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What is that? C'est and singular indefinite articles
Learning outcomes
I can use ‘c’est’ and singular indefinite articles to describe what it is/that is.
I can recognise and pronounce [e] and t-liaison.
Lesson 1 of 4
New
New
- Year 7
What is that? C'est and singular indefinite articles
Learning outcomes
I can use ‘c’est’ and singular indefinite articles to describe what it is/that is.
I can recognise and pronounce [e] and t-liaison.
Lesson details
Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons
Key learning points
- The [e] sounds like 'je'.
- The final 't' in 'c'est' is a silent final consonant but if followed by a vowel it is pronounced .
- 'Ce' means 'this/that' and 'est' means 'is'; together they make 'c'est', meaning 'it is' or 'this is'.
- Every noun has a gender: masculine or feminine. To say 'a/an', we use 'un' for masculine and 'une' for feminine nouns.
Keywords
Indefinite article - the words 'un' and 'une' meaning 'a/an'
Vowel - the letters 'a', 'e', 'i', 'o' and 'u'
Liaison - pronouncing a usually silent final consonant because a vowel follows
[e] - pronounced as in 'je'
Common misconception
There is only one way to say 'a' in French.
All nouns have a gender in French. We use 'un' for all masculine nouns and 'une' for all feminine nouns.
Repeating speaking activities immediately, one or more times, improves fluency and deepens vocabulary knowledge.
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.Which letters in the alphabet are vowels?
Which letters in the alphabet are vowels?
Q2.Which words are examples of the Silent Final Consonant (SFC) rule?
Which words are examples of the Silent Final Consonant (SFC) rule?
merci
calme
Q3.Match the French pronouns to the English correctly.
Match the French pronouns to the English correctly.
Q4.Choose the correct translation of 'être'.
Choose the correct translation of 'être'.
to speak, speaking
to read, reading
to listen, listening
to write, writing
Q5.Which group of letters do we not pronounce at the ends of words?
Which group of letters do we not pronounce at the ends of words?
f, a, c, o
r, i, u, b
Q6.'petite' is the form of the adjective 'short'.
'petite' is the form of the adjective 'short'.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which is the indefinite article in English?
Which is the indefinite article in English?
he/she
the
I
Q2.Which translations of 'c'est' are correct?
Which translations of 'c'est' are correct?
there is
Q3.Which word does not contain the [e] sound found in 'je'?
Which word does not contain the [e] sound found in 'je'?
second
rebelle
cheval
Q4.Match up the French nouns with the English translations.
Match up the French nouns with the English translations.
Q5.Which of the below is an example of 'liaison'?
Which of the below is an example of 'liaison'?
C'est bon.
C'est grand.
Q6.'It's a dog'. 'C'est chien.
'It's a dog'. 'C'est chien.
