Course Outline

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Course Outline

French for Beginners — Course Outline

Français · Niveau Débutant · A1

French for Beginners

A 10-week writing-emphasis course taking you from the alphabet to practical written French.

Course at a Glance

10Weeks

5Modules

A1CEFR Level

~3hWeekly Study

Who it's for: Absolute beginners who want to read, write, and recognise French with confidence — with a deliberate emphasis on written production rather than speaking.

Prerequisites: None. No prior French required. Basic literacy in English (or a Latin-script language) is assumed.

Course Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, learners will be able to:

#	Outcome	Assessed in
1	Write grammatically simple sentences in the present and past tense	Modules 2, 4, Final
2	Use correct accents, articles, and gender agreement	Modules 1, 2, 3
3	Compose short personal texts (introductions, journals, emails)	Modules 1, 4, 5
4	Distinguish formal and informal written registers	Module 5, Final
5	Self-correct common beginner errors using a checklist	All modules

Module Map

Click any module to expand its details.

Module 1 Foundations — Alphabet, Accents & Greetings Weeks 1–2

Grammar Focus

French alphabet and five accent marks
Subject pronouns: je, tu, il, elle, nous, vous, ils, elles

Vocabulary Topics

Greetings and farewells
Introducing yourself (Je m'appelle…)

Writing Tasks

Accent copywork and spelling drills
Short dialogue (4 lines) between two new acquaintances
Graded: "C'est moi !" — 5–8 sentence self-introduction

Module 2 Core Grammar for Writing — Verbs & Articles Weeks 3–4

Grammar Focus

Present tense of regular -er verbs (parler, aimer, habiter)
Definite articles: le, la, les
Indefinite articles: un, une, des
Gender and number agreement

Vocabulary Topics

Family members
Daily routine verbs
Common hobbies

Writing Tasks

Describe your family (6–8 sentences)
Write your daily routine using -er verbs
Graded: "Ma famille et moi" paragraph

Module 3 Sentence Building — Irregular Verbs & Questions Weeks 5–6

Grammar Focus

Irregular verbs: être, avoir, aller, faire
Negation: ne… pas
Question formation (three ways)
Adjective placement and agreement

Vocabulary Topics

Places in town
Numbers 1–100
Days, months, dates

Writing Tasks

Write a postcard from a fictional trip
Compose 5 questions and answers about a friend
Graded: "Une journée à…" short narrative

Module 4 Expanding Expression — Past Tense & Connectors Weeks 7–8

Grammar Focus

Passé composé with avoir and être
Connectors: et, mais, parce que, donc, puis
Adverb placement

Vocabulary Topics

Past-time expressions (hier, la semaine dernière)
Feelings and opinions

Writing Tasks

Journal entry about yesterday (8–10 sentences)
Rewrite present-tense sentences in the past
Graded: "Le week-end dernier" narrative

Module 5 Practical Writing — Real-World French Weeks 9–10

Grammar Focus

Tu vs. vous — register in writing
Formal letter conventions
Polite formulas (Cordialement, Bien à vous)

Vocabulary Topics

Email and message vocabulary
Form fields and personal information
Invitations and RSVPs

Writing Tasks

Write a formal email to a teacher
Write an informal text message to a friend
Fill out a registration form in French
Graded: Invitation + RSVP pair

Weekly Rhythm

Each week follows the same structure so learners build a sustainable habit.

Day	Activity	Time
Monday	New grammar lesson + guided examples	45 min
Tuesday	Vocabulary drill + dictation	30 min
Wednesday	Guided writing exercise	45 min
Thursday	Peer review or self-correction with checklist	30 min
Friday	Free writing journal (3–5 sentences)	30 min
Weekend	Review + catch-up	Flexible

Assessment Structure

Component	Weight	Description
Module writing tasks	40%	Five graded pieces, one per module
Weekly journal	20%	Ongoing free-writing, graded on effort & growth
Dictations & drills	15%	Accuracy of accents, spelling, agreement
Final project	25%	Personal letter + short narrative (300 words total)

All components required for certificate of completion.

Required & Recommended Materials

Type	Title	Purpose
Required	Grammaire Progressive du Français (débutant)	Grammar reference & exercises
Required	Expression écrite — Niveau 1 (Cle International)	Writing-specific practice
Recommended	Kwiziq French	Grammar drills with feedback
Recommended	A bilingual dictionary (Larousse or WordReference)	Vocabulary lookup
Optional	Alter Ego + 1	Full course companion

Course Policies

Correction philosophy: Beginners receive targeted feedback — we correct only the grammar points already taught. Uncorrected errors are recycled into later modules.

Late work: Module tasks accepted up to one week late without penalty. Journal entries accepted any time before the final week.

Academic honesty: Machine translation (Google Translate, AI tools) is not permitted for graded writing. Drafts, however, may use dictionaries freely.

Ready to Begin?

Start with Module 1 — Foundations, where you'll meet the alphabet, accents, and your first written sentences.

Next: Bonjour ! Je m'appelle…

Module One

French Beginner — Module 1: Foundations

French for Beginners

Module 1: Foundations — Alphabet, Accents & Greetings

Level: A1 (Beginner) | Duration: Weeks 1–2 | Focus: Writing & recognition

1. Module Introduction

Welcome to your very first French lesson! You are about to begin a journey that will open doors to a beautiful language spoken in France, Canada, Belgium, Switzerland, and many countries in Africa — including Nigeria, where millions of people speak French.

Do you remember the first time you learned to write in English? You started with letters. Then you learned how to put letters together to make words. Then you made sentences. That is exactly what we will do in French.

In this first module, you will learn:

The French alphabet
Five special accent marks that change how letters sound
How to greet people in French
How to introduce yourself
The eight subject pronouns (je, tu, il, elle, nous, vous, ils, elles)

Do not worry if this sounds like a lot. We will go slowly. We will use stories, pictures, and lots of examples. By the end of this module, you will be able to write simple sentences about yourself in French.

Are you ready? Let us begin!

2. Learning Objectives

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

Say and write all 26 letters of the French alphabet.
Recognise and write the five French accent marks.
Spell simple French words correctly.
Greet someone in French (formally and informally).
Introduce yourself in French.
Use the eight subject pronouns (je, tu, il, elle, nous, vous, ils, elles).
Write 3–5 simple sentences about yourself.
Say goodbye in French.

3. Warm-up Story

Chidi's First French Lesson

Chidi is a 13-year-old boy who lives in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. One Monday morning, his school announced that they would start teaching French.

"French?" Chidi thought. "That sounds hard."

But his new French teacher, Madame Bola, smiled warmly. "Bonjour, la classe !" she said. "That means 'Hello, class!' in French."

She wrote the French alphabet on the board. "It has the same 26 letters as English," she said. "But the sounds are different. Let us begin."

Chidi listened carefully. Some letters sounded strange. The letter R came from the throat. The letter U sounded like a mix of "oo" and "ee." But most letters were not too hard.

Then Madame Bola wrote some words on the board: café, école, français, père. Chidi noticed small marks above some letters.

"What are those?" he asked.

"Those are accent marks," Madame Bola said. "They change how letters sound. And they change the meaning of words too. You must write them carefully."

At the end of the lesson, Madame Bola taught the class how to say hello and introduce themselves. Bonjour ! Je m'appelle Chidi.

Chidi said it out loud. It felt strange on his tongue, but exciting too. He smiled. He had just spoken his first sentence in French.

In this module, you will learn everything Chidi learned in his first two weeks — the alphabet, the accents, and how to greet people in French. Let us begin.

CHIDI'S FIRST LESSON — WHAT HE LEARNED
======================================

   1. The alphabet (26 letters)
   2. Five accent marks
   3. Greetings ("Bonjour !")
   4. Introducing yourself ("Je m'appelle…")

   Today, you begin the same journey.
   Take it one step at a time.
   You will do great!

4. Main Lessons

Lesson 1: The French Alphabet

Definition

The alphabet is the set of letters used to write a language. French uses the same 26 letters as English, but the sounds are different.

Why It Is Important

You must know the alphabet to spell words, read French, and write correctly. It is the foundation of everything.

Simple Explanation

Think of the alphabet as building blocks. Each letter is a block. Together, they build words. Together, words build sentences.

The French Alphabet

Letter	French Name	Letter	French Name
A	ah	N	en
B	bay	O	oh
C	say	P	pay
D	day	Q	ku
E	euh	R	air
F	eff	S	ess
G	zhay	T	tay
H	ash	U	oo
I	ee	V	vay
J	zhee	W	doo-bluh-vay
K	kah	X	eeks
L	ell	Y	ee-grek
M	em	Z	zed

Real-life Example

When you spell your name in French, you say the letters using the French names. "Chidi" = say, ash, ee, day, ee.

School Example

Your teacher asks you to spell bonjour in French. You say: bay, oh, en, zhee, oh, oo, air.

Home Example

You want to write a note in French. You need the alphabet to spell every word correctly.

Nigerian Example

Your cousin in Cotonou sends you a message in French. You read it using your knowledge of the French alphabet.

Illustration

THE FRENCH ALPHABET
===================

   A B C D E F G H I J K L M
   N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

   Same letters as English.
   Different sounds.

   Key letters to watch:

   R  --- sounds like it comes from the throat
   U  --- sounds like "oo" with a small "ee" mixed in
   J  --- sounds like "zh" (like the "s" in "measure")
   G  --- sounds like "zh" before e and i

Mini Summary

The French alphabet has the same 26 letters as English, but different sounds. Learn to say the letters in French to spell words correctly.

Lesson 2: The Five French Accent Marks

Definition

Accent marks are small symbols placed above letters. They change how the letter sounds and sometimes change the meaning of the word.

Why It Is Important

In French, accents are not optional. Leaving out an accent is a spelling mistake. Sometimes it changes the meaning completely.

Simple Explanation

Think of accents as little hats on letters. They tell you how to say the letter and sometimes what the word means.

The Five Accents

Accent	Name	Example	Meaning
é	accent aigu	été	summer
è	accent grave	père	father
ê	accent circonflexe	être	to be
ç	cédille	français	French
ï / ë	tréma	Noël	Christmas

Why Accents Matter

Without Accent	With Accent	Difference
a (has)	à (to/at)	Different meaning
ou (or)	où (where)	Different meaning
sur (on)	sûr (sure)	Different meaning
cote (rating)	côte (coast)	Different meaning

Real-life Example

J'ai mal à la tête. → "I have a headache." Without the accent on à, the sentence would be wrong.

School Example

Your teacher marks you down if you write ecole instead of école. Accents are part of correct spelling.

Home Example

You write a card in French for your grandmother. You write Bonne fête, grand-mère ! with the correct accents.

Nigerian Example

You write français correctly with the cédille. Without it, the word looks wrong to a French reader.

Illustration

THE FIVE ACCENTS — A VISUAL
===========================

   é   --- accent aigu (goes up to the right)
         "ay" sound
         Example: café, été

   è   --- accent grave (goes up to the left)
         "eh" sound
         Example: père, mère

   ê   --- accent circonflexe (little hat)
         "eh" sound, slightly longer
         Example: être, fête

   ç   --- cédille (little tail under the c)
         makes "c" sound like "s"
         Example: français, garçon

   ï   --- tréma (two dots)
         says the vowel separately
         Example: Noël, naïve

Mini Summary

French has five accent marks: é, è, ê, ç, and ï/ë. They change pronunciation and sometimes the meaning of words. Always write them carefully.

Lesson 3: Greetings in French

Definition

Greetings are the words we use when we meet someone or when we say goodbye.

Why It Is Important

Greetings are the first words you will use in any language. They show respect and friendliness. In French, greetings depend on who you are talking to.

Simple Explanation

Think of greetings as the door to conversation. You open the door with a friendly word. Then you walk through.

Common French Greetings

French	English	When to use
Bonjour !	Hello! / Good day!	Any time before evening
Bonsoir !	Good evening!	In the evening
Salut !	Hi! / Bye!	With friends only
Bonne nuit !	Good night!	Before going to bed
Au revoir !	Goodbye!	Any time
À bientôt !	See you soon!	When you will meet again
À demain !	See you tomorrow!	When you will meet tomorrow
Bisous	Kisses	Informal, to friends and family

Formal vs. Informal Greetings

Situation	Greeting
Meeting a teacher	Bonjour, Madame / Monsieur.
Meeting a friend	Salut ! Ça va ?
Meeting the school principal	Bonjour, Monsieur le Directeur.
Meeting your cousin	Salut ! Comment ça va ?

Real-life Example

You walk into a shop. You say: Bonjour ! The shopkeeper replies: Bonjour !

School Example

You arrive at school in the morning. You say: Bonjour, Madame Bola ! She replies: Bonjour, Chidi !

Home Example

Your father comes home in the evening. You say: Bonsoir, papa !

Nigerian Example

You see a French teacher at the market in Lagos. You say: Bonjour, Madame ! She smiles and replies: Bonjour, mon enfant !

Illustration

GREETINGS BY TIME OF DAY
========================

   MORNING:      Bonjour !      (Hello!)
   AFTERNOON:    Bonjour !      (Hello!)
   EVENING:      Bonsoir !      (Good evening!)
   BEDTIME:      Bonne nuit !   (Good night!)

   WITH FRIENDS: Salut !        (Hi!)

   GOODBYES:
   ANY TIME:     Au revoir !    (Goodbye!)
   SOON:         À bientôt !    (See you soon!)
   TOMORROW:     À demain !     (See you tomorrow!)

   Think of greetings as the door to conversation.

Mini Summary

Greetings are your first words in any conversation. Use Bonjour during the day, Bonsoir in the evening, and Salut with friends. Say goodbye with Au revoir or À bientôt.

Lesson 4: Introducing Yourself

Definition

Introducing yourself means telling someone your name and a little about yourself.

Why It Is Important

Introductions are the first step in making friends, meeting new people, and starting conversations. In French, there is a simple formula.

Simple Explanation

Think of introducing yourself as opening a book. The first page tells the reader your name. The next pages tell them more.

Basic Introduction Phrases

French	English
Je m'appelle…	My name is…
Je suis…	I am…
J'ai … ans.	I am … years old.
J'habite à…	I live in…
Je suis nigérian(e).	I am Nigerian.
Je suis élève.	I am a student.
Enchanté(e).	Nice to meet you.

Asking Someone's Name

French	English	Register
Comment tu t'appelles ?	What is your name?	Informal
Comment vous appelez-vous ?	What is your name?	Formal
Tu t'appelles comment ?	What is your name?	Informal, spoken

Real-life Example

You meet a new student at school. You say: Bonjour ! Je m'appelle Chidi. Et toi ? ("Hello! My name is Chidi. And you?")

School Example

Your French teacher asks you to introduce yourself. You say: Bonjour, Madame. Je m'appelle Amara. J'ai treize ans. Je suis élève.

Home Example

A visitor comes to your house. You say: Bonjour ! Je m'appelle Tunde. Enchanté.

Nigerian Example

You meet a French-speaking visitor in Abuja. You say: Bonjour ! Je m'appelle Amina. Je suis nigériane. J'habite à Abuja. Enchantée !

Illustration

INTRODUCING YOURSELF — THE FORMULA
==================================

   1. Greeting:
      "Bonjour !"

   2. Name:
      "Je m'appelle [your name]."

   3. Age:
      "J'ai [number] ans."

   4. Where you live:
      "J'habite à [city]."

   5. Nationality:
      "Je suis nigérian(e)."

   6. Polite ending:
      "Enchanté(e)."

   EXAMPLE:

   "Bonjour ! Je m'appelle Chidi.
    J'ai treize ans. J'habite à Port Harcourt.
    Je suis nigérian. Enchanté !"

Mini Summary

To introduce yourself in French, use Je m'appelle… for your name, J'ai … ans for your age, and J'habite à… for where you live. End with Enchanté(e) to be polite.

Lesson 5: Saying Goodbye

Definition

Saying goodbye means using the right words when you leave someone.

Why It Is Important

Just as greetings open a conversation, goodbyes close it politely. In French, there are many ways to say goodbye, and each fits a different situation.

Simple Explanation

Think of saying goodbye as closing a door gently. You do not slam it. You close it with a smile.

Common Goodbyes

French	English	When to use
Au revoir !	Goodbye!	Any situation
À bientôt !	See you soon!	When you will meet again
À demain !	See you tomorrow!	When you will meet tomorrow
À la prochaine !	Until next time!	When you are not sure when
Salut !	Bye!	Informal, with friends
Bisous	Kisses	Very informal, family and close friends
Bonne journée !	Have a good day!	During the day
Bonne soirée !	Have a good evening!	In the evening

Real-life Example

You leave a shop. You say: Merci, au revoir ! ("Thank you, goodbye!")

School Example

The class ends. You say to your teacher: Au revoir, Madame ! She replies: Au revoir, à demain !

Home Example

You leave for school. You say to your mother: Au revoir, maman ! Bonne journée !

Nigerian Example

You say goodbye to a French visitor in Lagos: Au revoir, Madame ! À bientôt !

Illustration

SAYING GOODBYE — A FLOWCHART
============================

   Are you leaving?

        +--- YES ---+

                    V

   Formal situation?

        +--- YES --> "Au revoir, Madame / Monsieur."

        +--- NO ---+

                   V

   Will you see them soon?

        +--- YES --> "À bientôt !" or "À demain !"

        +--- NO ---> "Au revoir !" or "À la prochaine !"

   With close friends: "Salut !" or "Bisous"

Mini Summary

Say goodbye with Au revoir in most situations. Use À bientôt or À demain when you will see the person again soon. Use Salut or Bisous with friends.

Lesson 6: Subject Pronouns — An Introduction

Definition

Subject pronouns are small words that replace the subject of a sentence. In English, these are "I," "you," "he," "she," "we," "they."

Why It Is Important

Every French sentence needs a subject. Without subject pronouns, you cannot build a sentence. They are the heart of French grammar.

Simple Explanation

Think of a football team. Every player has a position. In French, every sentence has a subject — the person or thing doing the action. Subject pronouns tell you who is doing it.

The Eight French Subject Pronouns

French	English	Use
je	I	First person singular
tu	you	Informal, one person
il	he / it	Masculine singular
elle	she / it	Feminine singular
nous	we	First person plural
vous	you	Formal or plural
ils	they	Masculine or mixed plural
elles	they	Feminine plural

Real-life Example

Je suis élève. ("I am a student.") Il est professeur. ("He is a teacher.")

School Example

Nous sommes en classe. ("We are in class.") Ils sont dans la cour. ("They are in the playground.")

Home Example

Elle est ma sœur. ("She is my sister.") Vous êtes mon père. ("You are my father.")

Nigerian Example

Je suis nigérian. ("I am Nigerian.") Nous habitons à Lagos. ("We live in Lagos.")

Illustration

SUBJECT PRONOUNS — A VISUAL
===========================

   SINGULAR                     PLURAL

   je   (I)                     nous  (we)

   tu   (you, informal)         vous  (you, formal
                                       OR plural)

   il   (he / it)               ils   (they, masc.
                                       or mixed)

   elle (she / it)              elles (they, all female)

   Think of them as a team.
   Each one has a position.

Mini Summary

French has eight subject pronouns: je, tu, il, elle, nous, vous, ils, elles. Every sentence needs a subject pronoun. Learn them well — you will use them every day.

Lesson 7: Tu vs. Vous — Two Ways to Say "You"

Definition

French has two words for "you": tu (informal) and vous (formal or plural).

Why It Is Important

Choosing the wrong one can sound rude or strange. Learning when to use each is one of the first rules of French politeness.

Simple Explanation

Think of tu as talking to a friend in a relaxed way. Think of vous as talking to someone important, or to a group of people.

When to Use Each

Use tu with…	Use vous with…
Friends	Teachers
Family members	Strangers
Children	Older people
Classmates	Officials
Close peers	More than one person

Real-life Example

To your friend: Comment tu t'appelles ? To your teacher: Comment vous appelez-vous ?

School Example

To a classmate: Tu as un stylo ? To the head teacher: Avez-vous un moment, s'il vous plaît ?

Home Example

To your sibling: Tu viens avec moi ? To a visitor: Voulez-vous du thé ?

Nigerian Example

To your friend in Lagos: Tu es libre samedi ? To an elderly French visitor: Êtes-vous bien installé, Madame ?

Illustration

TU vs. VOUS — A SIMPLE CHOICE
=============================

   Are you talking to…

        +--- ONE FRIEND or FAMILY MEMBER?
        |        |
        |        V
        |      "TU"
        |
        +--- ONE TEACHER, STRANGER, OR ELDER?
        |        |
        |        V
        |      "VOUS"
        |
        +--- MORE THAN ONE PERSON?
                 |
                 V
               "VOUS"

   When in doubt, use "VOUS".
   It is polite, and never wrong.

Mini Summary

Tu is for friends and family. Vous is for teachers, strangers, elders, and groups. When in doubt, use vous — it is always polite.

Lesson 8: The Verb Être (To Be)

Definition

Être means "to be." It is the most common verb in French. You use it to say who you are, how you feel, and where you are.

Why It Is Important

You cannot say "I am Chidi" or "She is my sister" without être. It appears in almost every conversation.

Simple Explanation

Think of être as the bridge between you and the world. It connects you to your name, your feelings, your home.

The Present Tense of Être

Subject	Être	English
je	suis	I am
tu	es	you are (informal)
il	est	he is
elle	est	she is
nous	sommes	we are
vous	êtes	you are (formal/plural)
ils	sont	they are (masc./mixed)
elles	sont	they are (fem.)

Real-life Example

Je suis nigérian. ("I am Nigerian.") Elle est ma sœur. ("She is my sister.")

School Example

Nous sommes en classe. ("We are in class.") Le professeur est gentil. ("The teacher is kind.")

Home Example

Je suis à la maison. ("I am at home.") Ils sont dans le jardin. ("They are in the garden.")

Nigerian Example

Nous sommes Nigérians. ("We are Nigerians.") Mon père est à Abuja. ("My father is in Abuja.")

Illustration

THE VERB ÊTRE (TO BE)
=====================

   je          suis      I am
   tu          es        you are (informal)
   il / elle   est       he / she is
   nous        sommes    we are
   vous        êtes      you are (formal/plural)
   ils / elles sont      they are

   EXAMPLE:
   "Je suis Chidi. Je suis élève. Je suis à l'école."

   Memory trick: "suis, es, est, sommes, êtes, sont."
   Say it like a song.

Mini Summary

Être means "to be." It is the most common verb in French. Learn its forms: je suis, tu es, il est, nous sommes, vous êtes, ils sont.

Lesson 9: Writing Simple Sentences

Definition

A sentence is a group of words that makes complete sense. Every sentence has a subject and a verb.

Why It Is Important

You cannot communicate in writing without sentences. Learning to build them is the goal of this course.

Simple Explanation

Think of a sentence as a train. The subject is the engine. The verb is the fuel. Together, they move the sentence forward.

The Basic Pattern

SIMPLE SENTENCE PATTERN
=======================

   Subject  +  Verb  +  (Extra information)

   je       +  suis  +  élève
   tu       +  es    +  mon ami
   elle     +  est   +  à Lagos

   Examples:
   "Je suis élève."
   "Tu es mon ami."
   "Elle est à Lagos."

Real-life Example

Je suis à la maison. ("I am at home.") Three words. Complete sentence.

School Example

Nous sommes en classe. ("We are in class.") Simple, correct, complete.

Home Example

Ils sont dans la cuisine. ("They are in the kitchen.")

Nigerian Example

Je suis à Abuja. ("I am in Abuja.") Elle est nigériane. ("She is Nigerian.")

Illustration

BUILDING A SENTENCE
===================

   SUBJECT  +  VERB  +  EXTRA
   -------     ----     -----

   "Je"     +  "suis" + "élève"     = "Je suis élève."

   "Elle"   +  "est"  + "ma sœur"   = "Elle est ma sœur."

   "Nous"   +  "sommes" + "amis"    = "Nous sommes amis."

   Every French sentence follows this pattern.

Mini Summary

A simple French sentence has a subject, a verb, and often extra information. Follow this pattern: subject + verb + extra.

Lesson 10: Asking Simple Questions

Definition

A question is a sentence that asks something. In French, there are three ways to ask a question.

Why It Is Important

Questions are part of every conversation. Learning to ask them lets you get information and connect with people.

Simple Explanation

Think of a question as a hook. It catches information. The three methods below are three ways to cast the hook.

The Three Ways to Ask a Question

Method	Example	Register
Intonation (voice rises)	Tu es élève ?	Informal
Est-ce que…	Est-ce que tu es élève ?	Neutral (safe)
Inversion	Es-tu élève ?	Formal

Common Question Words

French	English
Qui ?	Who?
Quoi ? / Que ?	What?
Où ?	Where?
Quand ?	When?
Pourquoi ?	Why?
Comment ?	How?
Combien ?	How many? / How much?

Real-life Example

You meet a new student. You ask: Comment tu t'appelles ? ("What is your name?")

School Example

You do not understand the lesson. You ask: Est-ce que vous pouvez répéter, s'il vous plaît ? ("Can you repeat, please?")

Home Example

You ask your mother: Où est mon sac ? ("Where is my bag?")

Nigerian Example

You ask a new friend in Lagos: Tu habites où ? ("Where do you live?")

Illustration

THREE WAYS TO ASK A QUESTION
============================

   1. INTONATION (voice rises):
      "Tu es élève ?"

   2. EST-CE QUE (safe, neutral):
      "Est-ce que tu es élève ?"

   3. INVERSION (formal):
      "Es-tu élève ?"

   All three mean the same thing.
   Choose based on the register.

   Use "Est-ce que" when you are unsure.
   It is always correct.

Mini Summary

French has three ways to ask a question: intonation, est-ce que, and inversion. Use est-ce que when you are unsure — it works in every situation.

Lesson 11: Writing Your First Paragraph

Definition

A paragraph is a group of sentences about one idea.

Why It Is Important

Writing a paragraph is the next step after writing sentences. It lets you express an idea fully.

Simple Explanation

Think of a paragraph as a small house. Each sentence is a room. Together, they make a home for one idea.

The Structure

Start with a topic sentence.
Add 3–5 supporting sentences.
End with a closing sentence.

Model Paragraph

Bonjour ! Je m'appelle Chidi. J'ai treize ans. Je suis nigérian. J'habite à Port Harcourt. Je suis élève dans une école secondaire. J'aime le football et la musique. Enchanté !

English: "Hello! My name is Chidi. I am thirteen years old. I am Nigerian. I live in Port Harcourt. I am a student in a secondary school. I like football and music. Nice to meet you!"

Real-life Example

You write a paragraph to introduce yourself in a new class.

School Example

Your teacher asks you to write a paragraph about yourself in French.

Home Example

You write a paragraph to send to a French pen pal.

Nigerian Example

You write a paragraph to introduce yourself to a French-speaking visitor in Nigeria.

Illustration

PARAGRAPH STRUCTURE — THE HOUSE
===============================

   +----------------------------------+
   |   TOPIC SENTENCE                 |
   |   (My name is Chidi.)            |
   +----------------------------------+
                |
                V
   +----------------------------------+
   |   SUPPORTING SENTENCES           |
   |   (Age, nationality, city,       |
   |    school, hobbies)              |
   +----------------------------------+
                |
                V
   +----------------------------------+
   |   CLOSING SENTENCE               |
   |   (Enchanté !)                   |
   +----------------------------------+

   Each sentence adds one room to the house.

Mini Summary

A paragraph has a topic sentence, supporting sentences, and a closing sentence. Write your first paragraph about yourself in French.

Lesson 12: Numbers 1–20

Definition

Numbers are words used for counting and telling quantities.

Why It Is Important

You need numbers to say your age, give a phone number, tell the time, and shop.

Simple Explanation

Think of numbers as stepping stones. Each one brings you closer to a bigger number.

Numbers 1–20 in French

Number	French	Number	French
1	un	11	onze
2	deux	12	douze
3	trois	13	treize
4	quatre	14	quatorze
5	cinq	15	quinze
6	six	16	seize
7	sept	17	dix-sept
8	huit	18	dix-huit
9	neuf	19	dix-neuf
10	dix	20	vingt

Real-life Example

You tell someone your age: J'ai treize ans. ("I am thirteen years old.")

School Example

You count the students in your class: un, deux, trois…

Home Example

You count plates for dinner: quatre assiettes. ("four plates.")

Nigerian Example

You buy oranges at the market: J'achète cinq oranges. ("I buy five oranges.")

Illustration

NUMBERS 1–20 — A LADDER
=======================

   1  un       11  onze
   2  deux     12  douze
   3  trois    13  treize
   4  quatre   14  quatorze
   5  cinq     15  quinze
   6  six      16  seize
   7  sept     17  dix-sept
   8  huit     18  dix-huit
   9  neuf     19  dix-neuf
   10 dix      20  vingt

   11–16 are new words.
   17–19 are "dix" + the single digit.
   20 is "vingt".

Mini Summary

Learn French numbers 1–20. You will use them to say your age, count items, and tell the time.

Lesson 13: Writing Your Name and Age

Definition

Writing your name and age is one of the first things you will do in French.

Why It Is Important

It is a common task. Every form, every introduction, every letter starts with your name and age.

Simple Explanation

Think of it as your French identity card. It has two lines: your name and your age.

The Two Structures

What	French Structure	Example
Name	Je m'appelle + [name]	Je m'appelle Chidi.
Age	J'ai + [number] + ans	J'ai treize ans.

Important: In French, you do not say "I am thirteen years." You say J'ai treize ans — literally "I have thirteen years." This is different from English.

Real-life Example

Je m'appelle Amara. J'ai quatorze ans. ("My name is Amara. I am fourteen years old.")

School Example

You fill out a school form in French: Nom : Okeke. Prénom : Chidi. Âge : 13 ans.

Home Example

You write a birthday card: Joyeux anniversaire ! Tu as quel âge ? J'ai treize ans !

Nigerian Example

You introduce yourself to a French-speaking visitor: Je m'appelle Tunde. J'ai douze ans. Je suis nigérian.

Illustration

YOUR FRENCH ID CARD
===================

   +----------------------------------+
   |                                  |
   |   NOM : [Nom de famille]         |
   |   PRÉNOM : [Prénom]              |
   |   ÂGE : [Nombre] ans             |
   |                                  |
   |   EXAMPLE:                       |
   |   NOM : Nwosu                    |
   |   PRÉNOM : Amara                 |
   |   ÂGE : 13 ans                   |
   |                                  |
   +----------------------------------+

   Two sentences:
   "Je m'appelle Amara Nwosu."
   "J'ai treize ans."

Mini Summary

To write your name: Je m'appelle…. To write your age: J'ai … ans. Remember, French uses avoir for age, not être.

Lesson 14: Where You Live

Definition

Talking about where you live means saying the city, town, or country you are from.

Why It Is Important

This is one of the first things people ask when they meet you. It is part of your identity.

Simple Explanation

Think of your address as a map pin. In French, you place that pin using the verb habiter (to live).

