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Work experience: modals 3rd person plural
I can use present tense modal verbs in all forms and with negation to talk about work experience.
Lesson 4 of 5
New
New
- Year 9
Work experience: modals 3rd person plural
I can use present tense modal verbs in all forms and with negation to talk about work experience.
Lesson details
Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons
Key learning points
- For third person plural forms of modal verbs 'vouloir', 'devoir', 'pouvoir' and 'savoir', add -ent to the stem.
- The stems of 'devoir' and 'pouvoir' are their singular stems 'doi' and 'peu' plus 'v'; 'doiv-' and 'peuv-'.
- The stem of 'vouloir' is singular stem 'veu' plus 'l'; 'veul-'.
- The stem of 'savoir' is 'sav', the same as its other plural 'nous' and 'vous' forms.
- To make a sentence with two or more verbs negative, add 'ne … pas' around the first verb.
Keywords
3rd person plural - form of pronouns and verbs used to refer to 'they'
Negation - two elements, e.g. 'ne … pas', around the main verb expressing negative meaning
Common misconception
All modal verbs follow the same pattern in the 3rd person plural.
'Devoir' and 'pouvoir' are formed the same way, 'vouloir' is the same with the addition of an 'l' instead of a 'v' and 'savoir' is different; it follows the same pattern as the 'nous'/'vous' forms.
If the full translation in task A2b is too challenging or there is not enough time, you could provide students with the English for the first paragraph, providing some context, leaving plenty of practice of the key grammar point.
Teacher tip
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Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which of the following is the third person plural form of vouloir (to want)?
Which of the following is the third person plural form of vouloir (to want)?
voulons
voulez
veuillent
Q2.What is the negation of 'Je dois travailler' (I have to work)?
What is the negation of 'Je dois travailler' (I have to work)?
Je dois ne pas travailler.
Je ne pas dois travailler.
Pas je dois ne travailler.
Q3.How would you say 'they are able to' in French using the verb 'pouvoir'? Ils ...
How would you say 'they are able to' in French using the verb 'pouvoir'? Ils ...
Q4.What is the stem of the verb savoir (to know how to) for the third person plural?
What is the stem of the verb savoir (to know how to) for the third person plural?
Q5.Which of the following is the correct negation of 'Elles veulent faire un stage' (They want to do work experience)?
Which of the following is the correct negation of 'Elles veulent faire un stage' (They want to do work experience)?
Elles veulent ne pas faire un stage.
Elles ne veulent faire pas un stage.
Pas elles veulent ne faire un stage.
Q6.Put the following words in the correct order to say 'They don't have to go to the office'.
Put the following words in the correct order to say 'They don't have to go to the office'.
Assessment exit quiz
4 Questions
Q1.What is the third person plural form of devoir (to have to)?
What is the third person plural form of devoir (to have to)?
devons
devez
doivrent
Q2.Which of the following is the correct 3rd person plural (ils/elles) form of the verb vouloir?
Which of the following is the correct 3rd person plural (ils/elles) form of the verb vouloir?
voulont
veuxent
voulaient
Q3.Which of the following sentences is incorrect because the negation is placed in the wrong position?
Which of the following sentences is incorrect because the negation is placed in the wrong position?
Elles ne veulent pas faire un stage.
Ils ne doivent pas travailler tard.
Vous ne pouvez pas aider?
Q4.Put the following words in the correct order to say 'They don't know how to use the computer'.
Put the following words in the correct order to say 'They don't know how to use the computer'.
