New
New
Year 9

Work experience: modals 1st and 2nd persons plural

Learning outcomes

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

I can distinguish between and confidently pronounce [ou] and [u].

New
New
Year 9

Work experience: modals 1st and 2nd persons plural

Learning outcomes

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

I can distinguish between and confidently pronounce [ou] and [u].

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Lesson details

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.


To help you plan your year 9 french lesson on: Work experience: modals 1st and 2nd persons plural, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

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).
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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

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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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