Friends (Edexcel GCSE French): Revision Notes
Friends
Essential vocabulary
Understanding how to talk about friends and relationships in French is crucial for your GCSE exam. Here are the key terms you'll need to master:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| les amis | friends |
| comprendre | to understand |
| couple (m) | couple |
| dépendre (de) | to depend (on) |
| difficulté (f) | difficulty |
| faire la fête | to party, have fun |
| goût (m) | taste |
| habiter | to live |
| idéal(e) | ideal |
| indépendant(e) | independent |
| French | English |
|---|---|
| influence (f) | influence |
| même | same |
| relation (f) | relationship |
| rencontrer | to meet |
| amitié (f) | friendship |
| compter sur | to count on |
| fêter | to celebrate |
| Je le/la connais depuis... | I've known him/her for... |
| raconter | to tell |
These vocabulary items form the foundation of friendship and relationship topics in French GCSE. Focus on memorising both the masculine/feminine forms and the key phrases like "Je le/la connais depuis..." which are frequently tested.
Example sentences in context:
- Je m'entends vraiment bien avec mon amie Jade. (I get on really well with my friend Jade.)
- Elle habite près de chez moi. (She lives near me.)
- Nous avons les mêmes goûts. (We have the same tastes.)
- Je peux toujours compter sur elle. (I can always count on her.)
Possessive adjectives
Possessive adjectives are words like 'my' or 'your' in English. In French, they must agree with the word they describe, not the person who owns something.
| Meaning | Masculine | Feminine | Plural |
|---|---|---|---|
| my | mon | ma | mes |
| your | ton | ta | tes |
| his/her/its | son | sa | ses |
| our | notre | notre | nos |
| your | votre | votre | vos |
| their | leur | leur | leurs |
Critical Grammar Rule
Ma, ta, sa change to mon, tonne, son before a vowel or silent h:
- mon amie (my friend - feminine, but starts with vowel)
- ton école (your school - feminine, but starts with vowel)
This is a common mistake in exams - remember the adjective agrees with the noun, not the owner!
Practice sentences:
- Je m'entends bien avec mon amie. (I get on well with my friend.)
- Elle habite près de chez moi. (She lives near me.)
- Nos goûts sont différents. (Our tastes are different.)
Reading comprehension strategies
When tackling reading questions in your exam, follow these key strategies to maximise your marks:
Add detail to your answers
Always include specific details from the text. If you see words like:
- assez (quite)
- très (very)
- trop (too)
- plus (more)
Make sure to include them in your answers as they significantly affect the meaning.
Follow the text order
In reading tasks, questions usually come in the same order as the information appears in the text. Use this to help locate answers quickly and efficiently.
Answer format
For short-answer questions, you don't always need to write in full sentences. Key details are often sufficient, but make sure your answer is clear and complete.
Useful phrases for describing relationships
These flexible phrases will help you express your opinions about friends and relationships with natural-sounding French:
- Je m'entends bien avec... (I get on well with...)
- Selon moi... (According to me...)
- À mon avis... (In my opinion...)
Translation practice:
French to English:
- Je connais mon meilleur ami depuis cinq ans.
- Il est très indépendant et je peux compter sur lui.
English to French:
- She lives near me and we have the same interests.
- According to me, friendship is very important.
Answers:
- I've known my best friend for five years.
- He is very independent and I can count on him.
- Elle habite près de moi et nous avons les mêmes goûts.
- Selon moi, l'amitié est très importante.
Exam tips
Essential exam strategies:
- Always read questions carefully before reading the text
- Look for key words and phrases that match the question
- Pay attention to details like très, assez, trop that modify meaning
- Use the vocabulary you've learned to understand context
- Remember that possessive adjectives agree with the noun, not the owner
Key Points to Remember:
- Possessive adjectives must agree with the noun they describe (masculine, feminine, plural)
- Ma, ta, sa become mon, tonne, son before vowels or silent h
- Add specific details from texts when answering reading questions
- Questions follow text order in reading comprehensions
- Use flexible phrases like "selon moi" and "je m'entends bien avec" to express opinions about relationships