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      Helping others: reflexive pronoun 'se'

      Lesson details

      Learning outcome

      I can use singular reflexive and direct object pronouns to talk about caring for people and animals.

      Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons

      Key learning points

      1. Use 'un an' to indicate a specific unit of time/quantity and 'une année' for description/duration. Both mean 'a year'.
      2. Apply the pattern of adding -(n)eé to 'jour', 'matin' and 'soir' to describe different periods of time.
      3. Use the reflexive pronoun 'se' when somebody is doing the action of the verb to himself or herself.
      4. If someone does the action to someone else, use the direct object pronouns 'le' and 'la' for the receiver of the action.

      Keywords

      • Reflexive pronoun - used to indicate doing something to yourself, words like 'myself' and 'yourself'

      Common misconception

      Time phrases like 'an and 'année' are interchangeable in French.

      Although they have the same meaning, 'an', 'jour', 'soir' and 'matin' are used to indicate specific units of time whereas, 'année', 'journée', 'soirée' and matinée' are used for description or duration.

      Teacher tip

      Although there isn't a specific speaking activity, there are opportunities for reading texts aloud, particularly B2, as it is a conversation. You could use mini whiteboards for B3. Have students show each sentence individually to provide live feedback and address any misconceptions as they arise.

      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.
      'Je parle de ma vie __________'. Choose the correct adjective.

      quotidien
      Correct answer: quotidienne
      quotidiens
      quotidiennes

      Q2.
      Match the French and English.

      Correct Answer:armée (f),army
      Correct Answer:clé (f),key
      Correct Answer:état (m),state
      Correct Answer:fin (f),end
      Correct Answer:habitude (f),habit
      Correct Answer:soldat (m),soldier

      Q3.
      Match the French and English.

      Correct Answer:aider,to help, helping
      Correct Answer:arriver,to arrive, arriving
      Correct Answer:corriger,to correct, correcting
      Correct Answer:établir,to establish, set up
      Correct Answer:grandir,to grow up
      Correct Answer:passer,to spend, spending (time)

      Q4.
      Order the words to say: 'I am going to build a big house'.

      1 - je
      2 - vais
      3 - construire
      4 - une
      5 - grande
      6 - maison

      Q5.
      Write in English: 'il y a trois ans'.

      Correct Answer: three years ago, 3 years ago

      Q6.
      Write in French: 'an interesting childhood'.

      Correct Answer: une enfance intéressante

      4 Questions

      Q1.
      Match the French and English.

      Correct Answer:un matin,a morning (unit of time)
      Correct Answer:une matinée,a morning (duration)
      Correct Answer:un jour,a day (unit of time)
      Correct Answer:une journée,a day (duration)
      Correct Answer:un soir,an evening (unit of time)
      Correct Answer:une soirée,an evening (duration)

      Q2.
      Match the French and English.

      Correct Answer:il se présente,he introduces himself
      Correct Answer:elle se présente,she introduces herself
      Correct Answer:il la présente,he introduces her
      Correct Answer:elle la présente,she introduces her
      Correct Answer:il le présente,he introduces him
      Correct Answer:elle le présente,she introduces him

      Q3.
      Write in English: 'elle te réveille'.

      Correct Answer: she wakes you up, she is waking you up, she's waking you up

      Q4.
      Write in French: ' I have a wash'.

      Correct Answer: je me lave

      To help you plan your 9 French lesson on: Helping others: reflexive pronoun 'se', download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...