Opinions about food (AQA GCSE French): Revision Notes
Opinions about food
Expressing your views about different foods and drinks is an essential skill in French conversation. This topic helps you discuss preferences, dietary requirements, and food experiences using key vocabulary and important grammatical structures.
Key vocabulary
| French | English | Gender |
|---|---|---|
| la boisson | drink | (f) |
| le café | café/coffee | (m) |
| la cuisine | cooking/cookery/cuisine | (f) |
| le déjeuner | lunch | (m) |
| l'entrée | starter | (f) |
| la faim | hunger | (f) |
| les frites | chips | (fpl) |
| le fromage | cheese | (m) |
| le gâteau | cake | (m) |
| la glace | ice cream | (f) |
| le goût | taste | (m) |
| les légumes | vegetables | (mpl) |
| manger | to eat | - |
| la nourriture | food | (f) |
| le pain | bread | (m) |
| le petit-déjeuner | breakfast | (m) |
| le poisson | fish | (m) |
| prendre | to have (a meal) | - |
| un repas | meal | (m) |
| le restaurant | restaurant | (m) |
| sortir | to go out | - |
| végane | vegan | - |
| végétarien(ne) | vegetarian | - |
| la viande | meat | (f) |
| le plat | dish | (m) |
| le poulet | chicken | (m) |
Pay close attention to the gender markers (m/f) for each noun - this will determine which articles and pronouns you use when constructing sentences. Notice how some words like "végétarien(ne)" have both masculine and feminine forms.
Grammar and pronunciation tips
Using the pronoun "en"
The pronoun "en" is crucial when discussing food quantities and preferences. It replaces "de" plus a noun and means "of it", "of them", "some", or "any". The pronoun always comes before the verb.
Structure: Subject + en + verb
Worked Example: Using "en" in food conversations
Question: Tu aimes manger de la viande ? (Do you like eating meat?) Answer: Oui, j'en mange beaucoup. (Yes, I eat it a lot.)
Breakdown:
- "en" replaces "de la viande"
- "en" comes before the verb "mange"
- The meaning is "I eat it (meat) a lot"
Another example: Question: Tu as de l'argent ? (Do you have any money?) Answer: Non, je n'en ai pas. (No, I don't have any.)
Expressing likes and dislikes with direct object pronouns
When saying you like or dislike specific foods, use the direct object pronouns le, la, or les before the verb. These pronouns replace the food item you're discussing.
Worked Example: Direct object pronouns with food preferences
Question: Tu aimes bien le poisson ? (Do you like fish a lot?) Answer: Oui, je l'aime bien. (Yes, I like it a lot.)
Breakdown:
- "le poisson" (masculine) becomes "l'" (le contracts before a vowel)
- The pronoun comes before "aime"
Another example: Question: Tu aimes le pain ? (Do you like bread?) Answer: Non, je ne l'aime pas parce que ça me rend malade. (No, I don't like it because it makes me ill.)
Common Mistake to Avoid: Don't confuse "en" with direct object pronouns. Use "en" when replacing "de + noun" (quantities, some/any), but use "le/la/les" when the food is a direct object of the verb (liking/disliking specific items).
Pronunciation note
Remember that "préférer" and "préféré" are different words with different pronunciations. "Préférer" is the infinitive verb (to prefer), while "préféré" is the past participle (preferred).
Example sentences and conversations
Here are practical examples showing how to use food vocabulary in different tenses and contexts:
Present tense expressions
- J'aime la cuisine française. (I like French cooking.)
- Elle mange beaucoup de légumes. (She eats lots of vegetables.)
- Nous préférons les plats végétariens. (We prefer vegetarian dishes.)
- Ils ne boivent pas de café. (They don't drink coffee.)
Past tense expressions
- J'ai mangé au restaurant hier. (I ate at the restaurant yesterday.)
- Elle a pris un petit-déjeuner copieux. (She had a hearty breakfast.)
- Nous avons goûté des spécialités locales. (We tasted local specialities.)
- Ils ont préféré les frites aux légumes. (They preferred chips to vegetables.)
Conversation Example: Food preferences
A: Qu'est-ce que tu préfères manger ? (What do you prefer to eat?) B: J'adore les pâtes, mais je suis végétarienne. (I love pasta, but I'm vegetarian.) A: Tu manges du poisson ? (Do you eat fish?) B: Non, je n'en mange jamais. (No, I never eat any.)
Notice how:
- "en" is used in the final response to replace "du poisson"
- The conversation flows naturally from preferences to dietary restrictions
Translation practice
Test your understanding with these translation exercises:
Translation Practice: French to English
- Mon père ne peut pas boire de lait, alors il ne mange pas de glaces.
- Ma mère adore les frites mais elle sait qu'elles sont mauvaises pour la santé.
English to French 3. I am vegetarian. I don't eat meat. 4. Do you like bread? No, I don't like it because it makes me ill.
Answers:
- My father can't drink milk, so he doesn't eat ice cream.
- My mother loves chips but she knows they're bad for health.
- Je suis végétarien(ne). Je ne mange pas de viande.
- Tu aimes le pain ? Non, je ne l'aime pas parce que ça me rend malade.
Key Points to Remember:
- The pronoun "en" replaces "de + noun" and always comes before the verb
- Use direct object pronouns (le, la, les) before the verb when expressing likes and dislikes about specific foods
- Pay attention to masculine and feminine forms of food vocabulary - this affects which articles and pronouns you use
- "Végétarien" has different masculine and feminine endings (végétarien/végétarienne)
- When listening to or reading French texts about food, focus on the key information and don't get distracted by unfamiliar words