The Structure

French	English
J'habite à Lagos.	I live in Lagos.
J'habite à Abuja.	I live in Abuja.
J'habite au Nigeria.	I live in Nigeria.
J'habite en France.	I live in France.
J'habite à Port Harcourt.	I live in Port Harcourt.

Note: Use à before a city. Use au before a masculine country. Use en before a feminine country.

Real-life Example

J'habite à Kano. ("I live in Kano.")

School Example

Your teacher asks: Tu habites où ? You answer: J'habite à Enugu.

Home Example

You tell a relative: J'habite à Ibadan maintenant.

Nigerian Example

J'habite à Lagos, mais ma famille habite à Owerri. ("I live in Lagos, but my family lives in Owerri.")

Illustration

WHERE YOU LIVE — THE THREE WORDS
================================

   CITY:      à    +  city name
              "J'habite à Lagos."

   MASCULINE COUNTRY:  au  +  country name
              "J'habite au Nigeria."

   FEMININE COUNTRY:   en  +  country name
              "J'habite en France."

   REMEMBER:
   à   = to / in (city)
   au  = to / in (masculine country)
   en  = to / in (feminine country)

Mini Summary

To say where you live, use J'habite à before a city, J'habite au before a masculine country, and J'habite en before a feminine country.

Lesson 15: A Full Introduction in Writing

Definition

This lesson puts everything together into a full written introduction.

Why It Is Important

This is your goal for the module. When you can write this, you have learned everything you need from Module 1.

Simple Explanation

Think of your introduction as a small speech. It has a beginning, a middle, and an end.

The Model Introduction

Bonjour ! Je m'appelle Amara Nwosu. J'ai treize ans. Je suis nigériane. J'habite à Enugu avec ma famille. Je suis élève dans une école secondaire. J'aime lire, danser, et jouer au football. J'apprends le français parce que je veux voyager un jour. Enchantée !

English: "Hello! My name is Amara Nwosu. I am thirteen years old. I am Nigerian. I live in Enugu with my family. I am a student in a secondary school. I like reading, dancing, and playing football. I am learning French because I want to travel one day. Nice to meet you!"

Breaking It Down

Part	Phrase
Greeting	Bonjour !
Name	Je m'appelle…
Age	J'ai … ans.
Nationality	Je suis nigériane.
Where you live	J'habite à…
Student status	Je suis élève…
Likes	J'aime…
Reason for learning	J'apprends le français parce que…
Polite closing	Enchantée !

Real-life Example

You write this introduction at the start of a French notebook to practise.

School Example

Your teacher asks you to write a full introduction in French. You use this model.

Home Example

You write it in a letter to a French pen pal.

Nigerian Example

You record it as a voice note to send to a French-speaking friend.

Illustration

A FULL INTRODUCTION — THE STORY MAP
===================================

   [ GREETING ]
        |
        V
   "Bonjour !"

   [ NAME ]
        |
        V
   "Je m'appelle Amara."

   [ AGE ]
        |
        V
   "J'ai treize ans."

   [ NATIONALITY ]
        |
        V
   "Je suis nigériane."

   [ WHERE YOU LIVE ]
        |
        V
   "J'habite à Enugu."

   [ LIKES ]
        |
        V
   "J'aime lire et danser."

   [ REASON ]
        |
        V
   "J'apprends le français parce que je veux voyager."

   [ CLOSING ]
        |
        V
   "Enchantée !"

   You have written your first full paragraph in French! 🎉

Mini Summary

A full introduction has a greeting, name, age, nationality, where you live, likes, reason for learning French, and a polite closing. When you can write this, you are ready for Module 2.

5. Key Vocabulary

Here are the important words from this module. Read them. Say them out loud. Write them in your notebook.

French	English	Simple Definition
Bonjour	Hello / Good day	Greeting during the day
Bonsoir	Good evening	Greeting in the evening
Salut	Hi / Bye	Informal greeting
Au revoir	Goodbye	Any situation
À bientôt	See you soon	When you will meet again
À demain	See you tomorrow	When you will meet tomorrow
Je m'appelle…	My name is…	Saying your name
J'ai … ans	I am … years old	Telling your age
J'habite à…	I live in…	Saying where you live
Je suis…	I am…	Identifying yourself
Enchanté(e)	Nice to meet you	Polite phrase
Merci	Thank you	Politeness
S'il vous plaît	Please	Formal politeness
Oui	Yes	Agreement
Non	No	Disagreement
Élève	Student / Pupil	A person who learns at school
École	School	A place of learning
Nigérian(e)	Nigerian	Someone from Nigeria
Français(e)	French	Someone from France, or the French language
Le français	French (language)	The language you are learning

6. Important Concepts

Concept 1: Same Letters, Different Sounds

French uses the same 26 letters as English. But the sounds are different. Do not assume a letter sounds the same way.

Concept 2: Accents Are Not Optional

Accent marks change the meaning of words and are part of correct spelling. Always write them.

Concept 3: Two Words for "You"

Tu is for friends and family. Vous is for teachers, strangers, elders, and groups. Choose carefully.

Concept 4: The Verb Être

Être means "to be." It is the most common verb in French. Learn its forms by heart.

Concept 5: Simple Sentence Pattern

Every sentence follows the pattern: subject + verb + extra. This is your first building block.

7. Step-by-Step Explanations

How to Write a Simple Sentence in French

STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS
====================

   STEP 1: Choose your subject.
           (je, tu, il, elle, nous, vous, ils, elles)
             |
             V
   STEP 2: Choose your verb.
           (suis, es, est, sommes, êtes, sont)
             |
             V
   STEP 3: Add extra information.
           (your name, age, city, feelings)
             |
             V
   STEP 4: Write the sentence.
             |
             V
   STEP 5: Check for accents and capital letters.
             |
             V
   STEP 6: Read it aloud.
             |
             V
   FINISH

How to Introduce Yourself Step by Step

Start with a greeting: Bonjour !
Say your name: Je m'appelle [name].
Say your age: J'ai [number] ans.
Say your nationality: Je suis nigérian(e).
Say where you live: J'habite à [city].
Add one hobby: J'aime [hobby].
End politely: Enchanté(e).

8. Real-life Examples

Example 1: Meeting Someone New

Bonjour ! Je m'appelle Chidi. J'ai treize ans. Je suis nigérian. J'habite à Port Harcourt. Enchanté !

English: "Hello! My name is Chidi. I am thirteen years old. I am Nigerian. I live in Port Harcourt. Nice to meet you!"

Example 2: At School

Bonjour, Madame. Je m'appelle Amara. Je suis élève dans votre classe.

English: "Hello, Madam. My name is Amara. I am a student in your class."

Example 3: At a Shop

Bonjour, Monsieur ! Je voudrais cinq oranges, s'il vous plaît.

English: "Hello, Sir! I would like five oranges, please."

9. Nigerian Examples

Example 1: Meeting a French Teacher in Lagos

Bonjour, Madame ! Je m'appelle Tunde. J'ai quatorze ans. J'habite à Lagos. J'apprends le français à l'école. Enchanté !

English: "Hello, Madam! My name is Tunde. I am fourteen years old. I live in Lagos. I am learning French at school. Nice to meet you!"

Example 2: A Nigerian Family in Abuja

Bonjour ! Nous sommes la famille Okeke. Nous habitons à Abuja. Mon père est médecin. Ma mère est professeur.

English: "Hello! We are the Okeke family. We live in Abuja. My father is a doctor. My mother is a teacher."

Example 3: A Nigerian Student in Cotonou

Bonjour ! Je suis Amara. Je suis nigériane. J'habite à Cotonou maintenant. J'aime le Bénin.

English: "Hello! I am Amara. I am Nigerian. I live in Cotonou now. I like Benin."

10. Fun Examples Children Can Relate To

Example 1: Talking About a Pet

J'ai un chien. Il s'appelle Bingo. Il est très drôle.

English: "I have a dog. His name is Bingo. He is very funny."

Example 2: Talking About Food

J'aime le riz. J'aime aussi le poulet. Ma mère prépare très bien.

English: "I like rice. I also like chicken. My mother cooks very well."

Example 3: Talking About a Game

J'aime le football. Mon joueur préféré est Victor Osimhen.

English: "I like football. My favourite player is Victor Osimhen."

11. Everyday Examples

Example 1: Waking Up

Bonjour, maman ! Je suis réveillé. J'ai faim.

English: "Good morning, Mum! I am awake. I am hungry."

Example 2: Going to School

Je vais à l'école. Je suis élève. J'aime mes amis.

English: "I am going to school. I am a student. I like my friends."

Example 3: At Bedtime

Bonne nuit, papa ! Bonne nuit, maman ! À demain !

English: "Good night, Dad! Good night, Mum! See you tomorrow!"

12. Parent Tips

Parents, here are some simple ways to support your child as they learn this module:

Ask your child to greet you in French each morning. "Bonjour !" is a great start.
Encourage daily practice. Even five minutes a day helps.
Write simple words for them to read. Start with bonjour, merci, au revoir.
Celebrate small wins. When your child says a French greeting correctly, praise them.
Do not correct every mistake. Focus on one thing at a time — this week, focus on greetings.
Watch French cartoons or videos with subtitles. Ask your child to spot greetings.
Make flashcards together for the alphabet and greetings.
Ask your child to teach you one French word a day. This builds confidence.

13. Interesting Facts

French is spoken by over 300 million people around the world.
It is the official language of 29 countries.
In Nigeria, French is taught in many secondary schools and is an official language of neighbouring countries like Benin, Niger, Chad, and Cameroon.
French uses the same 26 letters as English — but with extra accents.
The letter W in French is called "double-v" (double v), which means two V's put together.
The letter H in French is almost always silent.
The word bonjour literally means "good day."
French people often greet each other with a small kiss on the cheek, called la bise.

14. Did You Know?

Did you know that the French alphabet has 26 letters, just like English?
Did you know that the accent é is called accent aigu — "sharp accent"?
Did you know that the word salut can mean both "hi" and "bye" in French?
Did you know that in French, you say J'ai treize ans — literally "I have thirteen years" — not "I am thirteen"?
Did you know that vous is used both for a group of people and for one person you want to show respect to?

15. Remember This

French uses the same 26 letters as English.
There are five accent marks: é, è, ê, ç, ï/ë.
Greetings: Bonjour, Bonsoir, Salut, Au revoir.
To say your name: Je m'appelle…
To say your age: J'ai … ans.
To say where you live: J'habite à…
Subject pronouns: je, tu, il, elle, nous, vous, ils, elles.
The verb être: je suis, tu es, il est, nous sommes, vous êtes, ils sont.
Tu is informal. Vous is formal or plural.

16. Common Mistakes

Mistake	Why It Is Wrong	Correct Version
Writing ecole	Missing accent	école
Saying Je suis treize ans	Wrong verb for age	J'ai treize ans.
Using tu with a teacher	Too informal	Use vous.
Saying Salut to the principal	Too informal	Use Bonjour, Monsieur le Directeur.
Forgetting capital letters	Grammar mistake	Start each sentence with a capital.
Saying Je appelle	Missing m'	Je m'appelle…

17. Best Practices

Write every day. Even three sentences a day helps.
Always write accents. They are part of spelling.
Use vous when in doubt. It is always polite.
Read your sentences aloud. Your ear catches mistakes.
Copy new words three times. This helps you remember.
Use flashcards. Review them daily.
Ask for feedback. A teacher, parent, or friend can help.
Be patient with yourself. Learning a language takes time.

18. Comparison Tables

French vs. English Alphabet

Feature	French	English
Number of letters	26	26
Accent marks	Yes (5 types)	Rarely
Silent letters	Very common	Sometimes
Letter names	Different from English	—

Tu vs. Vous

Feature	Tu	Vous
Used with	Friends, family	Teachers, elders, strangers
Number	One person	One or more
Formality	Informal	Formal or plural
Example	Comment tu t'appelles ?	Comment vous appelez-vous ?

Formal vs. Informal Greetings

Situation	Greeting
Meeting a friend	Salut !
Meeting a teacher	Bonjour, Madame / Monsieur.
Meeting the school principal	Bonjour, Monsieur le Directeur.
Meeting a cousin	Salut !

19. End-of-Module Summary

Congratulations! You have completed Module 1 of the Beginner French course. Let us review what you learned.

What You Learned

The 26 letters of the French alphabet.
The five French accent marks: é, è, ê, ç, ï/ë.
How to greet someone in French.
How to introduce yourself.
How to say your age and where you live.
Numbers 1–20.
The eight subject pronouns.
The verb être in the present tense.
How to write simple sentences and a full introduction.

The Big Picture

THE BIG PICTURE
===============

   MODULE 1 = FOUNDATIONS

   Alphabet + Accents
        |
        V
   Greetings + Introductions
        |
        V
   Subject Pronouns
        |
        V
   Verb "Être"
        |
        V
   Simple Sentences
        |
        V
   A FULL INTRODUCTION 🎉

   You have built the foundation.
   Everything else will stand on this.

20. Frequently Asked Questions (10 Questions)

Question 1: Is French hard to learn?

French is like any language — it takes practice. But it is not harder than English. You are already learning the basics!

Question 2: Why does French have accents?

Accents change how letters sound and sometimes change the meaning of words. They are part of correct spelling.

Question 3: When do I use tu and when do I use vous?

Use tu with friends and family. Use vous with teachers, strangers, elders, and groups.

Question 4: How do I say my age in French?

You say J'ai [number] ans. For example, J'ai treize ans means "I am thirteen years old."

Question 5: Why is être so important?

Être means "to be." You use it to say who you are, how you feel, and where you are. It appears in almost every conversation.

Question 6: How can I practise my French at home?

Greet your family in French. Label objects in your house. Watch French cartoons. Write three sentences a day in a journal.

Question 7: Do I need to memorize the whole alphabet?

You do not need to memorize the whole alphabet right away. But knowing it helps you spell words and read French.

Question 8: What if I make a mistake?

Do not worry. Everyone makes mistakes when learning a language. Just keep practising. Mistakes are part of learning.

Question 9: How long will it take to speak French?

It depends on how much you practise. With daily practice, you can have simple conversations in a few months.

Question 10: What comes next after this module?

In Module 2, you will learn about regular -er verbs, definite and indefinite articles, and how to describe your family and daily routine.

21. Matching Exercises

Exercise 1: Match the French with the English

French	English
1. Bonjour !	A. Goodbye!
2. Au revoir !	B. My name is…
3. Je m'appelle…	C. Hello!
4. J'ai treize ans.	D. See you soon!
5. À bientôt !	E. I live in Lagos.
6. J'habite à Lagos.	F. I am thirteen years old.

Answers: 1-C, 2-A, 3-B, 4-F, 5-D, 6-E.

Exercise 2: Match the Subject Pronoun

French	English
1. je	A. we
2. tu	B. she
3. il	C. I
4. elle	D. you (informal)
5. nous	E. they (feminine)
6. elles	F. he

Answers: 1-C, 2-D, 3-F, 4-B, 5-A, 6-E.

22. Scenario-based Exercises

Scenario 1: Meeting a New Classmate

You meet a new classmate named Chidi. Write 4 sentences to introduce yourself and ask his name.

Scenario 2: At the Market

You are at the market in Lagos. Greet the vendor politely and ask for three oranges.

Scenario 3: A Phone Call

You call your French teacher. Greet her politely, say your name, and ask if she has a moment.

Scenario 4: A First Letter to a Pen Pal

Write a short introduction (5 sentences) to a French pen pal. Include your name, age, city, and one hobby.

23. Group Activity

Activity: Introductions Circle

Work in groups of four. Each person introduces themselves in French, then introduces the person to their left.

Person 1: Bonjour ! Je m'appelle [name]. J'ai [age] ans.
Person 2: Bonjour ! Je m'appelle [name]. Voici [Person 1]. Elle/Il s'appelle [name].
Person 3: Introduce yourself and Person 2.
Person 4: Introduce yourself and Person 3.
Repeat the circle twice for practice.
Group members help each other with pronunciation.

24. Individual Activity

Activity: My French ID Card

Create your own French ID card on a small piece of paper or in your notebook. Include:

Your name (Nom)
Your first name (Prénom)
Your age (Âge)
Your nationality (Nationalité)
Your city (Ville)

Then write 3 full sentences using this information in French.

25. Mini Project

Project: A Poster About Me

Create a small poster about yourself in French. It should contain:

A title: Bonjour ! Je me présente.
Your name in French
Your age
Where you live
Two things you like
One small drawing of yourself or something you love

MINI PROJECT — POSTER MAP
=========================

   +----------------------------------+
   |  BONJOUR ! JE ME PRÉSENTE.       |
   |  --------------------------------|
   |                                  |
   |  [ Small drawing of you ]        |
   |                                  |
   |  Je m'appelle Chidi.             |
   |  J'ai treize ans.                |
   |  J'habite à Port Harcourt.       |
   |  J'aime le football.             |
   |  J'aime la musique.              |
   |                                  |
   |  Enchanté !                      |
   +----------------------------------+

26. Practical Assignment

Assignment: A Five-Sentence Introduction

Write a five-sentence introduction in French. Each sentence must include one of the following:

Your name (Je m'appelle…)
Your age (J'ai … ans.)
Your nationality (Je suis nigérian(e).)
Where you live (J'habite à…)
One thing you like (J'aime…)

Check for:

Correct accents
Capital letters at the start of each sentence
Periods at the end of each sentence

27. Key Takeaways

French has the same 26 letters as English.
There are five accent marks: é, è, ê, ç, ï/ë.
Greetings change depending on the time and the person.
To say your name: Je m'appelle…
To say your age: J'ai … ans.
To say where you live: J'habite à…
Tu is for friends. Vous is for formal situations.
The verb être means "to be."
Every sentence needs a subject pronoun.
Practice every day to build confidence.

28. Classroom Discussion Questions

Why do you think French has accents?
Can you think of a time when you used the wrong greeting?
Why is it important to be polite in French?
How does tu vs. vous change a conversation?
How do introductions make people feel welcome?
What is the easiest part of French for you?
What is the hardest part so far?
How can you practise French outside the classroom?

29. Preparation for the Next Module

In Module 2, you will learn about regular -er verbs, definite and indefinite articles, and how to describe your family and daily routine in writing.

Before Moving On, Make Sure You Can:

Say and write the French alphabet.
Recognise and write the five accent marks.
Greet someone formally and informally.
Introduce yourself in at least three sentences.
Use the eight subject pronouns correctly.
Conjugate être in the present tense.
Count from 1 to 20 in French.

A Sneak Peek at Module 2

MODULE 2 PREVIEW
================

   You will learn:

   * Regular -er verbs (parler, aimer, habiter)
   * Definite articles (le, la, les)
   * Indefinite articles (un, une, des)
   * Family vocabulary
   * Daily routine vocabulary

   Example:
   "J'aime le café."  (I like coffee.)
   "Nous habitons à Lagos."  (We live in Lagos.)
   "Il travaille à l'école."  (He works at school.)

   Get ready to build your first full paragraphs!

Take a short break. Review this module. When you feel ready, move on to Module 2. You are doing great!

Module Two

French Beginner — Module 2: Core Grammar for Writing

French for Beginners

Module 2: Core Grammar for Writing — Verbs & Articles

Level: A1 (Beginner) | Duration: Weeks 3–4 | Focus: Writing & sentence building

1. Module Introduction

Welcome back! In Module 1, you learned the French alphabet, accents, greetings, and how to introduce yourself. You learned the verb être (to be) and the subject pronouns. That was a big step.

Now, in Module 2, you will learn something even more powerful: regular verbs.

Do you know why this is exciting? Because once you learn one regular verb, you can use hundreds of others. It is like learning one key that opens many doors.

In this module, you will learn:

How to conjugate regular -er verbs (the biggest group of French verbs)
How to use the words for "the" (le, la, les)
How to use the words for "a" and "some" (un, une, des)
How to talk about your family
How to describe your daily routine

You will also learn about gender — one of the most important ideas in French grammar. Every French noun is either masculine or feminine. Sounds strange? Do not worry. We will explain it step by step.

By the end of this module, you will be able to write 6–8 sentences about your family and your daily routine in French.

Are you ready? Let us begin!

2. Learning Objectives

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

Conjugate regular -er verbs in the present tense.
Use the definite articles le, la, l', les.
Use the indefinite articles un, une, des.
Understand the idea of gender in French nouns.
Make adjectives agree with the nouns they describe.
Talk about your family members in French.
Describe your daily routine using -er verbs.
Write 6–8 sentences about your family and daily life.

3. Warm-up Story

Amara's Saturday Morning

Amara woke up early on Saturday. It was her favourite day of the week. She sat at the kitchen table with her notebook and a pen.

"I want to write about my family in French," she said to herself. "But I do not know enough verbs."

Her older brother, Chidi, walked into the kitchen. He was studying French at university. "What are you doing?" he asked.

"I am trying to write about our family," Amara said. "But I only know être. I cannot say what we do."

Chidi smiled. "Then you need to learn regular verbs. Look — I will show you."

He wrote on a piece of paper:

J'aime le riz. Ma mère prépare le dîner. Mon père travaille à l'hôpital. Nous habitons à Enugu. Je regarde la télé le soir.

"What do all these verbs have in common?" Chidi asked.

Amara looked closely. "They all end in -er?"

"Exactly!" Chidi said. "Verbs ending in -er are the biggest group in French. Learn the pattern once, and you can use it for hundreds of verbs."

Amara smiled. She picked up her pen. "Show me the pattern."

In this module, you will learn the same pattern Amara learned. By the end, you will be able to write about your family and your daily life in French.

AMARA'S DISCOVERY — THE -ER VERBS
=================================

   What do these verbs have in common?

   aimer      (to like/love)
   préparer   (to prepare)
   travailler (to work)
   habiter    (to live)
   regarder   (to watch)

   ANSWER: They all end in "-er".

   This is the biggest group of French verbs.
   Learn one pattern, use it for hundreds.

   That is what this module is about.

4. Main Lessons

Lesson 1: What is a Verb?

Definition

A verb is a word that shows an action or a state. It tells you what someone is doing or how they are.

Why It Is Important

Without verbs, you cannot make sentences. Verbs are the engine of every sentence.

Simple Explanation

Think of a car. Without an engine, it cannot move. A sentence without a verb cannot move either. The verb is what makes the sentence go.

Examples of Verbs

French Verb	English	Example Sentence
parler	to speak	Je parle français.
manger	to eat	Nous mangeons du riz.
aimer	to like/love	Elle aime la musique.
habiter	to live	Ils habitent à Lagos.
travailler	to work	Mon père travaille.

Real-life Example

Je mange du riz. ("I eat rice.") The verb mange tells you what I do.

School Example

Nous étudions le français. ("We study French.") The verb étudions tells you what we do.

Home Example

Ma mère prépare le dîner. ("My mother prepares dinner.") The verb prépare tells you what she does.

Nigerian Example

Nous habitons à Abuja. ("We live in Abuja.") The verb habitons tells you where we live.

Illustration

A VERB IS THE ENGINE
====================

   Sentence: "Je mange du riz."

        Je        mange        du riz
        |           |             |
     subject      VERB        extra info
                (engine)

   Without the verb, the sentence stops:

        "Je… du riz."    (no movement)

   The verb makes the sentence go.

Mini Summary

A verb is a word that shows an action or state. Every sentence needs a verb. The verb is the engine of the sentence.

Lesson 2: What is an -er Verb?

Definition

An -er verb is a verb whose infinitive ends in the letters -er. The infinitive is the base form of the verb — the form you find in the dictionary.

Why It Is Important

Almost 90% of French verbs are -er verbs. If you learn one, you can use hundreds. This is the biggest group of verbs in the language.

Simple Explanation

Think of -er verbs as a family. They all share the same last name — -er. They also share the same way of changing form.

Common -er Verbs

Verb	Meaning	Example
parler	to speak	Je parle français.
aimer	to like / love	J'aime le café.
habiter	to live	Nous habitons à Lagos.
travailler	to work	Elle travaille ici.
étudier	to study	Vous étudiez le français.
regarder	to watch	Ils regardent la télé.
écouter	to listen	Tu écoutes la radio.
manger	to eat	Je mange une pomme.
jouer	to play	Nous jouons au football.
préparer	to prepare	Ma mère prépare le dîner.

Real-life Example

J'aime le riz. ("I like rice.") Aimer is an -er verb.

School Example

Nous étudions le français. ("We study French.") Étudier is an -er verb.

Home Example

Je regarde la télé. ("I watch TV.") Regarder is an -er verb.

Nigerian Example

Mon père travaille à l'hôpital. ("My father works at the hospital.") Travailler is an -er verb.

Illustration

THE -ER FAMILY
==============

   All of these end in -er:

   parler      aimer       habiter
   travailler  étudier     regarder
   écouter     manger      jouer
   préparer    danser      chanter

   They share the same last name: -er

   That means they all change form the same way.
   Learn one, use many.

Mini Summary

An -er verb is a verb that ends in -er in its infinitive form. Almost 90% of French verbs are -er verbs. They follow one simple pattern.

Lesson 3: Conjugating -er Verbs — The Pattern

Definition

Conjugating a verb means changing its form to match the subject. Each subject pronoun has its own verb ending.

Why It Is Important

You cannot use a verb correctly without conjugating it. Je parle is correct. Je parler is wrong.

Simple Explanation

Think of a verb as a train. The stem is the train, and the endings are the carriages. You add a different carriage for each subject.

The Pattern

For regular -er verbs, follow these three steps:

Take the infinitive: parler.
Remove -er to get the stem: parl-.
Add the ending for your subject.

The Endings

Subject	Ending	Example with parler
je	-e	je parle
tu	-es	tu parles
il / elle / on	-e	il parle
nous	-ons	nous parlons
vous	-ez	vous parlez
ils / elles	-ent	ils parlent

Full Conjugation of Parler

PARLER (TO SPEAK)
=================

   je          parl + e     =  je parle
   tu          parl + es    =  tu parles
   il / elle   parl + e     =  il parle
   nous        parl + parlons
   vous        parl + ez    =  vous parlez
   ils / elles parl + ent   =  ils parlent

Important: The endings -e, -es, and -ent are silent. So je parle, tu parles, il parle, and ils parlent all sound exactly the same. Only nous parlons and vous parlez sound different.

Real-life Example

Je parle français. ("I speak French.") Nous parlons anglais. ("We speak English.")

School Example

Nous étudions le français. ("We study French.") Vous étudiez les maths. ("You study maths.")

Home Example

Ma mère prépare le dîner. ("My mother prepares dinner.") Mes parents préparent le repas. ("My parents prepare the meal.")

Nigerian Example

Nous habitons à Lagos. ("We live in Lagos.") Ma grand-mère habite à Owerri. ("My grandmother lives in Owerri.")

Illustration

HOW TO CONJUGATE AN -ER VERB
============================

   STEP 1: Take the infinitive
   ---------------------------
   parler

   STEP 2: Remove "-er" to get the stem
   ------------------------------------
   parl-

   STEP 3: Add the ending for your subject
   ---------------------------------------
   je        parl + e      =  je parle
   tu        parl + es     =  tu parles
   il / elle parl + e      =  il parle
   nous      parl + parlons
   vous      parl + ez     =  vous parlez
   ils       parl + ent    =  ils parlent

   MEMORY TRICK:
   The endings look like the verb "aller":
   e, es, e, ons, ez, ent

   Say them out loud: "e, es, e, ons, ez, ent."

Mini Summary

To conjugate a regular -er verb, take the infinitive, remove -er, and add the endings -e, -es, -e, -ons, -ez, -ent. This pattern works for almost all -er verbs.

Lesson 4: Pronouncing the Silent Endings

Definition

In French, some verb endings are silent. That means you do not say them out loud. But you still write them.

Why It Is Important

Many beginners forget to write the silent endings. But in writing, they are essential. Without them, your French will look wrong.

Simple Explanation

Think of silent letters as the "invisible clothes" of a word. You cannot see them, but they are there. And if you forget to put them on, the word looks strange.

The Silent Endings

Subject	Ending	Written	Spoken
je	-e	je parle	"parl"
tu	-es	tu parles	"parl"
il / elle	-e	il parle	"parl"
nous	-ons	nous parlons	"parl-ON"
vous	-ez	vous parlez	"parl-AY"
ils / elles	-ent	ils parlent	"parl"

Real-life Example

Je mange and il mange sound the same. But you must write them differently when you use different pronouns.

School Example

Your teacher asks you to write "The students speak French." You write Les élèves parlent français. Do not forget the -ent.

Home Example

You write a note: Je regarde la télé. The -e on regarde is silent but must be written.

Nigerian Example

Mes cousins habitent à Abuja. The -ent on habitent is silent but must be written.

Illustration

SILENT ENDINGS — A VISUAL
=========================

   SPOKEN:   "parl"    "parl"    "parl"    "parl-ON"   "parl-AY"   "parl"
   WRITTEN:  je parle  tu parles il parle  nous parlons vous parlez ils parlent

   Notice: je / tu / il / ils all SOUND the same
           but are WRITTEN differently.

   The silent endings:

   -e    (je, il, elle)
   -es   (tu)
   -ent  (ils, elles)

   These are written but not pronounced.
   You must not forget them in writing.

Mini Summary

Silent endings like -e, -es, and -ent are not pronounced but must be written. Pay attention to them in your writing.

Lesson 5: What is Gender?

Definition

Gender in French means that every noun is either masculine or feminine. There is no neutral. Even objects have a gender.

Why It Is Important

Gender affects the articles you use, the adjectives you choose, and the pronouns you write. You cannot write correct French without understanding gender.

Simple Explanation

Think of a football team. Every player has a position: goalkeeper, defender, striker. In French, every noun has a gender: masculine or feminine. It is not about whether the thing is male or female in real life. It is just a label that French uses.

Examples of Gender

Masculine	Feminine
le livre (the book)	la table (the table)
le garçon (the boy)	la fille (the girl)
le père (the father)	la mère (the mother)
le pain (the bread)	la voiture (the car)
l'ami (the friend, m.)	l'amie (the friend, f.)

How to Tell the Gender of a Noun

There is no perfect rule. But some patterns help:

Nouns ending in -age, -ment, -eau are usually masculine.
Nouns ending in -tion, -té, -ette are usually feminine.
When you learn a new noun, learn its article with it. Say le livre, not just livre.

Real-life Example

Le pain est bon. ("The bread is good.") La voiture est belle. ("The car is beautiful.")

School Example

Your teacher asks: "Is table masculine or feminine?" You answer: "Feminine — la table."

Home Example

You help set the table: Je mets le couteau et la fourchette. ("I put the knife and the fork.") Couteau is masculine, fourchette is feminine.

Nigerian Example

Le riz est délicieux. ("The rice is delicious.") La banane est mûre. ("The banana is ripe.")

