Putting events in order
For story events, French often uses short action verbs in the : , , , . These are perfect for reporting what happened, step by step.
With many verbs, French uses : , . Some movement or change verbs use : . At this level, it is enough to learn the common ones from the story.
A direct object can come before the verb in sentences like . Then the past participle may agree in writing. Here replaces , so we write with -e. This is useful to notice, but at A1 you can first learn the full chunk.
Keep past reporting simple: one clause for one event. Example:
| Form | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| started | ||
| started | ||
| fell | ||
| fell | ||
| screamed | ||
| screamed | ||
| touched my leg | ||
| touched my leg | ||
Le concert a commencé à 20 h 00.The concert started at 20:00.
Le tambour est tombé dans le noir.The drum fell in the dark.
Thomas a crié très fort.Thomas screamed very loudly.
Quelque chose a touché sa jambe.Something touched his leg.
Les lumières se sont éteintes à 20 h 14.The lights went out at 20:14.
Moi aussi, je l’ai entendue.I heard it too.
Je suis tombé ? Non, je ne suis pas tombé.Did I fall? No, I didn’t fall.
Je suis tombée ? Non, je ne suis pas tombée.Did I fall? No, I didn’t fall.
La photo a montré le chat sur le tambour.The photo showed the cat on the drum.
Practice 1/6 · Finding words
Notice the useful pattern
Tap the form practised in this unit.
.
The concert started at 20:00.
.
The drum fell in the dark.
.
Thomas screamed very loudly.
.
Something touched his leg.
Practice 2/6 · The right form
Choose the form
Use the English meaning and the pattern in this unit.
Le concert à 20 h 00.
The concert started at 20:00.
Le tambour dans le noir.
The drum fell in the dark.
Thomas très fort.
Thomas screamed very loudly.
Quelque chose sa jambe.
Something touched his leg.
Les lumières à 20 h 14.
The lights went out at 20:14.
Moi aussi, je l’ .
I heard it too.
Je ? Non, je ne suis pas tombé.
Did I fall? No, I didn’t fall.
Je ? Non, je ne suis pas tombée.
Did I fall? No, I didn’t fall.
La photo le chat sur le tambour.
The photo showed the cat on the drum.
Practice 3/6 · Fill the gaps
Complete the messages
Fill the gaps with the words from the box.
Thomas très fort.
Thomas screamed very loudly.
Quelque chose sa jambe.
Something touched his leg.
Les lumières à 20 h 14.
The lights went out at 20:14.
Moi aussi, je l’.
I heard it too.
Je ? Non, je ne suis pas tombé.
Did I fall? No, I didn’t fall.
Je ? Non, je ne suis pas tombée.
Did I fall? No, I didn’t fall.
La photo le chat sur le tambour.
The photo showed the cat on the drum.
Practice 4/6 · Building sentences
Build a sentence
Put the words in order.
The concert started at 20:00.
The drum fell in the dark.
Thomas screamed very loudly.
Something touched his leg.
The lights went out at 20:14.
I heard it too.
Practice 5/6 · In situations
What would you say?
Choose the right words for the situation.
The concert started at 20:00.
You say:
Use the meaning and French pattern explained in this unit.
The concert started at 20:00.
You say:
Use the meaning and French pattern explained in this unit.
The drum fell in the dark.
You say:
Use the meaning and French pattern explained in this unit.
The drum fell in the dark.
You say:
Use the meaning and French pattern explained in this unit.
Thomas screamed very loudly.
You say:
Use the meaning and French pattern explained in this unit.
Thomas screamed very loudly.
You say:
Use the meaning and French pattern explained in this unit.
Something touched his leg.
You say:
Use the meaning and French pattern explained in this unit.
Something touched his leg.
You say:
Use the meaning and French pattern explained in this unit.
Practice 6/6 · Matching
Connect messages and meanings
Match the pairs.
Unit complete
