Lesson Note on Le Verbe “Être” (The Verb “To Be”)
Class: Primary 4
Term: Third Term
Week: 12
Subject: French
Topic: Le Verbe “Être” (The Verb “To Be”)
Duration: 40 minutes
Age: 8 – 9 years
1. Lesson Objectives
By the end of the lesson, pupils should be able to:
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Identify and conjugate the verb “être” in the present tense.
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Use “être” correctly in simple sentences.
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Answer basic questions using “être.”
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Pronounce the verb correctly in French.
2. Keywords
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Être – To be
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Je suis – I am
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Tu es – You are
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Il est – He is
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Elle est – She is
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Nous sommes – We are
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Vous êtes – You are (plural/formal)
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Ils sont – They are (male/mixed group)
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Elles sont – They are (female group)
3. Set Induction (Engaging Introduction)
Teacher: “Good morning, class! Today, we will learn an important verb in French. Imagine you meet someone and want to tell them who you are. What will you say?”
Pupil A: “I am Tobi!”
Teacher: “Very good! In French, you will say ‘Je suis Tobi.’ Can you all repeat after me?”
Pupils: “Je suis Tobi!”
(Teacher repeats the process with a few more pupils, correcting pronunciation as needed.)
4. Entry Behavior (Prior Knowledge Check)
Teacher asks:
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“Who can count from 1 to 10 in French?”
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“Can you say ‘My name is…’ in French?” (Expected answer: “Je m’appelle…”)
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“What do we say for ‘Good morning’ in French?” (Expected answer: “Bonjour”)
5. Learning Materials & Instructional Aids
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Flashcards with the conjugation of “être”
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A chart displaying common sentences using “être”
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Songs or rhymes with “être”
6. Presentation (Lesson Explanation)
A. Conjugation of the Verb “Être” in Present Tense
French | English | Pronunciation Guide |
---|---|---|
Je suis | I am | Zhuh swee |
Tu es | You are (singular) | Too eh |
Il est | He is | Eel eh |
Elle est | She is | El eh |
Nous sommes | We are | Noo sum |
Vous êtes | You are (plural) | Voo zet |
Ils sont | They are (masculine/mixed group) | Eel sohn |
Elles sont | They are (feminine) | El sohn |
(Teacher writes the conjugation on the board and asks pupils to repeat after her.)
B. Using “Être” in Sentences
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Je suis un élève. (I am a pupil.)
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Tu es mon ami. (You are my friend.)
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Il est intelligent. (He is intelligent.)
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Elle est gentille. (She is kind.)
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Nous sommes heureux. (We are happy.)
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Vous êtes en classe. (You are in class.)
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Ils sont frères. (They are brothers.)
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Elles sont sœurs. (They are sisters.)
(Teacher reads each sentence aloud and asks pupils to repeat.)
7. Class Activity – Funny Pupil Responses and Corrections
Teacher: “Now, I will say a sentence in English, and you will translate it to French using ‘être.’ Are you ready?”
Teacher: “I am a boy.”
Pupil B: “Je suis une garçon.”
Teacher: “Oops! ‘Garçon’ is masculine, so we say ‘Je suis un garçon.’ Repeat after me!”
Pupils: “Je suis un garçon!”
Teacher: “Good! Now, let’s try another one. ‘They are sisters.’”
Pupil C: “Ils sont sœurs!”
Teacher: “Hmm… Remember, ‘ils’ is for boys. For sisters, we say ‘Elles sont sœurs.’ Well tried!”
(The teacher continues with more examples while correcting common errors.)
8. Assessment (Oral Questioning & Writing Exercises)
A. Fill-in-the-Blank Questions with Options
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___ suis un élève.
a) Tu
b) Je
c) Il
d) Nous
(Answer: b) Je -
___ es mon frère.
a) Il
b) Tu
c) Je
d) Nous
(Answer: b) Tu -
___ est ma mère.
a) Il
b) Elle
c) Vous
d) Nous
(Answer: b) Elle
B. 10 Evaluation Questions (Discussion-Based & Group Work)
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What is the French verb for “to be”?
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How do you say “I am a teacher” in French?
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What is the correct conjugation of “être” for “They are friends”?
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Which pronoun do we use for “He is”?