Illustration

GENDER — THE TWO TEAMS
======================

   In French, every noun belongs to one of two teams:

        MASCULINE TEAM            FEMININE TEAM
        --------------            -------------
        le livre                  la table
        le garçon                 la fille
        le père                   la mère
        le pain                   la voiture
        le riz                    la banane

   How to learn gender:
   - Always learn a noun WITH its article.
   - Say "le livre", not just "livre".
   - Say "la table", not just "table".

   It will become natural with practice.

Mini Summary

Every French noun is either masculine or feminine. Learn each noun with its article: le for masculine, la for feminine.

Lesson 6: Definite Articles — le, la, l', les

Definition

The definite article is the word for "the." In French, it changes depending on the gender and number of the noun.

Why It Is Important

You cannot write French without articles. They appear before almost every noun.

Simple Explanation

Think of articles as a name tag. They tell you the gender and number of the noun. Different nouns get different name tags.

The Four Forms

Article	Used with	Example	Meaning
le	Masculine singular	le livre	the book
la	Feminine singular	la table	the table
l'	Before a vowel or silent h	l'ami / l'heure	the friend / the hour
les	Plural (any gender)	les livres / les tables	the books / the tables

Real-life Example

Le riz est délicieux. La banane est mûre. Les fruits sont frais.

School Example

Le professeur est gentil. La classe est grande. Les élèves sont contents.

Home Example

Le dîner est prêt. La porte est fermée. Les enfants dorment.

Nigerian Example

Le marché est animé. La ville est belle. Les gens sont gentils.

Illustration

DEFINITE ARTICLES — A VISUAL
============================

   masculine singular:    le   --- le livre
   feminine singular:     la   --- la table
   before a vowel:        l'   --- l'ami
   plural (any gender):   les  --- les livres

   EXAMPLES:

   le garçon       the boy
   la fille        the girl
   l'école         the school (starts with vowel)
   les enfants     the children

   IMPORTANT: Never drop the article in French.
   "I like books" = "J'aime LES livres"
                              ^^^
                        the article is required.

Mini Summary

The definite article in French is le (masculine), la (feminine), l' (before a vowel), and les (plural). It always comes before the noun.

Lesson 7: Indefinite Articles — un, une, des

Definition

The indefinite article means "a," "an," or "some." In French, it is un (masculine), une (feminine), and des (plural).

Why It Is Important

You use indefinite articles when you mention something for the first time or when you are not being specific.

Simple Explanation

Think of the difference between "the book" and "a book." "The book" means a specific book. "A book" means any book. The same difference exists in French: le livre vs. un livre.

The Three Forms

Article	Used with	Example	Meaning
un	Masculine singular	un livre	a book
une	Feminine singular	une table	a table
des	Plural (any gender)	des livres	some books

Comparing Definite and Indefinite

French	English	Nuance
J'ai un chat.	I have a cat.	One, unspecified
J'ai le chat.	I have the cat.	A specific, known cat
J'aime les chats.	I like cats.	Cats in general
Je voudrais des chats.	I would like some cats.	Unspecified quantity

Real-life Example

J'ai une sœur. ("I have a sister.") Elle a des amis à Lagos. ("She has some friends in Lagos.")

School Example

Il y a un tableau dans la classe. ("There is a board in the classroom.")

Home Example

Nous avons un chien. Il a des jouets. ("We have a dog. He has some toys.")

Nigerian Example

J'ai un oncle à Abuja. ("I have an uncle in Abuja.") Elle a des cousins à Lagos. ("She has some cousins in Lagos.")

Illustration

INDEFINITE ARTICLES — A VISUAL
==============================

   masculine singular:    un    --- un livre  (a book)
   feminine singular:     une   --- une table (a table)
   plural (any gender):   des   --- des livres (some books)

   DEFINITE vs. INDEFINITE:

   "J'ai un chat."   =  I have A cat.     (one of many)
   "J'ai le chat."   =  I have THE cat.   (specific)
   "J'aime les chats." =  I like cats.    (in general)

   Choose based on whether you are being specific.

Mini Summary

The indefinite article is un (masculine), une (feminine), and des (plural). It means "a," "an," or "some." Use it for non-specific things.

Lesson 8: Adjective Agreement

Definition

An adjective is a word that describes a noun. In French, adjectives must agree with the noun they describe in gender and number.

Why It Is Important

Adjective agreement is one of the key features of French. Without it, your writing sounds wrong.

Simple Explanation

Think of a mirror. The adjective must "mirror" the noun. If the noun is feminine, the adjective becomes feminine. If the noun is plural, the adjective becomes plural.

The Rule

Noun Type	Adjective Ending	Example
Masculine singular	— (base form)	un petit chat
Feminine singular	+ e	une petite maison
Masculine plural	+ s	des petits chats
Feminine plural	+ es	des petites maisons

Common Adjectives

Masculine	Feminine	Meaning
petit	petite	small
grand	grande	big / tall
gentil	gentille	kind
beau	belle	beautiful
vieux	vieille	old
heureux	heureuse	happy
bon	bonne	good

Real-life Example

Ma sœur est gentille. ("My sister is kind.") Mon frère est gentil. ("My brother is kind.")

School Example

Le professeur est bon. La professeure est bonne. ("The teacher is good." — masculine vs. feminine)

Home Example

La maison est grande. ("The house is big.") Le jardin est grand. ("The garden is big.")

Nigerian Example

Ma grand-mère est vieille mais heureuse. ("My grandmother is old but happy.")

Illustration

ADJECTIVE AGREEMENT — THE MIRROR RULE
=====================================

   NOUN               ADJECTIVE           RESULT
   ----               ---------           ------
   un petit chat      petit               petit
   une petite fille   petit + e           petite
   des petits chats   petit + s           petits
   des petites filles petit + es          petites

   The adjective "mirrors" the noun:
   - feminine? add -e
   - plural?   add -s
   - feminine plural? add -es

   EXAMPLE:
   "un grand garçon"  vs.  "une grande fille"
   "des grands garçons"  vs.  "des grandes filles"

Mini Summary

Adjectives in French must agree with the noun they describe. Add -e for feminine, -s for plural, and -es for feminine plural.

Lesson 9: Family Vocabulary

Definition

Family vocabulary is the set of words you use to talk about your relatives.

Why It Is Important

Family is one of the most common topics in any language. In French, you will need these words often.

Simple Explanation

Think of your family as a tree. Each branch has its own name in French. Learn the names, and you can talk about your whole tree.

Common Family Words

French	English	Gender
le père	father	masculine
la mère	mother	feminine
les parents	parents	plural
le frère	brother	masculine
la sœur	sister	feminine
le grand-père	grandfather	masculine
la grand-mère	grandmother	feminine
l'oncle	uncle	masculine
la tante	aunt	feminine
le cousin	cousin (m.)	masculine
la cousine	cousin (f.)	feminine
le fils	son	masculine
la fille	daughter / girl	feminine
l'enfant	child	masculine or feminine

Real-life Example

Voici ma famille. Mon père s'appelle Chukwu. Ma mère s'appelle Ngozi. ("Here is my family. My father is called Chukwu. My mother is called Ngozi.")

School Example

Dans ma famille, il y a mon père, ma mère, et deux frères. ("In my family, there is my father, my mother, and two brothers.")

Home Example

Ma grand-mère habite avec nous. ("My grandmother lives with us.")

Nigerian Example

J'ai trois cousins à Lagos et une tante à Abuja. ("I have three cousins in Lagos and an aunt in Abuja.")

Illustration

MY FAMILY TREE IN FRENCH
========================

           le grand-père ---- la grand-mère
                  |                   |
                  |                   |
             le père ------------ la mère
             (father)             (mother)
                  |                   |
                  |                   |
        le frère --- MOI --- la sœur
        (brother)          (sister)
                  |
              l'enfant
              (child)

   Extended family:

   l'oncle    la tante    le cousin    la cousine
   (uncle)    (aunt)      (cousin m.)  (cousin f.)

Mini Summary

Learn family words in French: le père, la mère, le frère, la sœur, le grand-père, la grand-mère, l'oncle, la tante, le cousin, la cousine. Always learn the article with the word.

Lesson 10: Possessive Adjectives

Definition

Possessive adjectives are words that show who owns something. In English: "my," "your," "his," "her," "our," "their."

Why It Is Important

You need possessive adjectives to talk about your family, your things, and your life.

Simple Explanation

Think of possessive adjectives as labels. They tell you who the noun belongs to.

The Forms

English	Masculine	Feminine	Plural
my	mon	ma	mes
your (informal)	ton	ta	tes
his / her	son	sa	ses
our	notre	notre	nos
your (formal)	votre	votre	vos
their	leur	leur	leurs

Real-life Example

Mon père est médecin. Ma mère est professeur. ("My father is a doctor. My mother is a teacher.")

School Example

Voici mon cahier et ma règle. ("Here is my notebook and my ruler.")

Home Example

Mes frères sont dans le salon. ("My brothers are in the living room.")

Nigerian Example

Ma grand-mère habite à Kano. Mon oncle habite à Lagos. ("My grandmother lives in Kano. My uncle lives in Lagos.")

Illustration

POSSESSIVE ADJECTIVES — A SIMPLE TABLE
======================================

                 MASCULINE    FEMININE    PLURAL
   my            mon          ma          mes
   your (inform) ton          ta          tes
   his/her       son          sa          ses
   our           notre        notre       nos
   your (formal) votre        votre       vos
   their         leur         leur        leurs

   The possessive adjective agrees with
   the NOUN, not the owner.

   Example:
   "mon père"    (masc. noun)
   "ma mère"     (fem. noun)
   "mes parents" (plural noun)

Mini Summary

Possessive adjectives show who owns something. In French, they agree with the noun: mon/ma/mes, ton/ta/tes, son/sa/ses, notre/nos, votre/vos, leur/leurs.

Lesson 11: Daily Routine Verbs

Definition

Daily routine verbs are the verbs you use to describe your everyday activities.

Why It Is Important

Your daily routine is one of the first things people ask you about. Knowing these verbs lets you describe your day in French.

Simple Explanation

Think of your day as a story. Every action is a verb. These verbs tell that story.

Common Daily Routine Verbs

French	English	Example
se réveiller	to wake up	Je me réveille à six heures.
se lever	to get up	Je me lève à six heures et demie.
manger	to eat	Je mange du pain.
aller	to go	Je vais à l'école.
étudier	to study	J'étudie le français.
regarder	to watch	Je regarde la télé.
jouer	to play	Je joue au football.
aider	to help	J'aide ma mère.
préparer	to prepare	Je prépare le dîner.
dormir	to sleep	Je dors à dix heures.

Time Expressions

French	English
le matin	in the morning
l'après-midi	in the afternoon
le soir	in the evening
tôt	early
tard	late
tous les jours	every day

Real-life Example

Le matin, je me réveille à six heures. Je mange du pain. Puis je vais à l'école. ("In the morning, I wake up at six. I eat bread. Then I go to school.")

School Example

À l'école, j'étudie le français et les maths. ("At school, I study French and maths.")

Home Example

Le soir, j'aide ma mère et je regarde la télé. ("In the evening, I help my mother and watch TV.")

Nigerian Example

Le matin, je mange du garri et je vais à l'école. ("In the morning, I eat garri and go to school.")

Illustration

MY DAILY ROUTINE — A TIMELINE
=============================

   6:00    Je me réveille.         (I wake up.)
   6:15    Je me lève.             (I get up.)
   6:30    Je mange.               (I eat.)
   7:00    Je vais à l'école.      (I go to school.)
   8:00    J'étudie.               (I study.)
   14:00   Je rentre.              (I return home.)
   16:00   Je joue.                (I play.)
   18:00   J'aide ma mère.         (I help my mother.)
   19:00   Je mange le dîner.      (I eat dinner.)
   20:00   Je regarde la télé.     (I watch TV.)
   22:00   Je dors.                (I sleep.)

   Your day, in French.

Mini Summary

Use daily routine verbs to describe your day. Add time expressions like le matin, le soir, and tous les jours to make your writing richer.

Lesson 12: Writing About Your Family

Definition

Writing about your family means using family words, possessive adjectives, and -er verbs to describe your relatives.

Why It Is Important

Family is a very common topic in French exams and everyday conversation. Learning to write about it well is a key skill.

Simple Explanation

Think of your family paragraph as a small painting. Each sentence adds a brushstroke.

Step-by-Step

Introduce your family: Dans ma famille, il y a…
Name each person: Mon père s'appelle…
Describe them: Il est… / Elle est…
Say what they do: Il travaille… / Elle aime…
Say where they live: Il habite à…
End with a feeling: J'aime ma famille.

Model Paragraph

Dans ma famille, il y a mon père, ma mère, mon frère et ma sœur. Mon père s'appelle Chukwu. Il travaille à l'hôpital. Ma mère s'appelle Ngozi. Elle prépare très bien la nourriture. Mon frère s'appelle Chidi. Il aime le football. Ma sœur s'appelle Amara. Elle étudie à l'université. Nous habitons à Enugu. J'aime beaucoup ma famille.

English: "In my family, there is my father, my mother, my brother, and my sister. My father is called Chukwu. He works at the hospital. My mother is called Ngozi. She prepares food very well. My brother is called Chidi. He likes football. My sister is called Amara. She studies at university. We live in Enugu. I love my family very much."

Real-life Example

You introduce your family to a new friend in French.

School Example

Your teacher asks you to write about your family. You use this model.

Home Example

You write a paragraph about your family in a letter to a relative.

Nigerian Example

Ma famille est grande. J'ai trois frères et deux sœurs. Mon père travaille à Lagos. Ma mère est professeur à Abuja.

Illustration

FAMILY PARAGRAPH — STORY MAP
============================

   [ INTRODUCE ]
        |
        V
   "Dans ma famille, il y a…"

   [ NAME EACH PERSON ]
        |
        V
   "Mon père s'appelle…"

   [ DESCRIBE ]
        |
        V
   "Il est gentil. Elle est belle."

   [ WHAT THEY DO ]
        |
        V
   "Il travaille à… Elle aime…"

   [ WHERE THEY LIVE ]
        |
        V
   "Nous habitons à…"

   [ FEELING ]
        |
        V
   "J'aime beaucoup ma famille."

   You have written a family paragraph! 🎉

Mini Summary

A family paragraph has an introduction, names, descriptions, what each person does, where they live, and a closing feeling. Use -er verbs, possessive adjectives, and family words.

Lesson 13: Writing About Your Daily Routine

Definition

Writing about your daily routine means describing what you do from morning to night.

Why It Is Important

Daily routine is a common writing task. It lets you use many -er verbs in one text.

Simple Explanation

Think of your routine paragraph as a film of your day. Each sentence is a scene.

Step-by-Step

Start with the morning: Le matin, je…
Then the afternoon: L'après-midi, je…
Then the evening: Le soir, je…
End with bedtime: Je dors à…
Add time expressions to make it clear.

Model Paragraph

Le matin, je me réveille à six heures. Je mange du pain et je bois du thé. Ensuite, je vais à l'école. À l'école, j'étudie le français et les maths. L'après-midi, je rentre à la maison. J'aide ma mère et je joue avec mes amis. Le soir, je prépare mes devoirs et je regarde un peu la télé. Je dors à dix heures.

English: "In the morning, I wake up at six. I eat bread and drink tea. Then, I go to school. At school, I study French and maths. In the afternoon, I come home. I help my mother and play with my friends. In the evening, I prepare my homework and watch a little TV. I sleep at ten."

Real-life Example

You explain your routine to a French pen pal.

School Example

Your teacher asks you to write about your daily routine. You use this model.

Home Example

You write your routine in your journal in French.

Nigerian Example

Le matin, je mange du garri. Ensuite, je vais à l'école en bus. Le soir, j'aide ma mère à préparer le dîner.

Illustration

DAILY ROUTINE PARAGRAPH — FLOWCHART
===================================

   [ MORNING ]
        |
        V
   "Le matin, je me réveille à six heures."

   [ BREAKFAST ]
        |
        V
   "Je mange du pain."

   [ SCHOOL ]
        |
        V
   "Je vais à l'école. J'étudie…"

   [ AFTERNOON ]
        |
        V
   "L'après-midi, je rentre."

   [ EVENING ]
        |
        V
   "Le soir, je regarde la télé."

   [ BEDTIME ]
        |
        V
   "Je dors à dix heures."

   A full day in French. 🎉

Mini Summary

A daily routine paragraph describes your day from morning to night. Use -er verbs and time expressions like le matin, l'après-midi, and le soir.

Lesson 14: Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Definition

A trap is a mistake that many learners make. Knowing the traps helps you avoid them.

Why It Is Important

Learning is not just about adding new knowledge — it is also about avoiding common errors.

Simple Explanation

Think of these traps as potholes on a road. If you know where they are, you can drive around them.

Trap 1: Forgetting Silent Endings

The endings -e, -es, and -ent are silent but must be written.

Wrong: Ils parl

Right: Ils parlent

Trap 2: Using the Wrong Article

Le is masculine, la is feminine. Choose carefully.

Wrong: le table

Right: la table

Trap 3: Forgetting Adjective Agreement

Adjectives must agree with nouns.

Wrong: une petit fille

Right: une petite fille

Trap 4: Missing the Article

In French, you cannot drop the article.

Wrong: J'aime livres.

Right: J'aime les livres.

Trap 5: Forgetting the Reflexive Pronoun

Verbs like se réveiller need a reflexive pronoun.

Wrong: Je réveille à six heures.

Right: Je me réveille à six heures.

Comparison Table

Wrong	Right	Why
Ils parl	Ils parlent	Silent endings must be written
le table	la table	Wrong gender
une petit fille	une petite fille	Adjective must agree
J'aime livres	J'aime les livres	Article required
Je réveille	Je me réveille	Reflexive pronoun needed

Mini Summary

The main traps are: forgetting silent endings, using the wrong article, missing adjective agreement, dropping the article, and forgetting reflexive pronouns. Learn these and your writing will improve dramatically.

Lesson 15: Putting It All Together

Definition

This lesson shows a complete text using everything you have learned.

Why It Is Important

Seeing a full example helps you understand how the pieces fit together.

The Text

Bonjour ! Je m'appelle Amara. J'ai treize ans. Dans ma famille, il y a mon père, ma mère, mon frère et ma sœur. Mon père s'appelle Chukwu. Il travaille à l'hôpital. Ma mère s'appelle Ngozi. Elle prépare très bien la nourriture. Mon frère s'appelle Chidi. Il aime le football. Ma sœur s'appelle Ada. Elle étudie à l'université.

Le matin, je me réveille à six heures. Je mange du pain et je bois du thé. Ensuite, je vais à l'école. À l'école, j'étudie le français et les maths. L'après-midi, je rentre et j'aide ma mère. Le soir, je prépare mes devoirs et je regarde un peu la télé. Je dors à dix heures.

J'aime beaucoup ma famille et j'aime ma routine.

English: "Hello! My name is Amara. I am thirteen years old. In my family, there is my father, my mother, my brother, and my sister. My father is called Chukwu. He works at the hospital. My mother is called Ngozi. She prepares food very well. My brother is called Chidi. He likes football. My sister is called Ada. She studies at university.

In the morning, I wake up at six. I eat bread and drink tea. Then, I go to school. At school, I study French and maths. In the afternoon, I come home and help my mother. In the evening, I prepare my homework and watch a little TV. I sleep at ten.

I love my family very much and I love my routine."

Breaking It Down

Part	What It Uses
Introduction	Greeting, name, age
Family	Family words, possessive adjectives, -er verbs
Daily routine	Reflexive verbs, -er verbs, time expressions
Closing	Feeling statement

Mini Summary

A full text combines introductions, family vocabulary, -er verbs, possessive adjectives, articles, and daily routine verbs. When you can write this, you have mastered the module.

5. Key Vocabulary

Here are the important words from this module.

French	English	Simple Definition
parler	to speak	To say words
aimer	to like / love	To enjoy something
habiter	to live	To have a home
travailler	to work	To do a job
étudier	to study	To learn at school
regarder	to watch	To look at something
écouter	to listen	To hear carefully
manger	to eat	To have food
jouer	to play	To have fun with a game
préparer	to prepare	To get something ready
aider	to help	To give assistance
dormir	to sleep	To rest at night
le père	father	Male parent
la mère	mother	Female parent
le frère	brother	Male sibling
la sœur	sister	Female sibling
le grand-père	grandfather	Parent's father
la grand-mère	grandmother	Parent's mother
l'oncle	uncle	Parent's brother
la tante	aunt	Parent's sister
le cousin / la cousine	cousin	Uncle's or aunt's child
le matin	morning	Early part of the day
le soir	evening	Late part of the day
tous les jours	every day	Daily

6. Important Concepts

Concept 1: The -er Pattern

Almost all -er verbs follow the same pattern. Remove -er, add -e, -es, -e, -ons, -ez, -ent.

Concept 2: Gender of Nouns

Every French noun is masculine or feminine. Learn each noun with its article.

Concept 3: Articles Are Required

You cannot drop the article in French. J'aime les livres, not J'aime livres.

Concept 4: Adjective Agreement

Adjectives must agree with nouns in gender and number.

Concept 5: Possessive Agreement

Possessive adjectives agree with the noun, not the owner.

7. Step-by-Step Explanations

How to Conjugate Any -er Verb

STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS
====================

   STEP 1: Take the infinitive.
           parler / aimer / habiter
             |
             V
   STEP 2: Remove "-er" to get the stem.
           parl- / aim- / habit-
             |
             V
   STEP 3: Add the ending for your subject.
           -e   (je)
           -es  (tu)
           -e   (il / elle)
           -ons (nous)
           -ez  (vous)
           -ent (ils / elles)
             |
             V
   STEP 4: Write the sentence.
             |
             V
   FINISH

How to Write a Family Paragraph

Start: Dans ma famille, il y a…
Introduce each person with mon / ma / mes.
Say their name: Il s'appelle… / Elle s'appelle…
Say what they do: Il travaille… / Elle aime…
Say where you live: Nous habitons à…
End with a feeling: J'aime ma famille.

8. Real-life Examples

Example 1: At Home

Ma mère prépare le dîner. Mon père regarde la télé. Je fais mes devoirs.

English: "My mother prepares dinner. My father watches TV. I do my homework."

Example 2: At School

Nous étudions le français. Nous aimons notre professeur. Elle est très gentille.

English: "We study French. We like our teacher. She is very kind."

Example 3: In the Morning

Le matin, je me réveille à six heures. Je mange du pain. Je bois du thé.

English: "In the morning, I wake up at six. I eat bread. I drink tea."

9. Nigerian Examples

Example 1: A Nigerian Family

Ma famille habite à Lagos. Mon père travaille dans une banque. Ma mère est couturière. Elle prépare très bien les vêtements traditionnels.

English: "My family lives in Lagos. My father works at a bank. My mother is a tailor. She prepares traditional clothes very well."

Example 2: A Nigerian Student's Day

Le matin, je mange du garri. Ensuite, je vais à l'école. L'après-midi, j'étudie à la maison. Le soir, je joue au football avec mes amis.

English: "In the morning, I eat garri. Then, I go to school. In the afternoon, I study at home. In the evening, I play football with my friends."

Example 3: A Nigerian Market

Ma tante travaille au marché. Elle vend des légumes. Elle parle à beaucoup de clients.

English: "My aunt works at the market. She sells vegetables. She speaks to many customers."

10. Fun Examples Children Can Relate To

Example 1: My Pet

J'ai un chien. Il s'appelle Bingo. Il joue dans le jardin. J'aime Bingo.

English: "I have a dog. His name is Bingo. He plays in the garden. I love Bingo."

Example 2: My Favourite Meal

J'aime le riz jollof. Ma mère prépare le meilleur riz jollof. Je mange beaucoup !

English: "I like jollof rice. My mother prepares the best jollof rice. I eat a lot!"

Example 3: Weekend Fun

Le samedi, je regarde des dessins animés. Je joue avec mes cousins. Le soir, nous mangeons ensemble.

English: "On Saturday, I watch cartoons. I play with my cousins. In the evening, we eat together."

11. Everyday Examples

Example 1: Waking Up

Je me réveille. Je me lève. Je mange. Je vais à l'école.

English: "I wake up. I get up. I eat. I go to school."

Example 2: At Home

J'aide ma mère. Je prépare le dîner. Je regarde la télé.

English: "I help my mother. I prepare dinner. I watch TV."

Example 3: At Bedtime

Je prépare mes affaires. Je dis bonne nuit. Je dors.

English: "I prepare my things. I say good night. I sleep."

12. Parent Tips

Parents, here are some simple ways to support your child as they learn this module:

Ask your child to name family members in French. Start with père and mère.
Encourage daily practice. Even five minutes a day helps.
Cook a meal together and ask your child to describe it in French: Je prépare…
Celebrate small wins. When your child uses a new verb correctly, praise them.
Do not correct every mistake. Focus on one thing at a time.
Watch French cartoons or videos. Ask your child to spot -er verbs.
Make flashcards together for family words and -er verbs.
Ask your child to describe their day in three French sentences.

13. Interesting Facts

Almost 90% of French verbs are -er verbs.
The verb parler is one of the most used verbs in French.
French has two genders for every noun — masculine and feminine.
French children learn the gender of nouns by memorizing them with their articles.
The word famille (family) is feminine in French: la famille.
Reflexive verbs like se réveiller describe actions you do to yourself.
Adjectives in French usually come after the noun — but a small group comes before.
In some French-speaking countries, the word for "mother" can also be maman (like "mum").

14. Did You Know?

Did you know that the endings of -er verbs are mostly silent? je parle and il parle sound exactly the same.
Did you know that adjectives in French usually come after the noun? "A red car" is une voiture rouge.
Did you know that French uses different words for "my" depending on the gender of the noun?
Did you know that des means "some" and is used for plural nouns?
Did you know that the article is never dropped in French, even when talking about things in general?

15. Remember This

-er verbs are the biggest group of French verbs.
To conjugate: remove -er, add -e, -es, -e, -ons, -ez, -ent.
Silent endings -e, -es, -ent must be written.
Every French noun is masculine or feminine.
Definite articles: le, la, l', les.
Indefinite articles: un, une, des.
Adjectives agree with nouns.
Possessive adjectives: mon/ma/mes, ton/ta/tes, son/sa/ses…

16. Common Mistakes

Mistake	Why It Is Wrong	Correct Version
Ils parl	Missing silent ending	Ils parlent
le table	Wrong gender	la table
une petit fille	Adjective does not agree	une petite fille
J'aime livres	Missing article	J'aime les livres
Je réveille	Missing reflexive pronoun	Je me réveille
Je parler	Verb not conjugated	Je parle

17. Best Practices

Write every day. Even three sentences a day helps.
Always write silent endings. They matter in writing.
Learn each noun with its article. Say le livre, not just livre.
Check agreement after writing.
Use -er verbs in your daily journal.
Read your sentences aloud. Your ear catches mistakes.
Make flashcards for irregular adjectives like beau/belle.
Be patient. Practice makes progress.

18. Comparison Tables

Definite vs. Indefinite Articles

Feature	Definite	Indefinite
Meaning	the	a / an / some
Masculine singular	le	un
Feminine singular	la	une
Before vowel	l'	un / une
Plural	les	des
Example	le livre	un livre

Possessive Adjectives at a Glance

English	Masculine	Feminine	Plural
my	mon	ma	mes
your (informal)	ton	ta	tes
his / her	son	sa	ses
our	notre	notre	nos
your (formal)	votre	votre	vos
their	leur	leur	leurs

The Endings of -er Verbs

Subject	Ending	Sound
je	-e	silent
tu	-es	silent
il / elle	-e	silent
nous	-ons	"on"
vous	-ez	"ay"
ils / elles	-ent	silent

19. End-of-Module Summary

Congratulations! You have completed Module 2 of the Beginner French course. Let us review what you learned.

What You Learned

What verbs are and why they matter.
Regular -er verbs and how to conjugate them.
Silent endings in French.
Gender of French nouns.
Definite articles: le, la, l', les.
Indefinite articles: un, une, des.
Adjective agreement.
Family vocabulary.
Possessive adjectives.
Daily routine verbs.
How to write about your family and daily routine.

The Big Picture

THE BIG PICTURE
===============

   MODULE 2 = THE -ER PATTERN + ARTICLES

        Verbs (-er)          Articles
             |                    |
             V                    V
        parler, aimer          le, la, les
        habiter, manger        un, une, des
             |                    |
             +---------+----------+
                       |
                       V
              SIMPLE SENTENCES
                       |
                       V
             FAMILY + DAILY ROUTINE
                       |
                       V
           A FULL PARAGRAPH 🎉

   You can now write about your life in French.

20. Frequently Asked Questions (10 Questions)

Question 1: Why is the -er pattern so important?

Because almost 90% of French verbs are -er verbs. Learn one pattern, and you can use hundreds of verbs.

Question 2: Why are some endings silent?

That is just how French works. Silent endings like -e, -es, and -ent are written but not pronounced. You must still write them.

Question 3: What is gender?

In French, every noun is masculine or feminine. It is not about male or female in real life — it is just a label.

Question 4: How do I know the gender of a noun?

There is no perfect rule, but some patterns help. Always learn each noun with its article: le for masculine, la for feminine.

Question 5: What is the difference between le and un?

Le means "the" — specific. Un means "a" — non-specific.

Question 6: Do adjectives always come after the noun?

Most of the time, yes. But a small group of common adjectives (like petit, grand, beau) come before the noun.

Question 7: What is a reflexive verb?

A reflexive verb describes an action you do to yourself, like se réveiller (to wake up). It needs a reflexive pronoun.

Question 8: How do I know which possessive adjective to use?

It depends on the gender and number of the noun, not the owner. Mon père (masc.), ma mère (fem.), mes parents (plural).

Question 9: How long will it take to master this?

It depends on how much you practise. With daily practice, you can feel comfortable in a few weeks.

Question 10: What is the best way to practise?

Write three sentences every day. Use -er verbs. Read French books. Talk to yourself in French. And do not be afraid to make mistakes.

21. Matching Exercises

Exercise 1: Match the French with the English

French	English
1. Je parle.	A. I like rice.
2. J'aime le riz.	B. I speak.
3. Nous habitons à Lagos.	C. She works at the hospital.
4. Elle travaille à l'hôpital.	D. We live in Lagos.
5. Ils regardent la télé.	E. They watch TV.

Answers: 1-B, 2-A, 3-D, 4-C, 5-E.

Exercise 2: Match the Article

Noun	Article
1. ___ livre (m.)	A. la
2. ___ table (f.)	B. les
3. ___ enfants (plural)	C. le
4. ___ école (before vowel)	D. l'

Answers: 1-C, 2-A, 3-B, 4-D.

22. Scenario-based Exercises

Scenario 1: Family Introduction

Write 5 sentences about your family. Use at least three -er verbs and one possessive adjective.

Scenario 2: Daily Routine

Write 6 sentences about your daily routine. Use at least three time expressions and three -er verbs.

Scenario 3: Describing a Friend

Write 4 sentences describing a friend. Use adjectives with correct agreement.

Scenario 4: Introducing Your Home

Write 4 sentences about your home. Use definite and indefinite articles.

