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French spelling quiz: a or à, ou or où, et or est

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Twelve questions on the French homophones a/à, ou/où, et/est and son/sont. Use a simple substitution test to choose the right spelling every time.

In short

Use a swap test. a can become avait (it's the verb avoir); à can't. ou can become ou bien; où asks or tells where. est can become était; et can become et puis. sont can become étaient; son can become mon.

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A pair of simple keys rests on a French kitchen table beside an open green shopping bag, with spacious composition and no people or text.
The keys give dans le sac ou sur la table ? a setting. Illustration: Atelier
Study first: the swap tests
PairSwapExample
a / àa → avaitIl a faim. / Il va à Paris.
ou / oùou → ou bienThé ou café ? / Où vas-tu ?
et / estest → étaitElle est là. / Toi et moi.
son / sontsont → étaientIls sont prêts. / Son livre.
  1. Question 1No account needed
    Elle ___ deux enfants.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    a. Swap test: elle avait deux enfants works, so it's the verb a.

  2. Question 2No account needed
    On se retrouve ___ huit heures.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    à. Avait huit heures makes no sense: it's the preposition à.

  3. Question 3No account needed
    Tu préfères la mer ___ la montagne ?

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    ou. Ou bien works: it's a choice, so ou.

  4. Question 4No account needed
    La ville ___ je suis né est petite.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    où. It refers to a place: où.

  5. Question 5No account needed
    Le café ___ fermé le lundi.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    est. Le café était fermé works: it's the verb est.

  6. Question 6No account needed
    Paul ___ Marie arrivent ce soir.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    et. Et puis works: it links two names.

  7. Question 7No account needed
    Mes parents ___ en vacances.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    sont. Étaient en vacances works: it's the verb sont.

  8. Question 8No account needed
    Il cherche ___ téléphone.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    son. Mon téléphone works: it's the possessive son.

  9. Question 9No account needed
    C'___ difficile, mais c'___ possible.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    est … est. C'était… c'était works both times.

  10. Question 10No account needed
    Il ___ oublié ses clés ___ la maison.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    a … à. First a (verb, avait oublié), then à (preposition).

  11. Question 11No account needed
    ___ est la gare ?

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    Où. A question about place takes où.

  12. Question 12No account needed
    Elle a pris ___ sac ___ elle est partie.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    son … et. Son sac (possessive), then et (and).

When do you write a or à, ou or où, et or est?

These pairs sound identical, so French children learn the swap tests at primary school. The accent on à and où is not optional: ou without an accent means "or", and a missing accent changes the meaning. Only où has the rare ù accent in the whole language.

Où est-ce que tu as mis la clé ? Dans le sac ou sur la table ?

Where did you put the key? In the bag or on the table?

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