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Projets pour le week-end: extended writing and speaking

Lesson details

Learning outcome

I can use a range of impersonal verbs in speaking and writing about plans for the weekend with friends.

Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons

Key learning points

  1. Using a range of impersonal verbs to your writing and speaking adds variety and complexity.
  2. Plan a speaking task answer carefully, pre-rehearse, and immediately repeat the task to improve performance.
  3. When a speaking scenario involves talking to a single friend, use the 'tu' form of the verb.

Keywords

  • Impersonal verb - a verb that doesn’t refer to a particular person or thing, and whose subject is most often ‘il’ (it)

  • Idiom - a saying which does not always have a literal meaning and which does not always translate directly into another language

Common misconception

Idioms are the same in different languages.

Idioms can be specific to a language, culture or group of people. They are often impossible to translate directly. Their use adds variety and authenticity to students' work but it is necessary to discuss the idiom carefully when it is taught.

Teacher tip

There are two versions of task B1. Option 1 is aimed at the majority of students. Option 2 is for students who may require some additional support. Option 1 is included in the video.

Equipment

Mini whiteboards and pens would be 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.
How can 'il faut' be translated into English?

Correct answer: it is necessary to
Correct answer: you must
they have to
he must
Correct answer: we must

Q2.
Write what type of word follows these impersonal verb structures: il vaut mieux, il vaut la peine de.

Correct Answer: infinitive, infinitive verb

Q3.
Write what type of word is used after the verb 'il manque'.

Correct Answer: noun

Q4.
Put the times of day in order, starting with the earliest.

1 - Il est deux heures vingt.
2 - Il est neuf heures moins le quart.
3 - Il est onze heures et quart.
4 - Il est midi.
5 - Il est treize heures cinq.
6 - Il est dix-huit heures moins dix.
7 - Il est minuit.

Q5.
When used as an adjectival phrase, how might 'pas mal' be translated?

bad
badly
Correct answer: not bad
Correct answer: quite good

Q6.
Match the French and English vocabulary.

Correct Answer:technique,technical

technical

Correct Answer:il y (en) avait,there was, there used to be (of it, of them)

there was, there used to be (of it, of them)

Correct Answer:actuellement,at the present, at the moment

at the present, at the moment

Correct Answer:récréation,break time

break time

Correct Answer:taux,rate

rate

Correct Answer:pire(s),worse

worse

6 Questions

Q1.
Complete the description: 'il faut' is an verb.

Correct Answer: impersonal

Q2.
Match the French idiom to its meaning in English.

Correct Answer:être au four et au moulin,to do two things at the same time

to do two things at the same time

Correct Answer:couter les yeux de la tête,to be very expensive

to be very expensive

Correct Answer:avoir une faim de loup,to be very hungry

to be very hungry

Correct Answer:couper la poire en deux,to share something equally

to share something equally

Correct Answer:quand les poules auront de dents,to never happen

to never happen

Q3.
Translate the phrase : I miss my friend, I want to see her.

1 - mon
2 - amie
3 - me
4 - manque
5 - je veux
6 - la
7 - voir

Q4.
Translate : this weekend I am going to go cycling.

1 - ce
2 - week-end
3 - je
4 - vais
5 - faire
6 - du
7 - vélo

Q5.
Match the vocabulary together.

Correct Answer:bienvenue !,welcome!

welcome!

Correct Answer:développement,development

development

Correct Answer:informatique,IT, computer science, computing

IT, computer science, computing

Correct Answer:volonté,will, willpower

will, willpower

Correct Answer:il y en a,there is, there are (of it, of them)

there is, there are (of it, of them)

Correct Answer:sévère,severe, strict, harsh

severe, strict, harsh

Q6.
Select the translation of 'rule, regulation' in French?

instruction
dur
production
Correct answer: règlement
il y en aura

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