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      What do you have? 'J'ai' and 'tu as'

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can ask questions using intonation and ‘tu as’ to find out what somebody has.

      Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons

      Key learning points

      1. The ‘e’ at the end of a word in French makes no sound, it is a SFe (silent final e).
      2. J’ai means I have and tu as means you have. These are singular forms of the verb avoir.
      3. Ask a question in French by raising your voice at the end of a statement. This is called an intonation question.
      4. An intonation question is a closed question. The answer can be either oui (yes) or non (no).

      Keywords

      • SFe - silent e at the end of a word

      • Avoir - French infinitive verb meaning ‘to have’

      • J’ai - French verb meaning ‘I have’

      • Tu as - French verb meaning ‘you have’

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

      Common misconception

      The 'e' at the end of a word in French is pronounced.

      The 'e' at the end of a word in French is silent, it is an SFe (silent final 'e'), e.g. 'timide'.

      Teacher tip

      Use some tangible objects to support the children physically and visually for when practising conversing with their partner about they do and/or don't have.

      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 French to the English.

      Correct Answer:bateau,boat
      Correct Answer:vélo,bicycle
      Correct Answer:train,train
      Correct Answer:car,coach
      Correct Answer:voiture,car
      Correct Answer:avion,airplane

      Q2.
      Match the English to the French.

      Correct Answer:tortoise,tortue
      Correct Answer:cat,chat
      Correct Answer:horse,cheval
      Correct Answer:dog,chien
      Correct Answer:rabbit,lapin
      Correct Answer:fish,poisson

      Q3.
      What does the verb conjugation 'tu as' mean?

      you are
      I am
      I have
      Correct answer: you have
      he has

      Q4.
      'Il a un stylo mais j' une livre'. Which form of the verb 'avoir' best completes this sentence?

      as
      Correct answer: ai
      a
      ons
      avoir

      Q5.
      'Tu as un stylo?'. What is the correct translation for this question.

      Correct Answer: Do you have a pen?, have you got a pen?, do you have a pen?

      Q6.
      Translate for 'do you have a cat?'.

      Correct Answer: Tu as un chat?, est-ce que tu as un chat ?, as-tu un chat?

      5 Questions

      Q1.
      Which of these words have a silent final 'e'?

      port
      Correct answer: timide
      café
      Correct answer: carte
      supermarché

      Q2.
      Which of these is an intonation question?

      Où habites-tu?
      Quelle heure est-il?
      Quel âge as-tu?
      Correct answer: Tu as une peluche?
      Comment tu t'appelles?

      Q3.
      Match the parts of the verb 'avoir' to the English.

      Correct Answer:tu as,you have, are having
      Correct Answer:avoir,to have, having
      Correct Answer:elle a,she has, is having
      Correct Answer:j'ai,I have, having
      Correct Answer:nous avons,we have, are having
      Correct Answer:il a,he has, is having

      Q4.
      Complete the following intonation question ' as une chaise?'

      Correct Answer: 'tu'

      Q5.
      Translate 'I have a cat and you have a lion'. Use 'tu' to mean 'you'

      Correct Answer: J'ai un chat et tu as un lion.

      To help you plan your 4 French lesson on: What do you have? 'J'ai' and 'tu as', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...