Saying your age
Dire son âge
- Asking somebody's age
- Say how old you are and when your birthday is
- The interrogative words: "Est-ce que" and "Quel"
This lesson covers how to ask and say your age in French using key question forms "Quel" and "Est-ce que." It includes vocabulary related to age and birthdays, example sentences, dialogues for practical conversation, and verb conjugations related to celebrating birthdays. The content helps learners navigate everyday questions about age and birthday celebrations in a natural way, illustrating important differences between French and English expressions.
Listening & reading materials
Practice vocabulary in context with real materials.
Vocabulary (14) Share Copied!
Exercises Share Copied!
These exercises can be done together during conversation lessons or as homework.
Exercise 1: Reorder sentences
Instruction: Make correct sentences and translate.
Exercise 2: Match a word
Instruction: Match the translations
Exercise 3: Cluster the words
Instruction: Sort these words into two categories to better understand the vocabulary related to age and birthday parties.
Vocabulaire lié à l'âge
Vocabulaire lié à l'anniversaire et à la fête
Exercise 4: Translate and use in a sentence
Instruction: Pick a word, translated and use the word in a sentence or dialogue.
1
Vieux
Old
2
La fête
The party
3
Dire
To say
4
Le cadeau
The gift
5
Quel âge as-tu ?
How old are you?
Exercice 5: Conversation exercise
Instruction:
- Say the name and age of each person in the image. (Say the name and age of each person in the image.)
- Say your own age. (Say your own age.)
- Ask the others about their age. (Ask the others about their age.)
Teaching guidelines +/- 10 minutes
Example phrases:
|
La femme s'appelle Hannah et elle a trente-deux ans. The woman's name is Hannah and she is thirtytwo years old. |
|
La fille a dix-sept ans. The girl is seventeen years old. |
|
L'enfant a six ans. The child is six years old. |
|
La grand-mère a quatre-vingt-neuf ans. The grandmother is eightynine years old. |
|
J'ai trente ans. I am thirty years old. |
|
Quel âge as-tu? How old are you? |
| ... |
Exercise 6: Dialogue Cards
Instruction: Select a situation and practice the conversation with your teacher or fellow students.
Exercise 7: Multiple Choice
Instruction: Choose the correct solution
1. Je ______________ une fête pour mon anniversaire.
(I ______________ a party for my birthday.)2. Est-ce que tu ______________ ton anniversaire chaque année ?
(Do you ______________ your birthday every year?)3. Elle ______________ qu'elle a trente-cinq ans.
(She ______________ she is thirty-five years old.)4. Quel âge ______________ ?
(How old ______________?)Exercise 8: Julie's Birthday Party
Instruction:
Verb Tables
Préparer - Prepare
Présent
- je prépare
- tu prépares
- il/elle prépare
- nous préparons
- vous préparez
- ils/elles préparent
Célébrer - Celebrate
Présent
- je célèbre
- tu célèbres
- il/elle célèbre
- nous célébrons
- vous célébrez
- ils/elles célèbrent
Dire - Say
Présent
- je dis
- tu dis
- il/elle dit
- nous disons
- vous dites
- ils/elles disent
Fêter - Celebrate
Présent
- je fête
- tu fêtes
- il/elle fête
- nous fêtons
- vous fêtez
- ils/elles fêtent
Exercise 9: Les mots interrogatifs: "Est-ce que" et "Quel"
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
Grammar: The interrogative words: "Est-ce que" and "Quel"
Show translation Show answersQuel, Est-ce que, Quelle, Quelles, Quels
Grammar Share Copied!
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A1.6.2 Grammaire
Les mots interrogatifs: "Est-ce que" et "Quel"
The interrogative words: "Est-ce que" and "Quel"
Verb conjugation tables for this lesson Share Copied!
Préparer to prepare Share Copied!
present
| French | English |
|---|---|
| (je/j') je prépare | I prepare |
| tu prépares | you prepare |
| il/elle/on prépare | He/she/one prepares |
| nous préparons | we prepare |
| vous préparez | You prepare |
| ils/elles préparent | They prepare |
Célébrer to celebrate Share Copied!
present
| French | English |
|---|---|
| (je/j') présent (indicatif) | I celebrate |
| (tu) célèbre | you celebrate |
| (il/elle/on) célèbres | he/she/one celebrates |
| (nous) célèbre | we celebrate |
| (vous) célébrons | You celebrate |
| (ils/elles) célebrez | they celebrate |
Dire to say Share Copied!
present
| French | English |
|---|---|
| (je/j') je dis / j'dis | I say / I say |
| tu dis | You say |
| (il/elle/on) il dit / elle dit / on dit | he says / she says / one says |
| nous disons | We say |
| vous dites | You say |
| (ils/elles) ils disent / elles disent | they say |
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Understanding How to Say Your Age in French
This lesson helps you learn to talk about your age and birthdays in French, focusing on everyday questions and answers. You'll get familiar with key question forms using "Quel" (Which/What) and "Est-ce que" (a common question phrase), so you can ask and answer about age and birthday details naturally.
Important Vocabulary
- l'âge – age
- j'ai ... ans – I am ... years old
- jeune – young
- vieux – old
- l'anniversaire – birthday
- le gâteau – cake
- le cadeau – gift
- fêter – to celebrate
Key Phrases and Examples
Common questions include "Quel âge as-tu aujourd'hui ?" (How old are you today?) and "Est-ce que tu fêtes ton anniversaire en famille ?" (Do you celebrate your birthday with family?). You will practice responses such as "J'ai trente-cinq ans et mon anniversaire est en mai." (I am thirty-five and my birthday is in May.)
Typical Conversations
You will also engage with dialogues like meeting colleagues or chatting in a café where you ask and answer about age and birthdays politely. For example, "Bonjour, quel âge as-tu ?" (Hello, how old are you?) and "Mon anniversaire est le dix mars." (My birthday is March 10th.) These dialogues help you practice real-life interactions.
Grammar Focus
The lesson highlights how to conjugate verbs like "préparer" (to prepare) and "fêter" (to celebrate) in present tense, which are often used when talking about birthday preparations and celebrations.
Note on French vs English Age Expressions
In French, age is expressed using the verb "avoir" (to have), for example, "J'ai vingt ans" literally means "I have twenty years," which differs from English where we say "I am twenty years old." Similarly, French uses specific question forms such as "Quel âge as-tu ?" whereas in English we say "How old are you?" Learning these expressions is essential to sound natural.
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