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      New
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      Age: 'avoir' meaning 'be'

      Learning outcomes

      I can use 'avoir' and numbers 1-12 to ask and answer questions about age.

      I can use my knowledge of silent final consonants and liaison to say numbers and ages correctly.

      Lesson 8 of 10
      New
      New
      • Year 4

      Age: 'avoir' meaning 'be'

      Learning outcomes

      I can use 'avoir' and numbers 1-12 to ask and answer questions about age.

      I can use my knowledge of silent final consonants and liaison to say numbers and ages correctly.

      Lesson details

      Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons

      Key learning points

      1. Some numbers are exceptions to the SFC rule and do not have silent final consonants, e.g. 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10.
      2. When numbers 2, 3, 6, 10 are followed by a noun beginning with a vowel, the -s and -x are pronounced; this is liaison.
      3. Avoir means 'to have, having'; it can also be translated into English as ‘to be, being’ with certain expressions.
      4. Avoir is also used for age, e.g. ‘j’ai quatre ans’, I am four years old.

      Keywords

      • SFC - silent final consonant, silent letter (d, s, t, x) at the end of a word

      • Liaison - pronouncing a usually silent final consonant when followed by a vowel, e.g. dix ans

      • Avoir - French verb meaning ‘avoir’ which can also be translated as 'to be' with certain set expressions (e.g. 'j'ai neuf ans' - I am nine years old)

      Common misconception

      You use the verb 'être' in French to say your age, as you use the verb 'to be' in English.

      In French you 'are' not an age, you 'have' an age. Use the verb 'avoir': j'ai neuf ans.

      Sing the age chant again at the end of the lesson and at the start of the next lesson for further practice of asking and saying your age in French.
      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.
      Match the French and the English.

      Correct Answer:j'ai,I have

      I have

      Correct Answer:tu as,you have

      you have

      Correct Answer:il a,he has

      he has

      Correct Answer:elle a,she has

      she has

      Q2.
      Which of the following expressions are not translated as 'to have' in English?

      avoir un chien
      Correct answer: avoir faim
      avoir une maison
      Correct answer: avoir tort
      Correct answer: avoir raison

      Q3.
      Choose the correct expression to match the picture.

      An image in a quiz
      J'ai faim.
      Correct answer: J'ai soif.
      J'ai raison.
      J'ai tort.
      J'ai neuf ans.

      Q4.
      Complete the sentence. J'ai ans.

      An image in a quiz
      Correct Answer: cinq

      Q5.
      Translate: She is hungry.

      Correct Answer: Elle a faim.

      Q6.
      Translate: He is ten years old.

      Correct Answer: Il a dix ans.

      Assessment exit quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      Which numbers end in a SFC?

      Correct answer: deux
      Correct answer: trois
      quatre
      cinq
      Correct answer: six

      Q2.
      Which of the following have a liaison?

      Correct answer: J'ai trois ans.
      J'ai quatre ans.
      Correct answer: J'ai dix ans.
      J'ai onze ans.

      Q3.
      In which of the following are the verbs not translated as 'to have'?

      Correct answer: Avoir sept ans.
      Correct answer: Avoir tort.
      Avoir une amie.
      Correct answer: Avoir soif.
      Avoir un chat.

      Q4.
      Which of the following expressions best matches the picture?

      An image in a quiz
      J'ai faim.
      J'ai tort.
      Correct answer: J'ai raison.
      J'ai soif.
      J'ai huit ans.

      Q5.
      Which of the following questions means 'how old are you'?

      C'est quand to anniversaire ?
      C'est quoi ?
      Tu as une gomme ?
      Correct answer: Quel âge as-tu ?

      Q6.
      Translate: He is five years old.

      Correct Answer: Il a cinq ans.

      Lesson appears in

      UnitFrench / Introductions: singular 'être', 'avoir', and regular adjectives

      French