School subjects (AQA GCSE French): Revision Notes
School subjects (Les matières scolaires)
Learning to talk about school subjects in French is essential for discussing your education and daily school life. This topic covers the vocabulary you need to express which subjects you study, how long you've been studying them, and your opinions about different subjects.
Mastering school subject vocabulary is crucial for French learners as it appears frequently in conversations about daily life, future plans, and personal interests. You'll use these terms regularly when discussing your schedule, preferences, and academic experiences.
Key vocabulary
Understanding the names of school subjects in French will help you discuss your timetable, preferences, and academic experiences. Many subject names are similar to English, but pay attention to the gender of each noun and any differences in spelling or pronunciation.
| French | English | Gender |
|---|---|---|
| l'allemand | German | (m) |
| l'anglais | English | (m) |
| l'art | art | (m) |
| la classe | class/classroom | (f) |
| le collège | secondary school | (m) |
| le cours | lesson/course | (m) |
| la cuisine | cooking | (f) |
| les devoirs | homework | (mpl) |
| l'école | school | (f) |
| l'éducation | education | (f) |
| l'espagnol | Spanish | (m) |
| le français | French | (m) |
| la géographie | geography | (f) |
| l'histoire | history | (f) |
| l'informatique | computer science | (f) |
| la langue | language | (f) |
| le lycée | sixth form college | (m) |
| les maths | maths | (fpl) |
| la matière | subject | (f) |
| les médias | media | (mpl) |
| la musique | music | (f) |
| la note | mark/grade | (f) |
| la physique | physics | (f) |
| le professeur | teacher | (m/f) |
| les sciences | science | (fpl) |
| scolaire | school (adjective) | |
| le sport | sport | (m) |
| la technologie | technology | (f) |
| le théâtre | drama | (m) |
| le travail | work | (m) |
| travailler | to work |
Notice that some subjects like l'informatique are feminine despite starting with a consonant sound, while others like les maths and les sciences are plural. Learning the correct gender and number with each subject will help you use adjectives and articles correctly.
Example sentences
These sentences demonstrate how to use school subject vocabulary in context, covering both present and past experiences with your studies.
Present situations:
- J'étudie le français au collège. (I study French at secondary school.)
- Mon professeur de maths est très sympa. (My maths teacher is very nice.)
- J'aime beaucoup les sciences. (I really like science.)
- Nous avons cours d'anglais le lundi. (We have English lessons on Monday.)
Past experiences:
- J'ai étudié l'allemand l'année dernière. (I studied German last year.)
- Hier, nous avons eu un contrôle de géographie. (Yesterday, we had a geography test.)
- L'année passée, j'ai choisi l'espagnol. (Last year, I chose Spanish.)
Duration with "depuis":
- J'étudie le français depuis cinq ans. (I have been studying French for five years.)
- Je suis dans cette école depuis deux ans. (I have been at this school for two years.)
Grammar and pronunciation tips
Using "depuis" with present tense
When expressing how long you have been doing something that continues in the present, French uses "depuis" (since/for) with the present tense, not the past tense as in English. This is because you are still doing the action.
Pattern: Subject + present tense verb + depuis + time period
Worked Example: Using "depuis" correctly
English: "I have been learning piano for three years." Incorrect French: J'ai appris le piano depuis trois ans. Correct French: J'apprends le piano depuis trois ans.
Why? Because you're still learning piano (ongoing action), so French uses present tense with "depuis."
More examples:
- J'apprends le piano depuis trois ans. (I have been learning piano for three years.)
- Elle habite ici depuis septembre. (She has been living here since September.)
Negative constructions
French negatives wrap around the verb with "ne" before and another word after. Here are common patterns:
Common mistake to avoid: Don't forget both parts of the French negative! You need "ne" before the verb AND the second negative word after it.
- ne... pas (not): Je n'étudie pas le théâtre. (I don't study drama.)
- ne... jamais (never): Je n'ai jamais étudié l'art. (I've never studied art.)
- ne... plus (not anymore): Je n'aime plus l'histoire. (I don't like history anymore.)
- ne... personne (nobody): Personne n'a reçu une bonne note. (Nobody received a good mark.)
- ne... rien (nothing): Nous n'avons rien à faire. (We have nothing to do.)
Pronunciation tips
Key pronunciation points:
- Silent letters: The 's' in "maths" and "sciences" is not pronounced
- Liaison: "les sciences" connects the 's' sound: [lay see-ahnss]
- "Matières" has a silent 'e' at the end: [mat-ee-AIR]
Translation exercises
Translation Practice
French to English:
- Ma matière préférée, c'est la géographie.
- Je fais de l'informatique depuis septembre.
English to French: 3. I have been studying Spanish for two years. 4. We never have drama on Friday.
Answers:
- My favourite subject is geography.
- I have been doing computer science since September.
- J'étudie l'espagnol depuis deux ans.
- Nous n'avons jamais théâtre le vendredi.
Key Points to Remember:
- School subject names in French often have different genders - learn them with their articles (le/la/les)
- Use "depuis + present tense" to express duration of ongoing actions, not past tense like in English
- French negatives sandwich the verb with "ne" before and another negative word after
- Many subject names are similar to English but watch out for spelling differences (géographie, physique)
- Practice expressing your opinions about subjects using "j'aime" and "je n'aime pas" with the vocabulary