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Learn: Accent Marks in French
AQA GCSE French 8652
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Welcome!Great to see you're building on your knowledge of French pronunciation! So far, you've learned about the alphabet, vowel sounds, nasal vowels, silent letters, and liaison. Today, we'll focus on accent marks, an important part of French spelling and pronunciation.
What are Accent Marks?Accent marks are special symbols added to letters in French words, mainly vowels. They change how a letter is pronounced and can sometimes change the meaning of a word. They are essential for correct spelling and pronunciation.
Types of Accent MarksThere are five accent marks in French:Acute accent (é) — Makes the 'e' sound like 'ay' as in 'café'.Grave accent (è) — Makes the 'e' sound like 'eh' as in 'très'.Circumflex (ê) — Can appear on vowels and often indicates a missing letter in older French, like 'hôpital' (hospital).Diaeresis (ë) — Shows that two vowels are pronounced separately, like 'Noël'.Cedilla (ç) — Changes 'c' to a soft 's' sound, like in 'garçon'.
Quick check: Which accent changes the sound of 'e' to 'eh'?
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Why Are Accent Marks Important?Accent marks help you pronounce words correctly and avoid confusion between words. For example, 'é' in 'café' sounds different from 'è' in 'très'. They also affect spelling and grammar, so learning them is key to writing and speaking French well.
Match the items on the left with their correct pairs on the right
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Examples of Accent MarksHere are some examples:Acute accent (é): caféGrave accent (è): trèsCircumflex (ê): forêtDiaeresis (ë): NoëlCedilla (ç): garçon
The {{blank0}} accent makes 'e' sound like 'ay', while the {{blank1}} accent makes 'e' sound like 'eh'.
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How Accent Marks Change MeaningAccent marks can change the meaning of words. For example:'ou' means 'or', but 'où' means 'where'.'a' means 'has', but 'à' means 'to'.
Which word means 'where' in French?
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Review Time!You've learned about the types of accent marks, their sounds, and how they affect meaning. Let's test your understanding!
Which of the following are true about French accent marks? (Select all that apply)
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The {{blank0}} accent is used on 'c' to create a soft 's' sound, as in 'garçon'.
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What does the diaeresis (ë) do?
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Well Done!You've completed the lesson and now understand French accent marks. Keep practising to master their use in spelling and pronunciation!
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