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Year 10
Edexcel

On se retrouve : impersonal verbs

Learning outcomes

I can use impersonal verbs to say what is better, what is worth it and what is missing in the context of meeting up with friends.

I can recognise when to apply rules about t-liaison.

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New
New
Year 10
Edexcel

On se retrouve : impersonal verbs

Learning outcomes

I can use impersonal verbs to say what is better, what is worth it and what is missing in the context of meeting up with friends.

I can recognise when to apply rules about t-liaison.

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Lesson details

Vocabulary and transcripts for this lessons

Key learning points

  1. t- liaison is common after impersonal verbs il est, il faut so it's important to look out for vowels following these.
  2. il est + adjective + de + infinitive can be used to express it is difficult/easy/forbidden to + a verb.
  3. Impersonal verbs il vaut mieux (it's better) and il vaut la peine de (it's worth) are followed by the infinitive.
  4. Impersonal verb 'il manque' is used with a noun to express that something 'is missing'.

Keywords

  • Impersonal verb - a verb that doesn't refer to a particular person or thing, and whose subject is most often 'il' (it)

Common misconception

French word order is the same as English to express something being missing.

Take care to model 'il manque' with students. 'Il manque' is followed by a noun and the English translation is inverted. 'Il manque une personne' means 'a person is missing'. 'Il manque' is also used with plural nouns and translates as 'are missing'.


To help you plan your year 10 french lesson on: On se retrouve : impersonal verbs, download all teaching resources for free and adapt to suit your pupils' needs...

Play the second group of six audio recordings on the feedback slide for task A1 so that students can hear the full sentence.
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Mini whiteboards and pens are useful if available.

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This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).

Lesson video

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6 Questions

Q1.
What is the English translation of 'il' for an impersonal verb?
Correct Answer: it
Q2.
Match the French and English verbs together.
Correct Answer:il est,it is / it's
tick

it is / it's

Correct Answer:il faut,it is / it's necessary
tick

it is / it's necessary

Correct Answer:il fait,it is / it's (weather)
tick

it is / it's (weather)

Correct Answer:il est facile de,it is / it's easy
tick

it is / it's easy

Correct Answer:il est difficile de,it is / it's difficult
tick

it is / it's difficult

Correct Answer:il est interdit de,it is / it's forbidden
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it is / it's forbidden

Q3.
Which phrase means - it is snowing?
il fait mauvais
il pleut
il y a des orages
Correct answer: il neige
il fait beau
Q4.
Complete the translation: Today it is foggy. 'Aujourd'hui, il y a du .'
Correct Answer: brouillard
Q5.
Tick the possible translations of 'il faut'.
he has to
Correct answer: you must
Correct answer: we must
he should
Correct answer: it is necessary
Q6.
Translate the sentence: it is difficult to do homework.
1 - il
2 - est
3 - difficile
4 - de
5 - faire
6 - des
7 - devoirs

6 Questions

Q1.
Tick the possible uses of impersonal verbs.
Correct answer: describing the weather
Correct answer: describing necessity
describing friends
describing hobbies
Correct answer: describing the time
Q2.
Tick the possible instances of t-liaison.
il est difficile de
Correct answer: il est interdit de
il faut faire du travail
il est facile de
Correct answer: il faut inviter
Q3.
Complete the translation: it is forbidden to run here. 'Il est de courir ici.'
Correct Answer: interdit
Q4.
What type of word follows the expressions 'il vaut mieux' and 'il vaut la peine de'?
Correct Answer: infinitive, infinitive verb
Q5.
Translate the sentence: Unfortunately, six books are missing in the classroom.
1 - malheureusement
2 - il manque
3 - six
4 - livres
5 - dans la
6 - salle
7 - de classe
Q6.
Match the vocabulary
Correct Answer:le pire,the worst (m)
tick

the worst (m)

Correct Answer:la pire,the worst (f)
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the worst (f)

Correct Answer:les pires,the worst (pl)
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the worst (pl)

Correct Answer:le meilleur,the best (m)
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the best (m)

Correct Answer:la meilleure,the best (f)
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the best (f)

Correct Answer:les meilleur(e)s,the best (pl)
tick

the best (pl)

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