Pros and cons of technology (AQA GCSE French): Revision Notes
Pros and cons of technology
Key vocabulary
Here are essential French words and phrases you'll need when discussing technology and its advantages and disadvantages:
| French | English | French | English |
|---|---|---|---|
| la technologie | technology | adolescent (m) | teenager |
| célèbre | famous | communiquer | to communicate |
| danger (m) | danger | sécurité (f) | safety, security |
| utiliser | to use | vol (m) | theft |
| yeux (mpl) | eyes | causer | to cause |
| effet (m) | effect | harceler | to bully |
| lien (m) | link | protection (f) | protection |
| recherche (f) | research | risque (m) | risk |
| victime (m/f) | victim |
Notice how many of these vocabulary words relate to both positive and negative aspects of technology. Words like communiquer and recherche represent benefits, while danger, vol, and harceler represent potential risks. This balanced vocabulary will help you discuss technology from multiple perspectives.
Grammar focus: The perfect tense
When discussing your past experiences with technology, you'll need to use the perfect tense (le passé composé). This tense allows you to talk about completed actions in the past.
Formation of the perfect tense
Critical Rule: The perfect tense has two parts:
- The present tense of avoir (to have)
- The past participle of the main verb
Both parts are essential - you cannot form the perfect tense without both components!
Present tense of avoir:
- j'ai (I have)
- tu as (you have)
- il/elle/on a (he/she/one has)
- nous avons (we have)
- vous avez (you have)
- ils/elles ont (they have)
Making past participles:
The formation of past participles follows predictable patterns based on the verb ending:
For -er verbs: Remove -er and add -é
- utiliser → utilisé (used)
- Example: J'ai utilisé (I used/I have used)
For -ir verbs: Remove -ir and add -i
- finir → fini (finished)
- Example: Il a fini (He finished/He has finished)
For -re verbs: Remove -re and add -u
- perdre → perdu (lost)
- Example: J'ai perdu (I lost/I have lost)
Worked Example: Creating Perfect Tense Sentences
Let's form the perfect tense with the verb "utiliser" (to use):
Step 1: Choose the correct form of avoir
- For "I used" = j'ai
Step 2: Create the past participle
- utiliser → remove -er → add -é = utilisé
Step 3: Combine them
- J'ai utilisé mon téléphone (I used my phone)
Important note about irregular verbs
Common Mistake Alert: Some common verbs that use avoir have irregular past participles, such as écrire (to write), vouloir (to want), pouvoir (to be able to), devoir (to have to), and savoir (to know). You'll need to memorise these separately!
Expressing opinions about technology
Learning to give your opinion is crucial when discussing technology's benefits and drawbacks. Here are some flexible phrases you can use:
Positive opinions:
- J'aime Internet car c'est pratique (I like the Internet because it's practical)
Negative opinions:
- À mon avis, il y a trop de dangers (In my opinion, there are too many dangers)
These phrases work well in many different situations and allow you to express your personal views clearly. The key phrase "car" (because) is particularly useful for justifying your opinions about technology.
Example sentences
Worked Example: Using Present and Perfect Tenses
Present tense examples:
- Tu aimes utiliser la technologie? (Do you like using technology?)
- Oui, j'aime la technologie car ça m'aide à parler avec mes amis (Yes, I like technology because it helps me talk to my friends)
Perfect tense examples:
- Il existe un lien entre la technologie et la santé des adolescents (There exists a link between technology and teenagers' health)
- Utiliser les écrans trop longtemps peut faire mal aux yeux (Using screens for too long can hurt your eyes)
Translation practice
Try translating these sentences into French:
English to French:
- I like using the internet at home
- My favourite social network is Instagram
French to English: 3. J'essaie de chatter avec mes amis tous les jours 4. Le mois dernier j'ai envoyé un email à ma tante qui habite à Paris
Answers:
- J'aime utiliser Internet à la maison
- Mon réseau social préféré est Instagram
- I try to chat with my friends every day
- Last month I sent an email to my aunt who lives in Paris
Notice how sentence 4 uses the perfect tense with "j'ai envoyé" (I sent). This demonstrates the practical application of the grammar we've learned - using the perfect tense to talk about completed past actions with technology.
Remember!
Key Points to Remember:
- The perfect tense uses avoir + past participle to talk about completed past actions
- Past participles follow patterns: -er verbs add -é, -ir verbs add -i, -re verbs add -u
- Use opinion phrases like "J'aime... car" and "À mon avis" to express your views
- Technology vocabulary covers both positive aspects (communication, research) and negative ones (dangers, theft, bullying)
- Practice using both present and perfect tenses when discussing your technology experiences