23. Group Activity

Activity: Family Tree Presentation

Work in groups of four. Each person draws a small family tree (real or imaginary) and presents it in French.

Person 1: Introduce your parents: Voici mon père et ma mère.
Person 2: Introduce your siblings: J'ai deux frères et une sœur.
Person 3: Introduce your grandparents: Mes grands-parents habitent à…
Person 4: Introduce your extended family: J'ai trois cousins et deux tantes.
Each person asks one question in French about the previous person's family.
The group helps each other with pronunciation and vocabulary.

24. Individual Activity

Activity: My Day in French

Write a short timeline of your day in French. Include at least six activities.

Example:

6h00 : Je me réveille.
7h00 : Je mange.
8h00 : Je vais à l'école.
14h00 : Je rentre.
19h00 : Je prépare le dîner.
22h00 : Je dors.

25. Mini Project

Project: A Family Poster

Create a poster about your family in French. It should include:

A title: Ma Famille
Drawings or photos of at least four family members
A French caption for each person
At least three -er verbs in the captions
One sentence about your home

MINI PROJECT — FAMILY POSTER
============================

   +----------------------------------+
   |           MA FAMILLE             |
   |  --------------------------------|
   |                                  |
   |  [Drawing of father]             |
   |  Mon père s'appelle Chukwu.      |
   |  Il travaille à l'hôpital.       |
   |                                  |
   |  [Drawing of mother]             |
   |  Ma mère s'appelle Ngozi.        |
   |  Elle prépare bien la cuisine.   |
   |                                  |
   |  [Drawing of sister]             |
   |  Ma sœur s'appelle Ada.          |
   |  Elle étudie à l'université.     |
   |                                  |
   |  Nous habitons à Enugu.          |
   +----------------------------------+

26. Practical Assignment

Assignment: My Family and My Day

Write a paragraph of 6–8 sentences in French about your family and your daily routine. Your paragraph must include:

At least four family words.
At least three -er verbs correctly conjugated.
At least one possessive adjective (mon, ma, mes).
At least one definite article and one indefinite article.
At least one adjective with correct agreement.
At least one time expression.

When you finish, read your paragraph aloud. Then check for common mistakes using the list in Section 16.

27. Key Takeaways

-er verbs are the biggest group of French verbs.
To conjugate them: remove -er, add -e, -es, -e, -ons, -ez, -ent.
Silent endings -e, -es, and -ent must be written.
Every noun has a gender: masculine or feminine.
Definite articles: le, la, l', les.
Indefinite articles: un, une, des.
Adjectives agree with nouns in gender and number.
Possessive adjectives agree with the noun, not the owner.
Use -er verbs to describe family and daily life.
Practice every day to build confidence.

28. Classroom Discussion Questions

Why do you think almost all -er verbs follow the same pattern?
Can you think of a time when gender mattered in French?
Why are articles important in French?
How does adjective agreement make French different from English?
What is the easiest part of this module?
What is the hardest part so far?
How can you practise daily routines in French at home?
Which family words do you find easiest to remember?

29. Preparation for the Next Module

In Module 3, you will learn about irregular verbs like être, avoir, aller, and faire. You will also learn how to form negations (ne… pas) and how to ask questions in three different ways.

Before Moving On, Make Sure You Can:

Conjugate any regular -er verb in the present tense.
Use the definite articles le, la, l', les.
Use the indefinite articles un, une, des.
Make adjectives agree with nouns.
Name at least eight family members in French.
Describe your daily routine in 5–6 sentences.
Write a paragraph about your family.

A Sneak Peek at Module 3

MODULE 3 PREVIEW
================

   You will learn:

   * Irregular verbs (être, avoir, aller, faire)
   * Negation (ne… pas)
   * Asking questions three ways
   * Adjective placement (before or after the noun)

   Example:
   "Je ne parle pas anglais."   (I do not speak English.)
   "Est-ce que tu aimes le riz ?" (Do you like rice?)
   "Il fait beau aujourd'hui."   (The weather is nice today.)

   Get ready for irregular verbs!

Take a short break. Review this module. When you feel ready, move on to Module 3. You are doing great!

Module Three

French Beginner — Module 3: Sentence Building

French for Beginners

Module 3: Sentence Building — Irregular Verbs & Questions

Level: A1 (Beginner) | Duration: Weeks 5–6 | Focus: Writing & sentence variety

1. Module Introduction

Welcome back! In Module 1, you learned the alphabet, accents, and how to introduce yourself. In Module 2, you learned how to conjugate regular -er verbs, use articles, and describe your family.

Now, in Module 3, you will learn something truly important: the four essential irregular verbs. These are être, avoir, aller, and faire.

Why are they so important? Because they appear in almost every French sentence. You cannot speak or write French for long without them. They are like the four wheels of a car — without them, you cannot move.

In this module, you will also learn:

How to make negative sentences (ne… pas)
Three different ways to ask questions
Where to put adjectives (before or after the noun)

By the end of this module, you will be able to build many different kinds of sentences in French. You will be able to say not just what you do, but also what you do not do, what you want, and what you are going to do.

Are you ready? Let us begin!

2. Learning Objectives

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

Conjugate the verb être (to be) in the present tense.
Conjugate the verb avoir (to have) in the present tense.
Conjugate the verb aller (to go) in the present tense.
Conjugate the verb faire (to do/make) in the present tense.
Use the four verbs to write different kinds of sentences.
Make sentences negative using ne… pas.
Ask questions in three different ways.
Place adjectives correctly — before or after the noun.
Write a short narrative using the four irregular verbs.

3. Warm-up Story

Tunde's Big Saturday

Tunde woke up on Saturday morning feeling excited. His cousin from London was visiting, and they were going to spend the whole day together.

"Tunde! Are you ready?" his mother called from the kitchen.

"Yes, Mum! I am ready!" Tunde shouted back.

His cousin arrived at ten o'clock. "Bonjour, Tunde !" she said with a big smile. "Ça va ?"

"Ça va bien !" Tunde replied proudly. He had been practising his French all week.

They decided to spend the day exploring the city. "We are going to the market first," said Tunde's mother. "Then we are going to visit the museum."

At the market, Tunde had a wonderful time. His cousin had fun too. They saw beautiful fabrics, tasted delicious food, and listened to music.

Back at home, Tunde's mother asked, "What did you do today?"

"We went to the market and the museum," Tunde said. "It was a great day!"

His cousin laughed. "You know, Tunde, you just used four really important French verbs in English. In French, they are être, avoir, aller, and faire."

Tunde's eyes lit up. "Wait — 'to be,' 'to have,' 'to go,' and 'to do'? I use those words every day!"

"Exactly," his cousin said. "That is why they are so important. They are the four wheels of every French sentence."

In this module, you will learn these four verbs and how to use them. Just like Tunde, you will discover that they are everywhere.

THE FOUR WHEELS OF FRENCH
=========================

   ÊTRE    (to be)     --- "Je suis prêt."
   AVOIR   (to have)   --- "J'ai un livre."
   ALLER   (to go)     --- "Je vais à l'école."
   FAIRE   (to do)     --- "Je fais mes devoirs."

   These four verbs appear everywhere.
   Learn them well and you can say almost anything.

   Think of them as the four wheels of a car:
   without them, you cannot move.

4. Main Lessons

Lesson 1: What is an Irregular Verb?

Definition

An irregular verb is a verb that does not follow the regular -er pattern. Its forms must be memorised.

Why It Is Important

Many of the most common French verbs are irregular. You cannot avoid them. Learning them is essential.

Simple Explanation

Think of a classroom. Most students follow the rules. A few students break the rules — but they are still important members of the class. Irregular verbs are like those students. They are special, and you must remember each one.

The Four Essential Irregular Verbs

Verb	Meaning	Used for
être	to be	Identity, location, feelings
avoir	to have	Possession, age, states
aller	to go	Movement, near future, health
faire	to do / make	Activities, weather, chores

Real-life Example

Je suis élève. ("I am a student.") J'ai un livre. ("I have a book.") Je vais à l'école. ("I go to school.") Je fais mes devoirs. ("I do my homework.")

School Example

In one school day, you use all four verbs: "I am at school. I have a test. I go to the library. I do my homework."

Home Example

At home: "I am tired. I have a book. I go to my room. I do my chores."

Nigerian Example

In Lagos: "I am Nigerian. I have a sister. I go to the market. I do my best."

Illustration

IRREGULAR VERBS — THE SPECIAL FOUR
==================================

   Regular -er verbs follow a pattern.
   Irregular verbs break the pattern.

   REGULAR:               IRREGULAR:
   ---------              ----------
   parler  --> parle      être   --> suis
   aimer   --> aime       avoir  --> ai
   habiter --> habite     aller  --> vais
                          faire  --> fais

   The irregular four are everywhere.
   Learn them one by one.

Mini Summary

Irregular verbs do not follow the regular -er pattern. The four most important are être, avoir, aller, and faire. They appear in almost every French sentence.

Lesson 2: The Verb Être (To Be)

Definition

Être means "to be." It is the most common verb in French.

Why It Is Important

You use être to say who you are, how you feel, and where you are. It is the most fundamental verb in the language.

Simple Explanation

Think of être as the ground beneath your feet. Everything stands on it.

The Present Tense of Être

Subject	Être	English	Example
je	suis	I am	Je suis élève.
tu	es	you are	Tu es mon ami.
il	est	he is	Il est médecin.
elle	est	she is	Elle est gentille.
nous	sommes	we are	Nous sommes amis.
vous	êtes	you are	Vous êtes professeur.
ils	sont	they are	Ils sont ici.
elles	sont	they are	Elles sont contentes.

Real-life Example

Je suis nigérian. ("I am Nigerian.") Elle est ma sœur. ("She is my sister.")

School Example

Nous sommes en classe. ("We are in class.") Le professeur est gentil. ("The teacher is kind.")

Home Example

Je suis à la maison. ("I am at home.") Ils sont dans le jardin. ("They are in the garden.")

Nigerian Example

Nous sommes Nigérians. ("We are Nigerians.") Mon père est à Abuja. ("My father is in Abuja.")

Illustration

THE VERB ÊTRE (TO BE)
=====================

   je          suis      I am
   tu          es        you are (informal)
   il / elle   est       he / she is
   nous        sommes    we are
   vous        êtes      you are (formal/plural)
   ils / elles sont      they are

   EXAMPLE:
   "Je suis Chidi. Je suis élève. Je suis à l'école."

   Memory trick: "suis, es, est, sommes, êtes, sont."
   Say it like a song.

Mini Summary

Être means "to be." Its forms are je suis, tu es, il est, nous sommes, vous êtes, ils sont. Learn it by heart.

Lesson 3: The Verb Avoir (To Have)

Definition

Avoir means "to have." It is the second most common verb in French.

Why It Is Important

You use avoir to talk about what you own, how old you are, and how you feel (like being hungry or thirsty).

Simple Explanation

Think of avoir as your backpack. Whatever you carry — possessions, feelings, age — goes inside it.

The Present Tense of Avoir

Subject	Avoir	English	Example
j'	ai	I have	J'ai un livre.
tu	as	you have	Tu as un stylo.
il	a	he has	Il a un frère.
elle	a	she has	Elle a une sœur.
nous	avons	we have	Nous avons un chien.
vous	avez	you have	Vous avez des amis.
ils	ont	they have	Ils ont une voiture.
elles	ont	they have	Elles ont des livres.

Important: In French, you use avoir to say your age. "I am thirteen" is J'ai treize ans — literally "I have thirteen years."

Real-life Example

J'ai treize ans. ("I am thirteen years old.") Nous avons une maison. ("We have a house.")

School Example

J'ai un examen demain. ("I have an exam tomorrow.") Le professeur a des livres. ("The teacher has books.")

Home Example

J'ai faim. ("I am hungry.") J'ai soif. ("I am thirsty.")

Nigerian Example

Nous avons une grande famille. ("We have a big family.") Mon père a une voiture. ("My father has a car.")

Illustration

THE VERB AVOIR (TO HAVE)
========================

   j'          ai        I have
   tu          as        you have (informal)
   il / elle   a         he / she has
   nous        avons     we have
   vous        avez      you have (formal/plural)
   ils / elles ont       they have

   AGE IN FRENCH:
   "I am thirteen" = "J'ai treize ans."
                        ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
                        literally: "I have thirteen years"

   FEELINGS:
   "J'ai faim."   (I am hungry.)
   "J'ai soif."   (I am thirsty.)
   "J'ai peur."   (I am afraid.)

Mini Summary

Avoir means "to have." Its forms are j'ai, tu as, il a, nous avons, vous avez, ils ont. Use it for possessions, age, and feelings.

Lesson 4: The Verb Aller (To Go)

Definition

Aller means "to go." It is used for movement and for the near future.

Why It Is Important

You use aller to say where you are going. You also use it to say what you are going to do in the near future.

Simple Explanation

Think of aller as your compass. It tells you where you are headed — either a place or a future action.

The Present Tense of Aller

Subject	Aller	English	Example
je	vais	I go	Je vais à l'école.
tu	vas	you go	Tu vas au marché.
il	va	he goes	Il va au travail.
elle	va	she goes	Elle va à l'université.
nous	allons	we go	Nous allons au parc.
vous	allez	you go	Vous allez à Lagos.
ils	vont	they go	Ils vont au cinéma.
elles	vont	they go	Elles vont à la fête.

The Near Future

Aller + infinitive = "going to" do something.

Je vais manger. = "I am going to eat."

Nous allons étudier. = "We are going to study."

Real-life Example

Je vais au marché. ("I am going to the market.") Nous allons visiter Lagos. ("We are going to visit Lagos.")

School Example

Je vais à l'école. ("I am going to school.") Nous allons faire un test. ("We are going to take a test.")

Home Example

Je vais à la cuisine. ("I am going to the kitchen.") Elle va préparer le dîner. ("She is going to prepare dinner.")

Nigerian Example

Nous allons à Abuja samedi. ("We are going to Abuja on Saturday.") Je vais rendre visite à ma grand-mère. ("I am going to visit my grandmother.")

Illustration

THE VERB ALLER (TO GO)
======================

   je          vais      I go
   tu          vas       you go (informal)
   il / elle   va        he / she goes
   nous        allons    we go
   vous        allez     you go (formal/plural)
   ils / elles vont      they go

   THE NEAR FUTURE:
   aller  +  infinitive  =  "going to"

   Je vais manger.        I am going to eat.
   Tu vas étudier.        You are going to study.
   Nous allons partir.    We are going to leave.

   Think of "aller" as your compass.
   It points to places AND to the future.

Mini Summary

Aller means "to go." Its forms are je vais, tu vas, il va, nous allons, vous allez, ils vont. Use aller + infinitive for the near future.

Lesson 5: The Verb Faire (To Do / To Make)

Definition

Faire means "to do" or "to make." It is used for activities, weather, and chores.

Why It Is Important

You use faire to talk about what you do, the weather, and many daily activities.

Simple Explanation

Think of faire as your action word. It covers many things — from homework to weather to sports.

The Present Tense of Faire

Subject	Faire	English	Example
je	fais	I do / make	Je fais mes devoirs.
tu	fais	you do / make	Tu fais du sport.
il	fait	he does / makes	Il fait beau.
elle	fait	she does / makes	Elle fait la cuisine.
nous	faisons	we do / make	Nous faisons nos devoirs.
vous	faites	you do / make	Vous faites du vélo.
ils	font	they do / make	Ils font du football.
elles	font	they do / make	Elles font la fête.

Common Uses of Faire

Expression	Meaning
faire ses devoirs	to do one's homework
faire du sport	to do sports
faire la cuisine	to cook
faire les courses	to do the shopping
faire beau	the weather is nice
faire mauvais	the weather is bad

Real-life Example

Je fais mes devoirs. ("I do my homework.") Il fait beau aujourd'hui. ("The weather is nice today.")

School Example

Nous faisons nos devoirs ensemble. ("We do our homework together.") Les élèves font du sport. ("The students do sports.")

Home Example

Ma mère fait la cuisine. ("My mother cooks.") Je fais mon lit. ("I make my bed.")

Nigerian Example

Nous faisons du football le samedi. ("We play football on Saturdays.") Il fait très chaud à Lagos. ("It is very hot in Lagos.")

Illustration

THE VERB FAIRE (TO DO / MAKE)
=============================

   je          fais      I do / make
   tu          fais      you do / make
   il / elle   fait      he / she does
   nous        faisons   we do / make
   vous        faites    you do / make
   ils / elles font      they do / make

   COMMON EXPRESSIONS:
   faire ses devoirs   (to do homework)
   faire du sport      (to do sports)
   faire la cuisine    (to cook)
   faire beau          (weather is nice)
   faire les courses   (to do shopping)

   Think of "faire" as your action word.

Mini Summary

Faire means "to do" or "to make." Its forms are je fais, tu fais, il fait, nous faisons, vous faites, ils font. Use it for activities, chores, and weather.

Lesson 6: Comparing the Four Verbs

Definition

This lesson puts all four irregular verbs side by side so you can see them together.

Why It Is Important

Seeing them together helps you remember the differences. It also helps you choose the right verb when writing.

Simple Explanation

Think of them as four friends. Each has a different personality. Être is calm and steady. Avoir is generous — always holding things. Aller is always moving. Faire is always busy.

The Four Verbs Side by Side

Subject	Être	Avoir	Aller	Faire
je	suis	ai	vais	fais
tu	es	as	vas	fais
il / elle	est	a	va	fait
nous	sommes	avons	allons	faisons
vous	êtes	avez	allez	faites
ils / elles	sont	ont	vont	font

When to Use Each

Verb	Use it for…	Example
Être	Who or what you are	Je suis nigérian.
Avoir	What you have, your age	J'ai un chat. J'ai 13 ans.
Aller	Where you go, near future	Je vais à l'école. Je vais manger.
Faire	Activities, weather, chores	Je fais du sport. Il fait beau.

Real-life Example

In one day, you might say: Je suis content. J'ai un examen. Je vais à l'école. Je fais mes devoirs.

School Example

Nous sommes en classe. Nous avons un professeur. Nous allons étudier. Nous faisons des exercices.

Home Example

Je suis à la maison. J'ai faim. Je vais à la cuisine. Je fais un sandwich.

Nigerian Example

Je suis à Lagos. J'ai un oncle ici. Je vais au marché. Je fais les courses pour ma mère.

Illustration

THE FOUR VERBS — A COMPARISON
=============================

                  ÊTRE    AVOIR   ALLER   FAIRE
   je             suis    ai      vais    fais
   tu             es      as      vas     fais
   il / elle      est     a       va      fait
   nous           sommes  avons   allons  faisons
   vous           êtes    avez    allez   faites
   ils / elles    sont    ont     vont    font

   ÊTRE   = to be       (identity, location)
   AVOIR  = to have     (possession, age)
   ALLER  = to go       (movement, near future)
   FAIRE  = to do/make  (activities, weather)

   Memorise them one at a time.
   Practice them every day.

Mini Summary

The four essential irregular verbs are être, avoir, aller, and faire. Each has a different job. Learn their forms side by side to remember them better.

Lesson 7: Negation — Ne… Pas

Definition

Negation means making a sentence negative. In French, you wrap the verb in ne… pas.

Why It Is Important

You cannot always say "yes." Sometimes you need to say "no" or "not." Negation lets you do that.

Simple Explanation

Think of ne… pas as a sandwich. Ne is the top bread, the verb is the filling, and pas is the bottom bread.

The Pattern

NEGATION SANDWICH
=================

   ne  +  verb  +  pas
   --     ----     ---
   bread  filling  bread

   Example:
   Affirmative:  Je parle français.
   Negative:     Je NE parle PAS français.
                    ^^         ^^^
                    ne         pas

Examples with the Four Verbs

Affirmative	Negative	English
Je suis fatigué.	Je ne suis pas fatigué.	I am not tired.
J'ai un chien.	Je n'ai pas de chien.	I do not have a dog.
Je vais à l'école.	Je ne vais pas à l'école.	I am not going to school.
Je fais du sport.	Je ne fais pas de sport.	I do not do sports.

Two important rules:

1. Ne becomes n' before a vowel: Je n'aime pas.

2. After a negative, un / une / des usually becomes de: J'ai un chat → Je n'ai pas de chat.

Other Negative Expressions

Expression	Meaning	Example
ne… jamais	never	Je ne fume jamais.
ne… plus	no longer	Il ne travaille plus ici.
ne… rien	nothing	Elle ne dit rien.
ne… personne	nobody	Je ne vois personne.

Real-life Example

Je ne mange pas de viande. ("I do not eat meat.") Nous ne sommes pas en retard. ("We are not late.")

School Example

Je n'aime pas les maths. ("I do not like maths.") Il ne fait pas ses devoirs. ("He does not do his homework.")

Home Example

Je ne suis pas fatigué. ("I am not tired.") Elle ne va pas au marché aujourd'hui. ("She is not going to the market today.")

Nigerian Example

Je ne parle pas français couramment. ("I do not speak French fluently.") Nous n'avons pas de voiture. ("We do not have a car.")

Illustration

NEGATION — THE SANDWICH
=======================

   AFFIRMATIVE:    Je  parle  français.
                       ^^^^^
                     the verb

   NEGATIVE:       Je  NE  parle  PAS  français.
                        ^^  ^^^^^  ^^^
                        ne  verb   pas
                        |         |
                        +---------+
                          sandwich

   BEFORE A VOWEL:
   Je  n'  aime  pas  le café.
       ^^
   ne becomes n'

   AFTER A NEGATIVE:
   J'ai un chat.     -->  Je n'ai pas DE chat.
                                          ^^
                                     un/une/des --> de

Mini Summary

To make a sentence negative, wrap the verb in ne… pas. Remember: ne becomes n' before a vowel, and un/une/des becomes de after a negative.

Lesson 8: Asking Questions — Intonation

Definition

Intonation is the first way to ask a question. You keep the same sentence but raise your voice at the end. In writing, you add a question mark.

Why It Is Important

It is the simplest way to ask a question. You use it in everyday speech and informal writing.

Simple Explanation

Think of it as turning a statement into a question just by changing your tone. It is like saying "You are coming?" instead of "You are coming."

The Pattern

INTONATION
==========

   Statement:   Tu parles français.
   Question:    Tu parles français ?

   Same words. Different tone. Question mark added.

Examples

Statement	Question	English
Tu es élève.	Tu es élève ?	Are you a student?
Il a un frère.	Il a un frère ?	Does he have a brother?
Vous allez au marché.	Vous allez au marché ?	Are you going to the market?
Elle fait ses devoirs.	Elle fait ses devoirs ?	Is she doing her homework?

Real-life Example

Tu viens avec moi ? ("Are you coming with me?")

School Example

Tu as fait tes devoirs ? ("Did you do your homework?")

Home Example

Tu veux du riz ? ("Do you want rice?")

Nigerian Example

Tu habites à Lagos ? ("Do you live in Lagos?")

Illustration

INTONATION — THE SIMPLEST QUESTION
==================================

   STATEMENT:   "Tu parles français."
                 (Your voice stays flat.)

   QUESTION:    "Tu parles français ?"
                 (Your voice rises at the end.)

   Words are the same.
   Only the tone changes.
   A question mark is added in writing.

   This works for any sentence.
   Just add a question mark.

Mini Summary

Intonation means keeping the sentence the same and adding a question mark. It is the simplest way to ask a question. Use it in informal writing.

Lesson 9: Asking Questions — Est-ce que

Definition

Est-ce que is the second way to ask a question. It is the safest and most common method. You simply place est-ce que at the start of the sentence.

Why It Is Important

Est-ce que works in any situation — informal or formal. When you are unsure, use it. It is never wrong.

Simple Explanation

Think of est-ce que as a question-mark phrase. It turns any statement into a question without changing anything else.

The Pattern

EST-CE QUE
==========

   Est-ce que  +  statement

   Statement:    Tu parles français.
   Question:     Est-ce que tu parles français ?

   Same words. Just add "Est-ce que" at the start.

Examples

Question	English
Est-ce que tu es élève ?	Are you a student?
Est-ce qu'il a un frère ?	Does he have a brother?
Est-ce que vous allez au marché ?	Are you going to the market?
Est-ce qu'elle fait ses devoirs ?	Is she doing her homework?

Important: Est-ce que becomes est-ce qu' before a vowel. So it is est-ce qu'il and est-ce qu'elle, not est-ce que il.

Question Words with Est-ce que

French	English	Example
Où est-ce que…	Where…	Où est-ce que tu habites ?
Quand est-ce que…	When…	Quand est-ce que tu arrives ?
Pourquoi est-ce que…	Why…	Pourquoi est-ce que tu ris ?
Comment est-ce que…	How…	Comment est-ce que tu vas ?

Real-life Example

Est-ce que tu es libre samedi ? ("Are you free on Saturday?")

School Example

Est-ce que le professeur est là ? ("Is the teacher here?")

Home Example

Est-ce que le dîner est prêt ? ("Is dinner ready?")

Nigerian Example

Est-ce que tu connais Abuja ? ("Do you know Abuja?")

Illustration

EST-CE QUE — THE SAFEST QUESTION
================================

   Add "Est-ce que" to the front of any statement:

   Tu parles français.  -->  Est-ce que tu parles français ?
   Il a un frère.       -->  Est-ce qu'il a un frère ?
   Vous allez au parc.  -->  Est-ce que vous allez au parc ?

   BEFORE A VOWEL:
   "Est-ce que" becomes "Est-ce qu'"
   Example: Est-ce qu'il est là ?

   When in doubt, use "Est-ce que".
   It is always correct.

Mini Summary

Est-ce que is the safest way to ask a question. Place it at the start of any statement. Remember: it becomes est-ce qu' before a vowel.

Lesson 10: Asking Questions — Inversion

Definition

Inversion is the third way to ask a question. You swap the verb and the subject pronoun, and join them with a hyphen.

Why It Is Important

Inversion is the most formal way to ask a question. You will see it often in writing, books, and formal situations.

Simple Explanation

Think of inversion as flipping. You flip the subject and the verb. Instead of tu parles, you write parles-tu.

The Pattern

INVERSION
=========

   Statement:   Tu parles français.
   Question:    Parles-tu français ?

   The verb and pronoun swap places.
   A hyphen joins them.

Examples

Question	English
Es-tu élève ?	Are you a student?
A-t-il un frère ?	Does he have a brother?
Allez-vous au marché ?	Are you going to the market?
Fait-elle ses devoirs ?	Is she doing her homework?

Important: When the verb ends in a vowel and the pronoun begins with a vowel, add -t- for pronunciation. Il a → A-t-il? Elle va → Va-t-elle?

Real-life Example

Parles-tu anglais ? ("Do you speak English?") Avez-vous un stylo ? ("Do you have a pen?")

School Example

Est-il en classe ? ("Is he in class?") Sont-ils prêts ? ("Are they ready?")

Home Example

Vas-tu au marché ? ("Are you going to the market?") Peux-tu m'aider ? ("Can you help me?")

Nigerian Example

Habites-tu à Lagos ? ("Do you live in Lagos?") Connais-tu ma famille ? ("Do you know my family?")

Illustration

INVERSION — THE FORMAL QUESTION
===============================

   STATEMENT:    "Tu parles français."
                     ^^^ ^^^^^^
                  subject  verb

   INVERSION:    "Parles-tu français ?"
                  ^^^^^^ ^^^
                   verb subject
                  joined by a hyphen

   WHEN VERB ENDS IN VOWEL:
   "A-t-il un frère ?"
        ^
   Add "-t-" for pronunciation.

   Inversion is the most formal way.
   Use it in written French.

Mini Summary

Inversion means swapping the verb and the subject pronoun. Join them with a hyphen. Add -t- when the verb ends in a vowel. It is the most formal way to ask a question.

Lesson 11: Comparing the Three Question Types

Definition

This lesson puts all three question methods together so you can see the difference.

Why It Is Important

Each method has a different register. Choosing the right one makes your writing fit the situation.

Simple Explanation

Think of three doors. All three lead to the same room — a question — but each door is different. Some are casual, some are safe, some are formal.

The Three Methods Compared

Method	Example	Register	Use
Intonation	Tu es élève ?	Informal	Speech, texts, friends
Est-ce que	Est-ce que tu es élève ?	Neutral	Any situation
Inversion	Es-tu élève ?	Formal	Formal writing

The Same Question Three Ways

Method	Question	English
Intonation	Tu as un frère ?	Do you have a brother?
Est-ce que	Est-ce que tu as un frère ?	Do you have a brother?
Inversion	As-tu un frère ?	Do you have a brother?

Real-life Example

To a friend: Tu viens ? To a new friend: Est-ce que tu viens ? In a formal letter: Viens-tu ?

School Example

In a school essay: Est-ce que les élèves doivent porter des uniformes ? ("Should students wear uniforms?")

Home Example

To your mother: Est-ce que je peux sortir ? ("Can I go out?")

Nigerian Example

To a new friend in Lagos: Est-ce que tu connais Victoria Island ? ("Do you know Victoria Island?")

Illustration

THREE WAYS TO ASK — A COMPARISON
================================

   Same question, three "language clothes":

   INFORMAL:  "Tu as un frère ?"
              (voice rises at the end)

   NEUTRAL:   "Est-ce que tu as un frère ?"
              (add "est-ce que" at the start)

   FORMAL:    "As-tu un frère ?"
              (swap verb and subject)

   Choose based on the situation.
   When unsure, use "Est-ce que".

Mini Summary

There are three ways to ask a question: intonation (informal), est-ce que (neutral), and inversion (formal). When unsure, use est-ce que — it is always correct.

Lesson 12: Adjectives — Before or After the Noun?

Definition

An adjective is a word that describes a noun. In French, most adjectives come after the noun, but a small group comes before.

Why It Is Important

Putting an adjective in the wrong place sounds strange. Learning the rule helps you write correctly.

Simple Explanation

Think of two groups. Most adjectives follow the noun. A small special group comes before. Use the BAGS rule to remember the special group.

The BAGS Rule

Adjectives of Beauty, Age, Goodness, and Size come before the noun.

Category	Adjectives	Example
Beauty	beau, joli	une jolie maison
Age	jeune, vieux, nouveau	un vieux livre
Goodness	bon, mauvais	un bon repas
Size	grand, petit, gros	un petit chat

Adjectives After the Noun

Adjective	Example	Meaning
rouge	une voiture rouge	a red car
français	un livre français	a French book
intelligent	un étudiant intelligent	an intelligent student
heureux	une famille heureuse	a happy family

Real-life Example

un grand homme (a great man) vs. un homme grand (a tall man). The meaning can change!

School Example

une bonne élève ("a good student") — bonne comes before élève.

Home Example

une vieille maison ("an old house") — vieille comes before maison.

Nigerian Example

une belle ville ("a beautiful city") — belle comes before ville.

