QCAA French key terms

The basic French verb tense used for current actions, habitual behaviour, general truths and near-future plans. Learners conjugate regular -er, -ir and -re verbs and memorise common irregular forms.

A compound past tense formed with avoir or être plus a past participle. It describes completed actions and events, and with être verbs the participle agrees with the subject.

A past tense describing ongoing states, repeated habits and background description rather than single completed events. Endings attach to the nous-stem of the present tense, with être as the only irregular stem.

The construction venir de plus an infinitive, used to say that something has just happened. It is common in speech and contrasts with the immediate future aller plus infinitive.

A tense for plans, predictions and promises that are further ahead or more formal. Regular verbs add endings to the infinitive; many common verbs have irregular stems such as ir-, ser- and aur-.

A form built on the future stem with imperfect endings. It expresses hypothetical situations, polite requests and reported future, and appears in si-clauses paired with the imperfect.

A verb mood expressing doubt, necessity, emotion or wish, usually after que in a subordinate clause. It is triggered by expressions such as il faut que and bien que.

Verbs accompanied by a reflexive pronoun, such as se lever or s'appeler. They describe actions done to oneself or reciprocally, and are very frequent in everyday French description.

The rule that a past participle agrees in gender and number with a preceding direct object, or with the subject when the auxiliary is être. With avoir and no preceding object it stays unchanged.

Words such as qui, que, dont and où that link a clause to a noun. Choosing the right one depends on the pronoun's function in the relative clause, not on the noun.

Object pronouns like le, la, les, lui and leur that replace a noun already mentioned. Direct object pronouns precede the verb; indirect ones usually refer to people and follow certain verbs.

A pronoun replacing a noun introduced by de or a partitive article, and also used with expressions of quantity. It normally sits before the verb in the sentence.

A pronoun replacing a place or a noun introduced by à, especially with verbs of movement and thought. It comes before the verb, as in j'y vais.

Forms du, de la, de l' and des used for unspecified quantities of food, drink or abstract nouns. They change to de in negative sentences and after expressions of quantity.

Structures wrapping the verb, such as ne... pas, ne... jamais and ne... rien. In informal speech the ne is often dropped, and in compound tenses the second part follows the auxiliary.

Structures comparing people or things (plus, moins, aussi ... que) and identifying the most or least (le plus, le moins). Some forms are irregular, such as meilleur and mieux.

Linking words and phrases such as cependant, donc, en effet and par conséquent that show contrast, cause, consequence or addition. They help structure an argument and improve coherence in written production.

Reported speech, which shifts pronouns, time expressions and verb tenses when retelling what someone said. Questions and commands need adjusted structures, and the introductory verb is often dire or demander.

A construction where the subject receives the action, formed with être plus a past participle and often par to name the agent. It is more common in formal written French.

The form en plus a present participle, such as en mangeant. It expresses simultaneity, manner or cause, and its subject must match the subject of the main clause.

Expressions such as depuis, il y a, pendant and dans that locate events in time. Choosing correctly depends on whether the action continues, started in the past or lies ahead.

Emphasising part of a sentence with structures such as c'est ... qui, c'est ... que or ce qui ... c'est. These highlight the key information and are useful in structured argument.

Words for meals, dishes, ingredients, cooking methods and dietary habits, including cultural foods from France and the Francophone world. This vocabulary supports discussions of healthy eating and food traditions.

Language for describing physical and mental health, illness, exercise, sleep and stress. It includes expressions for giving advice and for discussing public health issues.

Vocabulary for family members, relationships, household roles and generational differences. It supports describing one's own family and discussing changing family structures in society.

Terms for school subjects, exams, qualifications, university study and student life. This vocabulary appears in texts about education systems and future study plans.

Language for jobs, applications, working conditions, unemployment and career plans. It includes terms for discussing workplace equality and the balance between work and personal life.

Vocabulary for television, press, social media, mobile devices and online behaviour. It supports discussion of screen time, misinformation and how technology changes communication.

Terms for climate, pollution, recycling, renewable energy and conservation. This vocabulary allows candidates to discuss environmental problems and propose solutions in French.

Language for migration, cultural identity, integration and multicultural society. It supports discussing the Francophone world and the contributions of immigrant communities to French society.

Vocabulary for free-time activities, sport, music, cinema, reading and going out. It supports describing habits and preferences, and discussing the role of leisure in health and wellbeing.

Terms for clothing, style, fashion trends and body image. It supports discussing consumer habits, self-expression and the pressures that advertising and social media create, especially for young people.

Language for volunteering, charities, activism and civic responsibility. It supports discussing solidarity, community action and how young people contribute to society.

Vocabulary for transport, accommodation, destinations, holidays and sustainable tourism. It supports describing past trips, planning future travel and evaluating tourism's impact.

Phrases such as à mon avis, je pense que and il me semble que, plus stronger forms like je suis convaincu. These are essential for structured argument in both writing and speaking.