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Year 3

Numbers: plural indefinite article 'des', 'combien'

Learning outcomes

I can use ‘des’ and numbers 1-12 with plural nouns to answer the question ‘combien de ?’

I can recognise and pronounce the key sound [(a)in].

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New
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Year 3

Numbers: plural indefinite article 'des', 'combien'

Learning outcomes

I can use ‘des’ and numbers 1-12 with plural nouns to answer the question ‘combien de ?’

I can recognise and pronounce the key sound [(a)in].

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Lesson details

Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons

Key learning points

  1. The sound-symbol correspondence [(a)in] sounds like the ‘ain’ in the French word ‘train’; [in] and [ain] sound the same.
  2. The indefinite article ‘des’ is the French word for the determiner ‘some’.
  3. ‘Combien de ?’ is how to ask ‘how many?’

Keywords

  • [(a)in] - pronounced as in train

  • Des - plural indefinite article meaning some

  • Indefinite article - the 'a', 'an' or some that comes before a noun (a tree, an elephant, some books)

  • Combien de - interrogative adverb meaning how much or how many

  • Plural noun - a word that refers to more than one person, place or thing

Common misconception

The indefinite article 'des' changes based on gender as do the indefinite articles 'un' and 'une'.

The indefinite article 'des' does not change based on gender. Un livre - des livres. Une orange - des oranges.

You classroom items to ask pupils 'il y a combien de...?' (pencils, rulers, books etc.). Using realia in the lesson can give pupils greater understanding of the context of a grammar point.
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Licence

This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on
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except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Which number in French (1-12) has the [oi] sound?
Correct Answer: trois, 3
Q2.
Put the numbers in order counting down from ten in French.
1 - dix
2 - neuf
3 - huit
4 - sept
5 - six
6 - cinq
7 - quatre
Q3.
Which of the following are pronounced with a liaison?
deux chiens
Correct answer: deux enfants
Correct answer: trois exercises
trois livres
quatre oranges
Q4.
Answer the Maths question in French: douze - trois =
sept
huit
Correct answer: neuf
dix
onze
Q5.
How do you say 'there is' in French?
Correct Answer: il y a
Q6.
How do you say 'he has' in French?
Correct Answer: il a

6 Questions

Q1.
Which of the following words have the [(a)in] sound?
Correct answer: lapin
simple
Correct answer: humain
Correct answer: prince
Correct answer: certain
Q2.
How many departments are there in France?
76
89
Correct answer: 96
103
Q3.
Choose the correct translation: There are some books.
Il y a un livre.
Il y a deux livres.
Correct answer: Il y a des livres.
Il y a deux cahiers.
Il y a des cahiers.
Q4.
Match the French and the English.
Correct Answer:combien de,how many
tick

how many

Correct Answer:choses,things
tick

things

Correct Answer:des,some
tick

some

Q5.
Fill in the gap. Il y a livres ?
des
choses
combien de
il y a
Q6.
Translate: There are six things.
Correct Answer: Il y a six choses.

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