Senses and perceiving
Les sens et la perception
- Describe taste, smell, sight, sound and touch
- Compare things
- Comparative adjectives: "Plus", "Moins", "Aussi"
In this lesson on "Senses and perceiving," learn to compare sensory experiences using comparatives like "plus," "moins," and "aussi." Practice key vocabulary such as "l'odorat" (smell), "le goût" (taste), and adjectives like "sucré" (sweet) and "doux" (soft) to describe and contrast sensations effectively.
Listening & reading materials
Practice vocabulary in context with real materials.
Vocabulary (16) 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 the words according to whether they relate to senses or tastes to better remember their meaning.
Les sens (la perception)
Les goûts (les saveurs)
Exercise 4: Translate and use in a sentence
Instruction: Pick a word, translated and use the word in a sentence or dialogue.
1
L'ouïe
Hearing
2
Clair
Clear
3
La voix
The voice
4
Doux
Soft
5
Voir
To see
Exercice 5: Conversation exercise
Instruction:
- Describe the opposite in the pictures using comparatives (more than, as, less than). (Describe the opposite in the pictures using comparatives (more than, as, less than).)
- Ask the person sitting next to you, if they prefer sweet or salty food, sweet or bitter drinks,... (Ask the person sitting next to you, if they prefer sweet or salty food, sweet or bitter drinks,...)
Teaching guidelines +/- 10 minutes
Example phrases:
|
Le café est plus amer que le thé. Coffee is more bitter than tea. |
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Une pomme est plus dure qu'une banane. An apple is harder than a banana. |
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Les fleurs sentent meilleur que les chaussettes. Flowers smell better than socks. |
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La nourriture salée a aussi bon goût que la nourriture sucrée. Salty food tastes as good as sweet food. |
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Préférez-vous l'odeur du café ou du thé ? Do you prefer the smell of coffee or tea? |
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Je préfère l'odeur amère du café. I prefer the bitter smell of coffee. |
| ... |
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 ___ sentir la douce odeur des fleurs dans le jardin.
(I ___ smell the sweet scent of flowers in the garden.)2. Tu ___ goûter ce gâteau sucré ?
(You ___ taste this sweet cake?)3. Il ___ entendre un bruit plus clair que toi.
(He ___ hear a clearer noise than you.)4. Nous ___ voir la robe qui est aussi jolie que le pantalon.
(We ___ see the dress that is as pretty as the pants.)Exercise 8: A Tasting at the Market
Instruction:
Verb Tables
Pouvoir - Pouvoir
Présent
- je peux
- tu peux
- il/elle/on peut
- nous pouvons
- vous pouvez
- ils/elles peuvent
Vouloir - Vouloir
Présent
- je veux
- tu veux
- il/elle/on veut
- nous voulons
- vous voulez
- ils/elles veulent
Exercise 9: Les adjectifs comparatifs: "Plus", "Moins", "Aussi"
Instruction: Fill in the correct word.
Grammar: Comparative adjectives: "Plus", "Moins", "Aussi"
Show translation Show answersmoins, aussi, plus
Grammar Share Copied!
It's not the most exciting thing, we admit, but it’s absolutely essential (and we promise it'll pay off)!
A1.26.2 Grammaire
Les adjectifs comparatifs: "Plus", "Moins", "Aussi"
Comparative adjectives: "Plus", "Moins", "Aussi"
Verb conjugation tables for this lesson Share Copied!
Pouvoir to be able to Share Copied!
present
| French | English |
|---|---|
| (je/j') je peux | I can |
| tu peux | you are able to |
| il/elle/on peut | he/she/one can |
| nous pouvons | we can |
| vous pouvez | You can |
| ils/elles peuvent | They are able to |
Vouloir to want Share Copied!
present
| French | English |
|---|---|
| (je/j') veux | I want |
| (tu) veux | you want |
| (il/elle/on) veut | he/she/one wants |
| (nous) voulons | we want |
| (vous) voulez | you want |
| (ils/elles) veulent | they want |
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Lesson Overview: Senses and Perceiving in French
This lesson introduces you to vocabulary and expressions related to the five senses and the perception of flavors, along with essential comparative adjectives to describe differences and similarities. Designed for beginners (A1 level), it provides a solid foundation for discussing sensory experiences in everyday contexts such as the market, café, and clothing store.
Key Vocabulary Groups
- The Senses: l'odorat (smell), l'ouïe (hearing), la vue (sight), le toucher (touch), le son (sound)
- Flavors and Tastes: le goût (taste), salé (salty), sucré (sweet)
Comparative Adjectives
You will learn how to use the comparative forms plus (more), moins (less), and aussi (as) to compare sensations. For example:
- La pomme est plus sucrée que la poire. (The apple is sweeter than the pear.)
- Le son de la musique est moins fort qu'hier. (The sound of the music is less loud than yesterday.)
- Le chocolat est aussi salé que le fromage. (The chocolate is as salty as the cheese.)
Practical Usage in Daily Life
The lesson includes useful dialogues for real-life situations where you compare tastes, smells, textures, sounds, and appearances using the comparative adjectives:
- At the Market: Discuss and compare the taste and smell of fruits.
- At the Café: Describe and compare the taste and aroma of beverages like coffee, tea, and hot chocolate.
- In a Clothing Store: Compare textures and heat levels of clothing materials by touch.
Verb Practice: Pouvoir (can) and Vouloir (want)
You will practice the conjugation and use of the verbs pouvoir and vouloir in the present tense through multiple choice exercises and a short story focused on sensory perceptions:
- Je peux sentir la douce odeur des fleurs dans le jardin. (I can smell the sweet scent of flowers in the garden.)
- Tu veux goûter ce gâteau sucré ? (Do you want to taste this sweet cake?)
Instruction Language vs. French
Since the instruction language is English, this lesson points out some notable differences and similarities:
- French uses specific nouns for each sense (e.g., l'odorat for smell), whereas English often uses the general word "sense".
- Adjective position in French usually follows the noun (une pomme sucrée) unlike English where it precedes (a sweet apple).
- Comparatives in French require the use of que to introduce the second item in the comparison (plus sucrée que la poire), similar to "than" in English.
- The verbs pouvoir (can) and vouloir (want) are frequently used with sensory verbs like sentir (to smell) and goûter (to taste) to express ability and desire.
Important phrases to practice include:
- Je peux sentir... – I can smell/feel...
- Tu veux goûter... – Do you want to taste...
- Ce parfum est plus doux que... – This scent is softer than...
Mastering these expressions will help you describe and compare sensory experiences naturally in French.
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