What you can and can't do: 'pouvoir' and 'savoir' singular persons
Lesson details
Learning outcome
I can use the modal verbs 'pouvoir' and 'savoir' in the singular persons to say what summer activities I can do.
Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons
Key learning points
- [ien] sounds like 'bien'
- Use 'pouvoir' to talk about ability or permission; use 'savoir' to talk about skills or things you have learned to do.
- 'Pouvoir' changes to 'peux' in the first and second persons singular and 'peut' in the 3rd person singular.
- 'Savoir' changes to 'sais' in the first and second persons singular and 'sait' in the 3rd person singular.
- If modal verbs are followed by another verb it must be in the infinitive form.
Keywords
[ien] - pronounced as in 'bien'
Modal verbs - verb of necessity or possibility used with a 2nd verb in infinitive e.g., must, can, want
Pouvoir - modal verb meaning 'to be able to, can'
Savoir - modal verb meaning 'to know how to, can'
Common misconception
There is one verb for 'can' in French like in English.
The verb for 'can' changes depending on whether you need specific skills/knowledge to be able to do it. If not, use 'pouvoir', if it does, use 'savoir'.
Teacher tip
If students are familiar with the jigsaw piece activity B1 then it might be a good opportunity to do the activity a number of times, improving speed each time. You could set it up as a class or partner competition.
Licence
Lesson video
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Prior knowledge starter quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Which word means 'the ticket'?
Q2.Match the prepositions in French and English.
Q3.'He wants to visit the old building.' : 'Il visiter le vieux bâtiment'.'
Q4.How many silent final consonants (SFCs) are in this sentence? 'Je dois faire mes devoirs et après je vais voir mes chiens.'
Q5.Write the missing word: 'Modal verbs are always followed by verbs.'
Q6.Order the words to say: 'I must ask my parents'.
Assessment exit quiz
6 Questions
Q1.Match up the verbs in French and English.
Q2.Select the words with the sound-symbol correspondence [ien].
Q3.Choose the correct missing word: 'Tu sais ?'
Q4.Choose the correct missing word: 'Can he come too?' - 'Il venir aussi ?'
Q5.Write the missing word: 'I can watch TV in my bedroom.' - 'Je regarder la télé dans ma chambre.'
Q6.Order the words to say: 'You can listen to music and you can play the piano'.
To help you plan your 7 French lesson on: What you can and can't do: 'pouvoir' and 'savoir' singular persons, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...
To help you plan your 7 French lesson on: What you can and can't do: 'pouvoir' and 'savoir' singular persons, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs.
The starter quiz will activate and check your pupils' prior knowledge, with versions available both with and without answers in PDF format.
We use learning cycles to break down learning into key concepts or ideas linked to the learning outcome. Each learning cycle features explanations with checks for understanding and practice tasks with feedback. All of this is found in our slide decks, ready for you to download and edit. The practice tasks are also available as printable worksheets and some lessons have additional materials with extra material you might need for teaching the lesson.
The assessment exit quiz will test your pupils' understanding of the key learning points.
Our video is a tool for planning, showing how other teachers might teach the lesson, offering helpful tips, modelled explanations and inspiration for your own delivery in the classroom. Plus, you can set it as homework or revision for pupils and keep their learning on track by sharing an online pupil version of this lesson.
Explore more key stage 3 French lessons from the Summer activities: modal verbs in two-verb structures unit, dive into the full secondary French curriculum, or learn more about lesson planning.