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      A day in the life of a journalist: plural masculine nouns '-x' and '-aux'

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can use plural nouns to describe current events.

      Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons

      Key learning points

      1. French is not a stress-timed language. Sound all vowels. Say syllables equally with a slight emphasis on the last one.
      2. Add -s to the majority of nouns to make them plural.
      3. Add -x to masculine nouns ending in -eau or -eu. There is no difference in pronunciation because 'x' is a SFC.
      4. Masculine nouns ending -al or -ail end in -aux in the plural form; the singular and plural forms sound different.

      Keywords

      • Stress - pronouncing one syllable more heavily than other syllables in a word

      • Noun - word for a person, place or thing

      Common misconception

      Add -s to make all nouns plural in French.

      Many nouns do need an -s in the plural form but masculine nouns ending in -eau or -eu need -x adding in the plural form, and there are other exceptions.

      Teacher tip

      Activity A2 is a wonderful opportunity for a wider discussion about the French cities students may have visited or want to visit in the future.

      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.
      Which nouns are plural?

      fille (f)
      personne (f)
      Correct answer: ordinateurs (m)
      enfant (m)
      Correct answer: lits (m)

      Q2.
      Match the French and English.

      Correct Answer:sortir,to go out, exit
      Correct Answer:dormir,to sleep, sleeping
      Correct Answer:partir,to leave, leaving
      Correct Answer:devenir,to become, becoming
      Correct Answer:revenir,to come back, coming back
      Correct Answer:venir,to come, coming

      Q3.
      'Je sors mes parents'. Choose the correct missing word.

      assez
      dans
      en
      Correct answer: sans
      très

      Q4.
      Order the words to say: 'he lives in France, near the Swiss border'.

      1 - il
      2 - habite
      3 - en
      4 - France
      5 - près de
      6 - la frontière
      7 - suisse

      Q5.
      Write in English: 'je traverse le forêt'.

      Correct Answer: I cross the forest., I am crossing the forest.

      Q6.
      Write in French: 'there was a mountain'.

      Correct Answer: Il y avait une montagne.

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      In French, stress __________ with a slight emphasis on __________.

      the first syllable, the final syllable
      the final syllable, the first syllable
      all syllables equally, the first syllable
      Correct answer: all syllables equally, the final syllable

      Q2.
      To make French nouns plural, add -s to the end of the word.

      all
      Correct answer: most
      all masculine
      all feminine

      Q3.
      Match the French and English.

      Correct Answer:feu,fire
      Correct Answer:feux,fires
      Correct Answer:journal,newspaper
      Correct Answer:journaux,newspapers
      Correct Answer:réseau,network
      Correct Answer:réseaux,networks

      Q4.
      Write in French: 'the dogs are big'.

      Correct Answer: Les chiens sont grands.

      Q5.
      Write in French: 'the birds are here'.

      Correct Answer: Les oiseaux sont ici.

      Q6.
      Write in French: 'the hospitals are small'.

      Correct Answer: Les hôpitaux sont petits.

      To help you plan your 8 French lesson on: A day in the life of a journalist: plural masculine nouns '-x' and '-aux', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...