EXAM WRITING things to know

Question 1

in what cases do we use the passe compose

Answer 1

• a one off event
• a short event
• a change of situation
• an important event
• a dated event

Question 2

in what cases do we use l’imparfait

Answer 2

• past habit (used to)
• past description (was -ing)
• context (was -ing)
• a secondary/simultaneous event (was -ing)
• a vague memory with no precise date/period
• giving opinion

Question 3

in the passe compose, what verbs do we use etre with

Answer 3

Monter (to go up)
Rester (to stay)
Sortir (to go out)
Venir (to come)
Arriver (to arrive)
Naître (to be born)
Devenir (to become)
Entrer (to enter)
Retourner (to return)
Tomber (to fall)
Revenir (to come back)
Aller (to go)
Mourir (to die)
Partir (to leave)
any reflexive verb

Question 4

passe compose

avoir or etre: which one do we agree with the gender and number of the subject

Answer 4

être

Question 5

passe compose

where does the negative go?

Answer 5

je n’ai pas parlé
je ne me suis pas parlé

Question 6

passe compose

I was, I had, I went

Answer 6

J’ai été, j’ai eu, Je suis allé

Question 7

how to form l’imparfait

Answer 7

Stem: conjugate the verb in the present tense with “nous” (=we) example: avoir → nous avons → nous avons → av-
Endings: -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient. example: avoir → av + -ais → j’avais

irreg: j’étais

Question 8

useful phrases

Last summer, last year, last winter

Answer 8

L’été dernier, l’année dernière, l’hiver dernier

Question 9

useful phrases

i had the opportunity to
i was lucky enough to
i was able to go to

Answer 9

j’ai eu l’occasion de (infinitive)
j’ai eu la chance de (infinitive)
j’ai pu aller en/au/à/aux (France, par exemple)

Question 10

useful phrases

en/au/à/aux

Answer 10

en - fem country
au - masc country
à - city
aux - multiple country

Question 11

useful phrases

(i travelled) from edinburgh to paris

Answer 11

d’Edimbourg jusqu’à Paris

Question 12

useful phrases

i wanted to, i had always dreamed of

Answer 12

je voulais, j’ai toujours rêvé de (infinitive)

Question 13

useful phrase

I would like to return in the future because

Answer 13

je voudrais y retourner à l’avenir car

Question 14

useful phrase

I really enjoyed my stay

Answer 14

j’ai bien profité de mon séjour.

Question 15

useful phrases

this experience helped me to become more independant whilst improving my level of french

Answer 15

cette expérience m’a aidé à devenir plus indépendant tout en améliorant mon niveau de français.

Question 16

useful phrases

there was , it was

Answer 16

il y avait , c’était

Question 17

l’imparfait

manger and commencer

Answer 17

manger → je mangeais (to keep the sound “j”)
commencer → je commençais (to keep the sound “s”)