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Un nouvel élève : yes/no questions with inversion, intonation and 'est-ce que'
I can understand and form questions in the present tense using intonation, inversion and 'est-ce que' to get to know somebody new.
Lesson 7 of 12
New
New
- Year 10
- AQA
Un nouvel élève : yes/no questions with inversion, intonation and 'est-ce que'
I can understand and form questions in the present tense using intonation, inversion and 'est-ce que' to get to know somebody new.
Lesson details
Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons
Key learning points
- Yes/no questions can be formed by raising the intonation at the end of the sentence.
- Yes/no questions can be formed by inversion, which means swapping the position of the subject and the verb.
- Yes/no questions can also be formed by adding est-ce que to a statement. Est-ce que becomes est-ce qu' before a vowel.
- In French there is no word for 'do/does' in yes/no questions.
Keywords
Intonation - rise and fall of the voice in speaking
Inversion - when the subject pronoun and the verb switch place to form a question
Est-ce que - a questioning device
Common misconception
When forming yes/no questions, we need to translate the English 'do' or 'does' into French.
There is no equivalent to 'do' or 'does' in French. Use inversion, intonation or 'est-ce que' to form yes/no questions.
Model the different ways of forming questions in classroom talk. When asking the class a question, ask three times in quick succession with inversion, intonation and est-ce que, exposing pupils to all three. When a pupil asks a question, other pupils could repeat the question using the other forms.
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 to their English meaning.
Match the verbs to their English meaning.
Q2.Which of the following translate: Est-ce que tu dessines des animaux rares ?
Which of the following translate: Est-ce que tu dessines des animaux rares ?
You are drawing rare animals.
You draw rare animals.
Q3.Match the infinitives to the vocabulary.
Match the infinitives to the vocabulary.
Q4.Which is the first language of most people living in Quebec in Canada?
Which is the first language of most people living in Quebec in Canada?
English
Spanish
Portuguese
Q5.What is the negative form of 'il y a'?
What is the negative form of 'il y a'?
Q6.Identify the short form of the verb in this statement: tu vas arriver en France.
Identify the short form of the verb in this statement: tu vas arriver en France.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match the vocabulary to the English translation.
Match the vocabulary to the English translation.
Q2.Yes/no questions in French can be formed using intonation, est-ce que or...
Yes/no questions in French can be formed using intonation, est-ce que or...
Q3.True or False? We directly translate the English 'do' or 'does' at the start of a yes/no question.
True or False? We directly translate the English 'do' or 'does' at the start of a yes/no question.
Q4.Make the statement into a question using 'est-ce que': tu danses.
Make the statement into a question using 'est-ce que': tu danses.
Q5.Make this statement into a question using inversion: il est canadien.
Make this statement into a question using inversion: il est canadien.
Q6.Translate into French: Does he know Jean?
Translate into French: Does he know Jean?
