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Avec mes amis: verbs like connaitre in present and perfect tense

Learning outcomes

I can use a range of verbs like connaitre in the present and perfect tense to discuss friendships.

I can recognise, write and pronounce [u] and [é].

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Avec mes amis: verbs like connaitre in present and perfect tense

Learning outcomes

I can use a range of verbs like connaitre in the present and perfect tense to discuss friendships.

I can recognise, write and pronounce [u] and [é].

Lesson details

Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons

Key learning points

  1. The past participles of most verbs like connaitre are formed with a 'u' ending e.g. connu, disparu, paru.
  2. The past participle of 'naitre' is 'né(e)(s)'.
  3. Past participles used with être must agree in gender and number with the subject of the verb.
  4. [u] sounds like 'tu' and [é] sounds like 'écrire'.

Keywords

  • Perfect tense - a verb tense that describes completed actions in the past

  • Past participle - verb form that forms the perfect tense, together with the auxiliary verb

Common misconception

All verbs ending 'aitre' form the perfect tense in the same way.

Whilst this group of verbs behaves very similarly, the verb 'naitre' is irregular in the perfect tense. Students should be aware that it uses 'être' to form the perfect tense and its past participle is 'né'.

Task B3 has two versions. Option 1 is aimed at most students. Option 2 is aimed at students requiring more support. Option 1 is included in the video.
Teacher tip

Equipment

Mini whiteboards and pens are useful if available.

Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), 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

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the conjugations of 'connaitre' in the present tense.

Correct Answer:je / tu,connais

connais

Correct Answer:il, elle,connait

connait

Correct Answer:nous,connaissons

connaissons

Correct Answer:vous,connaissez

connaissez

Correct Answer:ils, elles,connaissent

connaissent

Q2.
Match the French and English vocabulary together.

Correct Answer:lunettes,glasses

glasses

Correct Answer:blond,blond

blond

Correct Answer:châtain,brown (hair)

brown (hair)

Correct Answer:marron,brown (eyes)

brown (eyes)

Correct Answer:roux,red/ginger

red/ginger

Correct Answer:patient,patient

patient

Q3.
Which verb means 'to appear, to seem'?

Correct answer: paraitre
apparaitre
disparaitre
connaitre
naitre

Q4.
Complete the definition for the verb 'connaitre' - to know, to be with.

Correct Answer: familiar

Q5.
Translate: My friends and I know a good café in the town centre.

1 - mes amis
2 - et moi
3 - connaissons
4 - un bon
5 - café
6 - au
7 - centre-ville

Q6.
Match the French and English vocabulary.

Correct Answer:cœur,heart

heart

Correct Answer:enfance,childhood

childhood

Correct Answer:policier, policière,policeman, policewoman

policeman, policewoman

Correct Answer:diriger,to direct, guide

to direct, guide

Correct Answer:proche,nearby, close

nearby, close

Correct Answer:acte,act, gesture

act, gesture

Assessment exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which letter is used to form the past participles of 'connaitre', 'disparaitre', 'reconnaitre' and 'apparaitre'?

i
é
Correct answer: u
t

Q2.
Which verbs are formed in the same way in the perfect tense?

Correct answer: paraitre
naitre
Correct answer: connaitre
Correct answer: apparaitre

Q3.
Complete the sentence: Past participles of 'être' verbs must agree with the subject in number and ...

Correct Answer: gender

Q4.
Translate : Friendship is the most important thing in my life.

1 - l'amitié
2 - est la
3 - chose la
4 - plus
5 - importante dans
6 - ma
7 - vie

Q5.
Match the past participle forms of 'naitre' to the subjects.

Correct Answer:je suis,né(e)

né(e)

Correct Answer:elle est,née

née

Correct Answer:ils sont ,nés

nés

Correct Answer:vous êtes,né(e)(s)

né(e)(s)

Q6.
Match the vocabulary together.

Correct Answer:fabriquer,to manufacture, produce, make

to manufacture, produce, make

Correct Answer:maximum,maximum

maximum

Correct Answer:inquiétude,worry

worry

Correct Answer:tout,everything, all

everything, all

Correct Answer:sourire,to smile, smiling

to smile, smiling

Correct Answer:sensible,sensitive

sensitive

Lesson appears in

UnitFrench / People and lifestyle: Mes amis

AQAFrench

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EdexcelFrench

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