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      Work experience: modals 1st and 2nd persons plural

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can use modal verbs in the 1st and 2nd persons plural to talk about work experience.

      Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons

      Key learning points

      1. [ou] is pronounced as in 'nous'.
      2. [u] is pronounced as in 'tu'.
      3. To form the 1st and 2nd persons plural of modal verbs, remove -oir from the infinitive + add the endings 'ons' and 'ez'.
      4. Modal verbs are usually followed by an infinitive.
      5. Use inversion questions in formal situations such as job interviews.

      Keywords

      • [ou] - pronounced as in 'nous'

      • [u] - pronounced as in 'tu'

      • Modal verb - verb of necessity or possibility used with a 2nd verb in infinitive e.g., must, can, want

      Common misconception

      [ou] and [u] are both the same 'u' sound.

      Be careful not to mix up the similar but not identical sounds, people may not understand you or you could be saying a different word to the one you mean.

      Teacher tip

      To build oral confidence with modal verbs, teachers or pupil pairs might start/finish a lesson by cuing oral translations in chunks from memory, e.g. My parents (mes parents) - want (veulent) - to go (aller) - on holiday (en vacances) - in March (en mars) - but they can't (mais ils ne peuvent pas).

      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:stage,work experience

      work experience

      Correct Answer:piscine,swimming pool

      swimming pool

      Correct Answer:entreprise,business

      business

      Correct Answer:collègue,colleague

      colleague

      Correct Answer:attitude,attitude

      attitude

      Correct Answer:directeur,manager

      manager

      Q2.
      'Vous __________ être disponsible pour commencer en mai.' Which word best completes this sentence?

      devons
      Correct answer: devez
      pouvons
      savons
      savez

      Q3.
      Match the French to the English.

      Correct Answer:nous devons,we must, have to

      we must, have to

      Correct Answer:vous devez,you (plural) must, have to

      you (plural) must, have to

      Correct Answer:nous savons,we can, know how to

      we can, know how to

      Correct Answer:vous savez,you (plural) can, know how to

      you (plural) can, know how to

      Correct Answer:nous pouvons,we can, are able to

      we can, are able to

      Correct Answer:vous pouvez,you (plural) can, are able to

      you (plural) can, are able to

      Q4.
      Order the words to say 'we can communicate effectively with clients'.

      1 - nous
      2 - pouvons
      3 - communiquer
      4 - efficacement
      5 - avec
      6 - les
      7 - clients

      Q5.
      'Nous requérons un candidat sportif.' Translate this sentence into English.

      Correct Answer: We require a sporty candidate.

      Q6.
      'Do you (plural) know how to listen well?' Translate this sentence into French.

      Correct Answer: Savez-vous écouter bien?

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      'Devons-nous utiliser un ordinateur?' Which answer best translates this sentence?

      Can we use a computer?
      Do we have to plug in a computer?
      Correct answer: Do we have to use a computer?
      Do we know how to use a computer?
      Do we have to carry a computer?

      Q2.
      Which words could be used to describe 'une stagiaire'?

      sportif
      actif
      Correct answer: positive
      Correct answer: sportive
      négatif

      Q3.
      'Vous devez suivre des règles.' Which answers best translate this sentence?

      You can follow the rules.
      Correct answer: You have to follow the rules.
      We must follow the rules.
      Correct answer: You must follow the rules.
      You know how to follow the rules.

      Q4.
      Order the words to say 'we know how to swim well'.

      1 - nous
      2 - savons
      3 - bien
      4 - faire
      5 - de
      6 - la
      7 - natation

      Q5.
      'Nous voulons déjeuner ici.' Translate this sentence into English.

      Correct Answer: We want to have lunch here., We want to eat lunch here.

      Q6.
      'Can you (plural) work hard?" Translate this sentence into French.

      Correct Answer: Pouvez-vous travailler dur?

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