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Year 8 - French

Communications: singular -re verbs like 'entendre'

Language learning: plural -RE verbs in the present

Unit Summary

In this unit, pupils consolidate and extend their knowledge of -re verbs, examining verbs like entendre, lire and écrire in the present tense. Verbs with à or de before a noun are also revisited together with intonation and inversion question formation with and without question words.

Lesson Summary

You will learn to use verbs like 'entendre' in the present tense singular, including with inversion questions.

Key Notes

  • Open [eu/œu] is pronounced as in 'cœur'.
  • Closed [eu] is pronounced as in 'deux'.
  • Use the definite article with language nouns except after 'parler'.
  • Adjectives describing nationalities agree with nouns. Nationalities of people ('un Espagnol') have a capital letter.
  • Swap the subject-verb order to ask an inversion question; use liaison between the verb and subject if a vowel follows.

Vocabulary To Learn

  • open [eu/œu]: sound-symbol correspondence pronounced as in 'cœur'
  • closed [eu]: sound-symbol correspondence pronounced as in 'deux'
  • inversion: when the subject pronoun and the verb switch places to form a question

Common Mistakes To Avoid

  • To describe a language, where something or someone is from, use exactly the same word in French, as we do in English, e.g. 'I learn Spanish,' 'he is Spanish'.

3 Quick Questions (With Answers)

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

Open [eu/œu] is pronounced as in 'cœur'. Closed [eu] is pronounced as in 'deux'.

2. Define this key language word and use it in context. 'open [eu/œu]'

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

3. Correct this common language-learning mistake.

Mistake: To describe a language, where something or someone is from, use exactly the same word in French, as we do in English, e.g. 'I learn Spanish,' 'he is Spanish'. Correction: When used as a noun for a language, the word needs a definite article. When used as an adjective to describe nationality of a person or thing, the word agrees with the noun it describes. When used for nationality, the word needs a capital letter.

More Lessons In This Unit

Browse all guides in the Year 8 French guide library.