New
New
Des monuments historiques : 'il y a' and 'il n'y a pas'
Learning outcomes
I can use ‘il y a’ and ‘il n'y a pas’ to describe what there is and isn't at historical sites.
I can apply rules about syllable stress when pronouncing words.
Lesson 5 of 12
New
New
- Year 10
- AQA
Des monuments historiques : 'il y a' and 'il n'y a pas'
Learning outcomes
I can use ‘il y a’ and ‘il n'y a pas’ to describe what there is and isn't at historical sites.
I can apply rules about syllable stress when pronouncing words.
Lesson details
Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons
Key learning points
- Words ending in a consonant + -re(s) stress the vowel before the consonant and the -r is said very softly e.g. 'ouvres'.
- 'Il y a un/une/des' is used to say ‘there is’ or ‘there are’. The article agrees with the gender and number of the noun.
- To say 'there isn't' or 'there aren't' we use il n'y a pas. After this, all articles change to de or d' before a vowel.
Keywords
Stress - pronouncing one syllable more heavily than other syllables in a word
Il y a - 'there is' or 'there are'
Il n'y a pas - 'there isn't' or 'there aren't'
Common misconception
'Il y a' always means 'there is'.
'Il y a' can mean 'there is' or 'there are' and can be used with singular or plural nouns.
A nice addition to this lesson would be pupils choosing a place of their own to describe using 'il y a' and 'il n'y a pas', perhaps with the support of a photograph. This could be a French-speaking place they have visited or their own local area.
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 articles to the correct English meanings.
Match the French articles to the correct English meanings.
Q2.Match the French vocabulary below to the correct English meanings.
Match the French vocabulary below to the correct English meanings.
Q3.What can 'il y a' mean?
What can 'il y a' mean?
there isn't
there aren't
Q4.What is missing from the following list? 'Le nord, le sud, l'ouest et .'
What is missing from the following list? 'Le nord, le sud, l'ouest et .'
Q5.Match these -ir verbs to their English meanings.
Match these -ir verbs to their English meanings.
Q6.Which syllable in French words usually has slightly more emphasis than others?
Which syllable in French words usually has slightly more emphasis than others?
the first syllable
the second syllable
none of them
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the French vocabulary below to the correct English meanings.
Match the French vocabulary below to the correct English meanings.
Q2.What is the correct English translation of the following sentence? 'Il y a une carte d'Afrique mais il n'y a pas de carte de France.'
What is the correct English translation of the following sentence? 'Il y a une carte d'Afrique mais il n'y a pas de carte de France.'
There is a map of France but there isn't a map of Africa.
There is a map of Africa and there is a map of France.
Q3.If a word ends in a consonant + -re or -res, the stress of the word moves to ...
If a word ends in a consonant + -re or -res, the stress of the word moves to ...
the first syllable.
the last syllable.
the consonant.
Q4.Which article(s) always follow 'il n'y a pas' to say what there isn't or aren't.
Which article(s) always follow 'il n'y a pas' to say what there isn't or aren't.
un or une
des
Q5.Which of these words have a slight stress on the final syllable?
Which of these words have a slight stress on the final syllable?
pauvre
surprendre
découvres
Q6.Translate the following sentence into French: 'There are not any museums.'
Translate the following sentence into French: 'There are not any museums.'
