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Lesson 2 of 4

Weekday routine: inversion questions, negation

Learning outcomes

I can use inversion and negation to ask and answer questions about my everyday activities.

I can use intonation to show when I’m asking a question.

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Lesson 2 of 4
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Weekday routine: inversion questions, negation

Learning outcomes

I can use inversion and negation to ask and answer questions about my everyday activities.

I can use intonation to show when I’m asking a question.

Lesson details

Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons

Key learning points

  1. Change statements into questions in French with raised intonation; a question word at the end gets more information.
  2. More formal inversion yes/no questions swap subject and verb; question words go at the start of information questions.
  3. For negation meaning 'not', put ne … pas around the first verb in a sentence; ne shortens to n' before a vowel.
  4. To develop productive skills, keep a bank of vocabulary with words from texts, glossaries or the dictionary.

Keywords

  • Intonation - rise and fall of the voice in speaking

  • Inversion - when the subject pronoun and the verb switch place to form a question

  • Negation - two elements e.g. ne … pas around the main verb expressing negative meaning

Common misconception

If you use inversion and add a question word, you don't need to change your intonation.

Even when using inversion and/or question words, still raise your voice at the end of a sentence in French when asking a question.

Activity 2a could be extended as a speaking or writing exercise where students make all the sentences questions with question words. You could encourage students to have part of their books/folders where they have their own list of vocabulary they add to when lessons mention 'personal repertoire'.
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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).

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which word describes the rise and fall of the voice in speaking?

infinitive
Correct answer: intonation
inversion
liaison
preposition

Q2.
What does the question word 'quoi' mean?

Correct answer: what
when
where
which
who

Q3.
What is the present tense verb ending for 'ils/elles'?

-e
-es
-ons
-ez
Correct answer: -ent

Q4.
Order the words to say: 'I'm listening to the radio and she is watching TV'.

1 - j'
2 - écoute
3 - la radio
4 - et
5 - elle
6 - regarde
7 - la télé

Q5.
Write the French word for 'why'.

Correct Answer: pourquoi

Q6.
Add the missing word: 'There isn't a solution.' - 'Il n'y a pas de .'

Correct Answer: solution

Assessment exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
What does the question word 'quel(le)' mean?

how
what
where
when
Correct answer: which

Q2.
Match the conjunctions in French and English.

Correct Answer:et,and

and

Correct Answer:mais,but

but

Correct Answer:quand,when

when

Correct Answer:parce que,because

because

Correct Answer:aussi,also

also

Correct Answer:ou,or

or

Q3.
Order the words to say: 'Normally, I don't arrive late.'

1 - normalement
2 - je
3 - n'
4 - arrive
5 - pas
6 - en
7 - retard

Q4.
Order the words to say: 'The children are showing the answer to the teacher'.

1 - les enfants
2 - montrent
3 - la réponse
4 - à
5 - la professeure

Q5.
Use intonation to ask: 'Do you like history?'

Correct Answer: Tu aimes l'histoire ?

Q6.
Use inversion and 'tu' as the subject to ask: 'When do you changes?'

Correct Answer: Quand arrives-tu ?

Lesson appears in

UnitFrench / Everyday life: -ER verbs in the present and past

French

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