icon-background-square
New
New
Year 3

In class: intonation questions

Learning outcomes

I can use ‘je suis’, ‘oui’ and ‘non’ to ask questions.

I can apply my knowledge of silent final consonants to unfamiliar names.

icon-background-square
New
New
Year 3

In class: intonation questions

Learning outcomes

I can use ‘je suis’, ‘oui’ and ‘non’ to ask questions.

I can apply my knowledge of silent final consonants to unfamiliar names.

warning

These resources will be removed by end of Summer Term 2025.

Switch to our new teaching resources now - designed by teachers and leading subject experts, and tested in classrooms.

Lesson details

Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons

Key learning points

  1. Silent final consonants -s, -t, -x and -d can be practised with words like ‘dans’, ‘mot’, ‘prix’ and ‘grand’.
  2. French statements become questions by raising tone of voice at the end.
  3. There is a space before a ? in French and also before a ! e.g. Salut !

Keywords

  • SFC (Silent Final Consonant) - silent letter (d, s, t, x) at the end of a word

  • Intonation - the rise and fall of the voice in speaking

  • Je suis - meaning 'I am'

  • Il est - meaning 'he is'

  • Elle est - meaning 'she is'

Common misconception

Changing intonation doesn't affect meaning.

If you raise your voice at the end, you can turn a statement into a question.


To help you plan your year 3 french lesson on: In class: intonation questions, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

To make the most of short read aloud activities, teachers may consider a solo-duo-ensemble cycle whereby pupils say the words three times: once to themselves, once to a partner and once all together.
speech-bubble
Teacher tip
equipment-required

Equipment

copyright

Licence

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).

Lesson video

Loading...

Some of our videos, including non-English language videos, do not have captions.

6 Questions

Q1.
Read the following words. Which has an SFC?
Correct answer: mot
Correct answer: lit
cheval
sac
Correct answer: dans
Q2.
Which of the following sentences are in the feminine form?
Correct answer: Je suis présente.
Il est absent.
Correct answer: Elle est absente.
Correct answer: Elle est présente.
Il est présent.
Q3.
Choose the correct adjective. Il est...
Correct answer: absent
absente
présente
Q4.
How would you say 'hi' to a friend in French?
Correct Answer: Salut !, Salut, salut, salut!, Salut!
Q5.
How would you say 'hello' to a teacher in French?
Correct Answer: Bonjour !, bonjour, Bonjour, Bonjour!, bonjour!
Q6.
How do you say 'she is here' in French?
Correct Answer: Elle est ici., elle est ici, Elle est ici

6 Questions

Q1.
The letters d, s, t, x are often at the end of a word. They are SFCs.
Correct Answer: silent, Silent
Q2.
Which of these French names end in an SFC?
Correct answer: Robert
Sara
Omar
Correct answer: Margot
Correct answer: Lucas
Q3.
How do you say 'goodbye' in French?
Salut !
Bonjour !
Correct answer: Au revoir !
Q4.
Which of the following is correct?
Salut!
Correct answer: Salut !
Correct answer: Elle est ici ?
Il est absent?
Correct answer: Au revoir !
Q5.
How do you say 'yes' in French?
Correct Answer: Oui, oui
Q6.
How do you change your intonation to make a statement a question?
Lower your voice at the end of the statement.
Correct answer: Raise your voice at the end of the statement.
Read the statement with no change to intonation.

Additional material

Download additional material