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Year 11 - French

En ligne : Impersonal and modal verbs, conversation (Edexcel)

Communication and the world around us: Révisions: En ligne

Unit Summary

This unit continues the focus on known grammar and vocabulary, with a spotlight on the formation of questions in a range of tenses, impersonal verbs, and modal verbs.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to use impersonal and modal verbs to support your discussion of the positives and risks of life online, and how to stay safe online.

Key Notes

  • 'Il est', 'il fait', 'il y a' and 'il faut' are common impersonal verbs.
  • Impersonal verbs 'il vaut mieux' (it's better) and 'ça vaut la peine de' (it's worth) are followed by the infinitive.
  • To talk about what you can, know, 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.
  • The past participles of the four modal verbs are: 'dû', 'pu', 'voulu' and 'su'. They are used with 'avoir'.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • impersonal verb: a verb that doesn't refer to a particular person or thing, and whose subject is most often 'il' (it)
  • modal verb: verb of necessity or possibility used with a 2nd verb in infinitive, e.g. 'must', 'can', 'want'

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • There is a direct translation in French of the English verbs 'must' and 'can'.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

1. Explain what you can now say or understand in this lesson.

'Il est', 'il fait', 'il y a' and 'il faut' are common impersonal verbs. Impersonal verbs 'il vaut mieux' (it's better) and 'ça vaut la peine de' (it's worth) are followed by the infinitive.

2. Define this key language word and use it in context. 'impersonal verb'

a verb that doesn't refer to a particular person or thing, and whose subject is most often 'il' (it). Say or write it in a short sentence so you use the word actively.

3. Correct this common language-learning mistake.

Mistake: There is a direct translation in French of the English verbs 'must' and 'can'. Correction: The idea of 'must' is conveyed by the verb 'devoir' (to have to do something). 'Can' is expressed with 'pouvoir' (to be able to do something).

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 11 French guide library.