Illustration

ADJECTIVE PLACEMENT — THE BAGS RULE
===================================

   MOST ADJECTIVES come AFTER the noun:

   une voiture ROUGE       (a red car)
   un livre FRANÇAIS       (a French book)
   une famille HEUREUSE    (a happy family)

   A SMALL GROUP comes BEFORE the noun:

   BAGS RULE:
   B = Beauty       beau, joli
   A = Age          jeune, vieux, nouveau
   G = Goodness     bon, mauvais
   S = Size         grand, petit, gros

   EXAMPLES:
   un PETIT chat       (a small cat)
   une JOLIE maison    (a pretty house)
   un BON repas        (a good meal)
   un VIEUX livre      (an old book)

   Remember: BAGS come before the noun.

Mini Summary

Most French adjectives come after the noun. A small group (BAGS: Beauty, Age, Goodness, Size) comes before. Learn the BAGS rule to remember.

Lesson 13: Adjective Agreement

Definition

Adjective agreement means that adjectives change to match the gender and number of the noun they describe.

Why It Is Important

Adjectives must agree in French. Without agreement, your writing looks careless.

Simple Explanation

Think of a mirror. The adjective "mirrors" the noun. If the noun is feminine, the adjective becomes feminine. If the noun is plural, the adjective becomes plural.

The Rule

Noun Type	Ending Added	Example
Masculine singular	— (base form)	un petit chat
Feminine singular	+ e	une petite maison
Masculine plural	+ s	des petits chats
Feminine plural	+ es	des petites maisons

Common Irregular Adjectives

Masculine	Feminine	Meaning
beau	belle	beautiful
vieux	vieille	old
heureux	heureuse	happy
bon	bonne	good
gentil	gentille	kind

Real-life Example

un bon repas ("a good meal") vs. une bonne note ("a good grade").

School Example

Le professeur est gentil. La professeure est gentille.

Home Example

un vieux vélo ("an old bicycle") vs. une vieille voiture ("an old car").

Nigerian Example

un beau pays ("a beautiful country") vs. une belle ville ("a beautiful city").

Illustration

ADJECTIVE AGREEMENT — THE MIRROR
================================

   NOUN                    ADJECTIVE       RESULT
   ----                    ---------       ------
   un petit chat           petit           petit
   une petite fille        petit + e       petite
   des petits chats        petit + s       petits
   des petites filles      petit + es      petites

   IRREGULAR EXAMPLES:

   un beau jardin     /  une belle maison
   un vieux livre     /  une vieille école
   un garçon heureux  /  une fille heureuse

   The adjective mirrors the noun.

Mini Summary

Adjectives must agree with their nouns. Add -e for feminine, -s for plural, -es for feminine plural. Some adjectives are irregular and must be memorised.

Lesson 14: Common Traps and How to Avoid Them

Definition

A trap is a mistake that many learners make. Knowing the traps helps you avoid them.

Why It Is Important

Learning is not just about adding new knowledge — it is also about avoiding common errors.

Simple Explanation

Think of these traps as potholes on a road. If you know where they are, you can drive around them.

Trap 1: Forgetting ne

In informal French, people drop the ne. But in writing, you must include it.

Wrong: Je parle pas.

Right: Je ne parle pas.

Trap 2: Using pas de Instead of pas un

After a negative, un/une/des becomes de.

Wrong: Je n'ai pas un chat.

Right: Je n'ai pas de chat.

Trap 3: Forgetting the Hyphen in Inversion

In inversion, join the verb and pronoun with a hyphen.

Wrong: Parles tu français ?

Right: Parles-tu français ?

Trap 4: Using the Wrong Auxiliary Verb

Some learners say Je suis faim. But French uses avoir for hunger.

Wrong: Je suis faim.

Right: J'ai faim.

Trap 5: Mixing Up Adjective Order

Remember the BAGS rule. Size, beauty, age, and goodness come before the noun.

Wrong: un chat petit

Right: un petit chat

Comparison Table

Wrong	Right	Why
Je parle pas.	Je ne parle pas.	"ne" required in writing
Je n'ai pas un chat.	Je n'ai pas de chat.	un/une/des → de after negative
Parles tu ?	Parles-tu ?	Hyphen required in inversion
Je suis faim.	J'ai faim.	Use avoir for hunger
un chat petit	un petit chat	BAGS adjectives come before

Mini Summary

The main traps are: forgetting ne, using pas un instead of pas de, forgetting the hyphen in inversion, using être instead of avoir, and misplacing adjectives. Learn these and your writing will improve dramatically.

Lesson 15: Putting It All Together — A Full Model Text

Definition

This lesson shows a complete text using everything you have learned: the four irregular verbs, negation, questions, and adjectives.

Why It Is Important

Seeing a full example helps you understand how the pieces fit together.

The Text

Bonjour ! Je m'appelle Tunde. Je suis nigérian. J'ai treize ans. J'habite à Lagos avec ma famille.

Le matin, je vais à l'école. J'ai beaucoup d'amis là-bas. Nous faisons du sport ensemble. Je ne suis pas très sportif, mais j'aime jouer au football.

Est-ce que tu aimes le football ? Moi, j'adore ! Mon équipe préférée est les Super Eagles. Ils sont très forts.

Le soir, je fais mes devoirs. Je ne regarde pas beaucoup la télé parce que j'ai beaucoup de travail. Mais parfois, je regarde un bon film avec ma famille.

Et toi ? Est-ce que tu es élève ? Quelle est ta matière préférée ?

English: "Hello! My name is Tunde. I am Nigerian. I am thirteen years old. I live in Lagos with my family.

In the morning, I go to school. I have many friends there. We do sports together. I am not very sporty, but I like playing football.

Do you like football? Me, I love it! My favourite team is the Super Eagles. They are very strong.

In the evening, I do my homework. I do not watch much TV because I have a lot of work. But sometimes, I watch a good film with my family.

And you? Are you a student? What is your favourite subject?"

Breaking It Down

Sentence	What It Uses
Je suis nigérian.	Être
J'ai treize ans.	Avoir (age)
J'habite à Lagos.	-er verb
Je vais à l'école.	Aller
Nous faisons du sport.	Faire
Je ne suis pas très sportif.	Negation
Est-ce que tu aimes le football ?	Est-ce que question
un bon film	Adjective before noun
une équipe forte	Adjective after noun

Mini Summary

A full text uses the four irregular verbs, negation, questions, and adjectives. When you can write a text like this, you have mastered the module.

5. Key Vocabulary

Here are the important words from this module.

French	English	Simple Definition
être	to be	To exist or to be something
avoir	to have	To own or possess
aller	to go	To move to a place
faire	to do / make	To perform an action
ne… pas	not	Used for negative sentences
ne… jamais	never	Negative expression
ne… plus	no longer	Negative expression
est-ce que	question phrase	Turns a statement into a question
une question	a question	Something you ask
une réponse	an answer	Something you give
un adjectif	an adjective	A describing word
un nom	a noun	A person, place, or thing
beau / belle	beautiful	BAGS adjective
petit / petite	small	BAGS adjective
grand / grande	big / tall	BAGS adjective
bon / bonne	good	BAGS adjective
vieux / vieille	old	BAGS adjective
rouge	red	Adjective after noun
français / française	French	Adjective or nationality
content / contente	happy	Adjective after noun

6. Important Concepts

Concept 1: The Four Essential Verbs

Être, avoir, aller, and faire are the four wheels of every French sentence. Learn them by heart.

Concept 2: The Negation Sandwich

Wrap the verb in ne… pas. Ne becomes n' before a vowel. Un/une/des becomes de after a negative.

Concept 3: Three Ways to Ask

Intonation (informal), est-ce que (neutral), and inversion (formal). Choose based on the situation.

Concept 4: Adjective Placement

Most adjectives go after the noun. The BAGS adjectives (Beauty, Age, Goodness, Size) go before.

Concept 5: Adjective Agreement

Adjectives must agree in gender and number with the noun they describe.

7. Step-by-Step Explanations

How to Make a Sentence Negative

STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS
====================

   STEP 1: Write the affirmative sentence.
           "Je parle français."
             |
             V
   STEP 2: Add "ne" before the verb.
           "Je ne parle français."
             |
             V
   STEP 3: Add "pas" after the verb.
           "Je ne parle pas français."
             |
             V
   STEP 4: Check if "ne" needs to become "n'".
           (before a vowel)
             |
             V
   STEP 5: Check if "un/une/des" changes to "de".
             |
             V
   FINISH

How to Choose a Question Method

Ask: Who is my reader or listener?
Friend? Use intonation. Tu viens ?
Not sure? Use est-ce que. Est-ce que tu viens ?
Formal writing? Use inversion. Viens-tu ?
Read aloud. Does it sound natural?

8. Real-life Examples

Example 1: At School

Je suis élève. J'ai un examen. Je vais à la bibliothèque. Je fais mes révisions. Je ne suis pas stressé.

English: "I am a student. I have an exam. I am going to the library. I am doing my revision. I am not stressed."

Example 2: At Home

Je suis à la maison. J'ai faim. Je vais à la cuisine. Je fais un sandwich. Je ne mange pas de viande.

English: "I am at home. I am hungry. I am going to the kitchen. I am making a sandwich. I do not eat meat."

Example 3: In the City

Nous sommes à Lagos. Nous avons des amis ici. Nous allons au marché. Nous faisons les courses. Est-ce que tu connais Lagos ?

English: "We are in Lagos. We have friends here. We are going to the market. We are doing the shopping. Do you know Lagos?"

9. Nigerian Examples

Example 1: A Day in Abuja

Je suis à Abuja aujourd'hui. J'ai une réunion. Je vais au bureau. Je fais mon travail. Le soir, je ne travaille pas.

English: "I am in Abuja today. I have a meeting. I am going to the office. I am doing my work. In the evening, I do not work."

Example 2: A Nigerian Family

Nous sommes une grande famille. Nous avons beaucoup d'enfants. Nous allons à l'église le dimanche. Nous faisons la fête ensemble.

English: "We are a big family. We have many children. We go to church on Sundays. We celebrate together."

Example 3: A Nigerian Market

Je vais au marché. J'ai besoin de légumes. Je fais les courses pour ma mère. Est-ce que tu connais le marché de Balogun ?

English: "I am going to the market. I need vegetables. I am doing the shopping for my mother. Do you know Balogun market?"

10. Fun Examples Children Can Relate To

Example 1: About a Pet

J'ai un chien. Il est très drôle. Il fait beaucoup de bruit. Il ne mange pas de légumes.

English: "I have a dog. He is very funny. He makes a lot of noise. He does not eat vegetables."

Example 2: About School Lunch

Je suis à la cantine. J'ai faim. Je mange du riz. Je ne mange pas de poisson.

English: "I am in the canteen. I am hungry. I am eating rice. I do not eat fish."

Example 3: About a Video Game

Je fais un jeu vidéo. C'est très amusant. Je ne joue pas trop longtemps. Est-ce que tu aimes les jeux vidéo ?

English: "I am playing a video game. It is very fun. I do not play too long. Do you like video games?"

11. Everyday Examples

Example 1: Morning

Je suis réveillé. J'ai faim. Je vais à la cuisine. Je fais mon petit-déjeuner.

English: "I am awake. I am hungry. I am going to the kitchen. I am making my breakfast."

Example 2: Evening

Je suis fatigué. Je n'ai pas d'énergie. Je ne fais pas mes devoirs maintenant. Je vais dormir.

English: "I am tired. I do not have energy. I am not doing my homework now. I am going to sleep."

Example 3: Weekend

Le samedi, je ne vais pas à l'école. Je fais du sport. J'ai beaucoup d'amis. Nous sommes heureux.

English: "On Saturdays, I do not go to school. I do sports. I have many friends. We are happy."

12. Parent Tips

Parents, here are some simple ways to support your child as they learn this module:

Play the "yes/no" game. Say a sentence in French. Ask your child to make it negative.
Ask your child to ask you three questions in French every evening.
Encourage daily journaling in French. Aim for three sentences a day.
Celebrate small wins. When your child uses a new verb correctly, praise them.
Do not correct every mistake. Focus on one thing at a time — this week, focus on ne… pas.
Watch French cartoons or videos. Ask your child to spot the four irregular verbs.
Make flashcards together for the four verbs and their forms.
Ask your child to describe their day in French using all four verbs.

13. Interesting Facts

Être and avoir are the two most common verbs in French. They appear in almost every sentence.
Aller is used to form the near future: Je vais manger (I am going to eat).
Faire is used in many idioms, including weather: Il fait beau (the weather is nice).
Negation with ne… pas is one of the oldest features of French grammar.
In everyday spoken French, people often drop the ne in negative sentences.
The three ways to ask a question show different levels of politeness.
French adjectives usually come after the noun — but English adjectives usually come before.
The BAGS rule was created by teachers to help students remember the special adjectives.

14. Did You Know?

Did you know that être and avoir are also used to form the past tense in French?
Did you know that aller is the only verb that uses être in the passé composé instead of avoir?
Did you know that faire is used in French to talk about the weather, sports, and chores?
Did you know that in some French dialects, the ne in negation is almost never said?
Did you know that "BAGS" adjectives come before the noun, just like in English?

15. Remember This

The four irregular verbs: être, avoir, aller, faire.
Être: suis, es, est, sommes, êtes, sont.
Avoir: ai, as, a, avons, avez, ont.
Aller: vais, vas, va, allons, allez, vont.
Faire: fais, fais, fait, faisons, faites, font.
Negation: ne… pas. Ne becomes n' before a vowel.
Three question methods: intonation, est-ce que, inversion.
Adjective placement: most after, BAGS before.
Adjective agreement: -e, -s, -es.

16. Common Mistakes

Mistake	Why It Is Wrong	Correct Version
Je parle pas.	Missing ne	Je ne parle pas.
Je n'ai pas un chat.	Wrong negative article	Je n'ai pas de chat.
Parles tu ?	Missing hyphen	Parles-tu ?
Je suis faim.	Wrong verb for hunger	J'ai faim.
un chat petit	Wrong adjective order	un petit chat
une petit fille	Missing agreement	une petite fille

17. Best Practices

Write every day. Even three sentences a day helps.
Always include ne in negative sentences when writing.
Use est-ce que when you are unsure about a question.
Check adjective agreement after writing.
Practice the four verbs with flashcards.
Read your sentences aloud. Your ear catches mistakes.
Remember the BAGS rule for adjectives that come before the noun.
Be patient. Practice makes progress.

18. Comparison Tables

The Four Irregular Verbs at a Glance

Subject	Être	Avoir	Aller	Faire
je	suis	ai	vais	fais
tu	es	as	vas	fais
il / elle	est	a	va	fait
nous	sommes	avons	allons	faisons
vous	êtes	avez	allez	faites
ils / elles	sont	ont	vont	font

Three Ways to Ask a Question

Method	Example	Register
Intonation	Tu es élève ?	Informal
Est-ce que	Est-ce que tu es élève ?	Neutral
Inversion	Es-tu élève ?	Formal

Adjective Placement

Rule	Examples
Most adjectives come after the noun	une voiture rouge
BAGS adjectives come before the noun	une jolie maison
Meaning can change	un grand homme / un homme grand

19. End-of-Module Summary

Congratulations! You have completed Module 3 of the Beginner French course. Let us review what you learned.

What You Learned

What irregular verbs are.
The four essential irregular verbs: être, avoir, aller, faire.
How to use each verb in sentences.
How to make sentences negative with ne… pas.
How to ask questions in three different ways.
Where to place adjectives — before or after the noun.
How to make adjectives agree with nouns.
Common traps and how to avoid them.

The Big Picture

THE BIG PICTURE
===============

   MODULE 3 = FOUR VERBS + NEGATION + QUESTIONS + ADJECTIVES

   Four verbs:      être, avoir, aller, faire
   Negation:        ne… pas
   Questions:       intonation, est-ce que, inversion
   Adjectives:      after the noun (usually)
                    before the noun (BAGS)

   With these, you can write many kinds of sentences.

   You can say what you ARE.
   You can say what you HAVE.
   You can say where you GO.
   You can say what you DO.
   You can say what you do NOT do.
   You can ask QUESTIONS.
   You can DESCRIBE with adjectives.

   You are building a full toolbox. 🎉

20. Frequently Asked Questions (10 Questions)

Question 1: Why are these four verbs called "irregular"?

Because they do not follow the regular -er pattern. Their forms must be memorised.

Question 2: Why are these four verbs so important?

Because they appear in almost every French sentence. Without them, you cannot write or speak French.

Question 3: How do I make a sentence negative?

Wrap the verb in ne… pas. Je parle becomes Je ne parle pas.

Question 4: When do I use n' instead of ne?

Before a vowel. Je aime becomes Je n'aime.

Question 5: What is the difference between the three question methods?

Intonation is informal, est-ce que is neutral, and inversion is formal.

Question 6: When do I use inversion?

In formal writing or speech. It sounds more polite and serious.

Question 7: Where do adjectives go in French?

Most go after the noun. The BAGS adjectives (Beauty, Age, Goodness, Size) go before.

Question 8: Do adjectives change?

Yes. They agree with the noun in gender and number. Add -e, -s, or -es as needed.

Question 9: What if I get it wrong?

Do not worry. French people will still understand you. Just keep practising.

Question 10: What is the best way to practise?

Write three sentences every day. Practice the four verbs. Ask questions. Read French books. And do not be afraid to make mistakes.

21. Matching Exercises

Exercise 1: Match the French with the English

French	English
1. Je suis élève.	A. I am going to the market.
2. J'ai un livre.	B. I am not tired.
3. Je vais au marché.	C. I do my homework.
4. Je fais mes devoirs.	D. I am a student.
5. Je ne suis pas fatigué.	E. I have a book.

Answers: 1-D, 2-E, 3-A, 4-C, 5-B.

Exercise 2: Match the Verb Form

Verb Form	Infinitive
1. suis	A. avoir
2. as	B. faire
3. va	C. être
4. fait	D. aller

Answers: 1-C, 2-A, 3-D, 4-B.

22. Scenario-based Exercises

Scenario 1: At School

Write 5 sentences about a day at school. Use all four irregular verbs at least once.

Scenario 2: A Negative Day

Write 5 sentences about a day when you did not do things. Use ne… pas in every sentence.

Scenario 3: A Conversation

Write a dialogue between two friends. Use all three question methods at least once.

Scenario 4: Describing a Person

Write 4 sentences describing a family member. Use at least two BAGS adjectives and two post-noun adjectives.

23. Group Activity

Activity: Question Chain

Work in groups of four. Each person asks a question in French to the person on their right, who answers it and then asks a question to the next person.

Person 1 asks Person 2: Est-ce que tu aimes le football ?
Person 2 answers and asks Person 3 a question.
Person 3 answers and asks Person 4 a question.
Person 4 answers and asks Person 1 a question.
Repeat the chain, but this time try to use inversion.
The group helps each other with pronunciation.

24. Individual Activity

Activity: My Day with Four Verbs

Write a short paragraph about your day. Use at least three of the four irregular verbs, plus one negative sentence and one question.

25. Mini Project

Project: My Favourite Day

Write a short text (8–10 sentences) about your favourite day of the week. Include:

At least one sentence with each of the four irregular verbs.
One negative sentence.
One question at the end.
At least two adjectives with correct agreement.
A small drawing or ASCII illustration.

MINI PROJECT — MY FAVOURITE DAY
===============================

   +----------------------------------+
   |  MON JOUR PRÉFÉRÉ                |
   |  --------------------------------|
   |                                  |
   |  [ Drawing of a happy day ]      |
   |                                  |
   |  Mon jour préféré est samedi.    |
   |  Je suis content.                |
   |  J'ai beaucoup de temps.         |
   |  Je vais au parc avec mes amis.  |
   |  Nous faisons du sport.          |
   |  Je ne travaille pas.            |
   |  Est-ce que tu aimes samedi ?    |
   |                                  |
   +----------------------------------+

26. Practical Assignment

Assignment: My Week in French

Write a paragraph of 8–10 sentences in French about your week. Your paragraph must include:

At least two sentences using être.
At least two sentences using avoir.
At least two sentences using aller.
At least two sentences using faire.
At least one negative sentence using ne… pas.
At least one question using est-ce que.
At least two adjectives with correct agreement.

When you finish, read your paragraph aloud. Then check for common mistakes using the list in Section 16.

27. Key Takeaways

The four essential irregular verbs: être, avoir, aller, faire.
Learn each one by heart.
To make a sentence negative: ne… pas.
Ne becomes n' before a vowel.
After a negative, un/une/des becomes de.
Three ways to ask a question: intonation, est-ce que, inversion.
Most adjectives come after the noun.
BAGS adjectives come before the noun.
Adjectives must agree with nouns.
Practice every day to build confidence.

28. Classroom Discussion Questions

Why do you think these four verbs are the most common in French?
Can you think of a time when you used a negative sentence today?
Which question method do you find easiest?
Why do adjectives come after the noun in French but before in English?
How does adjective agreement make French more precise?
What is the easiest verb of the four to remember?
What is the hardest part so far?
How can you practise these four verbs at home?

29. Preparation for the Next Module

In Module 4, you will learn about the passé composé, which is the past tense used for completed actions. You will also learn how to use connectors like et, mais, parce que, and donc to link ideas in writing.

Before Moving On, Make Sure You Can:

Conjugate all four irregular verbs in the present tense.
Make sentences negative using ne… pas.
Ask questions in three different ways.
Place adjectives correctly.
Make adjectives agree with nouns.
Write a paragraph of 8 sentences using the four irregular verbs.

A Sneak Peek at Module 4

MODULE 4 PREVIEW
================

   You will learn:

   * Passé composé (past tense for completed actions)
   * Forming past participles
   * Auxiliary verbs (avoir and être)
   * Connectors (et, mais, parce que, donc, puis)
   * Adverb placement

   Example:
   "Hier, j'ai mangé du riz."  (Yesterday, I ate rice.)
   "Je suis allé au marché."    (I went to the market.)
   "Nous avons fini et nous sommes rentrés."
   (We finished and we went home.)

   Get ready to talk about the past!

Take a short break. Review this module. When you feel ready, move on to Module 4. You are doing great!

Module Four

French Beginner — Module 4: Talking About the Past

French for Beginners

Module 4: Talking About the Past — The Passé Composé

Level: A1 (Beginner) | Duration: Weeks 7–8 | Focus: Past-tense writing

1. Module Introduction

Welcome back! In Module 1, you learned the alphabet and how to introduce yourself. In Module 2, you learned regular -er verbs and articles. In Module 3, you learned the four irregular verbs and how to make negative sentences and ask questions.

Now, in Module 4, you will learn something very exciting: how to talk about the past.

Up to now, you have only been able to talk about the present. You could say Je mange ("I eat") and Je vais à l'école ("I go to school"). But what if you want to say "I ate" or "I went to school yesterday"?

That is what the passé composé is for. It is the most common past tense in French. It describes actions that have already happened and are finished.

In this module, you will learn:

What the passé composé is
How to form it using avoir and être
How to make past participles for regular and irregular verbs
Which verbs use être instead of avoir
How to link ideas with connectors like et, mais, parce que, donc
How to place adverbs correctly

By the end of this module, you will be able to tell a story about what you did yesterday, last week, or last year. You will be able to write about real events from your past — in French.

Are you ready? Let us begin!

2. Learning Objectives

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

Explain what the passé composé is.
Form past participles for regular -er, -ir, and -re verbs.
Recognise common irregular past participles.
Use avoir as the auxiliary verb in the passé composé.
Use être as the auxiliary verb with movement verbs.
Make past participles agree with the subject when using être.
Use connectors like et, mais, parce que, donc, and puis.
Place adverbs correctly in a sentence.
Write an 8–10 sentence narrative about a past event.

3. Warm-up Story

Amara's Trip to the Village

Amara sat at her desk on Monday morning. Her French teacher, Madame Bola, had given the class a writing task: "Write about what you did last weekend."

Amara smiled. She had a wonderful story to tell.

She picked up her pen and began to write in English first, to plan her ideas:

"Last weekend, I went to my grandmother's village with my family. We left Lagos on Friday evening. The journey took five hours. When we arrived, my grandmother was waiting for us. She was very happy to see us. On Saturday morning, I helped her in the garden. In the afternoon, we visited the market and I bought a beautiful dress. On Sunday, we went to church and then we ate a big meal together. I had a wonderful time."

Amara looked at her paragraph. Every verb was in the past. She had used words like went, left, arrived, helped, bought, ate, and had.

"How do I say all of this in French?" she wondered. "I only know how to talk about the present."

She raised her hand. "Madame Bola, how do I write about the past in French?"

Madame Bola smiled. "Excellent question, Amara. You need to learn the passé composé. It is the past tense we use for completed actions. Let me show you."

She wrote on the board: J'ai mangé du riz hier.

"What does that mean?" she asked.

"I ate rice yesterday?" Amara guessed.

"Exactly! And do you see how it is formed? It has two parts: ai (from the verb avoir) and mangé (the past participle of manger). Two parts working together."

Amara's eyes lit up. "So I can tell my whole weekend story in French?"

"Yes," Madame Bola said. "And by the end of this module, you will."

In this module, you will learn exactly what Amara learned. You will learn how to form the passé composé and how to use it to tell your own stories.

AMARA'S DISCOVERY — THE PASSÉ COMPOSÉ
=====================================

   PAST TENSE IN ENGLISH:
   "I ate rice yesterday."

   PAST TENSE IN FRENCH:
   "J'ai mangé du riz hier."
     ^^^
   Two parts:

   "ai"      +      "mangé"
   (avoir)          (past participle)

   Auxiliary  +  Past participle

   Together, they make the passé composé.

   That is what this module is about.

4. Main Lessons

Lesson 1: What is the Passé Composé?

Definition

The passé composé is the most common past tense in French. It is used for actions that are already finished. "Passé composé" means "compound past" because it is made of two parts.

Why It Is Important

You cannot tell stories about the past without it. It appears in almost every conversation about what happened.

Simple Explanation

Think of the passé composé as a bicycle. A bicycle has two wheels. Without both wheels, it cannot move. The passé composé also has two parts. Without both, the sentence does not work.

The Two Parts

Part	What It Is	Example
Auxiliary verb	avoir or être in the present tense	ai, as, a, avons, avez, ont
Past participle	The verb's past form	mangé, fini, vendu

Real-life Example

J'ai mangé du riz hier. ("I ate rice yesterday.") Nous avons visité Lagos. ("We visited Lagos.")

School Example

J'ai fait mes devoirs. ("I did my homework.") Le professeur a parlé. ("The teacher spoke.")

Home Example

Ma mère a préparé le dîner. ("My mother prepared dinner.") Nous avons regardé un film. ("We watched a film.")

Nigerian Example

J'ai visité Abuja l'année dernière. ("I visited Abuja last year.") Nous avons mangé du jollof rice. ("We ate jollof rice.")

Illustration

THE PASSÉ COMPOSÉ — A BICYCLE
=============================

   A bicycle needs two wheels:

        FRONT WHEEL  +  BACK WHEEL
             |              |
             V              V

   The passé composé also needs two parts:

        AUXILIARY    +   PAST PARTICIPLE
        (avoir/être)     (mangé, fini, etc.)

   Example:
   "J'ai mangé du riz hier."
      ^^        ^^^^^^^
    auxiliary   participle

   Two parts. One past tense.

Mini Summary

The passé composé is the most common past tense in French. It has two parts: an auxiliary verb (avoir or être) and a past participle. It describes completed actions.

Lesson 2: Past Participles — Regular Verbs

Definition

The past participle is the second part of the passé composé. It is the word that carries the meaning of the verb.

Why It Is Important

Without the past participle, the passé composé has no meaning. You cannot say J'ai and stop.

Simple Explanation

Think of the past participle as the "finished" version of a verb. Regular verbs change in predictable ways.

The Rules for Regular Verbs

Verb Type	Rule	Example
-ER verbs	Replace -er with -é	parler → parlé
-IR verbs	Replace -ir with -i	finir → fini
-RE verbs	Replace -re with -u	vendre → vendu

Examples

Infinitive	Past Participle	Example Sentence
parler	parlé	J'ai parlé à ma sœur.
manger	mangé	Nous avons mangé du riz.
jouer	joué	Ils ont joué au football.
finir	fini	J'ai fini mes devoirs.
choisir	choisi	Elle a choisi une robe.
vendre	vendu	Il a vendu sa voiture.
attendre	attendu	Nous avons attendu le bus.

Real-life Example

J'ai parlé à ma tante au téléphone. ("I spoke to my aunt on the phone.")

School Example

Nous avons fini le projet de science. ("We finished the science project.")

Home Example

Ma sœur a vendu son vieux vélo. ("My sister sold her old bicycle.")

Nigerian Example

Ils ont acheté des oranges au marché. ("They bought oranges at the market.")

Illustration

REGULAR PAST PARTICIPLES
========================

   -ER  -->  -é
   parler  -->  parlé     (spoken)
   manger  -->  mangé     (eaten)
   jouer   -->  joué      (played)
   regarder --> regardé   (watched)

   -IR  -->  -i
   finir   -->  fini      (finished)
   choisir -->  choisi    (chosen)

   -RE  -->  -u
   vendre  -->  vendu     (sold)
   attendre-->  attendu   (waited)

   Memory trick:
   -er --> é
   -ir --> i
   -re --> u

Mini Summary

Regular past participles end in -é (for -er verbs), -i (for -ir verbs), or -u (for -re verbs). Learn these three patterns and you can form the passé composé for most verbs.

Lesson 3: Irregular Past Participles

Definition

Some verbs do not follow the regular patterns. Their past participles must be memorised. These are called irregular past participles.

Why It Is Important

These verbs are very common. You cannot avoid them. The good news is that there are only about fifteen you need at this level.

Simple Explanation

Think of them as special guests at a party — they do not follow the same dress code as everyone else. You just have to remember each one.

The Common Irregular Past Participles

Verb	Past Participle	Meaning
avoir	eu	had
être	été	been
faire	fait	done / made
prendre	pris	taken
voir	vu	seen
boire	bu	drunk
lire	lu	read
écrire	écrit	written
dire	dit	said
mettre	mis	put
ouvrir	ouvert	opened
venir	venu	come
partir	parti	left
naître	né	born
mourir	mort	died

Real-life Example

J'ai fait mes devoirs. ("I did my homework.") Nous avons pris le bus. ("We took the bus.")

School Example

J'ai lu un livre intéressant. ("I read an interesting book.") Le professeur a dit "Bonjour". ("The teacher said 'Hello'.")

Home Example

Ma sœur a vu un film hier. ("My sister saw a film yesterday.") J'ai bu du thé ce matin. ("I drank tea this morning.")

Nigerian Example

Ils ont vu un film de Nollywood. ("They saw a Nollywood film.") Nous avons pris le train à Abuja. ("We took the train to Abuja.")

