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New
New
Year 10
AQA

Des monuments commémoratifs : contraction of definite article after 'à'

Learning outcomes

I can apply rules about the contraction of definite articles after ‘à’ in the context of commemorating historical events.

I can apply rules about syllable stress when pronouncing words.

icon-background-square
New
New
Year 10
AQA

Des monuments commémoratifs : contraction of definite article after 'à'

Learning outcomes

I can apply rules about the contraction of definite articles after ‘à’ in the context of commemorating historical events.

I can apply rules about syllable stress when pronouncing words.

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Lesson details

Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons

Key learning points

  1. Words ending in a consonant + -le(s) or consonant + -re(s) stress the vowel before the consonant, e.g., 'terrible'.
  2. 'à' + definite article combine to make au/à la/à l’ or aux, depending on the gender, quantity and spelling of the noun.
  3. 'à' can be translated as 'at', 'to', 'in' and 'on' depending on its place and use in the sentence.
  4. Conflict and independence movements in Algeria and Senegal shaped their identities and relations with France.

Keywords

  • Stress - pronouncing one syllable more heavily than other syllables in a word

  • À - preposition meaning ‘at’, ‘to’, ‘in’, ‘on’ or 'about'

  • Definite article - the words 'le', 'la', 'les' and 'l’', meaning ‘the’

Common misconception

'à' is always translated as 'to' or 'at'.

'à' can be translated as 'to', 'at', 'in', 'on' or 'about', depending on the context. Particular care should be taken with verbs followed by 'à', e.g., 'réfléchir à' could be translated as 'to think about' or 'to reflect on'.

Encourage pupils to think about stress patterns when reading aloud in class and during speaking activities. Pupils could gain points for recognising the different stress patterns needed in multisyllable words ending in a consonant + re(s) or -le(s).
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This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on
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Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
Match the French vocabulary below to the correct English translations.
Correct Answer:le début,beginning
tick

beginning

Correct Answer:la fin,end
tick

end

Correct Answer:bref, brève,brief
tick

brief

Correct Answer:l'écrivain (m),writer
tick

writer

Correct Answer:l'état (m),state
tick

state

Correct Answer:l'indépendance (f),independence
tick

independence

Q2.
A definite article is a word that means ...
Correct answer: 'the'.
'a'.
'some'.
Q3.
What does the preposition 'à' mean in the following sentence? 'Je vais à l'église.'
Correct answer: to
at
about
on
Q4.
How could you translate the following sentence? 'Je suis au musée.'
Correct answer: I am at the museum.
I go to the museum.
Correct answer: I am in the museum.
I am going into the museum.
Q5.
Read the following words: 'liberté', 'période', 'sentiment'. On which syllable is there a slight emphasis?
the first syllable
Correct answer: the last syllable
the middle syllable
Q6.
In which continent are Algeria (l'Algérie) and Senegal (le Sénégal)?
Correct Answer: Africa

6 Questions

Q1.
When 'à' is followed by 'le', what do they combine to make?
Correct Answer: au
Q2.
When 'à' is followed by 'les', what do they combine to make?
des
au
Correct answer: aux
à l'
Q3.
True or false? The preposition 'à' is always translated as 'to'.
Correct Answer: False
Q4.
When pronouncing French words, the stress moves to the vowel(s) before the consonant when ...
Correct answer: the word ends in a consonant + -le(s).
the word ends in a consonant + é(s).
Correct answer: the word ends in a consonant + -re(s).
Q5.
Read the words below aloud. Which is the odd one out?
décembre
terrible
possible
Correct answer: identité
surprendre
Q6.
What is the correct translation of the following sentence? 'Amir thinks about the history of Algeria.'
Amir réfléchit au histoire de l'Algérie.
Correct answer: Amir réfléchit à l'histoire de l'Algérie.
Amir réfléchis à l'histoire de l'Algérie.
Amir réfléchit à la histoire de l'Algérie.

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