Notes, summaries, assignments, exams, and exercises for French for Baccalaureate

Structuring an Argumentative Essay: Pros and Cons

Introduction: Presenting Both Sides

When discussing a particular subject, it's crucial to acknowledge both its positive and negative aspects. This balanced approach allows for a comprehensive understanding of the topic at hand.

Advantages: Exploring the Positive Aspects

On the one hand, [insert topic here] often presents several benefits. For instance, it can lead to [advantage 1]. Another significant advantage is that it [advantage 2].

Disadvantages: Addressing the Negative Aspects

Conversely, [insert topic here] also comes with a number of drawbacks. For example, [disadvantage 1]. A further problem that arises is [disadvantage 2].

Conclusion: Weighing the Arguments

In conclusion, while [insert topic

Linking Words and Connectors

Connectors are essential for building complex sentences and expressing relationships between ideas.

Principal Connectors

• Contrast/Concession: in spite of (+ verb -ing), although, despite.
• Reason/Result: as a result of, both... and, neither... nor (meaning: not either).

Sentence Adverbs (Following Punctuation)

• Contrast: however, nevertheless (meaning: nonetheless/in spite of that).
• Addition: moreover, furthermore (meaning: additionally).

Medial Connectors (Within the Sentence)

• Purpose: in order to (meaning: for the purpose of).
• Contrast: whereas (meaning: while/in contrast).
• Reason: due (meaning: due to/because of).
• Result: so (meaning: so that/consequently).
• Addition: as well as (meaning: in addition to).

Intensifiers and Degree

English Grammar

Verb Tenses

Present Simple

I/You know/He/She/It knows

I don't know

Do I know?

Present Continuous

I am watching

I am not watching

Are you watching?

Past Simple

I knew/He watched

I didn't know/He didn't watch

Did you know?

Past Continuous

I was watching

I wasn't watching

Was I watching?

Past Perfect Simple

I had watched

I hadn't watched

Had I watched?

Present Perfect Simple

You have watched

You haven't watched

Have you watched?

Present Perfect Continuous

I have been watching

I haven't been watching

Have you been watching?

Future Perfect

You will have watched

You won't have watched

Will you have watched?

Future Continuous

You will be watching

You won't be watching

Will you be watching?

Comparatives and Superlatives

For one-syllable words, add -er for comparative and...

Understanding English Modals, Verbs, and Compounds

Modal Verbs and Their Core Uses

• Can

  • Ability
  • Making suggestions
  • Asking for favors
  • Expressing certainty that something is impossible

• Be Able To

  • Ability in the past, present, and future

• Could

  • Skill in the past
  • Polite requests

• May

  • Probability or possibility (greater than 'might')
  • Politely asking for favors

• Might

  • Probability or possibility (less than 'may')

• Would

  • Asking favors (more formal)
  • Making offers or invitations

• Must

  • Obligation or necessity (e.g., law)
  • Certainty that what is said is true

• Have To

  • Obligation (common usage worldwide)

• Need To

  • Expressing need

• Need Not

  • No obligation or necessity

• Must Not

  • Prohibition or ban

• Do Not Have To

  • No obligation or necessity

• Should

  • Advice or opinion (most common use)

• Ought To

  • Advice or opinion

Mastering Tense Shifts in Reported Speech

When converting direct speech into reported (indirect) speech, specific changes occur in verb tenses, modal verbs, and expressions of time and place. This document outlines the essential rules for these conversions.

I. Tense and Modal Verb Changes

The general rule is that the tense shifts one step back into the past.

Present Simple to Past Simple

• Direct: "He is American," she said.
• Reported: She said that he was American.
• Direct: He asked, "Are you busy?"
• Reported: He asked me if I was busy.

Present Continuous to Past Continuous

• Direct: "Dan is living in SF," she said.
• Reported: She said Dan was living in SF.
• Direct: "Why are you working?" they asked.
• Reported: They asked me why I was working.

Present Perfect to

English Verb Tenses

Present Simple

Used for habitual actions or routines.

• My sister works on Sundays.
• The train does not leave at 4 o'clock.
• How often do you read?

Keywords: Often, sometimes, ever, always, on Monday, every week.

Past Continuous

Used for actions in progress at a specific moment in the past.

• She was studying.

Keywords: Yesterday, last year, while.

Past Simple

Used for completed actions in the past.

• I didn't go to Paris.
• They laughed.
• I went to Paris last year.

Keywords: Yesterday, last year, when.

Present Perfect

Used for actions starting in the past and continuing, or actions with an unspecified time.

• She has cleaned.
• I have just met him.
• I have lived in Melilla for five years.

Keywords: Already, yet, just, ever, for, since.

Present Continuous

Used...

Modal Verbs

• Ability and capacity: can, could, be able to.
• Possibility and deduction: may, might, could, can't, must.
• Advice: should, ought to, had better.
• Obligation and necessity: must, have to, need to.
• Prohibition: mustn't, can't.
• Absence of obligation: don't have to, needn't.
• Permission: can, be allowed to.

Active and Passive Voice

Transforming active sentences into the passive voice:

• makes → is made
• is making → is being made
• made → was made
• was making → was being made
• has made → has been made
• had made → had been been made
• will make → will be made
• would make → would be made

Reported Speech: Direct and Indirect

Tense and Word Shifts

• is seeing → was seeing
• sees → saw
• saw → had seen
• has seen → had seen
• will see → would see
• is going to see

📌 Reported Speech Cheat Sheet

🔹 Tense Changes

• Present simple → Past simple
  👉 “I play” → he said he played
• Present continuous → Past continuous
  👉 “I am studying” → he said he was studying
• Past simple → Past perfect
  👉 “I went” → he said he had gone
• Present perfect → Past perfect
  👉 “I have eaten” → he said he had eaten

Pronoun changes (depending on the speaker):
I → he/she | my → his/her | you → I/we/they | me → him/her | our → their | us → them

🔹 Reported Speech Structures

• Statements: said (that)
• Orders: told/ordered + person + to + verb
  👉 “Close the door” → he told me to close the door
• Questions:
  • Yes/No: use if
    👉 “Did you go?” → he asked if I had gone
  • WH-questions: use normal word

Essential Food Vocabulary in English and Spanish

• Chicken: pollo
• Lobster: langosta
• Crab: cangrejo
• Tuna: atún
• Mussels: mejillones
• Beet: remolacha
• Prawns: langostinos
• Duck: pato
• Salmon: salmón
• Lamb: cordero
• Squid: calamar
• Pork: cerdo
• Red pepper: pimiento rojo
• Eggs: huevos
• Aubergine: berenjena
• Cherries: cerezas
• Avocado: palta
• Courgette: calabacín
• Beetroot: raíz de remolacha
• Potatoes: patatas
• Cabbage: repollo

English Grammar: Present Tenses

Present Simple

• (+): Subject + Verb + Complement
• (-): Subject + Do/Does not + Verb + Complement
• (?): Do/Does + Subject + Verb + Complement?

Present Continuous

• (+): Subject + Am/Are/Is + Verb-ing
• (-): Subject + Am not/Aren’t/Isn’t + Verb-ing
• (?): Am/Are/Is + Subject + Verb-ing?

Future Forms: Be Going To and Will

Be Going To

• (+): Subject

Reported Speech: Mastering the Rules

Reported speech, also known as indirect speech, involves changes to verb tenses, modal verbs, possessive adjectives, and expressions of time and place. These changes primarily occur in declarative and interrogative sentences (statements and questions).

Tense Changes in Reported Speech