Illustration

IRREGULAR PAST PARTICIPLES — MEMORY MAP
=======================================

   VERB         PAST PART.      SOUND-ALIKE TIP
   ----         ----------      ---------------
   avoir    ->  eu              "u"
   être     ->  été             "ay-TAY"
   faire    ->  fait            "feh"
   prendre  ->  pris            "pree"
   voir     ->  vu              "vu"
   boire    ->  bu              "bu"
   lire     ->  lu              "lu"
   écrire   ->  écrit           "ay-KREE"
   dire     ->  dit             "dee"
   ouvrir   ->  ouvert          "oo-VAIR"

   Practise these with flashcards.
   They will become easy with repetition.

Mini Summary

Irregular past participles must be memorised. There are about fifteen to learn. Make flashcards. Test yourself. They will become easy with practice.

Lesson 4: The Auxiliary Verb Avoir

Definition

In the passé composé, most verbs use avoir as their auxiliary. You conjugate avoir in the present tense, then add the past participle.

Why It Is Important

About 90% of French verbs use avoir in the passé composé. It is the default auxiliary.

Simple Explanation

Think of avoir as the "standard key." It opens most doors in the past tense.

The Pattern

PASSÉ COMPOSÉ WITH AVOIR
========================

   Subject  +  avoir (present)  +  past participle

   J'       +  ai               +  mangé
   Tu       +  as               +  mangé
   Il       +  a                +  mangé
   Nous     +  avons            +  mangé
   Vous     +  avez             +  mangé
   Ils      +  ont              +  mangé

The Full Pattern

Subject	Avoir	Example with manger	English
j'	ai	j'ai mangé	I ate
tu	as	tu as mangé	you ate
il / elle	a	il a mangé	he ate
nous	avons	nous avons mangé	we ate
vous	avez	vous avez mangé	you ate
ils / elles	ont	ils ont mangé	they ate

Real-life Example

J'ai mangé du riz. ("I ate rice.") Nous avons parlé au téléphone. ("We spoke on the phone.")

School Example

J'ai fini mon examen. ("I finished my exam.") Les élèves ont étudié. ("The students studied.")

Home Example

Nous avons regardé un film. ("We watched a film.") Ma mère a préparé le dîner. ("My mother prepared dinner.")

Nigerian Example

J'ai visité Kano. ("I visited Kano.") Ils ont acheté des fruits au marché. ("They bought fruit at the market.")

Illustration

PASSÉ COMPOSÉ WITH AVOIR
========================

   AUXILIARY (avoir)  +  PAST PARTICIPLE

   j'ai       mangé     I ate
   tu as      mangé     you ate
   il a       mangé     he ate
   nous avons mangé     we ate
   vous avez  mangé     you ate
   ils ont    mangé     they ate

   NOTE: The past participle does NOT change
   with avoir. It stays the same.

   j'ai mangé      (not j'ai mangée)
   elle a mangé    (not elle a mangée)

   This is different from être verbs (later lesson).

Mini Summary

Most verbs use avoir as their auxiliary in the passé composé. Conjugate avoir in the present, then add the past participle. The past participle does not change with avoir.

Lesson 5: The Auxiliary Verb Être

Definition

A small group of verbs use être as their auxiliary in the passé composé. These are mostly movement verbs and verbs of change.

Why It Is Important

If you use avoir with an être verb, French people will notice immediately. It is one of the clearest signs of a beginner.

Simple Explanation

Think of these verbs as travellers. Travellers need a different helper — être instead of avoir.

The DR MRS VANDERTRAMP List

Verb	Past Participle	Meaning
devenir	devenu	became
revenir	revenu	came back
monter	monté	went up
rester	resté	stayed
sortir	sorti	went out
venir	venu	came
aller	allé	went
naître	né	was born
descendre	descendu	went down
entrer	entré	entered
retourner	retourné	returned
tomber	tombé	fell
rentrer	rentré	went home
arriver	arrivé	arrived
mourir	mort	died
partir	parti	left

Real-life Example

Je suis allé au marché. ("I went to the market.") Elle est arrivée en retard. ("She arrived late.")

School Example

Nous sommes partis tôt. ("We left early.") Ils sont entrés en classe. ("They entered the classroom.")

Home Example

Ma sœur est sortie avec ses amis. ("My sister went out with her friends.") Mon frère est rentré tard. ("My brother came home late.")

Nigerian Example

Nous sommes allés à Abuja en bus. ("We went to Abuja by bus.") Elle est arrivée à Lagos hier. ("She arrived in Lagos yesterday.")

Illustration

ÊTRE VERBS — THE TRAVELLERS
===========================

   Imagine a bus station:

       aller        (to go)
       venir        (to come)
       arriver      (to arrive)
       partir       (to leave)
       entrer       (to enter)
       sortir       (to go out)
       monter       (to go up)
       descendre    (to go down)
       rester       (to stay)
       tomber       (to fall)
       naître       (to be born)
       mourir       (to die)
       devenir      (to become)
       revenir      (to come back)
       retourner    (to return)
       rentrer      (to go home)

   All of these use ÊTRE, not avoir.

   Memory trick: DR MRS VANDERTRAMP
   Each letter stands for one verb.

Mini Summary

Movement and change-of-state verbs use être instead of avoir in the passé composé. The DR MRS VANDERTRAMP list helps you remember them.

Lesson 6: Agreement with Être Verbs

Definition

When a verb uses être in the passé composé, the past participle must agree with the subject. This means adding -e for feminine and -s for plural.

Why It Is Important

Agreement shows that you understand French grammar deeply. Without it, your writing looks careless.

Simple Explanation

Think of the past participle as a mirror. It reflects the subject. If the subject is feminine, the participle becomes feminine. If the subject is plural, it becomes plural.

The Agreement Rules

Subject	Add	Example	Meaning
Masculine singular	nothing	Il est allé	He went
Feminine singular	-e	Elle est allée	She went
Masculine plural	-s	Ils sont allés	They went (m.)
Feminine plural	-es	Elles sont allées	They went (f.)

Real-life Example

Ma mère est allée au marché. ("My mother went to the market.") Note the -e.

School Example

Les filles sont arrivées en retard. ("The girls arrived late.") Note the -es.

Home Example

Mes frères sont sortis. ("My brothers went out.") Note the -s.

Nigerian Example

Amina et Fatima sont venues à la fête. ("Amina and Fatima came to the party.") Note the -es.

Illustration

AGREEMENT — THE MIRROR RULE
===========================

   Subject                    Participle            Result
   -------                    ----------            ------
   Il (m. sing.)        +     allé              =   Il est allé
   Elle (f. sing.)      +     allé + e          =   Elle est allée
   Ils (m. plural)      +     allé + s          =   Ils sont allés
   Elles (f. plural)    +     allé + es         =   Elles sont allées

   The participle "mirrors" the subject.

   WITH AVOIR, NO AGREEMENT:
   "Elle a mangé"  (not "Elle a mangée")

   WITH ÊTRE, AGREEMENT REQUIRED:
   "Elle est allée"  (yes, add "-e")

   This is the biggest difference between avoir and être.

Mini Summary

With être verbs, the past participle agrees with the subject. Add -e for feminine, -s for plural, -es for feminine plural.

Lesson 7: Comparing Avoir and Être Verbs

Definition

This lesson puts the two auxiliaries side by side so you can see the difference clearly.

Why It Is Important

Choosing the right auxiliary is essential. If you use the wrong one, your sentence sounds wrong.

Simple Explanation

Think of two teams. Most verbs play for Team Avoir. A smaller group plays for Team Être. You need to know which team each verb belongs to.

The Two Teams

Team Avoir	Team Être
Most verbs	Movement verbs
parler, manger, finir	aller, venir, partir
voir, faire, prendre	arriver, entrer, sortir
No agreement with subject	Agreement with subject
J'ai mangé	Je suis allé(e)

The Full Comparison

Feature	Avoir	Être
How many verbs?	About 90%	About 16 (movement)
Past participle agreement?	No	Yes
Example with "elle"	Elle a mangé	Elle est allée
Example with "ils"	Ils ont fini	Ils sont partis

Real-life Example

J'ai mangé et puis je suis sorti. ("I ate and then I went out.") Notice both auxiliaries in one sentence.

School Example

Nous avons étudié, puis nous sommes rentrés. ("We studied, then we went home.")

Home Example

Ma mère a préparé le dîner, puis elle est sortie. ("My mother prepared dinner, then she went out.")

Nigerian Example

J'ai visité le musée, puis je suis rentré à la maison. ("I visited the museum, then I went home.")

Illustration

AVOIR vs. ÊTRE — A COMPARISON
=============================

   VERB             AUXILIARY          EXAMPLE
   ----             ---------          -------
   manger           AVOIR              J'ai mangé
   finir            AVOIR              J'ai fini
   voir             AVOIR              J'ai vu
   faire            AVOIR              J'ai fait

   aller            ÊTRE               Je suis allé(e)
   venir            ÊTRE               Je suis venu(e)
   partir           ÊTRE               Je suis parti(e)
   arriver          ÊTRE               Je suis arrivé(e)

   RULE OF THUMB:
   - Movement from place to place? Use ÊTRE.
   - Everything else? Use AVOIR.

   With ÊTRE, the participle agrees with the subject.
   With AVOIR, it does not.

Mini Summary

Most verbs use avoir. Movement verbs use être. With être, the past participle agrees with the subject. With avoir, there is no agreement.

Lesson 8: Time Markers for the Past

Definition

Time markers are words that tell you when something happened. They often signal that you should use the passé composé.

Why It Is Important

Time markers make your past-tense writing clearer. They help the reader understand when the action happened.

Simple Explanation

Think of time markers as signposts. They point to specific moments in the past.

Common Past Time Markers

French	English
hier	yesterday
avant-hier	the day before yesterday
la semaine dernière	last week
le mois dernier	last month
l'année dernière	last year
ce matin	this morning
hier soir	last night
il y a deux jours	two days ago
d'abord	first
ensuite	then / next
puis	then
enfin	finally

Real-life Example

Hier, j'ai mangé du riz. ("Yesterday, I ate rice.") La semaine dernière, nous avons visité Lagos. ("Last week, we visited Lagos.")

School Example

Ce matin, j'ai fini mes devoirs. ("This morning, I finished my homework.")

Home Example

Hier soir, nous avons regardé un film. ("Last night, we watched a film.")

Nigerian Example

L'année dernière, j'ai visité Kano. ("Last year, I visited Kano.") Il y a deux jours, nous avons mangé du jollof. ("Two days ago, we ate jollof.")

Illustration

TIME MARKERS FOR THE PAST
=========================

   SPECIFIC TIMES:                SEQUENCE MARKERS:

   hier           yesterday        d'abord       first
   avant-hier     day before       ensuite       then
   la semaine     last week        puis          then
   dernière                        enfin         finally
   le mois        last month
   dernier                         
   l'année        last year        These help you
   dernière                        tell a story
                                   in order.
   ce matin       this morning
   hier soir      last night
   il y a…        … ago

   When you see these, use the passé composé.

Mini Summary

Time markers tell you when something happened. Use them with the passé composé. Common ones include hier, la semaine dernière, ce matin, and il y a deux jours.

Lesson 9: Negation in the Passé Composé

Definition

To make a negative sentence in the passé composé, wrap ne… pas around the auxiliary verb — not the past participle.

Why It Is Important

Negation is common in everyday speech. You need to know exactly where to put ne and pas.

Simple Explanation

Think of the auxiliary as the "captain" of the two-part verb. The ne… pas sandwich surrounds the captain, not the whole team.

The Pattern

NEGATION IN PASSÉ COMPOSÉ
=========================

   ne  +  auxiliary  +  pas  +  past participle

   Affirmative:   J'ai mangé.
   Negative:      Je n'ai pas mangé.
                    ^^  ^^^ ^^^
                    ne  aux pas

   Affirmative:   Elle est allée.
   Negative:      Elle n'est pas allée.
                       ^^^^ ^^^
                       aux  pas

Examples

Affirmative	Negative	English
J'ai mangé.	Je n'ai pas mangé.	I did not eat.
Tu as fini.	Tu n'as pas fini.	You did not finish.
Il a vu.	Il n'a pas vu.	He did not see.
Nous sommes allés.	Nous ne sommes pas allés.	We did not go.
Elles sont arrivées.	Elles ne sont pas arrivées.	They did not arrive.

Note: After a negative in the passé composé, un/une/des becomes de. Example: J'ai acheté un livre → Je n'ai pas acheté de livre.

Real-life Example

Je n'ai pas mangé ce matin. ("I did not eat this morning.")

School Example

Il n'a pas fait ses devoirs. ("He did not do his homework.")

Home Example

Ma sœur n'est pas sortie hier. ("My sister did not go out yesterday.")

Nigerian Example

Nous ne sommes pas allés au marché. ("We did not go to the market.")

Illustration

NEGATION IN THE PASSÉ COMPOSÉ
=============================

   Affirmative:   Je  ai  mangé.
                       ^^
                    auxiliary

   Negative:      Je  n'  ai  pas  mangé.
                          ^^  ^^^
                        aux   pas

   The "ne… pas" wraps the AUXILIARY, not the participle.

   CORRECT:    Je n'ai pas mangé.
   INCORRECT:  Je ai mangé pas.      (wrong order)
   INCORRECT:  Je n'ai mangé pas.    (wrong order)

   With être:

   Affirmative:   Elle  est  allée.
   Negative:      Elle  n'est  pas  allée.

Mini Summary

To make a negative sentence in the passé composé, wrap ne… pas around the auxiliary verb. Je n'ai pas mangé. Remember: un/une/des becomes de after a negative.

Lesson 10: Connectors — Linking Ideas

Definition

Connectors are words that link sentences and ideas together. They make your writing flow smoothly.

Why It Is Important

Without connectors, your writing is choppy. With them, it sounds natural and elegant.

Simple Explanation

Think of connectors as bridges between islands. Each sentence is an island. Connectors let you walk from one to the next.

Common Connectors

French	English	Use
et	and	Adds information
mais	but	Shows contrast
ou	or	Shows choice
parce que	because	Gives a reason
donc	so / therefore	Shows result
puis	then	Shows sequence
ensuite	afterwards / next	Shows sequence
d'abord	first	Starts a sequence
enfin / finalement	finally	Ends a sequence

Real-life Example

J'ai mangé et puis je suis sorti. ("I ate and then I went out.") Je reste parce qu'il pleut. ("I am staying because it is raining.")

School Example

J'ai étudié, donc j'ai réussi. ("I studied, so I succeeded.") Il est fatigué, mais il travaille. ("He is tired, but he works.")

Home Example

Ma mère a préparé le dîner, puis nous avons mangé. ("My mother prepared dinner, then we ate.")

Nigerian Example

J'ai visité Lagos et j'ai acheté des vêtements, mais je n'ai pas vu la plage. ("I visited Lagos and bought clothes, but I did not see the beach.")

Illustration

CONNECTORS — THE BRIDGES
========================

   Sentence 1                    Sentence 2
   ----------                    ----------
   "J'ai mangé."                 "Je suis sorti."

              \                  /
               \                /
                \              /
              [ CONNECTOR ]
               "et puis"

              /              \
             /                \
            V                  V

   "J'ai mangé ET PUIS je suis sorti."

   Common connectors:

   ET       and           (adds)
   MAIS     but           (contrasts)
   PARCE QUE because      (reasons)
   DONC     so            (results)
   PUIS     then          (sequence)
   D'ABORD  first         (starts)
   ENFIN    finally       (ends)

Mini Summary

Connectors link sentences and make your writing flow. Common ones include et, mais, parce que, donc, puis, and enfin.

Lesson 11: Adverb Placement

Definition

Adverbs are words that describe how, when, or how often something happens. In French, they have a specific position in the sentence.

Why It Is Important

Adverbs add detail to your writing. But if you put them in the wrong place, the sentence sounds strange.

Simple Explanation

Think of adverbs as small stickers. You place them on the sentence, but in the right spot — usually after the verb.

Common Adverbs and Their Positions

Adverb	Meaning	Position	Example
toujours	always	After the verb	Je travaille toujours le lundi.
souvent	often	After the verb	Il mange souvent ici.
parfois	sometimes	After the verb	Elle voyage parfois.
rarement	rarely	After the verb	Nous sortons rarement.
jamais	never	Wraps with ne	Je ne fume jamais.
bien	well	After the verb	Il parle bien français.
vite	quickly	After the verb	Elle court vite.

Position in the Passé Composé

Short adverbs usually sit between the auxiliary and the past participle.

ADVERB POSITION IN PASSÉ COMPOSÉ
================================

   j'ai  SOUVENT  mangé ici.
        ^^^^^^^
   between auxiliary and participle

   Il a  BIEN  travaillé.
        ^^^^
   between auxiliary and participle

   Nous avons  DÉJÀ  visité ce musée.
               ^^^^
   between auxiliary and participle

Real-life Example

J'ai souvent mangé ici. ("I have often eaten here.") Il a bien travaillé. ("He worked well.")

School Example

Elle a toujours aimé les livres. ("She has always loved books.")

Home Example

Nous avons déjà préparé le dîner. ("We have already prepared dinner.")

Nigerian Example

J'ai souvent visité Lagos. ("I have often visited Lagos.")

Illustration

ADVERB PLACEMENT
================

   PRESENT TENSE:
   Je  travaille  TOUJOURS  le lundi.
                   ^^^^^^^^
                after the verb

   PASSÉ COMPOSÉ:
   J'ai  SOUVENT  mangé ici.
         ^^^^^^^
    between auxiliary and participle

   Think of the adverb as a small sticker.
   In the passé composé, it goes between the two parts
   of the verb.

   WRONG:  J'ai mangé souvent ici.
   RIGHT:  J'ai souvent mangé ici.

Mini Summary

Adverbs describe how, when, or how often. In the present tense, they go after the verb. In the passé composé, they go between the auxiliary and the past participle.

Lesson 12: Writing About a Past Event

Definition

Writing about a past event means telling a story about something that happened using the passé composé.

Why It Is Important

This is the main writing skill of the module. It combines everything you have learned.

Simple Explanation

Think of a past event as a film. Each scene is a sentence. Connectors are the transitions between scenes.

Step-by-Step

Start with a time marker: Hier, La semaine dernière, L'année dernière.
Introduce the main action: J'ai… or Je suis allé(e)…
Use connectors to add more actions: puis, ensuite, et.
Add a reason with parce que.
Add a contrast with mais.
End with a feeling or conclusion: donc, enfin.
Read aloud and check for agreement.

Model Paragraph

Hier, je suis allé au marché avec ma mère. D'abord, nous avons pris le bus. Ensuite, nous avons acheté des légumes et des fruits. J'ai vu un beau tissu, mais je n'ai pas acheté. Ma mère a préparé un bon dîner, donc nous avons mangé ensemble. Enfin, je suis rentré à la maison et j'ai fait mes devoirs.

English: "Yesterday, I went to the market with my mother. First, we took the bus. Then, we bought vegetables and fruit. I saw a beautiful fabric, but I did not buy it. My mother prepared a good dinner, so we ate together. Finally, I went home and did my homework."

Real-life Example

You write about your weekend in a journal.

School Example

Your teacher asks you to write about your last holiday. You use this model.

Home Example

You write a letter to a relative about your week.

Nigerian Example

Le week-end dernier, je suis allé à la plage de Lekki. J'ai nagé et j'ai mangé du poisson grillé. J'ai vu mes amis, puis nous sommes rentrés le soir.

Illustration

WRITING A PAST EVENT — STORY MAP
================================

   [ TIME MARKER ]
        |
        V
   "Hier, je suis allé au marché."

   [ FIRST ACTION ]
        |
        V
   "D'abord, nous avons pris le bus."

   [ SECOND ACTION ]
        |
        V
   "Ensuite, nous avons acheté des légumes."

   [ CONTRAST ]
        |
        V
   "J'ai vu un tissu, MAIS je n'ai pas acheté."

   [ RESULT ]
        |
        V
   "Ma mère a préparé un dîner, DONC nous avons mangé."

   [ CLOSING ]
        |
        V
   "Enfin, je suis rentré et j'ai fait mes devoirs."

   A full past story in French! 🎉

Mini Summary

To write about a past event, use a time marker, then tell the actions using the passé composé. Add connectors like d'abord, puis, ensuite, mais, donc, and enfin.

Lesson 13: Common Traps and How to Avoid Them

Definition

A trap is a mistake that many learners make. Knowing the traps helps you avoid them.

Why It Is Important

Learning is not just about adding new knowledge — it is also about avoiding common errors.

Simple Explanation

Think of these traps as potholes on a road. If you know where they are, you can drive around them.

Trap 1: Using Avoir with Movement Verbs

Verbs like aller, venir, partir, and arriver use être, not avoir.

Wrong: J'ai allé au marché.

Right: Je suis allé au marché.

Trap 2: Forgetting Agreement with Être

With être, the past participle must agree with the subject.

Wrong: Elle est allé.

Right: Elle est allée.

Trap 3: Adding Agreement with Avoir

With avoir, the past participle does not change.

Wrong: Elle a mangée.

Right: Elle a mangé.

Trap 4: Putting Pas in the Wrong Place

In the passé composé, ne… pas wraps the auxiliary.

Wrong: Je n'ai mangé pas.

Right: Je n'ai pas mangé.

Trap 5: Forgetting Irregular Past Participles

Some verbs have unusual past participles. Learn them.

Wrong: J'ai prendu le bus.

Right: J'ai pris le bus.

Comparison Table

Wrong	Right	Why
J'ai allé.	Je suis allé.	Aller uses être
Elle est allé.	Elle est allée.	Agreement with être
Elle a mangée.	Elle a mangé.	No agreement with avoir
Je n'ai mangé pas.	Je n'ai pas mangé.	Pas after auxiliary
J'ai prendu.	J'ai pris.	Irregular participle

Mini Summary

The main traps are: using avoir with movement verbs, forgetting agreement with être, adding agreement with avoir, misplacing pas, and forgetting irregular past participles. Learn these and your writing will improve dramatically.

Lesson 14: Putting It All Together — A Full Model Text

Definition

This lesson shows a complete text using everything you have learned in this module.

Why It Is Important

Seeing a full example helps you understand how the pieces fit together.

The Text

Le week-end dernier, je suis allé(e) à la maison de ma grand-mère avec ma famille. Nous avons quitté Lagos vendredi soir. Le voyage a duré cinq heures. Quand nous sommes arrivés, ma grand-mère était très contente. Elle nous a préparé un bon repas.

Samedi matin, j'ai aidé ma grand-mère dans le jardin. Ensuite, nous sommes allés au marché. J'ai acheté une belle robe et j'ai vu mes cousins. Nous avons parlé et nous avons ri ensemble.

Dimanche, nous sommes allés à l'église. Après, nous avons mangé un grand repas de famille. Je n'ai pas voulu rentrer à Lagos, mais nous sommes partis le soir.

Enfin, je suis arrivé(e) à la maison fatigué(e), mais heureux(se). J'ai beaucoup aimé ce week-end.

English: "Last weekend, I went to my grandmother's house with my family. We left Lagos on Friday evening. The journey lasted five hours. When we arrived, my grandmother was very happy. She prepared a good meal for us.

Saturday morning, I helped my grandmother in the garden. Then, we went to the market. I bought a beautiful dress and I saw my cousins. We talked and laughed together.

Sunday, we went to church. Afterwards, we ate a big family meal. I did not want to go back to Lagos, but we left in the evening.

Finally, I arrived home tired but happy. I really enjoyed this weekend."

Breaking It Down

Sentence	What It Uses
je suis allé(e)…	Être verb with agreement
Nous avons quitté…	Avoir auxiliary
Le voyage a duré…	Avoir with regular participle
Elle nous a préparé…	Avoir auxiliary
j'ai aidé…	Regular -er verb
nous sommes allés…	Être verb with agreement
Je n'ai pas voulu…	Negation + irregular participle
fatigué(e), mais heureux(se)	Adjective agreement + connector

Mini Summary

A full past-tense narrative uses both auxiliaries, agreement, negation, connectors, time markers, and irregular past participles. When you can write a text like this, you have mastered the module.

Lesson 15: A Final Review — The Passé Composé at a Glance

Definition

This lesson gathers all the key rules into one clear page for quick reference.

Why It Is Important

Having one page with all the rules helps you review quickly and spot the ones you need to practise more.

The Master Formula

PASSÉ COMPOSÉ — THE FORMULA
===========================

   Subject  +  AUXILIARY  +  PAST PARTICIPLE

   Auxiliary:  avoir (most verbs) OR être (movement verbs)
   Participle: -é (er), -i (ir), -u (re), or irregular

   With AVOIR:  no agreement
   With ÊTRE:   agreement required

The Master Table

Feature	Avoir Verbs	Être Verbs
Which verbs?	Most verbs	Movement verbs (16)
Agreement?	No	Yes
Example	J'ai mangé	Je suis allé(e)
Negative	Je n'ai pas mangé	Je ne suis pas allé(e)

Regular Past Participles

Verb Ending	Participle Ending	Example
-er	-é	parlé
-ir	-i	fini
-re	-u	vendu

Mini Summary

The passé composé has two parts: an auxiliary and a past participle. Most verbs use avoir. Movement verbs use être, and their participles agree with the subject.

5. Key Vocabulary

Here are the important words from this module.

French	English	Simple Definition
le passé composé	the compound past	The most common past tense in French
un auxiliaire	an auxiliary	A helping verb (avoir or être)
un participe passé	a past participle	The verb's past form
hier	yesterday	Time marker
avant-hier	the day before yesterday	Time marker
la semaine dernière	last week	Time marker
l'année dernière	last year	Time marker
ce matin	this morning	Time marker
hier soir	last night	Time marker
il y a…	… ago	Time marker
d'abord	first	Connector
ensuite	then / next	Connector
puis	then	Connector
enfin	finally	Connector
mais	but	Connector
parce que	because	Connector
donc	so / therefore	Connector
déjà	already	Adverb
souvent	often	Adverb
toujours	always	Adverb
jamais	never	Adverb
bien	well	Adverb

6. Important Concepts

Concept 1: The Two-Part Verb

The passé composé always has two parts: an auxiliary and a past participle.

Concept 2: Two Auxiliaries

Most verbs use avoir. Movement verbs use être.

Concept 3: Agreement with Être

With être, the past participle agrees with the subject. With avoir, it does not.

Concept 4: Regular Participles

-er → -é, -ir → -i, -re → -u. Learn these three patterns.

Concept 5: Connectors Link Ideas

Use et, mais, parce que, donc, puis, and enfin to make your writing flow.

7. Step-by-Step Explanations

How to Form the Passé Composé

STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS
====================

   STEP 1: Choose your subject.
           je / tu / il / elle / nous / vous / ils / elles
             |
             V
   STEP 2: Choose the auxiliary.
           - Most verbs? Use AVOIR.
           - Movement verbs? Use ÊTRE.
             |
             V
   STEP 3: Conjugate the auxiliary in the present.
           (ai, as, a, avons, avez, ont)
           (suis, es, est, sommes, êtes, sont)
             |
             V
   STEP 4: Form the past participle.
           -er → -é    -ir → -i    -re → -u
           irregular: memorise
             |
             V
   STEP 5: Add agreement if using être.
             |
             V
   STEP 6: Read aloud and check.
             |
             V
   FINISH

How to Write About a Past Event

Start with a time marker: Hier, La semaine dernière.
Tell the first action: J'ai… or Je suis allé(e)…
Add more actions with connectors: puis, ensuite, et.
Add a reason with parce que.
Add a contrast with mais.
Add a result with donc.
End with enfin and a feeling.
Check agreement and read aloud.

8. Real-life Examples

Example 1: A Trip to the Market

Samedi dernier, je suis allé au marché avec ma mère. Nous avons acheté des légumes et du poisson. J'ai porté le sac. Nous sommes rentrés à la maison fatigués mais contents.

English: "Last Saturday, I went to the market with my mother. We bought vegetables and fish. I carried the bag. We returned home tired but happy."

Example 2: A Football Match

Hier, j'ai joué au football avec mes amis. Nous avons joué pendant deux heures. J'ai marqué un but. Tout le monde a crié.

English: "Yesterday, I played football with my friends. We played for two hours. I scored a goal. Everyone shouted."

Example 3: A School Day

Lundi matin, je suis arrivé à l'école en retard. Le professeur a expliqué la leçon. J'ai écouté attentivement. J'ai appris beaucoup.

English: "Monday morning, I arrived at school late. The teacher explained the lesson. I listened carefully. I learned a lot."

9. Nigerian Examples

Example 1: A Wedding in Lagos

L'année dernière, je suis allé à un mariage à Lagos. La mariée a porté une belle robe. Les invités ont chanté et dansé. C'était magnifique.

English: "Last year, I went to a wedding in Lagos. The bride wore a beautiful dress. The guests sang and danced. It was beautiful."

Example 2: A Visit to Abuja

Nous sommes allés à Abuja en famille. Nous avons visité la grande mosquée. J'ai pris beaucoup de photos. Le soir, nous avons mangé du riz et du poulet.

English: "We went to Abuja as a family. We visited the big mosque. I took many photos. In the evening, we ate rice and chicken."

Example 3: A Rainy Day in Enugu

Un jour, il a plu très fort à Enugu. Je suis rentré de l'école. Je n'avais pas de parapluie. Je suis arrivé à la maison mouillé.

English: "One day, it rained very hard in Enugu. I came home from school. I did not have an umbrella. I arrived home wet."

10. Fun Examples Children Can Relate To

Example 1: The Stolen Meat

Ma mère a cuisiné du ragoût. Je suis allé regarder la télé. Soudain, mon petit frère a pris un morceau de viande. Ma mère a crié. Il a couru.

English: "My mother cooked stew. I went to watch TV. Suddenly, my little brother took a piece of meat. My mother shouted. He ran."

Example 2: The Missing Homework

Hier, j'ai fait mes devoirs. Mon chien a joué à côté de moi. Tout à coup, il a pris mon cahier. Il l'a déchiré. J'ai pleuré.

English: "Yesterday, I did my homework. My dog played next to me. Suddenly, he took my notebook. He tore it. I cried."

Example 3: A Surprise Party

C'était mon anniversaire. Je suis rentré de l'école. La maison était silencieuse. J'ai ouvert la porte. Tout à coup, mes amis ont crié : "Joyeux anniversaire !"

English: "It was my birthday. I came home from school. The house was silent. I opened the door. Suddenly, my friends shouted: 'Happy birthday!'"

11. Everyday Examples

Example 1: Morning Routine

Ce matin, je me suis levé à six heures. J'ai mangé du pain. Je suis parti à l'école.

English: "This morning, I got up at six. I ate bread. I left for school."

Example 2: Evening at Home

Hier soir, ma famille a regardé un film. Ma sœur a lu un livre. Mon père a préparé du thé. Soudain, l'électricité est partie.

English: "Last night, my family watched a film. My sister read a book. My father made tea. Suddenly, the electricity went off."

Example 3: A Phone Call

Je dînais quand mon téléphone a sonné. C'était ma grand-mère. Elle m'a demandé comment j'allais. J'ai dit que j'allais bien.

English: "I was eating dinner when my phone rang. It was my grandmother. She asked how I was. I said I was fine."

