New
New
To have or to be: 'avoir' and 'être' singular
Learning outcomes
I can form sentences and recognise when to use the verbs 'avoir' and 'être'.
I can recognise and pronounce words ending in a SFe.
Lesson 2 of 8
New
New
- Year 5
To have or to be: 'avoir' and 'être' singular
Learning outcomes
I can form sentences and recognise when to use the verbs 'avoir' and 'être'.
I can recognise and pronounce words ending in a SFe.
Lesson details
Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons
Key learning points
- The e at the end of the word makes no sound. This is a Silent final e (SFe). The consonant before a SFe is pronounced.
- Adjectives change spelling based on the gender of the noun they describe. Most adjectives add an e in the feminine form.
- The verb 'avoir' means to have: j'ai (I have), tu as (you have), il a (he has), elle a (she has).
- The verb 'être' means to be: je suis (I am), tu es (you are), il est (he is), elle est (she is).
- 'S' and 't' are silent final consonants. 'As' and 'a' sound the same and 'es' and 'est' sound the same.
Keywords
SFe - silent final e, a word which ends in a silent e: timide
Avoir - French verb meaning 'to have'
Être - French verb meaning 'to be'
Common misconception
Confusion between 'il a' and 'il est' as 'il est' is pronounced similarly to the English 'a'.
'Il a' and 'il est' are pronounced differently and have different meanings: 'il a' is he has and 'il est' is he is.
Ask pupils to draw their own scene, similar to the image in exercise B3, and to write sentences describing the scene using 'il a', 'elle a', 'il est' or 'elle est'.
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 verbs.
Match the verbs.
Q2.What is the French for 'to listen to'?
What is the French for 'to listen to'?
Q3.What is the English for 'chanter'?
What is the English for 'chanter'?
Q4.Which of the words end in a silent final e?
Which of the words end in a silent final e?
deux
trop
chat
Q5.Which sentence means 'she is tall'?
Which sentence means 'she is tall'?
il est grand
il est grande
elle est grand
je suis grande
Q6.Which adjectives could describe Paul?
Which adjectives could describe Paul?
intelligente
heureuse
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.What is the English for 'Elle a'?
What is the English for 'Elle a'?
Q2.What is the French for 'he is'?
What is the French for 'he is'?
Q3.Translate 'Elle a un chat noir'
Translate 'Elle a un chat noir'
Q4.Fill in the gap with the correct word for small. Il a un chat __________.
Fill in the gap with the correct word for small. Il a un chat __________.
petite
grand
grande
amusant
Q5.Which 2 words sound the same?
Which 2 words sound the same?
suis
a
Q6.Which word means 'heavy'?
Which word means 'heavy'?
grand
petit
noir
orange
