Arranging to go out (AQA GCSE French): Revision Notes
Arranging to go out
Making plans with friends is an essential part of social interaction in French. This topic covers how to suggest activities, ask questions about going out, and respond appropriately to invitations.
Mastering social arrangements in French will help you build meaningful relationships with French speakers and participate more fully in French-speaking communities. These phrases are used constantly in everyday conversation.
Essential vocabulary
The following vocabulary forms the foundation for making social plans in French. Pay particular attention to the venue-related words as these appear frequently in conversations about going out.
| French | English |
|---|---|
| sortir ensemble | to go out together |
| billet (m) | ticket |
| centre commercial (m) | shopping centre |
| château (m) | castle |
| chez moi | at my house |
| cinéma (m) | cinema |
| complet | full |
| disponible | available |
| inviter | to invite |
| libre | free |
| musée (m) | museum |
| parc (m) | park |
| pièce (f) | play |
| piscine (f) | swimming pool |
| plage (f) | beach |
| rencontrer | to meet (up) |
| sortir | to go out |
| stade (m) | stadium |
| ville (f) | town |
| profiter de | to gain from |
Asking questions in French
There are four main methods to ask questions when arranging to go out. Each method has a different level of formality and is suitable for different situations.
Method 1: Using "est-ce que"
Add "est-ce que" to the beginning of any statement to turn it into a question. This is the most common and versatile method for learners.
Question Formation with "est-ce que":
Statement: Tu veux aller en ville. (You want to go into town.) Question: Est-ce que tu veux aller en ville? (Do you want to go into town?)
Method 2: Voice inflexion
Simply raise your voice at the end of a statement to indicate it's a question. This is very common in spoken French and the most casual approach.
Voice Inflexion Method:
Tu veux aller en ville? (Do you want to go into town?) Note: The only difference from a statement is the rising intonation at the end.
Method 3: Using "si on allait..."
Use "si on allait..." to mean "shall we go?" This is a polite way to make suggestions and shows consideration for the other person's preferences.
Making Polite Suggestions:
Si on allait au stade? (Shall we go to the stadium?) Si on allait voir un film? (Shall we go see a movie?)
Method 4: Inversion
Reverse the verb and pronoun, connect them with a hyphen, then raise your voice at the end. This is more formal and commonly used in written French.
Inversion Rules:
- Always use a hyphen between the inverted verb and pronoun
- This method is more formal and less common in casual conversation
- Perfect for written invitations or formal situations
Formal Question Formation:
Veux-tu sortir demain? (Do you want to go out tomorrow?) Pouvez-vous venir ce soir? (Can you come tonight?)
Responding to invitations
When someone invites you out, you can respond positively or give reasons why you can't join them. Politeness is key in French social interactions.
Positive responses
Show enthusiasm when accepting invitations:
Accepting Invitations:
- Oui, je veux bien! (Yes, I'd love to!)
- Oui, bien sûr! (Yes, of course!)
- C'est une excellente idée! (That's an excellent idea!)
Declining politely
When you need to decline, it's essential to give a reason to maintain politeness in French culture:
Polite Declining with Reasons:
- Je suis désolé(e), je ne peux pas venir parce que... (I'm sorry I can't come because...)
- Je dois faire mes devoirs. (I have to do my homework.)
- Je dois aller voir ma tante. (I have to visit my aunt.)
- J'ai déjà des projets. (I already have plans.)
Grammar tips
Using "on" instead of "nous"
In spoken French, people often use "on" instead of "nous" (we). This makes conversations sound more natural and casual.
Key Usage Rule: "On" is much more common than "nous" in everyday spoken French. Using "on" will make you sound more like a native speaker and less formal.
Natural Conversation Style:
Formal: Si nous allions en ville cet après-midi? Natural: Si on allait en ville cet après-midi? (Shall we go into town this afternoon?)
Pronunciation tip
Remember that questions in French often end with a rising intonation, just like in English. Your voice should go up at the end to signal that you're asking a question.
This rising intonation is particularly important when using the voice inflexion method of asking questions, as it's the only thing that distinguishes a question from a statement.
Example sentences
Practice these common phrases for different social situations:
Present tense invitations
Making Plans for Today/Tonight:
- Tu veux aller à la piscine ce soir? (Do you want to go to the swimming pool tonight?)
- Est-ce que tu veux aller au cinéma? (Do you want to go to the cinema?)
- Si on allait au stade? (Shall we go to the stadium?)
- Tu es libre cet après-midi? (Are you free this afternoon?)
Past tense discussions
Use these when talking about what you did previously:
Discussing Past Activities:
- Qu'est-ce que tu as fait hier? (What did you do yesterday?)
- Je suis allé(e) au centre commercial. (I went to the shopping centre.)
- Nous avons visité le château. (We visited the castle.)
- On a passé la journée à la plage. (We spent the day at the beach.)
Translation practice
Test your understanding with these translation exercises:
Translation Practice:
French to English:
- Tu veux aller à la piscine ce soir?
- Je suis désolé(e), je ne peux pas venir parce que je dois faire mes devoirs.
English to French: 3. Do you want to go to the cinema? 4. Shall we go to the stadium?
Answers:
- Do you want to go to the swimming pool tonight?
- I'm sorry, I can't come because I have to do my homework.
- Tu veux aller au cinéma? / Est-ce que tu veux aller au cinéma?
- Si on allait au stade?
Key Points to Remember:
- There are four main ways to ask questions in French: est-ce que, voice inflexion, si on allait, and inversion
- Use "on" instead of "nous" in casual conversation to sound more natural
- Always give a polite reason when declining an invitation
- Your voice should rise at the end of questions, just like in English
- Learn key venue vocabulary as these words come up frequently in social plans
- Practice the different levels of formality to match the social situation appropriately