Using common patterns between French and English — AQA GCSE French
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Using common patterns between French and English explained
Distinguishing between third-person singular and plural verb forms in spoken French is challenging because they often sound identical.
Read the full explanation
For regular '-er' verbs in the present tense, like 'il donne' and 'ils donnent', the '-ent' ending is completely silent. Similarly, in the imperfect tense, 'il chantait' and 'ils chantaient' share the exact same pronunciation, as both '-ait' and '-aient' produce an identical sound. Because these verb endings provide no auditory clue to the number of the subject, students must rely entirely on the subject pronoun (listening for a liaison if followed by a vowel) or the surrounding context to determine whether the subject is singular or plural during listening comprehension tasks.
Your focus
- Recognise that third-person plural '-ent' verb endings are silent in French.
- Distinguish between singular and plural subjects using context when verb pronunciations are identical.
- Apply knowledge of silent verb endings to accurately translate spoken French into English.
Using common patterns between French and English exam tips
Marking Points
- Identify that the '-ent' ending on third-person plural verbs is silent.
- Recognise that 'il donne' and 'ils donnent' have the exact same pronunciation.
- Understand that imperfect endings '-ait' and '-aient' sound identical.
- Use context or liaisons to distinguish between singular and plural subjects in spoken French.
Examiner Tips
- 💡When listening, pay close attention to liaisons after 'ils' or 'elles' to identify plural subjects before verbs starting with a vowel.
- 💡Use surrounding context, such as plural nouns or adjectives, to determine if a verb like 'donne' or 'donnent' is singular or plural.
- 💡Remember that in reading tasks, the silent '-ent' is your visual cue for a plural subject, even if it does not change the sound.
Common Mistakes
- Pronouncing the '-ent' ending in 'ils donnent' like the adverb ending '-ment'. (Correction: The '-ent' ending on verbs is always silent).
- Assuming 'il' and 'ils' always sound different. (Correction: Before a consonant, 'il' and 'ils' sound identical; they only differ if 'ils' makes a liaison with a following vowel).
- Misinterpreting 'ils chantaient' as singular in a listening task. (Correction: Rely on context clues to determine if the subject is plural when the verb sounds identical).