New
New
Year 4

Message to a friend: writing words and phrases

I can write a short letter in French to a friend.

New
New
Year 4

Message to a friend: writing words and phrases

I can write a short letter in French to a friend.

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Lesson details

Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons

Key learning points

  1. It is important to practise key vocabulary regularly.
  2. 'Je suis' is from the verb 'etre' and means I am: je suis Sophie (I am Sophie).
  3. 'J'ai' is from the verb 'avoir' and means I have: j'ai un chat (I have a cat). Use 'j'ai' for age: j'ai six ans (I am 6)
  4. When writing a letter, think carefully about formal or informal greetings and sign-offs: salut, Monsieur, Madame.

Keywords

  • Je suis - from the verb être, meaning 'I am'

  • J'ai - from the verb 'avoir', meaning 'I have'; also used with age, e.g. j'ai huit ans - I am eight years old

Common misconception

Like in English, we use the verb 'I am' (je suis) with age.

In French, we use the verb 'I have' (j'ai) with age: j'ai huit ans - I am (have) eight years.


To help you plan your year 4 French lesson on: Message to a friend: writing words and phrases, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Share the pupils' letters with penpals. It is possible to find a penpal scheme through the British Council. Scan and send the letters and wait for a response!
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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).

Lesson video

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Prior knowledge starter quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Put the days of the week in the correct order starting with Sunday.
1 - dimanche
2 - lundi
3 - mardi
4 - mercredi
5 - jeudi
6 - vendredi
7 - samedi
Q2.
Match the sentences.
Correct Answer:J’habite à Lille,I live in Lille

I live in Lille

Correct Answer:J’ai dix ans,I am 10

I am 10

Correct Answer:Je suis Alex,I am Alex

I am Alex

Correct Answer:J’aime l’anglais,I like English

I like English

Correct Answer:Aujourd’hui’ c'est mercredi,Today it's Wednesday

Today it's Wednesday

Correct Answer:Je suis à l’école,I am at school

I am at school

Q3.
What sort of animal is 'un chat'?
Correct Answer: a cat, cat
Q4.
Which of these words means 'how much / how many'?
trois
nombre
Correct answer: combien
quatre
dix
Q5.
Read this passage and tick the sentences which are correct. Je suis Magali. J'ai onze ans et j'habite à Paris. J'ai un chien qui s'appelle Jojo. J'aime les animaux et jouer au basket. Je suis grande.
Magali is 10
Magali has a cat
Correct answer: Magali likes animals
Correct answer: Magali is tall
Correct answer: Magali lives in France
Q6.
Put the words in order to make a sentence about Eric.
1 - Eric
2 - aime
3 - regarder
4 - des
5 - films
6 - d’
7 - action

Assessment exit quiz

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which of these words is not a cognate?
Correct answer: le cheval
la couleur
la France
l'orange
la question
Q2.
If you were writing a letter to a friend the same age as you, which of these greetings could you use?
Monsieur
Madame
Correct answer: Cher ... (name)
Correct answer: Salut!
Correct answer: Bonjour!
Q3.
Match the infinitives.
Correct Answer:être,to be, being

to be, being

Correct Answer:avoir,to have, having

to have, having

Correct Answer:habiter,to live, living

to live, living

Correct Answer:aimer,to like, liking

to like, liking

Correct Answer:jouer,to play, playing

to play, playing

Correct Answer:parler,to speak, speaking

to speak, speaking

Q4.
Translate 'Je suis'.
Correct Answer: I am, I am being, I am I am being, I am being I am
Q5.
Translate 'J'ai'.
Correct Answer: I have, I am having, I have I am having, I am having I have
Q6.
How do you say, I am 6, in French?
Correct Answer: J'ai six ans, J'ai 6 ans

Additional material

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