Common idioms + phrases
Edexcel GCSE French revision on Common idioms + phrases. Aligned to the Pearson Edexcel GCSE French 1FR0 specification. This bank has 5 practice questions on this topic.
Sample questions (3 of 5)
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Question 1
'I would like' (politely asking) = ?
- A) Je veux
- B) Je voudrais
- C) Je vais
- D) Je suis
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Answer: Je voudrais
Je voudrais (conditional of vouloir) is the polite way to ask: 'Je voudrais un café s'il vous plaît.' Compare 'je veux' (I want) - too blunt in French culture. Useful in restaurants, shops. Also useful: 'Pouvez-vous...?' (Can you...?), 's'il vous plaît' (please, formal), 'merci' (thank you).
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Question 2
'I don't know' = ?
- A) Je sais
- B) Je ne sais pas
- C) Je ne connais pas
- D) Both 'Je ne sais pas' or 'Je ne connais pas' depending on context
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Answer: Both 'Je ne sais pas' or 'Je ne connais pas' depending on context
Two verbs for 'to know'. SAVOIR: facts, info, how to do something. 'Je sais que tu mens' (I know you're lying). 'Je sais nager' (I know how to swim). CONNAÎTRE: people, places, things by familiarity. 'Je connais Pierre' (I know Pierre). 'Je connais Paris' (I know Paris). Don't translate directly from English!
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Question 3
'There is/are' = ?
- A) Il y a
- B) C'est
- C) Il est
- D) Il fait
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Answer: Il y a
Il y a literally means 'it has there' - irregular phrase = 'there is/are'. 'Il y a un chat' (there's a cat). 'Il y a des chats' (there are cats). Negative: 'il n'y a pas de chats'. Question: 'Y a-t-il des chats?' or 'Est-ce qu'il y a des chats?'.
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2 more questions on Common idioms + phrases — plus mistakes tracking and spaced repetition across the whole French spec.