The environment and me (AQA GCSE French): Revision Notes
The environment and me
Useful vocabulary
Learning environmental vocabulary is essential for discussing current issues and expressing your views about protecting our planet. The following words and phrases will help you communicate effectively about environmental topics in French.
| French | English |
|---|---|
| améliorer | to improve |
| arbre (m) | tree |
| arrêter | to stop |
| déchets (mpl) | rubbish, waste |
| environnement (m) | environment |
| jeter | to throw away |
| manifestation (f) | demonstration, event |
| mer (f) | sea |
| nature (f) | nature |
| plastique (m) | plastic |
| polluer | to pollute |
| pollution (f) | pollution |
| protéger | to protect |
| recycler | to recycle |
| réduire | to reduce |
| voiture (f) | car |
| contenir | to contain |
| effet (m) | effect |
| espèce (f) | species |
| manifester | to protest |
| sembler | to seem |
| verre (m) | glass |
Learning Tip: Practice using these vocabulary words in different contexts. Try creating sentences that combine multiple environmental terms, such as "Je recycle le plastique pour protéger l'environnement" (I recycle plastic to protect the environment).
Grammar focus: the conditional tense
The conditional tense is a crucial grammatical structure that allows you to express hypothetical situations, polite requests, and future possibilities. Understanding how to form and use this tense will significantly enhance your ability to discuss environmental actions and express your opinions about what should be done to protect our planet.
Regular -er verbs in the conditional
The conditional tense is used to express what you 'would do' in certain circumstances. This is particularly useful when discussing environmental actions, as you can talk about what you would do to help protect the environment under different conditions.
Formation Rule: For regular -er verbs, form the conditional by taking the infinitive and adding the conditional endings. Never remove the -er ending first!
Conditional endings:
- je -ais
- tu -ais
- il/elle/on -ait
- nous -ions
- vous -iez
- ils/elles -aient
Worked Example: Conjugating 'recycler' (to recycle)
Step 1: Take the infinitive form Base form: recycler
Step 2: Add the conditional endings
- Je recyclerais (I would recycle)
- Tu recyclerais (You would recycle)
- Il/elle/on recyclerait (He/she/one would recycle)
- Nous recyclerions (We would recycle)
- Vous recycleriez (You would recycle)
- Ils/elles recycleraient (They would recycle)
Irregular verbs in the conditional
While most verbs follow the regular pattern, some important verbs have irregular stems in the conditional. However, they still use exactly the same endings as regular verbs, which makes them easier to remember once you know the stems.
| Verb | Conditional stem | Example |
|---|---|---|
| aller | ir- | j'irais (I would go) |
| avoir | aur- | j'aurais (I would have) |
| être | ser- | je serais (I would be) |
| faire | fer- | je ferais (I would do/make) |
Critical Point: These irregular verbs only change their stem - the endings (-ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient) remain exactly the same as for regular verbs. Focus on memorising the irregular stems, as these are among the most frequently used verbs in French.
Example sentences
Understanding how the conditional tense compares to other tenses helps you choose the right one for expressing your ideas. Here are examples showing different tenses used in environmental contexts.
Tense Comparison Examples
Present tense (what you currently do):
- Je recycle le plastique et le verre. (I recycle plastic and glass.)
- Nous protégeons l'environnement. (We protect the environment.)
- Les jeunes manifestent contre la pollution. (Young people protest against pollution.)
Conditional tense (what you would do):
- Je recyclerais plus de plastique. (I would recycle more plastic.)
- Elle irait manifester si elle n'était pas au collège. (She would go and protest if she wasn't at school.)
- Nous ferions plus de recyclage. (We would do more recycling.)
Past tense - perfect (what you have done):
- J'ai recyclé le verre et les journaux. (I recycled glass and newspapers.)
- Je suis allé au collège à pied. (I went to school on foot.)
Grammar and pronunciation tips
Mastering the conditional tense requires attention to both grammar rules and pronunciation patterns. These tips will help you use the conditional correctly and sound more natural when speaking.
Pronunciation Guide:
- The conditional endings sound similar to the imperfect tense endings
- The 'ais/ait' endings are pronounced the same way (like 'eh')
- Remember that 'recycler' keeps its infinitive form as the stem
Grammar Reminders:
- Irregular verbs only change their stem - the endings remain the same
- Always start with the full infinitive for regular -er verbs
- Don't confuse conditional stems with future tense stems (they're often different)
Translation practice
Practice is essential for mastering the conditional tense and environmental vocabulary. Work through these translations carefully, paying attention to tense usage and vocabulary choices.
Translation Exercise
French to English:
- Je ferai plus de recyclage et j'achèterai une voiture électrique car c'est bon pour l'environnement.
- Elle irait manifester si elle n'était pas au collège.
English to French:
- I would recycle more plastic because it's important to protect our planet.
- We went to school on foot and we recycled newspapers.
Answer Key
French to English:
- I will do more recycling and I will buy an electric car because it's good for the environment.
- She would go and protest if she wasn't at school.
English to French:
- Je recyclerais plus de plastique car c'est important de protéger notre planète.
- Nous sommes allés au collège à pied et nous avons recyclé les journaux.
Key Points to Remember:
- Use the conditional tense to talk about what you would do to help the environment
- Regular -er verbs use the infinitive + conditional endings (-ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient)
- Key irregular verbs (aller, avoir, être, faire) have special stems but the same endings
- Environmental vocabulary is essential for discussing current issues and future actions
- Practice describing both what you have done and what you would do for the environment
- The conditional is perfect for expressing hypothetical environmental actions and polite suggestions