Module 8Grammar reviewPremium

French in everyday situations

Reviews practise both sides: wherever Lukas and Lena would say something differently, you do it once as each.

Avoir mal à…

Tap a word to hear itTap a word to hear it and see its meaning
Form	Example	Meaning
		to hurt / to have pain in
to hurt / to have pain in
		to the / in the (masculine body part)
to the / in the (masculine body part)
		to the / in the (feminine body part)
to the / in the (feminine body part)
		to the / in the (plural body part)
to the / in the (plural body part)
		to the / in the (before vowel)
to the / in the (before vowel)

In French, physical pain is often expressed with = “to have pain in...” or “to hurt.” You do not usually say “my head hurts” with the head as the subject. Instead, you say .

Use + + a body part: , , , . If the noun starts with a vowel, use like .

This is very common in everyday speech and easy to build: It is one of the most useful doctor phrases at A1.

You can also make it negative: And you can add a little quantity:

Depuis + présent

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Form	Example	Meaning
		since when?
since when?
+ day		I have been ill since Saturday
I have been ill since Saturday
+ time expression		My head has hurt since this morning
My head has hurt since this morning
+ duration		I have been sleeping badly for two days
I have been sleeping badly for two days

Use with the present tense when something started in the past and is still true now. In English, this is often “have been ... since/for,” but in French it is usually simple present:

For a starting point, use + day/date/time: , , . For a duration, you can also use .

A common question is = “Since when?” The answer often repeats :

Do not confuse it with . means it is still continuing. is for a finished duration or a whole period as one block.

Impératif et conseils

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Form	Example	Meaning
		Open your mouth.
Open your mouth.
		Breathe in deeply.
Breathe in deeply.
		Eat fruit.
Eat fruit.
		Buy something for your throat.
Buy something for your throat.
		Get up earlier.
Get up earlier.
		Don’t go to bed too late.
Don’t go to bed too late.

French uses the imperative for instructions and advice: , , In this module, it is useful for doctors, medicine, and simple care instructions.

For forms, the imperative usually looks like the present tense without the subject pronoun: → For : For :

With reflexive verbs, the pronoun comes after the verb with a hyphen in positive commands: , . In negative commands, it goes before the verb: .

You also see simple advice with : This is not an imperative form, but it is a very common way to give advice politely.

Passé composé

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Form	Example	Meaning
		I called Thomas
I called Thomas
		I slept twelve hours
I slept twelve hours
		I said / the doctor said
I said / the doctor said
		I went to the pharmacy
I went to the pharmacy
		I got up later
I got up later

The is the main spoken tense for completed past actions in French. It is built with present or plus a past participle: , .

Many common verbs use : , , , . Some movement verbs and reflexive verbs use : , . At this level, it is best to learn common chunks.

With , the past participle agrees with the learner’s gender when needed: for a man, for a woman; . This agreement is important in this course.

You saw forms like and . These are useful storytelling forms for simple real events.

Le, la, les

Tap a word to hear itTap a word to hear it and see its meaning
Form	Example	Meaning
		it / him (masculine direct object)
it / him (masculine direct object)
		it / her (feminine direct object)
it / her (feminine direct object)
		it / him / her before vowel
it / him / her before vowel
		them (direct object)
them (direct object)

Direct object pronouns replace a thing or person that directly receives the action: , , , . In this module, they are useful with medicine and objects: = “I take them.”

In simple present or near-present patterns, the pronoun usually goes before the verb:

The pronoun agrees with the noun it replaces, not with the speaker: → ; → ; → .

At A1, focus on understanding and making short useful sentences. You do not need all pronoun combinations yet; just notice the position before the verb.

Practice 1/6 · Finding words

Notice the useful pattern

Tap the form practised in this unit.

As Lukas
, .
On Friday, I went to rehearsal.
As Lena
, .
On Friday, I went to rehearsal.
.
My throat hurts.
.
I have been ill since Saturday.
.
Open your mouth.

Practice 2/6 · The right form

Choose the form

Use the English meaning and the pattern in this unit.

As Lukas
Vendredi, je suis à la répétition.
On Friday, I went to rehearsal.
As Lena
Vendredi, je suis à la répétition.
On Friday, I went to rehearsal.
J’ai mal .
My throat hurts.
Je suis malade .
I have been ill since Saturday.
la bouche.
Open your mouth.
Hier, j’ Thomas.
Yesterday, I called Thomas.
Les pastilles ? Je prends après les repas.
The lozenges? I take them after meals.

Practice 3/6 · Fill the gaps

Complete the messages

Fill the gaps with the words from the box.

Je suis malade .
I have been ill since Saturday.
la bouche.
Open your mouth.
Hier, j’ Thomas.
Yesterday, I called Thomas.
Les pastilles ? Je prends après les repas.
The lozenges? I take them after meals.

Practice 4/6 · Building sentences

Build a sentence

Put the words in order.

As Lukas
On Friday, I went to rehearsal.
As Lena
On Friday, I went to rehearsal.
My throat hurts.
I have been ill since Saturday.
Open your mouth.
Yesterday, I called Thomas.
The lozenges? I take them after meals.

Practice 5/6 · In situations

What would you say?

Choose the right words for the situation.

As Lukas
On Friday, I went to rehearsal.
You say:
As Lena
On Friday, I went to rehearsal.
You say:
My throat hurts.
You say:
My throat hurts.
You say:
I have been ill since Saturday.
You say:
I have been ill since Saturday.
You say:
Open your mouth.
You say:
Open your mouth.
You say:

Practice 6/6 · Matching

Connect messages and meanings

Match the pairs.

Unit complete

French in everyday situations

6exercises

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