Just as in English, complex sentences in French often require a combination of different verb tenses. To master the French language, students must learn the particular patterns expected in various sentence combinations. In this activity, students will create a storyboard that practices constructing complex sentences beginning with “si”.
The template included already indicates the tenses students should use. You can increase the difficulty of the assignment by removing the tense labels in the right-hand column, forcing students to determine the second tense on their own. This assignment can also be completed substituting “quand” or “lorsque” for “si”.
| Si...présent... | ...futur |
|---|---|
| Si les oiseaux mangent les miettes... | Hansel et Gretel ne retrouveront pas le chemin. |
| Si...imparfait... | ...conditionnel |
| Si j'avais un million de dollars... | j'achèterais un château. |
| Si...plus-que-parfait... | ...conditionnel passé |
| Si j'avais étudié cette semaine... | J'aurais réussi à mon examen ce matin. |
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a storyboard illustrating the construction of sentences beginning with "si". Remember, when “si” means “if” in French, it automatically creates a complex sentence consisting of both a dependent clause and an independent clause. When the tense of the dependent “si” clause changes, so does the tense of the independent clause.