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My everyday: 'avoir' and 'être' for feelings and states

Lesson details

Learning outcome

I can use 'avoir' and 'être' to describe my daily routine.

Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons

Key learning points

  1. [en/an] is pronounced as in 'enfant'.
  2. [ain/in] is pronounced as in 'train'.
  3. 'Avoir' means to have/having but is often used when we would use the verb to be (être) in English to describe feelings.
  4. When using 'avoir' expressions like 'avoir raison' and 'avoir chaud', there is no article after avoir.
  5. ‘Donc’ means ‘so/therefore’. It connects two short, related sentences to make a longer sentence with cause and effect.

Keywords

  • [en/an] - pronounced as in 'enfant'

  • [ain/in] - pronounced as in 'train'

  • Avoir - to have, having

Common misconception

'Avoir' always means 'to have/having'.

Most of the time, we translate 'avoir' as 'to have/having' but there are expressions, where we would use the verb to be in English, where French uses 'avoir', usually expressing feelings/states e.g 'avoir froid', to be cold.

Teacher tip

Making use of register routines is an effective way for pupils to practise previously taught language. The register could recap time in French, from the previous lesson.

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 the following infinitives.

Correct Answer:pratiquer,to practise, practising

to practise, practising

Correct Answer:habiter,to live, living

to live, living

Correct Answer:regarder,to watch, watching

to watch, watching

Correct Answer:écouter,to listen, listening

to listen, listening

Correct Answer:entrer,to enter, entering

to enter, entering

Correct Answer:chanter,to sing, singing

to sing, singing

Q2.
What is the missing number? quinze, seize, , dix-huit, dix-neuf, vingt.

Correct Answer: dix-sept, 17, dix sept

Q3.
What is the translation of 'ensuite'?

Correct answer: then
bathroom
Correct answer: next
honestly

Q4.
Put the words in order to translate 'I had toothache yesterday'.

1 - J'
2 - ai
3 - eu
4 - mal
5 - aux
6 - dents
7 - hier

Q5.
Match the times.

Correct Answer:quinze heures trente,15.30

15.30

Correct Answer:vingt-trois heures,23.00

23.00

Correct Answer:une heure cinquante-cinq,1.55

1.55

Correct Answer:sept heures vingt-cinq,07.25

07.25

Correct Answer:dix-neuf heures,19.00

19.00

Correct Answer:treize heures quinze,13.15

13.15

Q6.
Put the words in order to tell us at what time she plays basket ball.

1 - à
2 - onze
3 - heures
4 - vingt
5 - elle
6 - joue
7 - au basket

6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following words could be used to translate 'donc'?

donkey
Correct answer: so
having
in
Correct answer: therefore

Q2.
Match the parts of 'avoir' - to have.

Correct Answer:J',ai

ai

Correct Answer:elle,a

a

Correct Answer:nous,avons

avons

Correct Answer:vous,avez

avez

Correct Answer:elles,ont

ont

Correct Answer:tu,as

as

Q3.
How would you translate 'Il a faim'?

He has hunger.
She is hungry.
She has hunger.
Correct answer: He is hungry.

Q4.
Add the missing word. Le chat soif.

est
Correct answer: a
as
es
ai

Q5.
How are they feeling?

Correct Answer:J'ai raison,I am right

I am right

Correct Answer:J'ai tort,I am wrong

I am wrong

Correct Answer:J'ai chaud,I am hot

I am hot

Correct Answer:J'ai froid,I am cold

I am cold

Correct Answer:J'ai peur,I am frightened

I am frightened

Correct Answer:J'ai soif,I am thirsty

I am thirsty

Q6.
Which sound is the odd one out?

penser
enfant
quand
encore
Correct answer: main

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