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Year 8 - French

Jobs: singular 'avoir' or 'être', questions with 'est-ce que'

Jobs: 'avoir' and 'être', feminine nouns

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils revisit 'être', 'avoir', intonation and inversion questions. The question structure 'est-ce que' is introduced. Feminine adjective agreement and feminine noun formation rules are extended. Liaison with 'h' and stress syllabification are introduced, and s-liaison revisited.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to ask 'est-ce que' questions about people using the verbs 'avoir' and 'être'.

Key Notes

  • French is not a stress-timed language. Sound all vowels. Say syllables equally with a slight emphasis on the last one.
  • 'Avoir' means 'to have, having', 'j'ai' means 'I have', 'tu as' means 'you have'.
  • 'Être' means 'to be, being', 'je suis' means 'I am', 'il est' means 'he is' and 'elle est' means 'she is'.
  • When using 'être' to describe professions, no article (un/une) is needed before the job noun in French.
  • Ask questions in French with intonation, inversion and 'est-ce que'. Inversion is more formal than 'est-ce que'.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • stress: pronouncing one syllable more heavily than other syllables in a word
  • intonation: rise and fall of the voice in speaking
  • inversion: when the subject pronoun and the verb switch place to form a question

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • There is no need to use intonation when using inversion and 'est-ce que'.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

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

French is not a stress-timed language. Sound all vowels. Say syllables equally with a slight emphasis on the last one. 'Avoir' means 'to have, having', 'j'ai' means 'I have', 'tu as' means 'you have'.

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

pronouncing one syllable more heavily than other syllables in a word. Say or write it in a short sentence so you use the word actively.

3. Correct this common language-learning mistake.

Mistake: There is no need to use intonation when using inversion and 'est-ce que'. Correction: Even when we form questions with inversion or 'est-ce que', it is still important to use intonation to signal that it is a question.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 8 French guide library.