1. The verb shows the action in a sentence, and comes in different forms.
Metalanguage
a doing word
The verb shows the action in a sentence, and comes in different forms.
to play
to go
to listen
to read
to run
to be
to have
to live
to die
to want

2. 2. Noun
Metalanguage
a naming word
A noun is a name that we give to someone or something. In French, nouns are masculine or feminine.
un chien – a dog
le courage – courage
une abeille – a bee
une idée – an idea

3. 3. Article
Metalanguage
the words for ‘the’ or ‘a/an’
We place the definite article (the) or the indefinite article (a/an) in front of a noun. In French, these are different for masculine and feminine.
un chien – a dog
le courage – courage
l’hôpital – the hospital
une abeille – a bee
la plage – the beach
l’addition – the bill

4. 4. Pronoun Metalanguage a word to replace a noun
A pronoun is used instead of a noun and shows who is doing or receiving the action in a sentence. Je Tu
Il/Elle/On
Nous
Vous
Ils/Elles I
You (informal)
He/She/One We
You (formal)
They (m.)/They (f.)

5. 5. Infinitive Metalanguage
the ‘to’ form of a verb
An infinitve is a verb starting with ‘to’. This needs to be changed before it is used in a sentence.
Je être = I to be ✗
Je suis = I am ✓

6. 6. Past participle Metalanguage
the ‘past tense’ form of a verb
The past participle is used with an auxiliary to form the past tense.
Je suis allé
pronoun auxiliary past participle

7. 7. Auxiliary Metalanguage
an ‘extra’ verb
The auxiliary is used with another verb to form a different tense.
Nous avons mangé
pronoun auxiliary past participle

8. the process of changing a verb
8. Conjugation
Metalanguage
the process of changing a verb
Sometimes, we have to conjugate infinitives so that they work in a sentence.
Je joue
Tu joues
Il/Elle/On joue
Nous jouons
Vous jouez
Ils/Elles jouent
I play
You play
He/She/One plays
We play
They play

9. 9. Subject
Metalanguage
the person or thing doing a verb
The subject of a sentence is the one doing the action.
Subject
He is playing chess.
She was singing Madonna.
The cat will eat the dog.

10. 10. Object
Metalanguage
the person or thing having the verb done to them
The object of a sentence is the one receiving the action.
He is playing chess.
She was singing Madonna.
The cat will eat the dog.
Object