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Year 4 - French

My birthday: 'quand'

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 use 'quand' and possessives 'mon, ton' to ask and answer questions about when birthdays are.

Key Notes

  • The sound-symbol correspondence [qu] is pronounced differently in French and English.
  • [qu] appears in several French question words, e.g. 'quoi', 'qui', 'quand.'
  • When followed by a vowel, 'mon' changes from a nasal to an oral sound, e.g. 'mon anniversaire'.
  • 'Joyeux anniversaire' or 'Bon anniversaire' are common for happy birthday; in Quebec, Canada, there's also 'Bonne fête'.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • [qu]: pronounced as in 'question'
  • quand: question word meaning 'when'
  • mon, ma: possessive adjective meaning 'my' (masculine, feminine)
  • ton, ta: possessive adjective meaning 'your' (masculine, feminine)
  • liaison: pronouncing a usually silent final consonant when followed by a vowel, e.g. 'mon anniversaire'

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • 'Mon' and 'anniversaire' are pronounced as two seperate words.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

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

The sound-symbol correspondence [qu] is pronounced differently in French and English. [qu] appears in several French question words, e.g. 'quoi', 'qui', 'quand.'.

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

pronounced as in 'question'. Say or write it in a short sentence so you use the word actively.

3. Correct this common language-learning mistake.

Mistake: 'Mon' and 'anniversaire' are pronounced as two seperate words. Correction: There is in fact a liaison between 'mon anniversaire' as 'anniversaire' starts with a vowel so we can hear the 'n' in 'mon'.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 4 French guide library.