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Une rencontre : verbs like 'connaitre' in present tense

Lesson details

Learning outcome

I can recognise and use a range of verbs like connaitre in the present tense in the context of meeting new friends.

Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons

Key learning points

  1. Connaitre is conjugated as follows in the present tense: connais, connais, connait, connaissons, connaissez, connaissent
  2. Verbs like connaitre are disparaitre, apparaitre, paraitre, naitre.
  3. An [o] sound can be open, as in 'porte', or closed, as in 'photo'. An [ô] is a closed sound.

Keywords

  • Present tense - describes habitual events in the present: 'I do'

  • Closed [o/ô] - pronounced as in 'photo'

  • Open [o] - pronounced as in 'porte'

Common misconception

The letter 'o' is consistently pronounced in French words.

An 'o' sound can be open or closed. 'O' is open when it is followed by a consonant (votre). 'O' is closed when it is written with a circumflex (ô), it is the last sound in a syllable (trop) or is followed by a 'z' sound (rose).

Teacher tip

The third learning cycle demonstrates all the forms of verbs like 'connaitre' in the present tense. Teachers may wish to edit the slide if only focusing upon the singular forms. Option 2 for tasks C1 and C2 practises only the singular forms. Option 1 of both tasks is included in the video.

Equipment

Mini whiteboards and pens are useful if available.

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.
Complete the sentence : The tense is used to describe what is happening now.

Correct Answer: present

Q2.
Select the sentence in the present tense.

Je vais connaitre Paris !
Correct answer: Je connais Paris !
J'ai connu Paris !
Je connaissais Paris !
Je connaitrai Paris !

Q3.
Translate the following sentence into French: Today I am going to the shopping centre in town .

1 - aujourd'hui
2 - je
3 - vais
4 - au
5 - centre commercial
6 - en
7 - ville

Q4.
What is the third person singular form of the verb 'connaitre'? Il/elle/on ...

Correct Answer: connait

Q5.
Match the infinitives to their meaning in English.

Correct Answer:connaitre,to know, to be familiar with

to know, to be familiar with

Correct Answer:accepter,to accept, to admit

to accept, to admit

Correct Answer:se disputer,to argue, arguing

to argue, arguing

Correct Answer:rire,to laugh, laughing

to laugh, laughing

Correct Answer:exprimer,to express, expressing

to express, expressing

Correct Answer:promettre (à ... de),to promise (someone) (+verb), promising (someone) (+verb)

to promise (someone) (+verb), promising (someone) (+verb)

Q6.
Which words can be used for people?

Correct answer: ami
cravate
Correct answer: fille
Correct answer: étranger
salaire

6 Questions

Q1.
What is the third person plural conjugation of 'connaitre'?

Correct Answer: connaissent, ils connaissent, elles connaissent, ils/elles connaissent, ils, elles connaissent

Q2.
Which verbs are conjugated in the same way as 'connaitre' in the present tense?

Correct answer: naitre
devoir
savoir
Correct answer: apparaitre
Correct answer: disparaitre

Q3.
What is the spelling ending for the 'vous' form of verbs that end 'aitre' in the present tense?

Correct Answer: aissez

Q4.
Choose the correct name for this accent: ô

acute
cedilla
Correct answer: circumflex
grave

Q5.
Which of the words have a closed [o] sound?

Correct answer: contrôle
Correct answer: rose
porte
Correct answer: photo
homme

Q6.
Match the verb forms together.

Correct Answer:je connais,I know, I am familiar with

I know, I am familiar with

Correct Answer:tu apparais,you appear, you are appearing

you appear, you are appearing

Correct Answer:il parait,he appears, seems

he appears, seems

Correct Answer:nous disparaissons,we disappear, we are disappearing

we disappear, we are disappearing

Correct Answer:vous connaissez,you know, you are familiar with

you know, you are familiar with

Correct Answer:elles naissent,they are being born

they are being born


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