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      The French Resistance: perfect tense with verbs like 'sortir' and 'choisir'

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can understand and use verbs like 'sortir' and 'choisir' in the context of French history.

      Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons

      Key learning points

      1. The nasal SSCs [em/am] (pronounced as in 'temps') and [en/an] (pronounced as in 'enfant') are non-nasal before a vowel.
      2. Verbs like 'sortir' look and sound very different in the present and perfect tenses.
      3. Orally, only the presence or absence of an auxiliary verb shows whether verbs like 'choisir' are past or present tense.
      4. Jean Bascle was a member of the French Resistance who was arrested and sent to a concentration camp.

      Keywords

      • Auxiliary verb - a form of either 'avoir' or 'être' used to form the perfect tense

      Common misconception

      Verbs like 'sortir' and 'choisir' follow the same patterns in the present and perfect tenses.

      Verbs like 'sortir' and 'choisir' follow the same patterns in the perfect tense - they need an auxiliary verb and a past participle ending in -i but follow different patterns in the present tense.

      Teacher tip

      This lesson refers to the Holocaust and concentration camps. Teachers interested in giving their classes more related information could research 'Le Rafle du Vél d'Hiv' or Jean Bascle. Teachers with sensitive students are advised to carefully read through the lesson in advance.

      Content guidance

      Depiction or discussion of sensitive content

      Supervision

      Adult supervision recommended

      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 each French word with its English equivalent:

      Correct Answer:amour (m),love

      love

      Correct Answer:mer (f),sea

      sea

      Correct Answer:recherche (f),research

      research

      Correct Answer:armée (f),army

      army

      Correct Answer:prix (m),prize/ price

      prize/ price

      Correct Answer:soldat (m),soldier

      soldier

      Q2.
      Complete the sentence with one of the words below: 'Le soldat __________ regarde.' (The soldier is looking at ?)

      Correct answer: te
      je
      tu
      moi

      Q3.
      Order these words correctly to make the sentence: I chose the right direction.

      1 - j'
      2 - ai
      3 - choisi
      4 - le
      5 - bon
      6 - sens

      Q4.
      Complete the sentence using the correct past participle of the verb in brackets: Le gouvernement a des résultats supplémentaires. (fournir)

      Correct Answer: fourni

      Q5.
      Which sentence best describes a one-off event using the perfect tense?

      L’armée obliger le soldat.
      Correct answer: Le gouvernement a fourni un résultat.
      Le soldat est servir une recherche.
      Le prix a fournir par l’État.

      Q6.
      Translate this sentence into French: 'She felt a clear love'

      Correct Answer: Elle a ressenti un amour clair

      4 Questions

      Q1.
      Which sentence correctly uses 'sortir' in the present tense?

      Il a sorti de la mer.
      Correct answer: Il sort de la mer.
      Il sorti la mer.
      Il a sort de la mer.

      Q2.
      Arrange these words into a correct perfect tense sentence:

      1 - le
      2 - soldat
      3 - a
      4 - ressenti
      5 - une
      6 - difficulté

      Q3.
      Who was Jean Bascle?

      A Nazi general in Paris
      A French teacher during WW2
      A soldier who served in the East
      Correct answer: A man who was arrested and sent to a camp during WW2

      Q4.
      Which sentence is in the present tense?

      Il a réussi à établir un objectif.
      Correct answer: Il réussit à établir un objectif.
      Il a réussir à établir un objectif.
      Il réussit établir un objectif.

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