New
New
A day in the life of a journalist: plural masculine nouns '-x' and '-aux'
Learning outcomes
I can use plural nouns to describe current events.
I can understand and use French stress syllabification.
Lesson 1 of 4
New
New
- Year 8
A day in the life of a journalist: plural masculine nouns '-x' and '-aux'
Learning outcomes
I can use plural nouns to describe current events.
I can understand and use French stress syllabification.
Lesson details
Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons
Key learning points
- French is not a stress-timed language. Sound all vowels. Say syllables equally with a slight emphasis on the last one.
- Add -s to the majority of nouns to make them plural.
- Add -x to masculine nouns ending in -eau or -eu. There is no difference in pronunciation because 'x' is a SFC.
- Masculine nouns ending -al or -ail end in -aux in the plural form; the singular and plural forms sound different.
Keywords
Stress - pronouncing one syllable more heavily than other syllables in a word
Noun - word for a person, place or thing
Common misconception
Add -s to make all nouns plural in French.
Many nouns do need an -s in the plural form but masculine nouns ending in -eau or -eu need -x adding in the plural form, and there are other exceptions.
Activity A2 is a wonderful opportunity for a wider discussion about the French cities students may have visited or want to visit in the future.
Teacher tip
Equipment
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2026), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which nouns are plural?
Which nouns are plural?
fille (f)
personne (f)
enfant (m)
Q2.Match the French and English.
Match the French and English.
Q3.'Je sors mes parents'. Choose the correct missing word.
'Je sors mes parents'. Choose the correct missing word.
assez
dans
en
très
Q4.Order the words to say: 'he lives in France, near the Swiss border'.
Order the words to say: 'he lives in France, near the Swiss border'.
Q5.Write in English: 'je traverse le forêt'.
Write in English: 'je traverse le forêt'.
Q6.Write in French: 'there was a mountain'.
Write in French: 'there was a mountain'.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.In French, stress __________ with a slight emphasis on __________.
In French, stress __________ with a slight emphasis on __________.
the first syllable, the final syllable
the final syllable, the first syllable
all syllables equally, the first syllable
Q2.To make French nouns plural, add -s to the end of the word.
To make French nouns plural, add -s to the end of the word.
all
all masculine
all feminine
Q3.Match the French and English.
Match the French and English.
Q4.Write in French: 'the dogs are big'.
Write in French: 'the dogs are big'.
Q5.Write in French: 'the birds are here'.
Write in French: 'the birds are here'.
Q6.Write in French: 'the hospitals are small'.
Write in French: 'the hospitals are small'.
