Spicing up Your Language
This section is a mini-glossary of linguistic structures.The first section includes grammar and language you MUST include for a grade D or above. The second includes things you SHOULD include for a C or above. The thirdincludes strategies for using more complex grammatical structures in structured ways and will make the examiner sit up and take notice.Attached is a checklist with a list of what your teacher insists you include.
YOU MUSTKeep the examiner satisfied (for a C-D)What you need toshow you can doThe structureExamplesPAST TENSE
The correct part of avoir ORêtre (for verbs of movement) +PAST PARTICIPLEJ’ai mangé des frites(I ate chips)Je suis allé(e) en Irlande(I went to Ireland)Mon frère a joué au foot(My brother playedfootball)
PRESENT
Je/Tu/Il/Elle/Nous etc. +correct part of the verbJe joue tous les jours au tennis(I play tennis every day)En ce moment je suis trèsfatigué(e)(At the moment I’m very tired)Nous allons au cinéma.(We’re going to thecinema)
FUTURE
The correct part of aller +INFINITIVEEn juin je vais faire mes examens(In June I’m going to do my exams)Demain, mon père va jouer autennis (Tomorrow, my father’sgoing to play tennis)Nous allons manger lepoulet (We’re going to eatchicken)
OPINIONS
J’adoreJe détesteJ’aime bienJe trouve (I find)À mon avis (In my opinion)Je trouve la musique fantastique(I think music’s brilliant)Je déteste faire la vaiselle(I hate washing up)À mon avis, Eastendersest fantastique.(In my opinion, Eastendersis fantastic)
REASONS
parce que (because)car (because)À cause de (because of)Je vais en Italie parce que c’estintéressant.(I’m going to Italy because it’sinteresting)À cause de la pluie, je ne suispas sorti(e)(Because of the rain, I didn’t goout)Ma mère adore faire lavaiselle parce que elle estbizarre (My mother loveswashing up because she’sstrange)
LINKING WORDS(CO-ORDINATINGCONJUNCTIONS)
If you’ve got two shortsentences, try to link them aconjunctive like alors (so),mais (but), ou (or), parce que(because) etc.Nous allons au cinéma ou nousallons manger une glace(We’re going to go the cinema or we’re going to eat an icecream.)Je dois faire mes devoirs mais jene veux pas (I should do myhomework, but I don’t want to)Je suis fatigué(e) parceque je me suis couchétard.(I’m tired because I wentto bed late)
A VARIETY OFVERBS
Note that the above contain a variety of people DOING the actions: je, tu, il, elle, nous etc. Use as many as you can.
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