New
New
I'm hungry: 'avoir' meaning 'be'
Learning outcomes
I can understand 'avoir' when used to mean 'to be, being'.
I can recognise and pronounce the key sound [r].
Lesson 7 of 10
New
New
- Year 4
I'm hungry: 'avoir' meaning 'be'
Learning outcomes
I can understand 'avoir' when used to mean 'to be, being'.
I can recognise and pronounce the key sound [r].
Lesson details
Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons
Key learning points
- French [r] is a raspy sound pronounced in the back of the throat; there is no sound like this in English.
- 'Avoir' means to have, having; it can also be used to mean 'to be, being', e.g. 'j'ai raison', 'I am right'.
- 'Avoir' is also used for age, e.g. 'j'ai quatre ans', 'I am four years old'.
Keywords
[r] - sound-symbol-correspondence (SSC) pronounced as in 'rue'
Avoir - French verb meaning 'avoir' which can also be translated as 'to be' with certain expressions, e.g. 'avoir faim' - to be hungry
Common misconception
The French [r] makes the exact same sound as the English 'r'.
The SSC [r] is pronounced very differently in French, compared to English, e.g. 'horrible'.
Listen to the 'avoir' song again at the end of the lesson (it is to the tune of Bizet's opera Carmen). Pupils may wish to search for this at home and practise with the 'avoir' lyrics.
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.
Match the French and the English.
Q2.Match the French and the English.
Match the French and the English.
Q3.'Avoir', to have, having: match the French and the English.
'Avoir', to have, having: match the French and the English.
Q4.Translate: I have a dog.
Translate: I have a dog.
Q5.Translate: she has a motorbike.
Translate: she has a motorbike.
Q6.Translate: He has some bottles.
Translate: He has some bottles.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of the following statements are correct?
Which of the following statements are correct?
The French 'r' and the English 'r' sound the same.
Place the tip of your tongue at the front of your mouth to make the French [r].
Q2.Choose the correct form of the verb 'avoir' to match this image.
Choose the correct form of the verb 'avoir' to match this image.
tu as
il a
elle a
Q3.Choose the correct form of the verb 'avoir' to match this image.
Choose the correct form of the verb 'avoir' to match this image.
j'ai
tu as
il a
Q4.Match the French and the English.
Match the French and the English.
Q5.In which of the following can the verb avoir be translated as 'to be'?
In which of the following can the verb avoir be translated as 'to be'?
J'ai un chien.
Elle a une professeure.
Q6.Translate: she is thirsty.
Translate: she is thirsty.
