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…
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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
| 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.
Je suis malade .
I have been ill since Saturday.
la bouche.
Open your mouth.
la bouche.
Open your mouth.
Hier, j’ Thomas.
Yesterday, I called Thomas.
Hier, j’ Thomas.
Yesterday, I called Thomas.
Les pastilles ? Je prends après les repas.
The lozenges? I take them after meals.
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.
Too hard? Listen to the sentence first.
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:
Use the meaning and French pattern explained in this unit.
As Lena
On Friday, I went to rehearsal.
You say:
Use the meaning and French pattern explained in this unit.
My throat hurts.
You say:
Use the meaning and French pattern explained in this unit.
My throat hurts.
You say:
Use the meaning and French pattern explained in this unit.
I have been ill since Saturday.
You say:
Use the meaning and French pattern explained in this unit.
I have been ill since Saturday.
You say:
Use the meaning and French pattern explained in this unit.
Open your mouth.
You say:
Use the meaning and French pattern explained in this unit.
Open your mouth.
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
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