12. Parent Tips

Parents, here are some simple ways to support your child as they learn this module:

Ask your child what they did today in French. Encourage them to use the passé composé.
Encourage daily journaling in French. Even two or three sentences a day helps.
Celebrate small wins. When your child uses an être verb correctly, praise them.
Do not correct every mistake. Focus on one thing at a time — this week, focus on agreement.
Watch French cartoons or videos with subtitles. Ask your child to spot the past tense.
Make flashcards together for irregular past participles.
Read simple French storybooks and ask your child to guess what happened.
Ask your child to tell you about their day in French. Even a few sentences build confidence.

13. Interesting Facts

The passé composé is the past tense most used in everyday French speech.
The name "passé composé" means "compound past" because it is made of two parts.
The être verbs list DR MRS VANDERTRAMP was invented by American teachers.
French children learn the passé composé around age 7 or 8 in school.
Some French dialects use the passé composé almost exclusively for the past.
The word "composé" means "composed" or "put together."
The passé composé is often translated as simple past in English.
Agreement with être verbs is one of the trickiest parts of French grammar.

14. Did You Know?

Did you know that the passé composé uses two verbs, but only the auxiliary changes?
Did you know that the past participle with avoir never changes for the subject?
Did you know that aller is one of the most common être verbs?
Did you know that ne… pas wraps around the auxiliary in the passé composé?
Did you know that some verbs can use either avoir or être, depending on meaning?

15. Remember This

The passé composé = auxiliary + past participle.
Most verbs use avoir.
Movement verbs use être.
With avoir: no agreement.
With être: agreement required.
Regular participles: -er → -é, -ir → -i, -re → -u.
Negation: ne… pas wraps the auxiliary.
Connectors: et, mais, parce que, donc, puis, enfin.
Adverbs go between auxiliary and participle.

16. Common Mistakes

Mistake	Why It Is Wrong	Correct Version
J'ai allé.	Aller uses être	Je suis allé.
Elle est allé.	Missing agreement	Elle est allée.
Elle a mangée.	Wrong agreement with avoir	Elle a mangé.
Je n'ai mangé pas.	Wrong position of pas	Je n'ai pas mangé.
J'ai prendu.	Wrong past participle	J'ai pris.
J'ai mangé souvent ici.	Wrong adverb position	J'ai souvent mangé ici.

17. Best Practices

Write every day. Even three sentences a day helps.
Use both auxiliaries. Practice with avoir and être.
Check agreement with être verbs.
Remember the negation sandwich. Ne… pas wraps the auxiliary.
Learn irregular past participles with flashcards.
Use connectors to make your writing flow.
Read your sentences aloud. Your ear catches mistakes.
Be patient. Practice makes progress.

18. Comparison Tables

Avoir vs. Être — The Two Auxiliaries

Feature	Avoir	Être
Which verbs?	Most verbs	Movement verbs (16)
Agreement?	No	Yes
Example (elle)	Elle a mangé	Elle est allée
Example (ils)	Ils ont fini	Ils sont partis

Regular Past Participles at a Glance

Verb	Participle	Meaning
-er	-é	parlé (spoken)
-ir	-i	fini (finished)
-re	-u	vendu (sold)

Common Irregular Past Participles

Infinitive	Past Participle
avoir	eu
être	été
faire	fait
prendre	pris
voir	vu
boire	bu
lire	lu
écrire	écrit

Connectors and Their Uses

Connector	Meaning	Use
et	and	Adds
mais	but	Contrasts
parce que	because	Reasons
donc	so	Results
puis	then	Sequence
enfin	finally	Ending

19. End-of-Module Summary

Congratulations! You have completed Module 4 of the Beginner French course. Let us review what you learned.

What You Learned

What the passé composé is and why it matters.
How to form regular past participles.
Common irregular past participles.
How to use avoir as the auxiliary.
How to use être with movement verbs.
How to make past participles agree with the subject when using être.
Time markers for the past.
Negation in the passé composé.
Connectors for linking ideas.
Adverb placement.
How to write about a past event.

The Big Picture

THE BIG PICTURE
===============

   THE PASSÉ COMPOSÉ = AUXILIARY + PAST PARTICIPLE

   MOST VERBS:    AVOIR       + past participle
                                (no agreement)

   MOVEMENT VERBS: ÊTRE       + past participle
                                (agreement required)

   Add:
   - Time markers  (hier, la semaine dernière)
   - Connectors    (et, mais, parce que, donc)
   - Adverbs       (souvent, toujours, bien)
   - Negation      (ne… pas)

   You can now tell stories about the past in French. 🎉

20. Frequently Asked Questions (10 Questions)

Question 1: What is the passé composé?

It is the most common past tense in French. It is used for completed actions. It has two parts: an auxiliary and a past participle.

Question 2: Which auxiliary should I use?

Most verbs use avoir. Movement verbs use être. When in doubt, check if the verb describes movement.

Question 3: How do I form the past participle for regular verbs?

-er → -é, -ir → -i, -re → -u. Learn these three patterns.

Question 4: When does the past participle agree?

Only with être verbs. With avoir, it does not agree.

Question 5: How do I make a past sentence negative?

Wrap ne… pas around the auxiliary. Je n'ai pas mangé.

Question 6: What are the DR MRS VANDERTRAMP verbs?

They are the sixteen movement verbs that use être in the passé composé.

Question 7: Where do adverbs go in the passé composé?

They go between the auxiliary and the past participle. J'ai souvent mangé ici.

Question 8: What are time markers?

Words that tell you when something happened. Examples: hier, la semaine dernière, ce matin.

Question 9: What if I get it wrong?

Do not worry. French people will still understand you. Just keep practising.

Question 10: What is the best way to practise?

Write a few sentences about yesterday every day. Use both auxiliaries. Read French books. And do not be afraid to make mistakes.

21. Matching Exercises

Exercise 1: Match the French with the English

French	English
1. J'ai mangé.	A. I went.
2. Je suis allé.	B. I ate.
3. Elle a fini.	C. We took the bus.
4. Nous avons pris le bus.	D. She finished.
5. Ils sont partis.	E. They left.

Answers: 1-B, 2-A, 3-D, 4-C, 5-E.

Exercise 2: Match the Verb with Its Past Participle

Infinitive	Past Participle
1. faire	A. vu
2. voir	B. pris
3. prendre	C. fait
4. lire	D. eu
5. avoir	E. lu

Answers: 1-C, 2-A, 3-B, 4-E, 5-D.

22. Scenario-based Exercises

Scenario 1: Yesterday's Activities

Write 5 sentences about what you did yesterday. Use at least three different verbs in the passé composé.

Scenario 2: A Trip

Write 5 sentences about a trip you took. Use at least two être verbs with correct agreement.

Scenario 3: A School Event

Write 5 sentences about a school event. Use at least three connectors.

Scenario 4: A Day at Home

Write 4 sentences about what you did at home. Include one negative sentence.

23. Group Activity

Activity: Past Story Chain

Work in groups of four. Each person adds one sentence to a past story.

Person 1: Start with a time marker and an action. Example: Hier, je suis allé au marché.
Person 2: Add another action. Example: J'ai acheté des légumes.
Person 3: Add a reason or contrast. Example: Parce que ma mère voulait faire une soupe.
Person 4: Add the ending. Example: Puis je suis rentré à la maison.
Repeat until the story has 12 sentences.
Read the story aloud to the class.

24. Individual Activity

Activity: My Last Weekend

Write a paragraph of 6–8 sentences about your last weekend. Use the passé composé throughout.

Include:

At least one avoir verb.
At least one être verb with correct agreement.
At least two connectors.
At least one time marker.

25. Mini Project

Project: My Past Story Poster

Create a poster about a past event in your life. It should contain:

A title in French: Mon Souvenir (My Memory)
A short story of 8–10 sentences in the passé composé.
At least one avoir verb and one être verb.
At least three connectors.
A small drawing or ASCII illustration.
A vocabulary list of 5 new words with English meanings.

MINI PROJECT — STORY POSTER
===========================

   +----------------------------------+
   |  MON SOUVENIR                    |
   |  --------------------------------|
   |                                  |
   |  [ Drawing or ASCII illustration ]|
   |                                  |
   |  L'année dernière, je suis allé  |
   |  à Lagos avec ma famille.        |
   |  Nous avons visité un musée.     |
   |  J'ai vu beaucoup de belles      |
   |  choses. Puis nous avons mangé   |
   |  du jollof rice. Enfin, nous     |
   |  sommes rentrés le soir.         |
   |                                  |
   |  Vocabulaire:                    |
   |  - un souvenir = a memory        |
   |  - un musée = a museum           |
   +----------------------------------+

26. Practical Assignment

Assignment: A 150-Word Past Narrative

Write a story in French of about 150 words about a real or imaginary past event. Your story must include:

At least 6 sentences in the passé composé.
At least 3 avoir verbs.
At least 3 être verbs with correct agreement.
At least 2 irregular past participles.
At least 3 connectors.
At least 2 time markers.
At least 1 negative sentence.

When you finish, read your story aloud. Then check for common mistakes using the list in Section 16.

27. Key Takeaways

The passé composé is the most common past tense in French.
It has two parts: auxiliary + past participle.
Most verbs use avoir. Movement verbs use être.
With être, the past participle agrees with the subject.
With avoir, there is no agreement.
Regular participles: -er → -é, -ir → -i, -re → -u.
Negation wraps the auxiliary: ne… pas.
Connectors link ideas.
Adverbs go between auxiliary and participle.
Practice every day to build confidence.

28. Classroom Discussion Questions

Why do you think most verbs use avoir and only a few use être?
Can you think of a past story you could tell using the passé composé?
Why is agreement with être important?
How do connectors make your writing better?
What is the hardest part of the passé composé?
Which irregular past participle do you find hardest to remember?
How can you practise the passé composé at home?
What past event would you most like to write about in French?

29. Preparation for the Next Module

In Module 5, you will learn about practical writing. You will learn how to write formal and informal emails, invitations, RSVPs, and how to fill out forms in French. You will also learn the difference between tu and vous in writing.

Before Moving On, Make Sure You Can:

Form the passé composé with avoir.
Form the passé composé with être.
Make the past participle agree with the subject for être verbs.
Use regular and irregular past participles.
Make negative sentences in the passé composé.
Use connectors like et, mais, parce que, donc, puis, and enfin.
Write a 6–8 sentence narrative about a past event.

A Sneak Peek at Module 5

MODULE 5 PREVIEW
================

   You will learn:

   * Tu vs. vous in writing
   * How to write a formal email
   * How to write an informal message
   * How to write invitations
   * How to reply with an RSVP
   * How to fill out forms in French

   Example:
   "Bonjour, je vous écris pour demander
    des informations sur votre cours."
    (Formal)

   "Salut ! Ça te dit de venir samedi ?"
    (Informal)

   Get ready to write like a real French speaker!

Take a short break. Review this module. When you feel ready, move on to Module 5. You are doing great!

Module Five

French Beginner — Module 5: Practical Writing

French for Beginners

Module 5: Practical Writing — Emails, Invitations & Forms

Level: A1 (Beginner) | Duration: Weeks 9–10 | Focus: Real-world written French

1. Module Introduction

Welcome to the final module of your Beginner French course! You have come a long way. In Module 1, you learned the alphabet and how to introduce yourself. In Module 2, you learned regular verbs and family vocabulary. In Module 3, you learned the four irregular verbs and how to make questions and negative sentences. In Module 4, you learned how to talk about the past.

Now, in Module 5, you will put everything together in a very practical way. You will learn how to write real French for real situations.

In this module, you will learn:

How to choose between tu and vous in writing
How to write a formal email
How to write an informal message to a friend
How to write an invitation
How to reply to an invitation (RSVP)
How to fill out a form in French

These are the skills you will use in real life. Whether you are writing to a teacher, a friend, or a government office, this module will show you exactly what to say.

By the end of this module, you will be able to write any basic message in French — formal or informal. You will sound polite, correct, and confident.

Are you ready? Let us begin!

2. Learning Objectives

By the end of this module, you will be able to:

Explain the difference between tu and vous.
Choose the right register for a written message.
Write a formal email with the correct greeting and closing.
Write an informal message to a friend.
Write an invitation in French.
Reply to an invitation with an RSVP.
Recognise the most common French form fields.
Fill out a simple form in French.
Write a short dialogue or message using the correct register.

3. Warm-up Story

Two Letters from Amara

Amara sat at her desk on a Saturday morning. She had two important things to do.

First, she wanted to invite her best friend Chidinma to her birthday party. Second, she needed to write to her school principal, Mr Okonkwo, to ask for permission to use the school hall for the party.

She picked up her pen and wrote the first message:

Salut Chidinma !

Ça va ? Je t'écris parce que je veux t'inviter à ma fête samedi. Ça va être super ! Il y aura de la musique et du jollof rice. Tu viens ? Dis-moi vite !

Bisous,

Amara

Then she wrote the second message:

Monsieur le Directeur,

Je me permets de vous écrire afin de solliciter votre autorisation pour organiser une fête d'anniversaire dans la salle polyvalente samedi prochain.

Je vous remercie par avance pour votre compréhension.

Veuillez agréer, Monsieur le Directeur, l'expression de mon profond respect.

Amara Nwosu, élève de 3e B

Amara read both letters again. They were about the same thing — a birthday party. But they sounded completely different!

Her mother walked into the room. "You know what you just did, Amara? You used two different registers. That is one of the most important skills in writing."

Amara looked at her mother. "Registers?"

"Yes," her mother said. "The way you write changes depending on who you are writing to. To a friend, you are relaxed. To your principal, you are formal and respectful. Both are correct — but for different situations."

Amara smiled. She liked the idea. "So I can write to anyone in French, as long as I use the right register?"

"Exactly," her mother said. "That is what this module is about."

TWO MESSAGES — TWO REGISTERS
============================

   TO A FRIEND:                   TO THE PRINCIPAL:
   -------------                  -----------------

   "Salut Chidinma !"             "Monsieur le Directeur,"
   "Ça va ?"                      "Je me permets de vous écrire…"
   "Tu viens ?"                   "Je sollicite votre autorisation…"
   "Bisous,"                      "Veuillez agréer…"

   INFORMAL                       FORMAL

   Same message. Different register.
   That is what you will learn in this module.

4. Main Lessons

Lesson 1: What is Register?

Definition

Register is the style of language you use in a particular situation. It changes depending on who you are writing to and why.

Why It Is Important

Using the wrong register can sound strange, rude, or too informal. In French culture, register matters a lot. Choosing the right one shows respect and good manners.

Simple Explanation

Think about the clothes you wear. You would not wear the same outfit to a football match and to a wedding. Language is the same. You choose your "language clothes" based on the situation.

The Three Registers

Register	Used with	Example
Informal (familier)	Friends, family, close peers	Salut ! Ça va ?
Semi-formal (courant)	Classmates, colleagues, acquaintances	Bonjour, comment vas-tu ?
Formal (soutenu)	Teachers, officials, strangers	Bonjour, comment allez-vous ?

Real-life Example

To a friend: Salut, ça va ? To a teacher: Bonjour, comment allez-vous ?

School Example

In a text to a classmate: Tu peux me passer les devoirs ? In an email to a teacher: Pourriez-vous m'envoyer les devoirs, s'il vous plaît ?

Home Example

To your little brother: Passe-moi le sel ! To a guest: Pourriez-vous me passer le sel, s'il vous plaît ?

Nigerian Example

To a friend in Lagos: Salut ! On se voit samedi ? To the school principal: Monsieur, je sollicite votre permission pour m'absenter vendredi.

Illustration

THE THREE REGISTERS — A LADDER
==============================

   FORMAL      --------->  Monsieur, je vous prie de bien vouloir…
                           (Teachers, officials, strangers)

   SEMI-FORMAL --------->  Bonjour, comment allez-vous ?
                           (Classmates, colleagues)

   INFORMAL    --------->  Salut ! Ça va ?
                           (Friends, family)

   The higher you go, the more polite and structured.

Mini Summary

Register is the style of language you use in a situation. There are three main registers: informal, semi-formal, and formal. Choose based on who you are writing to.

Lesson 2: Tu vs. Vous in Writing

Definition

Tu and vous both mean "you," but they are used in different situations. Tu is informal. Vous is formal or plural.

Why It Is Important

Choosing the wrong one can sound rude or strange. In writing, this is especially important because you cannot use your voice or face to soften the message.

Simple Explanation

Think of tu as talking to a close friend. Think of vous as talking to someone important, or to a group of people.

When to Use Each

Use tu with…	Use vous with…
Friends	Teachers
Family members	Strangers
Children	Older people
Classmates	Officials
Close peers	More than one person

Register Affects the Whole Message

Informal (tu)	Formal (vous)
Salut !	Bonjour, Monsieur / Madame.
Tu vas bien ?	Comment allez-vous ?
Tu peux m'aider ?	Pourriez-vous m'aider ?
À plus !	Cordialement,

Real-life Example

To a friend: Tu viens à ma fête ? To a teacher: Pourriez-vous venir à notre présentation ?

School Example

To a classmate: Tu as fini le projet ? To the head teacher: Avez-vous reçu mon dossier ?

Home Example

To your sibling: Tu peux ranger ta chambre ? To a visitor: Voulez-vous boire quelque chose ?

Nigerian Example

To your friend: Tu es libre samedi ? To an elderly French visitor: Êtes-vous bien installé, Madame ?

Illustration

TU vs. VOUS — A SIMPLE CHOICE
=============================

   Are you talking to…

        +--- ONE FRIEND or FAMILY MEMBER?
        |        |
        |        V
        |      "TU"
        |
        +--- ONE TEACHER, STRANGER, OR ELDER?
        |        |
        |        V
        |      "VOUS"
        |
        +--- MORE THAN ONE PERSON?
                 |
                 V
               "VOUS"

   When in doubt, use "VOUS".
   It is polite, and never wrong.

Mini Summary

Tu is for friends and family. Vous is for teachers, strangers, elders, and groups. When in doubt, use vous — it is always polite.

Lesson 3: Writing a Formal Email

Definition

A formal email is an email you write to someone you do not know well, or to someone in authority, like a teacher, a principal, or an official.

Why It Is Important

Formal emails are used in school, work, and official situations. Writing them well opens doors.

Simple Explanation

Think of a formal email as a handshake. It is polite, respectful, and structured. There is a clear beginning, middle, and end.

The Structure

Part	Purpose	Example
Objet	Subject line	Objet : Demande d'information
Salutation	Opening greeting	Madame, Monsieur,
Opening	Why you are writing	Je vous écris pour…
Body	Details	Je souhaiterais savoir si…
Closing formula	Polite sign-off	Je vous prie d'agréer…
Signature	Your name	Cordialement, [Nom]

Sample Formal Email

SAMPLE FORMAL EMAIL
===================

   Objet : Inscription au cours de français

   Madame, Monsieur,

   Je vous écris pour demander des informations
   sur le cours de français débutant.

   Je souhaiterais savoir si les inscriptions
   sont encore ouvertes et quels sont les horaires.

   Je vous remercie par avance pour votre réponse.

   Cordialement,
   Marie Dupont

Formal Closing Formulas

French	Use
Je vous prie d'agréer, Madame, l'expression de mes salutations distinguées.	Very formal letters
Veuillez agréer, Madame, mes salutations respectueuses.	Formal, respectful
Cordialement,	Standard professional email
Bien à vous,	Warmer professional

Real-life Example

You write to a language school to ask about courses.

School Example

You write to your principal to request permission.

Home Example

You write to a bank to ask about opening an account.

Nigerian Example

Objet : Demande d'inscription à l'université. Madame, Monsieur, Je me permets de vous écrire afin de solliciter des informations sur votre programme de génie civil.

Illustration

FORMAL EMAIL STRUCTURE
======================

   [ OBJET ]
        |
        V
   [ SALUTATION: Madame, Monsieur, ]
        |
        V
   [ OPENING: Je vous écris pour… ]
        |
        V
   [ BODY: Details and requests ]
        |
        V
   [ CLOSING FORMULA: Cordialement, ]
        |
        V
   [ SIGNATURE ]

   Structured, respectful, clear.

Mini Summary

A formal email has an Objet, a salutation, an opening, a body, a closing formula, and a signature. Use vous throughout. Be polite and clear.

Lesson 4: Writing an Informal Message

Definition

An informal message is a message you write to a friend or family member. It is relaxed and warm.

Why It Is Important

Most of your daily messages are informal. Knowing how to write them well helps you connect with people you know.

Simple Explanation

Think of an informal message as a chat with a friend. It is short, warm, and uses tu.

The Structure

Part	Example
Greeting	Salut ! / Coucou !
Opening question	Ça va ?
Message	Je t'écris parce que…
Question	Tu viens ?
Closing	Bisous / À plus / À bientôt

Sample Informal Message

SAMPLE INFORMAL MESSAGE
=======================

   Salut Amina !

   Ça va ? Je t'écris parce que je veux organiser
   une soirée samedi. Tu es libre ? On pourrait
   manger chez moi vers 19h. Dis-moi si ça te va !

   À bientôt,
   Thomas

Informal Closing Phrases

French	English
Bisous	Kisses
Bises	Kisses (slightly more casual)
À plus	See you
À bientôt	See you soon
À demain	See you tomorrow
Gros bisous	Big kisses

Real-life Example

You text your friend to invite them to a film.

School Example

You send a note to a classmate about homework.

Home Example

You write a note to your sibling about dinner.

Nigerian Example

Salut Tunde ! Ça va ? Je t'écris pour te dire que la fête est samedi. Tu viens ? Ça va être super ! À plus !

Illustration

INFORMAL MESSAGE STRUCTURE
==========================

   [ GREETING: Salut ! ]
        |
        V
   [ QUESTION: Ça va ? ]
        |
        V
   [ MESSAGE: Je t'écris pour… ]
        |
        V
   [ QUESTION: Tu viens ? ]
        |
        V
   [ CLOSING: À plus ! ]

   Short, warm, friendly.

Mini Summary

An informal message is short, warm, and uses tu. Use phrases like Salut, Ça va ?, and Bisous. Write like you would talk to a close friend.

Lesson 5: Writing an Invitation

Definition

An invitation is a message asking someone to come to an event.

Why It Is Important

Invitations are common in everyday life. Birthdays, weddings, dinners — all need invitations.

Simple Explanation

Think of an invitation as a warm open door. It welcomes someone into an event.

Invitation Phrases

French	English	Register
Je t'invite à…	I invite you to…	Informal
Ça te dit de… ?	Do you fancy… ?	Informal
Tu es libre ?	Are you free?	Informal
On pourrait…	We could…	Informal
Je vous invite à…	I invite you to…	Formal
Je serais ravi(e) de vous inviter…	I would be delighted to invite you…	Formal
J'ai le plaisir de vous convier…	I have the pleasure of inviting you…	Very formal

Key Information in an Invitation

What to Include	French
Event	une fête d'anniversaire (a birthday party)
Date	samedi 15 juin (Saturday 15 June)
Time	à 19h (at 7pm)
Place	chez moi (at my place)
RSVP request	Réponds-moi / Répondez-moi

Real-life Example

You invite your cousin to your birthday party.

School Example

You invite classmates to a study group.

Home Example

You help your parents write a dinner invitation.

Nigerian Example

Salut Chidinma ! Je t'invite à ma fête d'anniversaire samedi. Ça va être super ! Il y aura de la musique et du jollof rice. Tu viens ? Bisous, Amara.

Illustration

INVITATION — KEY PARTS
======================

   +----------------------------------+
   |   EVENT:   fête d'anniversaire   |
   |   DATE:    samedi 15 juin        |
   |   TIME:    à 19h                 |
   |   PLACE:   chez moi              |
   |   RSVP:    Réponds-moi vite !    |
   +----------------------------------+

   WARM, CLEAR, FRIENDLY.

Mini Summary

An invitation asks someone to an event. Include the event, date, time, place, and an RSVP request. Use tu with friends and vous with formal guests.

Lesson 6: Replying to an Invitation (RSVP)

Definition

RSVP means "please reply." In French, it is Répondez s'il vous plaît. When you receive an invitation, you should reply.

Why It Is Important

Replying shows good manners. It also helps the host plan the event.

Simple Explanation

Think of an RSVP as closing the loop. The invitation was an open door. Your reply says "I am coming" or "I am sorry, I cannot come."

Accepting an Invitation

French	English
Avec plaisir !	With pleasure!
Super, je viens !	Great, I am coming!
Ça me va parfaitement.	That works perfectly for me.
Je serai là vers 19h.	I will be there around 7pm.
Merci beaucoup, j'accepte avec joie.	Thank you, I accept with joy.

Declining an Invitation Politely

French	English
Merci beaucoup, mais je ne suis pas disponible.	Thank you very much, but I am not available.
Je suis désolé(e), j'ai déjà un engagement.	I am sorry, I already have a commitment.
Ce sera pour une prochaine fois !	It will be for next time!
Je vous remercie, mais je ne pourrai pas venir.	Thank you, but I will not be able to come.

Real-life Example

You receive a wedding invitation and reply to accept.

School Example

You receive an invitation to a school event and reply.

Home Example

You reply to a family dinner invitation.

Nigerian Example

Merci beaucoup pour l'invitation ! Avec plaisir, je viendrai samedi. À bientôt !

Illustration

RSVP — TWO CHOICES
==================

   You receive an invitation.

             |
             V

   Can you come?

        +---- YES ---->  "Avec plaisir !"
        |                "Super, je viens !"
        |                "Je serai là."
        |
        +---- NO ----->  "Je suis désolé(e)…"
                         "Ce sera pour une prochaine fois !"

   Either way, thank the host.
   Replying is a sign of good manners.

Mini Summary

An RSVP is a reply to an invitation. Accept with Avec plaisir or Je viens. Decline politely with Je suis désolé(e) and suggest another time.

Lesson 7: Filling Out Forms in French

Definition

A form is a document with spaces to fill in your information. In French, forms use predictable vocabulary.

Why It Is Important

Forms are everywhere — schools, banks, airports, and offices. Knowing the French labels makes them easy to complete.

Simple Explanation

Think of a form as a set of questions. Each field asks for a piece of information. Learn the words and the answers are easy.

Common Form Fields

French Label	English	Example Entry
Nom	Last name	DUPONT
Prénom	First name	Marie
Date de naissance	Date of birth	12/05/1998
Lieu de naissance	Place of birth	Lyon
Nationalité	Nationality	française
Adresse	Address	14 rue Victor Hugo
Code postal	Postal code	69001
Ville	City	Lyon
Téléphone	Phone	06 12 34 56 78
Courriel / E-mail	Email	marie@exemple.fr
Sexe : M / F	Sex: male / female	F
Situation de famille	Marital status	célibataire / marié(e)
Signature	Signature	(sign here)
Fait à… le…	Done at… on…	Fait à Lyon, le 14/09/2026

Date Format in French

French dates are written day/month/year. 14/09/2026 means 14 September 2026.

Real-life Example

You fill out a form at a language school.

School Example

You fill out a school registration form.

Home Example

You help your parents fill out a bank form.

Nigerian Example

Nom : OKONKWO. Prénom : Chidi. Nationalité : nigériane. Ville : Enugu. Fait à Enugu, le 14/09/2026.

Illustration

A COMPLETED FRENCH FORM
=======================

   +----------------------------------+
   |  NOM :          DUPONT           |
   |  PRÉNOM :       Marie            |
   |  DATE DE NAISSANCE : 12/05/1998  |
   |  NATIONALITÉ :  française        |
   |  ADRESSE :      14 rue Victor    |
   |                 Hugo             |
   |  CODE POSTAL :  69001            |
   |  VILLE :        Lyon             |
   |  TÉLÉPHONE :    06 12 34 56 78   |
   |  COURRIEL :     marie@ex.fr      |
   |  SITUATION :    célibataire      |
   |  FAIT À Lyon, le 14/09/2026      |
   +----------------------------------+

   Write clearly. Use block letters.
   Dates are day/month/year.

Mini Summary

French forms use predictable labels: Nom, Prénom, Date de naissance, Nationalité, Adresse, Code postal, Ville, Téléphone, Courriel. Dates use day/month/year.

Lesson 8: Greetings and Closings for Every Register

Definition

Each register has its own greetings and closings. Using the right ones makes your message fit the situation.

Why It Is Important

Mixing greetings and closings from different registers sounds wrong. For example, opening with Salut and closing with Veuillez agréer would be very strange.

Simple Explanation

Think of greetings and closings as a matching pair of shoes. They should match. If you wear one formal shoe and one casual shoe, it looks odd.

The Three Sets

Register	Greeting	Closing
Informal	Salut ! / Coucou !	Bisous / À plus / À bientôt
Semi-formal	Bonjour / Bonsoir	Cordialement / Bien à vous
Formal	Madame, Monsieur, / Monsieur le Directeur,	Veuillez agréer… / Je vous prie d'agréer…

Real-life Example

Informal: Salut ! … Bisous. Formal: Madame, … Cordialement.

School Example

To a classmate: Bonjour, … Cordialement. To the principal: Monsieur le Directeur, … Veuillez agréer…

Home Example

To a sibling: Salut ! … À plus ! To a family friend: Bonjour, … Bien à vous.

Nigerian Example

To a friend: Salut ! … Bisous. To a school official: Madame, … Veuillez agréer mes salutations distinguées.

Illustration

GREETINGS AND CLOSINGS — MATCHING PAIRS
=======================================

   INFORMAL:
   "Salut !" ---------------> "Bisous"

   SEMI-FORMAL:
   "Bonjour," -------------> "Cordialement"

   FORMAL:
   "Madame, Monsieur," ----> "Veuillez agréer…"

   Keep the pair matched.
   Do not mix.

Mini Summary

Each register has its own greetings and closings. Keep them matched. Informal uses Salut and Bisous. Semi-formal uses Bonjour and Cordialement. Formal uses Madame, Monsieur and Veuillez agréer.

Lesson 9: Common Traps and How to Avoid Them

Definition

A trap is a mistake that many learners make. Knowing the traps helps you avoid them.

Why It Is Important

Learning is not just about adding new knowledge — it is also about avoiding common errors.

Simple Explanation

Think of these traps as potholes on a road. If you know where they are, you can drive around them.

Trap 1: Mixing Registers

Do not open with Salut and close with Veuillez agréer.

Wrong: Salut, Monsieur le Directeur…

Right: Bonjour, Monsieur le Directeur…

Trap 2: Forgetting the Objet Line

Formal emails should have an Objet (subject) line. It tells the reader what the email is about.

Trap 3: Using tu in a Formal Email

Always use vous in formal writing.

Wrong: Tu peux m'aider ? (to a teacher)

Right: Pourriez-vous m'aider ?

Trap 4: Forgetting the Closing Formula

A formal email without a closing formula sounds abrupt.

Weak ending: Merci.

Strong ending: Cordialement, [Nom]

Trap 5: Writing Dates in the Wrong Order

French dates use day/month/year. 14/09 means 14 September, not 9 November.

