- To talk about what you can, know how to, have to, or want to do, use modal verbs: pouvoir, savoir, devoir, vouloir.
- If modal verbs are followed by another verb it must be in the infinitive form.
- Use 'pouvoir' to talk about ability or permission; use 'savoir' to talk about skills or things you have learned to do.
Vocabulary To Learn
- modal verb: verb of necessity or possibility used with a 2nd verb in infinitive e.g. must, can, want
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- 'Devoir' (must) and 'pouvoir' (can) do not require the second verb to be in the infinitive form because an infinitive is not required in English.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain what you can now say or understand in this lesson.
[eu] is pronounced as in 'deux', [oi] as in 'voir', and [ou] as in 'nous'. To talk about what you can, know how to, have to, or want to do, use modal verbs: pouvoir, savoir, devoir, vouloir.
2. Define this key language word and use it in context. 'modal verb'
verb of necessity or possibility used with a 2nd verb in infinitive e.g. must, can, want. Say or write it in a short sentence so you use the word actively.
3. Correct this common language-learning mistake.
Mistake: 'Devoir' (must) and 'pouvoir' (can) do not require the second verb to be in the infinitive form because an infinitive is not required in English. Correction: 'Devoir' means to have (to) and 'pouvoir' means to be able. Therefore, when followed by a second verb, this verb must always be in the infinitive form.
More Lessons In This Unit
- Comment se mettre au travail ? Word patterns Study Guide
- Les orientations professionnelles : present modals, conditional with 'vouloir' Study Guide
- Les pour et les contre d'un travail : extended writing and speaking Study Guide
- On cherche un boulot : adjectives into adverbs Study Guide
- Une orientation qui m'attire : extended writing and speaking Study Guide
Browse all guides in the Year 10 French guide library.