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Year 4 - French

I'm hungry: 'avoir' meaning 'be'

Introductions: singular 'être', 'avoir', and regular adjectives

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils embed vowel and other sounds. They secure numbers 1-12 and essential verbs to be, to have and there are, describing themselves, friends and a monster. Pupils learn that 'avoir' also means 'be' for ages and states, enabling them to say with more precision how they feel.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to understand 'avoir' when used to mean 'to be, being'.

Key Notes

  • French [r] is a raspy sound pronounced in the back of the throat; there is no sound like this in English.
  • 'Avoir' means to have, having; it can also be used to mean 'to be, being', e.g. 'j'ai raison', 'I am right'.
  • 'Avoir' is also used for age, e.g. 'j'ai quatre ans', 'I am four years old'.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • [r]: sound-symbol-correspondence (SSC) pronounced as in 'rue'
  • avoir: French verb meaning 'avoir' which can also be translated as 'to be' with certain expressions, e.g. 'avoir faim' - to be hungry

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • The French [r] makes the exact same sound as the English 'r'.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

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

French [r] is a raspy sound pronounced in the back of the throat; there is no sound like this in English. 'Avoir' means to have, having; it can also be used to mean 'to be, being', e.g. 'j'ai raison', 'I am right'.

2. Define this key language word and use it in context. '[r]'

sound-symbol-correspondence (SSC) pronounced as in 'rue'. Say or write it in a short sentence so you use the word actively.

3. Correct this common language-learning mistake.

Mistake: The French [r] makes the exact same sound as the English 'r'. Correction: The SSC [r] is pronounced very differently in French, compared to English, e.g. 'horrible'.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 4 French guide library.