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DELF A2 speaking practice: describe an object that matters to you

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Describe a small blue notebook, explain who gave it to you and answer follow-up questions. An A2 speaking model, keyword plan and eight-question quiz.

In short

Give four details: what the object looks like, how you got it, what you use it for and why it matters. Link them with l’année dernière, et and parce que. Start with Un objet important pour moi, c’est…

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn

A small blue notebook and pencil beside a canvas bag on a train table.
Describe why ce petit carnet bleu matters to its owner. Illustration: Atelier

Your speaking card: Adam’s notebook

Vous êtes Adam. Votre sœur vous a offert un petit carnet bleu pour votre anniversaire l’année dernière. Vous le gardez dans votre sac. Pendant vos trajets en train, vous y notez des idées de dessins. Vous ne connaissez pas son prix.

You are Adam. Your sister gave you a small blue notebook for your birthday last year. You keep it in your bag. During train journeys, you write drawing ideas in it. You do not know its price.

A plan made of keywords
Part of your answerNotes
Appearancepetit · bleu · dans mon sac
Past eventma sœur · anniversaire · l’année dernière
Present usetrajets en train · idées de dessins
Personal reasonutile · cadeau de ma sœur

Say the answer from the notes

Un objet important pour moi, c’est ce petit carnet bleu. Ma sœur me l’a offert pour mon anniversaire l’année dernière. Je le garde dans mon sac. Pendant mes trajets en train, j’y note des idées de dessins. Il est utile, mais je l’aime aussi parce que c’est un cadeau de ma sœur.

An object that matters to me is this little blue notebook. My sister gave it to me for my birthday last year. I keep it in my bag. During train journeys, I write drawing ideas in it. It is useful, but I also like it because it is a gift from my sister.

Me l’a offert tells the gift story: me means “to me” and l’ replaces le carnet. In j’y note des idées, y means “in it”. The gift uses the past tense; the regular use stays in the present: je le garde, j’y note.

Deux questions après la présentation
  1. Partenaire

    Vous l’avez acheté où ?

    Where did you buy it?

  2. Adam

    C’est un cadeau de ma sœur. Je ne l’ai pas acheté moi-même.

    It is a gift from my sister. I didn’t buy it myself.

  3. Partenaire

    Il coûte cher ?

    Is it expensive?

  4. Adam

    Je ne connais pas son prix, mais il est très important pour moi.

    I don’t know its price, but it matters a lot to me.

  1. Question 1No account needed
    Who gave Adam the notebook?

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    Sa sœur.. The card says votre sœur vous a offert un petit carnet bleu: his sister gave it to him.

  2. Question 2No account needed
    Which description matches the card?

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    Un petit carnet bleu.. Both details matter: the notebook is small and blue. The other choices change one of them.

  3. Question 3No account needed
    Complete the gift story with the correct past form.Ma sœur me l’___ pour mon anniversaire l’année dernière.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    a offert. The past event uses a offert. With the pronouns, the full phrase is me l’a offert.

  4. Question 4No account needed
    What does y refer to in this sentence?J’y note des idées de dessins.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    The notebook.. Y replaces dans ce carnet: he writes the ideas in the notebook.

  5. Question 5No account needed
    Which sentence gives a regular present use?

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    Je le garde dans mon sac.. Je le garde describes his present habit. The other sentences refer to a past event and a future action.

  6. Question 6No account needed
    Which answer explains its personal importance?

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    Parce que c’est un cadeau de ma sœur.. The personal reason is the gift from his sister. This answer connects directly to the card.

  7. Question 7No account needed
    Your partner asks where you bought it. Which reply fits Adam’s story?

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    C’est un cadeau de ma sœur.. Adam received the notebook from his sister. C’est un cadeau de ma sœur explains that clearly.

  8. Question 8No account needed
    How can Adam answer the question about price?

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    Je ne connais pas son prix.. The card says he does not know the price, so je ne connais pas son prix answers accurately.

Now describe your own object

  • Choose a useful object: un carnet, une montre, un sac or un livre.
  • Write four keyword groups using the plan above, then say your account aloud.
  • Ask a partner to choose a follow-up: Vous l’utilisez souvent ? or Pourquoi est-il important pour vous ?
After speaking

A self-review aid, not a grade. Ticks are not saved.

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