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Year 7 - French

Inversion questions

School life: inversion questions and singular common -RE & -IR verbs

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils use singular forms of common irregular -re and -ir verbs whilst forming inversion questions with 'tu' and il,elle'. They also practise inversion questions with two-verb structures and with five different question words. SSCs ain,in and ai are revisited.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to ask questions using subject-verb inversion.

Key Notes

  • 'Je prends', 'tu prends', 'il, elle prend' are the singular forms of the -re verb 'prendre', to take, taking.
  • The same verb endings can be applied to the -re verbs 'apprendre', to learn, and 'comprendre', to understand.
  • 'Je dis', 'tu dis' and 'il, elle dit' are the singular forms of the -re verb 'dire', to say, saying.
  • Like intonation questions, an inversion question is another way to ask a question in French.
  • To form French yes/no or closed inversion questions, swap the subject pronoun and verb, inserting a hyphen in-between.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • dire: French -re verb meaning to say, to tell
  • prendre: French -re verb meaning to take, taking
  • inversion question: when the subject pronoun and the verb switch place to form a question

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • A closed question requires 'do/does' or 'am/are/is' at the start in French, like in English.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

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

'Je prends', 'tu prends', 'il, elle prend' are the singular forms of the -re verb 'prendre', to take, taking. The same verb endings can be applied to the -re verbs 'apprendre', to learn, and 'comprendre', to understand.

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

French -re verb meaning to say, to tell. Say or write it in a short sentence so you use the word actively.

3. Correct this common language-learning mistake.

Mistake: A closed question requires 'do/does' or 'am/are/is' at the start in French, like in English. Correction: Closed questions in French do not start with 'do/does' or 'am/are/is', they simply invert the subject and the verb: tu es anglaise, es-tu anglaise ?

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 7 French guide library.