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How do you say “We are happy” in French?
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If you are speaking to a group, which form of “être” should you use?
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Why do we use “Elles sont” instead of “Ils sont” for a group of girls?
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What is the difference between “Il est” and “Ils sont”?
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Translate: “My teacher is kind.”
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Translate: “You are in the house.”
9. Conclusion
Teacher summarizes the lesson by reviewing:
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The conjugation of “être”
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The use of “être” in sentences
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Common mistakes pupils should avoid
Teacher encourages pupils to practice at home by describing themselves using “être.”
10. Homework
Translate the following English sentences into French:
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I am tall.
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She is my sister.
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They are happy.
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You are a student.
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We are in school.
Fill-in-the-Blank Questions with Options
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___ suis une fille.
a) Tu
b) Je
c) Il
d) Nous
(Answer: b) Je -
___ es mon ami.
a) Il
b) Tu
c) Je
d) Nous
(Answer: b) Tu -
___ est mon père.
a) Il
b) Elle
c) Vous
d) Nous
(Answer: a) Il -
___ est ma mère.
a) Il
b) Elle
c) Tu
d) Nous
(Answer: b) Elle -
___ sommes dans la classe.
a) Je
b) Tu
c) Nous
d) Ils
(Answer: c) Nous -
___ êtes mon professeur.
a) Il
b) Tu
c) Vous
d) Je
(Answer: c) Vous -
___ sont mes amis.
a) Je
b) Tu
c) Il
d) Ils
(Answer: d) Ils -
___ suis heureux.
a) Tu
b) Je
c) Il
d) Nous
(Answer: b) Je -
___ est gentille.
a) Il
b) Elle
c) Tu
d) Je
(Answer: b) Elle -
___ sont mes sœurs.
a) Ils
b) Elles
c) Vous
d) Nous
(Answer: b) Elles -
___ êtes intelligents.
a) Tu
b) Je
c) Vous
d) Nous
(Answer: c) Vous -
___ est mon frère.
a) Il
b) Elle
c) Nous
d) Je
(Answer: a) Il -
___ suis en retard.
a) Tu
b) Je
c) Il
d) Vous
(Answer: b) Je -
___ sommes prêts.
a) Vous
b) Elles
c) Nous
d) Il
(Answer: c) Nous -
___ sont dans la maison.
a) Elles
b) Je
c) Il
d) Tu
(Answer: a) Elles
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) for Better Understanding
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What does “être” mean in English?
It means “to be.” -
How do you say “I am” in French?
You say “Je suis.” -
What is the French translation of “They are” for a group of boys?
“Ils sont.” -
How do you say “She is a student” in French?
“Elle est une élève.” -
What is the difference between “Il est” and “Ils sont”?
“Il est” is singular (He is), while “Ils sont” is plural (They are for males or mixed groups). -
Why do we use “Elles sont” instead of “Ils sont” for a group of girls?
Because “Elles” is the feminine form of “they.” -
Which form of “être” is used when talking to a teacher?
“Vous êtes” (You are – formal). -
How do you say “We are friends” in French?
“Nous sommes amis.” -
How do you say “You are happy” to a group of people?
“Vous êtes heureux.” -
What is the French translation of “He is a doctor”?
“Il est médecin.” -
When do we use “Tu es” and “Vous êtes”?
“Tu es” is informal (for one person), while “Vous êtes” is formal or plural. -
How do you say “They are teachers” in French?
“Ils sont professeurs.” -
How do you say “We are students” in French?
“Nous sommes élèves.” -
What is the French translation of “I am tired”?
“Je suis fatigué.” -
What is the plural form of “Elle est” for many girls?
“Elles sont.”
Evaluation Questions (For Group Discussion and Writing Exercises)
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What is the French verb for “to be”?
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How do you say “I am a teacher” in French?
-
What is the correct conjugation of “être” for “They are friends”?
-
Which pronoun do we use for “He is”?
-
How do you say “We are happy” in French?
-
If you are speaking to a group, which form of “être” should you use?
-
Why do we use “Elles sont” instead of “Ils sont” for a group of girls?
-
What is the difference between “Il est” and “Ils sont”?
-
Translate: “My teacher is kind.”
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Translate: “You are in the house.”