Choose exam board for KS4 Computer Science (GCSE)
Choose exam board for KS4 English
Choose exam board for KS4 French
Choose exam board for KS4 Geography
Choose exam board for KS4 German
Choose exam board for KS4 History
Choose tier for KS4 Maths
Choose exam board for KS4 Music
Choose exam board for KS4 Physical education (GCSE)
Choose exam board for KS4 Religious education (GCSE)
Choose exam board for KS4 Spanish

      Interviews: plural -re 'écrire' verbs, intonation and inversion questions

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can use verbs like 'écrire' in the present tense, including within questions in the context of an interview.

      Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons

      Key learning points

      1. [y] is pronounced as the ‘y’ in ‘il y a’ and [oy] is pronounced as in 'envoyer'.
      2. Verbs like 'écrire' add -v to the stem in plural forms; the endings are the same as regular -er verbs.
      3. Ask questions in French by using intonation, using the questioning device 'est-ce que' and using inversion.

      Keywords

      • [y] - pronounced as the 'y' in 'il y a'

      • [oy] - pronounced as in 'envoyer'

      • Inversion - when the subject pronoun and the verb switch place to form a question

      Common misconception

      If you use inversion or 'est-ce que' as a questioning device, you don't need to change your intonation.

      Even if you are changing the word order to use inversion, or adding 'est-ce que', you still need to make your voice go up at the end of a sentence to show that you are asking a question.

      Teacher tip

      The listening task C2 could be differentiated by providing pupils with some of the missing information, leaving them to supply the missing pronoun and verb. Equally with task C3b, teachers could provide pupils with multiple choice options.

      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

      Loading...

      Some of our videos, including non-English language videos, do not have captions.

      Prior knowledge starter quiz

      6 Questions

      Q1.
      What is the French word for 'hot'?

      Correct Answer: chaud

      Q2.
      Which of the following is 'a place'?

      scolaire
      Correct answer: lieu
      interdire
      dites

      Q3.
      Order the words to form a simple instruction.

      1 - vous
      2 - ne
      3 - dites
      4 - pas

      Q4.
      Which of the following words means 'to write down'?

      dites
      arbre
      froid
      Correct answer: inscrire

      Q5.
      Which of these words is a noun?

      chaud
      interdire
      dites
      Correct answer: neige

      Q6.
      Order the words to give a negative instruction about trees.

      1 - ne
      2 - touchez
      3 - pas
      4 - l'
      5 - arbre
      6 - dans
      7 - le parc

      4 Questions

      Q1.
      What is the French word for 'cold'?

      chaud
      lieu
      Correct answer: froid
      neige

      Q2.
      Which of the following verbs means 'to forbid'?

      inscrire
      dites
      Correct answer: interdire
      arbre

      Q3.
      Which of these words is most likely to be found in a school?

      neige
      autobus
      Correct answer: scolaire
      froid

      Q4.
      Order the words to give a negative instruction about touching the snow.

      1 - ne
      2 - touchez
      3 - pas
      4 - la

      To help you plan your 8 French lesson on: Interviews: plural -re 'écrire' verbs, intonation and inversion questions, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...