This key facts covers Key rules at a glance within Hearing the time frame: verb sounds that signal tense for GCSE French. Revise Hearing the time frame: verb sounds that signal tense in Listening Traps for GCSE French with 15 exam-style questions and 15 flashcards. This topic shows up very often in GCSE exams, so students should be able to explain it clearly, not just recognise the term. It is section 3 of 4 in this topic. Use this key facts to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
📌 Key rules at a glance
- Near future: aller (present form) + infinitive — two-word structure, always
- Simple future: infinitive stem + -ai/-as/-a/-ons/-ez/-ont endings
- Perfect: two-word structure — avoir/être (present) + past participle
- Imperfect: -ais/-ait/-aient endings — soft, drawn-out "ay" sound
- Conditional: infinitive stem + -rais/-rait/-raient — the -r- before the ending is the key
- Strategy: identify the time marker first, then confirm with the verb ending
- Future vs conditional: look for a si (if) clause — conditional follows si + imperfect
Practice questions for Hearing the time frame: verb sounds that signal tense
Which time marker signals that something happened in the PAST?
A student hears 'la semaine prochaine' in a listening track. What time frame does this signal?
Quick recall flashcards
hier
yesterday — the 'h' is silent; it sounds like 'ee-air'. Instant past-tense signal.
déjà
already — usually signals past: 'J'ai déjà visité Paris' (I've already visited Paris)