During the holidays (AQA GCSE French): Revision Notes
During the holidays (Les vacances)
Useful vocabulary
Learning holiday vocabulary is essential for describing your travel experiences and plans in French. These terms form the foundation for discussing where you go and what you do during vacation time.
| French | English | Gender |
|---|---|---|
| les vacances | holidays | (f.pl) |
| à l'étranger | abroad | |
| à la montagne | in the mountains | |
| au bord de la mer | at the seaside | |
| un concert | concert | (m) |
| la côte | coast | (f) |
| en été | in summer | |
| en hiver | in winter | |
| la mer | sea | (f) |
| la neige | snow | (f) |
| la plage | beach | (f) |
| un souvenir | souvenir | (m) |
| une visite | visit, excursion | (f) |
| un voyage | journey | (m) |
Notice that les vacances is always plural in French, even though we often say "holiday" (singular) in English. This is one of the key differences between the two languages when discussing vacation time.
Essential grammar: Saying "to" in French
Understanding how to say "to" is crucial when talking about holiday destinations. The word changes depending on what follows it, and mastering this concept will dramatically improve your ability to discuss travel plans.
The Four Rules for "To" in French:
The word for "to" changes based on the gender and number of the noun that follows:
- au (masculine singular)
- à la (feminine singular)
- à l' (vowel or silent 'h')
- aux (plural)
With masculine nouns: Use au
- Je vais au concert (I'm going to the concert)
- Il va au marché (He's going to the market)
With feminine nouns: Use à la
- Je suis allé(e) à la montagne (I went to the mountains)
- Elle va à la plage (She's going to the beach)
With words starting with a vowel or silent 'h': Use à l'
- Je voudrais aller à l'étranger (I would like to go abroad)
- Nous allons à l'hôtel (We're going to the hotel)
With plural nouns: Use aux
- On peut aller aux toilettes (You can go to the toilets)
- Ils vont aux magasins (They're going to the shops)
Worked Example: Choosing the Correct "To"
Let's practice with the word "montagne" (mountain):
- Step 1: Identify the gender → "montagne" is feminine (la montagne)
- Step 2: Apply the rule → feminine = à la
- Step 3: Complete sentence → "Je vais à la montagne"
Try with "étranger" (abroad):
- Step 1: Check first letter → starts with vowel 'é'
- Step 2: Apply the rule → vowel = à l'
- Step 3: Complete sentence → "Je vais **à l'**étranger"
Example sentences
These practical examples show how holiday vocabulary works in real contexts. Notice how the grammar rules apply naturally in conversation.
Present tense
- En été, nous allons au bord de la mer (In summer, we go to the seaside)
- Je vais normalement au bord de la mer car j'adore faire de la natation (I normally go to the seaside because I love swimming)
- De temps en temps, j'achète des souvenirs pour ma famille (From time to time, I buy souvenirs for my family)
Past tense
- Pendant les vacances, je suis allé(e) à la montagne (During the holidays, I went to the mountains)
- Il a visité la côte l'année dernière (He visited the coast last year)
- Nous avons acheté des souvenirs (We bought souvenirs)
When using être verbs like aller in the past tense, remember the agreement: je suis allé (masculine) or je suis allée (feminine). This is a key difference from English where the past participle doesn't change.
Useful conversational phrases
When discussing holidays, these flexible phrases will help you sound more natural and confident in French conversations.
Building Natural Conversations
These phrases act as "conversation starters" that you can use to introduce your holiday experiences. They're particularly useful because they can be followed by any of the vocabulary and grammar structures you've learned.
Starting conversations:
- Pendant les vacances, je... (During the holidays, I...)
- D'habitude, je vais... (Usually, I go...)
- L'année dernière, j'ai visité... (Last year, I visited...)
Expressing preferences:
- J'adore aller... (I love going...)
- Je préfère... (I prefer...)
- Ce que j'aime le plus, c'est... (What I like most is...)
Pronunciation tips
Essential Pronunciation Rules
Correct pronunciation is crucial for being understood when discussing travel plans. Pay special attention to these common holiday terms:
- Les vacances: The 's' at the end is silent - sounds like "lay vah-kahnss"
- À l'étranger: The liaison between 'à' and 'l'' creates a smooth flow - "ah lay-trahn-zhay"
- Au bord de la mer: Practice the 'r' sounds - "oh bohr duh lah mare"
The key is to practice linking words smoothly, especially with à l' constructions.
Translation practice
Test your understanding with these practical translation exercises that combine vocabulary and grammar concepts.
Translation Exercise: French to English
- Pendant les vacances, je vais normalement à la montagne car j'aime faire du ski.
- En été, ma famille et moi, nous allons souvent au bord de la mer.
Translation Exercise: English to French
- During the holidays, I like to go abroad.
- Last year, I bought souvenirs for my friends.
Answers:
- During the holidays, I normally go to the mountains because I like skiing.
- In summer, my family and I often go to the seaside.
- Pendant les vacances, j'aime aller à l'étranger.
- L'année dernière, j'ai acheté des souvenirs pour mes amis.
Key Points to Remember:
- The word for "to" changes based on the gender and number of the noun that follows: au (masculine), à la (feminine), à l' (vowel/h), aux (plural)
- Use pendant les vacances (during the holidays) to start conversations about holiday experiences
- Past tense with être verbs like aller requires agreement: je suis allé (masculine) or je suis allée (feminine)
- Practice linking words smoothly, especially with à l' constructions
- Remember that les vacances is always plural in French, even when we say "holiday" (singular) in English