5 fun activities for practising French verb conjugation

Rules are usually written using the imperative (French only) or infinitive (French only). This entertaining game is a great way to help your little one master these verb moods. All you have to do is make a list of topics. Then, ask your child to pretend to be mayor and make up a rule related to each one. Here are some examples:

• Topic: Cacti
  • Rule: Ne pas arroser tous les jours.
• Topic: Fire
  • Rule: Sortez immédiatement, au son de l’alarme d’incendie.
• Topic: Ice cream
  • Rule: Éviter de manger au soleil.
• Etc.

This game is great for kids with a competitive streak. (All the better if they get it from you!) It forces players to think on their feet and is sure to spark some friendly competition.
The rules are simple:

• Write the letters of the alphabet on separate pieces of paper and mix them up in a bowl. (You can also use Scrabble tiles if you have them on hand.) Choose a letter at random.
• Decide on an amount of time—don’t make it too long!—and start the countdown using a timer (French only) or an hourglass.
• Write as many French verbs as you can think of that begin with the letter you got. For example, if you drew the letter E, you could write être, éblouir, enjamber, and so on.

The player with the longest list when the time runs out wins the round.

This is the perfect activity for passing the time on long road trips or while waiting to be served at a restaurant. Write a list of conjugated verbs on a piece of paper, but leave out any pronouns (French only). Ask your child to write the correct pronoun in front of each verb. Here are a few examples to give you a better idea of how the game works:

• ____ aimes (answer: tu)
• ____ jouons (answer: nous)
• ____ finit (answer: il/elle)

 Psst! Some verbs will have more than one possible answer:

• ___ mange (answer: je or il/elle).

How cool would it be if we could jump backwards or forwards in time? While time travel is still the stuff of science fiction, there’s nothing futuristic about changing the verb tenses in our favourite stories (French only). Give this family activity a try:

• Choose a book and read a sentence out loud. (You can also read a paragraph or an entire chapter.)
• Ask your child to read out the same passage, but this time, in a different verb tense (e.g., past instead of present).
• Decide which version you each prefer and explain why.
• Etc.

If your child is looking for something to do on a rainy day, you can help them make the most of their screen time by playing Conjugo (French only). This educational game will turn them into a veritable ace at French verb conjugation!