Question 1

How do I describe my family in French for GCSE?

Accepted Answer

Start with 'Dans ma famille, il y a...' (In my family, there is/are...). List your family members using 'mon père' (my father), 'ma mère' (my mother), 'mon frère' (my brother), 'ma sœur' (my sister). Then describe them with adjectives like 'grand', 'petit', 'sympa', 'drôle'. Remember to make adjectives agree: 'ma mère est grande' (my mother is tall) but 'mon père est grand' (my father is tall). Add opinions like 'je m'entends bien avec mon frère parce qu'il est drôle'.

Question 2

What is the difference between 'mon', 'ma', and 'mes'?

Accepted Answer

'Mon' is used for masculine singular nouns (mon père), 'ma' for feminine singular nouns (ma mère), and 'mes' for plural nouns of any gender (mes parents). However, if a feminine noun starts with a vowel or silent 'h', use 'mon' for pronunciation: 'mon amie' (my female friend). This rule applies to 'ton/ta/tes' and 'son/sa/ses' too.

Question 3

How do I say 'I get on well with' in French?

Accepted Answer

The phrase is 'je m'entends bien avec' followed by the person. For example, 'Je m'entends bien avec ma sœur' (I get on well with my sister). To say you don't get on, use 'je ne m'entends pas bien avec'. You can also use 'nous nous entendons bien' (we get on well). This is a key phrase for the topic.

Question 4

Do adjectives always come after the noun in French?

Accepted Answer

No, not always. Most adjectives come after the noun (e.g., 'un livre intéressant'), but some common adjectives come before: 'beau', 'joli', 'grand', 'petit', 'bon', 'mauvais', 'nouveau', 'vieux', 'jeune'. For example, 'un grand frère' (a big brother) and 'une petite sœur' (a little sister). There is also a group that changes meaning depending on position, like 'ancien' (former vs. ancient).

Question 5

How can I get top marks in the 'family and friends' speaking question?

Accepted Answer

To get top marks, go beyond simple descriptions. Give opinions and reasons: 'J'adore ma mère parce qu'elle est très gentille et elle m'écoute toujours.' Use a variety of vocabulary: instead of 'sympa', try 'généreux', 'drôle', 'patient'. Include a reference to the past or future if possible: 'L'année dernière, je me suis disputé avec mon frère, mais maintenant nous nous entendons bien.' Finally, use complex structures like 'qui' (who) to add detail: 'Mon père, qui est très sportif, joue au tennis avec moi.'

Question 6

What does 's'entendre' mean and how is it used?

Accepted Answer

'S'entendre' is a reflexive verb meaning 'to get on (with)'. It is used with 'bien' (well) or 'mal' (badly). For example, 'Je m'entends bien avec mon cousin' (I get on well with my cousin). To say 'we get on', use 'nous nous entendons'. The infinitive is 's'entendre', and it follows regular -re verb patterns in the present tense: je m'entends, tu t'entends, il/elle/on s'entend, nous nous entendons, vous vous entendez, ils/elles s'entendent.

Topic 1: Me, my family and friends

Topic Overview

Key Concepts

What You Need to Demonstrate

Marking Points

Examiner Tips

Common Mistakes

Frequently Asked Questions

Before You Start

Key Terminology

Likely Command Words

Ready to test yourself?

Related Topics in AQA GCSE French

Theme 1: Identity and culture

Theme 2: Local, national, international and global areas of interest

Theme 3: Current and future study and employment

Topic 1: Home, town, neighbourhood and region

How to Revise Topic 1: Me, my family and friends — AQA GCSE French

Examiner Tips for Topic 1: Me, my family and friends

Common Mistakes in Topic 1: Me, my family and friends

Key Marking Points