French: F–10 Sequence / Levels 9 and 10 / Understanding / Systems of language
Content description
Analyse how grammatical elements such as tenses and verb moods impact on the making of meaning
Elaborations
noticing how grammatical choices can shade meaning, determine perspective and establish relationship, (for example, an imperative verb mood can indicate authority or enthusiasm (Arrêtez! Allons-y! Donnez-moi votre billet, Mademoiselle); shifting from the use of vous to tu can signal a more informal, friendly relationship)
exploring how choices of words such as nouns and adjectives can indicate values and attitudes, (for example, c’est un bon à rien/c’est un brave jeune homme; ce sont des illégaux/ce sont des réfugiés)
understanding the function of verb tenses to situate events in time (for example, ils vont partir demain matin, je suis allée au ciné hier soir) and to express intention or desire, (for example, je voudrais bien aller à Tunis avec toi!)
recognising variations in conjugation for verbs such as nettoyer, envoyer, essayer, appeler, acheter, manger, (for example, nous mangeons, j’essaie)
using l’imparfait, understanding how to distinguish between a completed and a continuing action in the past, (for example, nous étions déjà au lit quand Papa a téléphoné)
using le passé composé verb forms, recognising verbs conjugated with être as the auxiliary that involve agreement between subject and past participle, (for example, elles sont parties)
understanding and using in simple constructions le futur, le conditionnel and le plus-que- parfait tenses
being exposed to le subjonctif verb forms used in set phrases such as il faut que tu partes, il faut que je finisse mes devoirs
understanding the function of the reflexive pronoun and practising using the reflexive verb structure, (for example, je me suis levée à sept heures, je me suis entra?née…)
understanding the function and use of relative pronouns such as qui, que, dont
understanding that past participles agree with the preceding direct object when the verb is conjugated with the auxiliary verb avoir, for example, J’ai acheté une tartelette aux fraises — je l’ai mangée trop vite!
understanding and using infinitive verb forms and phrasal verbs, such as avoir besoin de faire quelque chose, commencer à faire…
using relative, emphatic and direct/indirect object pronouns, for example, qui, que, elle, eux, lui, leur, le, la, les
understanding the use of the si clause and how to coordinate meaning through various tenses, for example, si j’avais voulu, je serais partie de bonne heure
further developing a metalanguage to discuss and explain grammatical forms and functions, for example, ‘conditional tense’, ‘relative and emphatic pronouns’, ‘impersonal expressions’
