Passing a GCSE language exam is an exciting mix of being able to speak the language, and knowing how to get the most out of the marking scheme. One of the things which can raise a grade 6 writing piece to a grade 8 or higher is the use of what is termed “complex grammar constructions”. What are these, and how can we include them?
This blog will give you several examples for French. Many of these constructions can be used in a range of tenses, so I have given a couple of examples in each case:
- Être en train de + infinitive – to be in the middle of doing something.
- Je suis en train d’écrire un blog – I am in the middle of writing a blog.
- J’étais en train d’écrire un blog, quand j’ai vu un chat – I was in the middle of writing a blog when I saw a cat.
- Au lieu de + infinitive – instead of doing….
- Au lieu d’écrire un blog, il faut faire mes devoirs – Instead of writing a blog, I must do my homework.
- Au lieu de faire mes devoirs, j’ai regardé la télé – Instead of doing my homework I watched TV.
- Après avoir/être + past participle – after having done something ….WATCH OUT! Just like the present perfect tense, you need to take care of the être verbs…
- Après avoir écrit mon blog, je vais prendre un thé – After having written my blog I am going to have a cup of tea.
- Après être allée en ville, j’écrirai encore un blog ! – After having gone to town I will write another blog!
- Avant de + infinitive – before doing something
- Avant de boire mon thé, je vais finir le blog – Before drinking my tea I am going to finish the blog.
- Avant de finir le blog, je cherche d’autres exemples – Before finishing the blog, I look for other examples.
- Venir de + infinitive – to have just done something
- Je venais de trouver un exemple, quand la téléphone a sonné – I had just found an example when the phone rang.
- Je viens de finir mon blog. Youpi ! – I have just finished my blog. Hurrah!
Teri is a Surrey-based language trainer specialising in French, German and English as a Foreign Language. She has many years of experience of trying to sound more interesting in French, especially with a view to boosting exam grades (whether for herself or others!)