Les verbes irréguliers
In today’s lecture, we had an engaging and productive session that combined learning, technology, and fun! We practiced 10 irregular verbs, installed French keyboards to simplify typing special characters, and played a lively game of Kahoot to reinforce our knowledge. Additionally, we discussed a crucial tip for mastering French verbs: understanding whether a verb is singular or plural before conjugating it. Let’s break down everything we covered in detail.
1. Practicing Irregular Verbs
Irregular verbs are a cornerstone of French grammar, and today we focused on 10 of them. Here are a few examples:
- Être (to be): Je suis, tu es, il/elle est, nous sommes, vous êtes, ils/elles sont.
- Avoir (to have): J’ai, tu as, il/elle a, nous avons, vous avez, ils/elles ont.
- Aller (to go): Je vais, tu vas, il/elle va, nous allons, vous allez, ils/elles vont.
We practiced these verbs in sentences to understand their usage better. For example:
- Je suis étudiant. (I am a student.)
- Tu as un livre. (You have a book.)
- Nous allons à l’école. (We are going to school.)
2. Installing French Keyboards
Typing in French can be challenging due to special characters like é, à, ç, and œ. To make this easier, we installed French keyboards on our devices. This tool is incredibly helpful for writing accents and other diacritical marks correctly, ensuring our written French is accurate and polished.
3. Playing Kahoot
To make learning more interactive, we played a Kahoot quiz. This game was not only amusing but also a great way to consolidate what we’ve learned in the past. My students loved the competitive yet fun atmosphere, and it helped reinforce their understanding of French grammar and vocabulary.
4. A Crucial Tip for Verb Conjugation
One of the most important aspects of mastering French verbs is determining whether a verb is singular or plural before conjugating it. Here’s why:
Over 99% of verbs conjugated with tu end with an -s. The only exception is pouvoir (e.g., tu peux).
By asking ourselves whether the verb is singular or plural, we can minimize errors in conjugation.
For example:
Tu manges une pomme. (You eat an apple.) – Here, manges ends with an -s because the subject is singular.
Vous mangez des pommes. (You eat apples.) – Here, mangez does not end with an -s because the subject is plural.
By combining grammar practice, technology, and fun activities like Kahoot, we’re making French learning both effective and enjoyable. Keep practicing these tips, and you’ll see significant progress in your French skills!