Comparison Table

Wrong	Right	Why
Salut, Monsieur le Directeur…	Bonjour, Monsieur le Directeur…	Mixed register
No Objet line	Objet : …	Formal email needs it
Tu peux… to a teacher	Pourriez-vous…	Formal writing uses vous
Ends with just "Merci."	Ends with "Cordialement, [Nom]"	Formal closing required
Dates as month/day/year	Dates as day/month/year	French date format

Mini Summary

The main traps are: mixing registers, forgetting the Objet line, using tu in formal writing, forgetting the closing formula, and writing dates in the wrong order. Learn these and your writing will improve.

Lesson 10: Putting It All Together — Three Complete Models

Definition

This lesson shows three complete models: a formal email, an informal message, and a form.

Why It Is Important

Seeing full examples helps you write your own. These are your templates.

Model 1: Formal Email

FORMAL EMAIL — MODEL
====================

   Objet : Demande d'inscription au cours de français

   Madame, Monsieur,

   Je me permets de vous écrire afin de solliciter
   des informations sur votre cours de français
   pour débutants. Je souhaiterais connaître les
   dates de la prochaine session et les frais
   d'inscription.

   Je vous remercie par avance pour votre réponse.

   Veuillez agréer, Madame, Monsieur, l'expression
   de mes salutations distinguées.

   Chidi Okonkwo

Model 2: Informal Message

INFORMAL MESSAGE — MODEL
========================

   Salut Amina !

   Ça va ? Je t'écris parce que je veux t'inviter
   à ma fête samedi. Ça va être super ! Il y aura
   de la musique et du jollof rice. Tu viens ?
   Dis-moi vite !

   Bisous,
   Amara

Model 3: Completed Form

COMPLETED FORM — MODEL
======================

   NOM :            OKONKWO
   PRÉNOM :         Chidi
   DATE DE NAISSANCE : 12/05/2010
   LIEU DE NAISSANCE : Enugu
   NATIONALITÉ :    nigériane
   ADRESSE :        14 Zik Avenue
   CODE POSTAL :    400001
   VILLE :          Enugu
   TÉLÉPHONE :      0803 123 4567
   COURRIEL :       chidi@exemple.com
   SEXE :           M
   SITUATION :      célibataire
   FAIT À Enugu, le 14/09/2026

Real-life Example

You might use the formal email model to write to a school or office.

School Example

You might use the informal message model to invite a classmate to study.

Home Example

You might use the form model to register for a library card.

Nigerian Example

You might combine all three: register for a course, invite a friend, and fill out a form — all in French.

Illustration

THREE MODELS — THREE SITUATIONS
===============================

   1. FORMAL EMAIL
      Who? Teacher, official, stranger
      Register? Formule, polite
      Use? Requests, applications

   2. INFORMAL MESSAGE
      Who? Friend, family
      Register? Warm, casual
      Use? Invitations, chats, notes

   3. COMPLETED FORM
      Who? Any institution
      Register? Neutral, factual
      Use? Registration, applications

   Learn all three, and you can handle
   almost any written situation in French.

Mini Summary

Use these three models as templates. The formal email is for official situations. The informal message is for friends and family. The form is for providing information.

Lesson 11: Writing a Thank-You Note

Definition

A thank-you note is a short message to thank someone for something they did or gave you.

Why It Is Important

Thank-you notes show good manners. They make people feel appreciated.

Simple Explanation

Think of a thank-you note as a warm hug in writing. It says "I noticed what you did, and I am grateful."

Thank-You Phrases

French	English
Merci beaucoup !	Thank you very much!
Merci pour…	Thank you for…
Je te remercie pour…	I thank you for… (informal)
Je vous remercie pour…	I thank you for… (formal)
C'était très gentil de ta part.	That was very kind of you.
Je suis très reconnaissant(e).	I am very grateful.

Sample Thank-You Note (Informal)

THANK-YOU NOTE — INFORMAL
=========================

   Salut Tante Ada !

   Merci beaucoup pour le cadeau. C'était
   très gentil de ta part. J'adore le livre !
   J'espère te voir bientôt.

   Bisous,
   Amara

Sample Thank-You Note (Formal)

THANK-YOU NOTE — FORMAL
=======================

   Madame,

   Je vous remercie pour votre aide précieuse.
   C'était très gentil de votre part.

   Cordialement,
   Amara Nwosu

Real-life Example

You write a thank-you note after receiving a birthday gift.

School Example

You write a thank-you note to a teacher after a helpful lesson.

Home Example

You write a thank-you note to a neighbour who helped your family.

Nigerian Example

Cher Oncle Emeka, Merci beaucoup pour ton aide. Je suis très reconnaissant. À bientôt ! Chidi.

Illustration

THANK-YOU NOTE — SIMPLE STRUCTURE
=================================

   [ GREETING ]
        |
        V
   "Salut Tante Ada !" / "Madame,"

   [ THANKS ]
        |
        V
   "Merci beaucoup pour…"
   "Je te remercie pour…"

   [ PERSONAL TOUCH ]
        |
        V
   "C'était très gentil."

   [ CLOSING ]
        |
        V
   "Bisous," / "Cordialement,"

   Short. Warm. Sincere.

Mini Summary

A thank-you note thanks someone for something. Use Merci beaucoup or Je vous remercie. Keep it short and warm.

Lesson 12: Writing a Short Message About Your Day

Definition

A short message about your day is a brief note telling someone what you did or how you are.

Why It Is Important

These messages are the most common kind of writing you will do in French. They appear in texts, emails, and journals.

Simple Explanation

Think of it as a small window into your day. You open the window and show a few moments.

The Structure

Greeting
How you are
What you did today (using passé composé)
What you are doing now
Closing

Sample Message

SHORT MESSAGE ABOUT MY DAY
==========================

   Salut Chidi !

   Ça va ? Moi, ça va bien. Aujourd'hui, je suis
   allé à l'école. J'ai étudié le français et les
   maths. Ensuite, j'ai joué au football avec mes
   amis. Maintenant, je fais mes devoirs.

   À bientôt !
   Tunde

Real-life Example

You text your cousin to tell them about your day.

School Example

You write a short message to your teacher explaining what you did in class.

Home Example

You write a note for your parents about your day.

Nigerian Example

Salut Maman ! Ça va ? Aujourd'hui, j'ai mangé du riz et j'ai étudié. Maintenant, je regarde la télé. À bientôt ! Amara.

Illustration

SHORT MESSAGE — A WINDOW INTO YOUR DAY
======================================

   [ GREETING: Salut Chidi ! ]
        |
        V
   [ HOW YOU ARE: Ça va ? Moi, ça va bien. ]
        |
        V
   [ WHAT YOU DID: J'ai étudié… ]
        |
        V
   [ WHAT YOU ARE DOING NOW: Je fais mes devoirs. ]
        |
        V
   [ CLOSING: À bientôt ! ]

   Short, clear, personal.

Mini Summary

A short message about your day has a greeting, how you are, what you did (using passé composé), what you are doing now, and a closing. Keep it short and warm.

Lesson 13: Writing an Invitation in the Formal Register

Definition

A formal invitation is an invitation written in a polite, respectful style for a formal event.

Why It Is Important

Formal invitations are used for weddings, official ceremonies, and events with guests you do not know well.

Simple Explanation

Think of a formal invitation as a hand-delivered card with gold lettering. It is elegant and respectful.

The Structure

Part	Example
Opening	Madame, Monsieur,
Invitation phrase	J'ai le plaisir de vous convier…
Event details	à une cérémonie de mariage
Date and time	le samedi 15 juin à 15h
Place	à la salle des fêtes de Lagos
RSVP	Répondez s'il vous plaît avant le 10 juin
Closing	Cordialement / Respectueusement

Sample Formal Invitation

FORMAL INVITATION — MODEL
=========================

   Madame, Monsieur,

   J'ai le plaisir de vous convier à la
   célébration du mariage de ma sœur,
   le samedi 15 juin à 15h, à la salle
   des fêtes de Lagos.

   Votre présence serait un honneur pour
   notre famille. Merci de bien vouloir
   confirmer votre présence avant le
   10 juin.

   Cordialement,
   Amara Nwosu

Real-life Example

Your family sends a formal invitation for a wedding.

School Example

Your school sends a formal invitation to a graduation ceremony.

Home Example

Your family sends a formal invitation for a naming ceremony.

Nigerian Example

Madame, Monsieur, J'ai le plaisir de vous convier à la cérémonie de mariage de mon frère à Abuja, le samedi 20 juillet à 14h.

Illustration

FORMAL INVITATION — STRUCTURE
=============================

   [ OPENING ]
        |
        V
   "Madame, Monsieur,"

   [ INVITATION ]
        |
        V
   "J'ai le plaisir de vous convier à…"

   [ EVENT ]
        |
        V
   "la cérémonie de mariage"

   [ DATE + TIME + PLACE ]
        |
        V
   "le samedi 15 juin à 15h, à Lagos"

   [ RSVP ]
        |
        V
   "Répondez avant le 10 juin."

   [ CLOSING ]
        |
        V
   "Cordialement,"

   Formal, respectful, elegant.

Mini Summary

A formal invitation uses vous and polite phrases like J'ai le plaisir de vous convier. Include event details, date, time, place, and an RSVP request.

Lesson 14: Writing a Note to a Teacher

Definition

A note to a teacher is a short written message explaining something, asking for something, or apologising.

Why It Is Important

School is one of the most common situations for writing in French. Knowing how to write politely to a teacher is a valuable skill.

Simple Explanation

Think of this note as a small, respectful conversation with your teacher. It is short, clear, and polite.

Common Reasons for a Note

Reason	Phrase
Explaining absence	Je n'étais pas en classe hier parce que…
Apologising	Je vous prie de m'excuser pour…
Asking a question	Pourriez-vous m'expliquer… ?
Requesting help	J'aurais besoin de votre aide pour…
Thanking	Je vous remercie pour votre aide.

Sample Note to a Teacher

NOTE TO A TEACHER — MODEL
=========================

   Madame,

   Je vous prie de m'excuser, mais je n'étais
   pas en classe hier parce que j'étais malade.
   Pourriez-vous m'indiquer les devoirs à faire ?

   Je vous remercie pour votre compréhension.

   Cordialement,
   Chidi Okonkwo, 3e B

Real-life Example

You write a note explaining why you were absent.

School Example

You write a note asking for extra help with an assignment.

Home Example

Your parent writes a note to your teacher about a family event.

Nigerian Example

Madame, Je vous prie de m'excuser, mais je suis arrivé en retard à cause du trafic. Je m'excuse sincèrement. Chidi.

Illustration

NOTE TO A TEACHER — STRUCTURE
=============================

   [ SALUTATION: Madame, ]
        |
        V
   [ REASON: Je vous prie de m'excuser… ]
        |
        V
   [ REQUEST: Pourriez-vous… ? ]
        |
        V
   [ THANKS: Je vous remercie. ]
        |
        V
   [ CLOSING: Cordialement, ]
        |
        V
   [ SIGNATURE ]

   Short, polite, clear.

Mini Summary

A note to a teacher is short, polite, and clear. Use vous, apologise if needed, ask politely, and close with Cordialement.

Lesson 15: Final Review — Practical Writing at a Glance

Definition

This lesson gathers everything you learned into one clear page.

Why It Is Important

Having one page with all the tools helps you write quickly and correctly.

The Master Table

Type of Writing	Register	Greeting	Closing
Message to friend	Informal	Salut !	Bisous / À plus
Invitation to friend	Informal	Salut !	Bisous / À bientôt
Note to teacher	Semi-formal	Madame, / Monsieur,	Cordialement
Email to school	Formal	Madame, Monsieur,	Veuillez agréer…
Formal invitation	Formal	Madame, Monsieur,	Cordialement
Form fields	Neutral	—	Fait à… le…

Key Phrases by Function

Function	Formal	Informal
Opening	Madame, Monsieur,	Salut !
Reason	Je vous écris pour…	Je t'écris parce que…
Request	Pourriez-vous… ?	Tu peux… ?
Invitation	J'ai le plaisir de vous convier…	Ça te dit de… ?
Thanks	Je vous remercie.	Merci !
Closing	Cordialement, / Veuillez agréer…	Bisous / À plus

The Decision Flowchart

CHOOSING THE RIGHT STYLE
========================

   Who are you writing to?

        +--- FRIEND or FAMILY?
        |        |
        |        V
        |      INFORMAL
        |      "Salut !" … "Bisous"
        |
        +--- CLASSMATE or TEACHER?
        |        |
        |        V
        |      SEMI-FORMAL
        |      "Bonjour," … "Cordialement"
        |
        +--- OFFICIAL or STRANGER?
                 |
                 V
               FORMAL
               "Madame, Monsieur," … "Veuillez agréer…"

   When in doubt, use the more formal choice.
   It is never wrong to be polite.

Mini Summary

Choose your register based on the reader. Match the greeting and closing to the register. Use the master table as a quick reference.

5. Key Vocabulary

Here are the important words from this module.

French	English	Simple Definition
un registre	a register	The style of language used
familier	informal	Relaxed, for friends and family
courant	semi-formal	Neutral, polite but warm
soutenu	formal	Very polite, for officials
un objet	a subject	The topic of an email
une salutation	a greeting	The opening of a message
une formule de politesse	a polite closing formula	The ending of a formal message
une signature	a signature	Your name at the end
une invitation	an invitation	A message asking someone to come
une réponse	a reply	What you send back
répondre	to reply	To answer
accepter	to accept	To say yes
refuser	to refuse	To say no politely
un formulaire	a form	A document to fill in
un nom	a last name	Family name
un prénom	a first name	Given name
une date de naissance	a date of birth	When you were born
une adresse	an address	Where you live
un courriel	an email	Electronic mail
un téléphone	a telephone	Phone number
une nationalité	a nationality	Which country you are from
célibataire	single	Not married
marié(e)	married	Having a spouse

6. Important Concepts

Concept 1: Register is Context

Concept 2: Tu vs. Vous

Tu is for friends and family. Vous is for teachers, strangers, elders, and groups.

Concept 3: Match Greetings and Closings

Keep your greeting and closing in the same register. Do not mix.

Concept 4: Formal Emails Have Structure

Objet, salutation, opening, body, closing formula, signature. Each part has a job.

Concept 5: Forms Use Predictable Labels

Learn the common French form labels: Nom, Prénom, Date de naissance, Nationalité, Adresse. They always mean the same thing.

7. Step-by-Step Explanations

How to Write a Formal Email

STEP-BY-STEP PROCESS
====================

   STEP 1: Write the Objet line.
             |
             V
   STEP 2: Open with a formal salutation.
           "Madame, Monsieur,"
             |
             V
   STEP 3: State why you are writing.
           "Je vous écris pour…"
             |
             V
   STEP 4: Give details and requests.
           "Je souhaiterais savoir si…"
             |
             V
   STEP 5: Thank the reader in advance.
           "Je vous remercie par avance."
             |
             V
   STEP 6: Add a formal closing formula.
           "Cordialement,"
             |
             V
   STEP 7: Sign your name.
             |
             V
   FINISH

How to Fill Out a Form

Read all the labels carefully.
Translate each label if needed.
Write in block letters.
Use day/month/year for dates.
Check your spelling.
Sign at the bottom and write the date and place.

8. Real-life Examples

Example 1: A Formal Email to a School

Objet : Demande d'inscription. Madame, Monsieur, Je me permets de vous écrire afin de solliciter des informations sur votre cours de français. Je vous remercie par avance. Cordialement, Chidi Okonkwo.

English: "Subject: Registration request. Dear Sir or Madam, I take the liberty of writing to request information about your French course. I thank you in advance. Kind regards, Chidi Okonkwo."

Example 2: An Informal Message to a Friend

Salut Amina ! Ça va ? Je t'écris pour t'inviter à ma fête samedi. Tu viens ? Ça va être super ! Bisous, Amara.

English: "Hi Amina! How are you? I am writing to invite you to my party on Saturday. Are you coming? It is going to be great! Kisses, Amara."

Example 3: A Completed Form

Nom : OKONKWO. Prénom : Chidi. Date de naissance : 12/05/2010. Nationalité : nigériane. Ville : Enugu. Fait à Enugu, le 14/09/2026.

English: "Last name: OKONKWO. First name: Chidi. Date of birth: 12/05/2010. Nationality: Nigerian. City: Enugu. Done at Enugu, on 14/09/2026."

9. Nigerian Examples

Example 1: A Note to a Nigerian School Principal

Monsieur le Directeur, Je me permets de vous écrire afin de solliciter votre autorisation pour organiser une journée culturelle dans la salle polyvalente. Je vous remercie par avance. Veuillez agréer, Monsieur le Directeur, mes salutations respectueuses. Amara Nwosu, 3e B.

English: "Dear Principal, I take the liberty of writing to request your authorisation to organise a cultural day in the multi-purpose hall. I thank you in advance. Please accept, Mr Principal, my respectful greetings. Amara Nwosu, Year 10B."

Example 2: An Invitation to a Nigerian Celebration

Salut Chidi ! Je t'invite à ma fête d'anniversaire samedi. Il y aura du jollof rice et de la musique. Tu viens ? À bientôt ! Amara.

English: "Hi Chidi! I invite you to my birthday party on Saturday. There will be jollof rice and music. Are you coming? See you soon! Amara."

Example 3: A Note About Nigerian Traffic

Madame, Je vous prie de m'excuser pour mon retard. Le trafic à Lagos était très difficile ce matin. Je m'excuse sincèrement. Cordialement, Chidi.

English: "Madam, I beg your pardon for my lateness. The traffic in Lagos was very difficult this morning. I sincerely apologise. Kind regards, Chidi."

10. Fun Examples Children Can Relate To

Example 1: An Invitation to a Video Game Night

Salut Tunde ! Ça te dit de venir chez moi samedi pour jouer aux jeux vidéo ? On pourrait aussi manger de la pizza. Dis-moi si tu es libre ! À plus ! Chidi.

English: "Hi Tunde! Do you fancy coming to my place on Saturday to play video games? We could also eat pizza. Let me know if you are free! See you! Chidi."

Example 2: A Thank-You Note for a Birthday Gift

Salut Tante Ada ! Merci beaucoup pour le cadeau. J'adore le nouveau livre ! C'était très gentil de ta part. Bisous, Amara.

English: "Hi Aunt Ada! Thank you very much for the gift. I love the new book! That was very kind of you. Kisses, Amara."

Example 3: A Note About a Lost Pet

Bonjour ! J'ai perdu mon chat. Il est petit et noir. Si vous le voyez, pourriez-vous me téléphoner ? Merci beaucoup ! Chidi.

English: "Hello! I have lost my cat. He is small and black. If you see him, could you call me? Thank you very much! Chidi."

11. Everyday Examples

Example 1: A Note to a Neighbour

Bonjour, Je suis votre voisin. Je voudrais vous inviter à un dîner samedi soir chez moi. Pourriez-vous me confirmer votre présence ? Cordialement, Chidi.

English: "Hello, I am your neighbour. I would like to invite you to a dinner on Saturday evening at my place. Could you confirm your attendance? Kind regards, Chidi."

Example 2: A Message About a Delivery

Salut ! Je t'écris pour te dire que ton colis est arrivé. Tu peux passer le chercher quand tu veux. À bientôt ! Amara.

English: "Hi! I am writing to tell you that your package has arrived. You can come and pick it up whenever you want. See you soon! Amara."

Example 3: A Thank-You Message

Bonjour Madame, Je vous remercie pour votre aide. C'était très gentil de votre part. Bien à vous, Amara.

English: "Hello Madam, I thank you for your help. That was very kind of you. Best wishes, Amara."

12. Parent Tips

Parents, here are some simple ways to support your child as they learn this module:

Ask your child to write a short message to you in French. Even a thank-you note helps.
Encourage daily practice. Ask your child to write three sentences about their day.
Show your child how to write a letter or email in French. Compare it with English letters.
Celebrate small wins. When your child uses the correct register, praise them.
Do not correct every mistake. Focus on one thing at a time — this week, focus on greetings and closings.
Read French emails or letters together. Point out the structure.
Make a form together. Practice filling out French fields.
Ask your child to write an invitation for a family event. This is real, practical practice.

13. Interesting Facts

French has three registers, while English is often described as having two (formal and informal).
The formal register in French is called soutenu, which means "sustained" or "elevated."
Famous French writers like Victor Hugo revised their letters many times before sending them.
French schoolchildren learn to write formal letters (lettres administratives) at an early age.
The word Cordialement is one of the most common email closings in French.
In France, using the wrong register with an older person can be considered rude.
Some companies in France require job applications to be handwritten to check handwriting quality.
The word Objet at the top of an email is like the subject line in English email.

14. Did You Know?

Did you know that in French, you must match your greeting and closing register?
Did you know that vous is used both for one person (formal) and for more than one person?
Did you know that French dates are written day/month/year?
Did you know that Cordialement is one of the most common email closings in French?
Did you know that Bisous should never be used in a formal message?

15. Remember This

Register is the style of language used in a situation.
Three registers: informal (familier), semi-formal (courant), formal (soutenu).
Choose register based on the reader.
Formal emails have an Objet, salutation, opening, body, closing formula, and signature.
Informal messages use tu and phrases like Salut and Bisous.
Invitations include event, date, time, place, and RSVP.
RSVPs accept with Avec plaisir or decline politely.
Forms use predictable labels and day/month/year dates.

16. Common Mistakes

Mistake	Why It Is Wrong	Correct Version
Salut, Monsieur le Directeur	Mixed registers	Bonjour, Monsieur le Directeur
No Objet line	Formal emails need it	Objet : Demande d'information
Tu peux m'aider ? to a teacher	Too informal	Pourriez-vous m'aider ?
Dates as month/day/year	French format is different	Use day/month/year
Ending with Bisous in a formal note	Too informal	Use Cordialement
Forgetting the closing formula	Formal writing requires it	Add Cordialement or Veuillez agréer

17. Best Practices

Choose the register first. Decide who you are writing to.
Match greetings and closings. Keep them in the same register.
Use vous when in doubt. It is never wrong to be polite.
Include an Objet line in formal emails. It helps the reader.
Write in block letters on forms. This makes them easy to read.
Use day/month/year for dates. This is the French format.
Read your message aloud. Your ear catches mistakes.
Keep messages short and clear. Long is not always better.

18. Comparison Tables

The Three Registers at a Glance

Feature	Informal	Semi-formal	Formal
Greeting	Salut !	Bonjour	Madame, Monsieur,
Pronoun	tu	tu / vous	vous
Sentence length	Short	Medium	Long
Closing	Bisous	Cordialement	Veuillez agréer…
Used with	Friends	Classmates	Officials

Accepting vs. Declining an Invitation

Accepting	Declining
Avec plaisir !	Je suis désolé(e)…
Super, je viens !	Je ne suis pas disponible.
Je serai là.	Ce sera pour une prochaine fois !
Merci, j'accepte avec joie.	Merci, mais je ne pourrai pas venir.

Form Fields — French and English

French	English
Nom	Last name
Prénom	First name
Date de naissance	Date of birth
Nationalité	Nationality
Adresse	Address
Code postal	Postal code
Ville	City
Téléphone	Phone
Courriel	Email
Fait à… le…	Done at… on…

19. End-of-Module Summary

Congratulations! You have completed Module 5 and the entire Beginner French course. Let us review what you learned.

What You Learned

What register is and why it matters.
The difference between tu and vous.
How to write a formal email.
How to write an informal message.
How to write an invitation.
How to reply to an invitation (RSVP).
How to fill out forms in French.
How to write a thank-you note.
How to write a note to a teacher.
How to match greetings and closings to register.

The Big Picture

THE BIG PICTURE — THE WHOLE COURSE
==================================

   MODULE 1: Alphabet, accents, greetings
        |
        V
   MODULE 2: Regular -er verbs, articles, family
        |
        V
   MODULE 3: Irregular verbs, negation, questions
        |
        V
   MODULE 4: The past tense (passé composé)
        |
        V
   MODULE 5: Practical writing (emails, invitations, forms)
        |
        V
   YOU CAN NOW WRITE IN FRENCH! 🎉

   You have learned:
   * How to introduce yourself
   * How to talk about your family and daily life
   * How to describe the past
   * How to ask questions and make negatives
   * How to write formal and informal messages

   You are no longer just learning French.
   You are using French.

20. Frequently Asked Questions (10 Questions)

Question 1: What is register?

Question 2: When do I use tu and when do I use vous?

Use tu with friends and family. Use vous with teachers, strangers, elders, and groups.

Question 3: What is an Objet line?

It is the subject line at the top of an email. It tells the reader what the email is about.

Question 4: What is a formal closing formula?

It is a polite phrase at the end of a formal message. Examples: Cordialement, Veuillez agréer….

Question 5: How do I accept an invitation?

Use phrases like Avec plaisir or Super, je viens.

Question 6: How do I politely decline?

Use Je suis désolé(e) and add a reason. Suggest another time: Ce sera pour une prochaine fois.

Question 7: What is the French date format?

Day/month/year. 14/09/2026 means 14 September 2026.

Question 8: What are common form fields in French?

Nom, Prénom, Date de naissance, Nationalité, Adresse, Code postal, Ville, Téléphone, Courriel.

Question 9: What if I get it wrong?

Do not worry. French people will still understand you. Just keep practising.

Question 10: What is the best way to practise?

Write a short message every day. Practice both registers. Read French emails and letters. And do not be afraid to make mistakes.

21. Matching Exercises

Exercise 1: Match the French with the English

French	English
1. Salut !	A. Kind regards
2. Bonjour, comment allez-vous ?	B. Hi!
3. Cordialement	C. Dear Sir or Madam
4. Madame, Monsieur,	D. Hello, how are you?
5. Bisous	E. I would like…
6. Je souhaiterais…	F. Kisses

Answers: 1-B, 2-D, 3-A, 4-C, 5-F, 6-E.

Exercise 2: Match the Register with Its Greeting

Register	Greeting
1. Informal	A. Madame, Monsieur,
2. Semi-formal	B. Salut !
3. Formal	C. Bonjour, comment allez-vous ?

Answers: 1-B, 2-C, 3-A.

22. Scenario-based Exercises

Scenario 1: An Email to a School

Write a formal email to a school asking about a French course. Include an Objet line, a formal salutation, a request, and a closing formula.

Scenario 2: A Message to a Friend

Write an informal message inviting a friend to a party. Include a greeting, an invitation, and a warm closing.

Scenario 3: A Reply to an Invitation

You receive an invitation to a wedding, but you cannot attend. Write a polite reply declining and suggesting you meet another time.

Scenario 4: A Completed Form

Fill out a French form with your own information. Include Nom, Prénom, Date de naissance, Nationalité, Ville, and Fait à… le….

23. Group Activity

Activity: Register Workshop

Work in groups of four. Each group receives a topic (a party, a school event, a request).

Each member writes the same message in a different register (informal, semi-formal, formal, and one of choice).
Groups share their versions and compare.
Discuss: What changed? What stayed the same? Why?
Vote on the best version in each register.
Present the strongest example to the class.

24. Individual Activity

Activity: Rewrite in Three Registers

Choose one of these messages and rewrite it in three registers — informal, semi-formal, and formal:

"I cannot come to school tomorrow because I am sick."
"I want to invite you to my birthday party."
"I need help with my homework."

Each version should have:

A greeting appropriate to the register.
The main message.
A closing appropriate to the register.

25. Mini Project

Project: A Register Portfolio

Create a small portfolio with the same message written in all three registers. It should contain:

A cover page with your name and the title Mon Portfolio de Registres.
The informal version (with a friendly greeting and closing).
The semi-formal version (polite but warm).
The formal version (structured and respectful).
A short note explaining when you would use each version.
A small drawing or ASCII illustration.

MINI PROJECT — REGISTER PORTFOLIO
=================================

   +----------------------------------+
   |  MON PORTFOLIO DE REGISTRES      |
   |  --------------------------------|
   |                                  |
   |  Nom : [Votre nom]               |
   |                                  |
   |  1. INFORMAL:                    |
   |     "Salut ! …"                  |
   |                                  |
   |  2. SEMI-FORMAL:                 |
   |     "Bonjour, …"                 |
   |                                  |
   |  3. FORMAL:                      |
   |     "Madame, Monsieur, …"        |
   |                                  |
   |  [ Small drawing ]               |
   +----------------------------------+

26. Practical Assignment

Assignment: Three Real-World Messages

Write three short messages in French, each in a different register:

A formal email to a school asking about a French course.
An informal message to a friend inviting them to a film.
A short note to a teacher apologising for lateness.

Each message must include:

A greeting appropriate to the register.
A clear main message.
A closing appropriate to the register.
At least one verb in the passé composé.
Correct greetings and closings (matched registers).

When you finish, read your messages aloud. Then check for common mistakes using the list in Section 16.

27. Key Takeaways

Register is the style of language used in a situation.
The three registers are informal, semi-formal, and formal.
Choose register based on the reader.
Match greetings and closings to the same register.
Formal emails have an Objet, salutation, opening, body, closing formula, and signature.
Informal messages use tu and phrases like Salut and Bisous.
Invitations include event, date, time, place, and RSVP.
Forms use predictable labels and day/month/year dates.
When in doubt, use vous.
Practice every day to build confidence.

28. Classroom Discussion Questions

Why does French have three registers instead of two?
Can you think of a time when you used the wrong register in writing? What happened?
Why is it important to be polite in French?
How does the register change the feeling of a message?
Why do invitations need clear details?
What is the most useful phrase you learned in this module?
Which register do you find easiest to write in?
How can you practise French writing at home?

29. Preparation for the Next Course

You have completed the Beginner French course. What comes next?

Where to Go From Here

Path	Focus
Intermediate French (A2–B1)	Imparfait vs. passé composé, future tenses, pronouns
DELF A1 or A2 exam preparation	All four skills, exam format, timed writing
Independent practice	Journals, pen pals, reading French books and news

A Sneak Peek at Intermediate French

WHAT COMES NEXT — INTERMEDIATE PREVIEW
======================================

   In the Intermediate course, you will learn:

   * L'imparfait (another past tense)
   * Le futur simple (the future tense)
   * Object pronouns (le, la, les, lui, leur, y, en)
   * Relative pronouns (qui, que, dont, où)
   * Expressing opinions and arguments

   Example:
   "Quand j'étais petit, je jouais au football."
   (When I was small, I used to play football.)

   "L'année prochaine, je voyagerai en France."
   (Next year, I will travel to France.)

   Get ready for the next level!

Final Words

Take a moment to celebrate. You have finished the entire Beginner French course. You can introduce yourself, talk about your family, describe your day, talk about the past, ask questions, and write both formal and informal messages.

These are real skills. You can now communicate in French in everyday situations.

Keep a journal in French. Write to a pen pal. Read French stories. Watch French films. Talk to French speakers whenever you can.

The best way to keep a language is to keep using it. And you are ready to use yours.

Bravo, et bonne continuation !

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