Activity Overview
As students begin their courses of beginning level French, they will learn to express likes and dislikes. This vocabulary naturally pairs with learning the adverb construction of “ne...pas”. Breathe life into your early practice exercises by allowing students to depict their opinions as they express them. For visual learners, this will help reinforce their basic vocabulary retention.
In this activity, students will use a T-Chart to express what “j’aime” in one column and what “je n’aime pas” in the other. Keep each row consistent by requiring that students choose a specific category for each row. Younger students may benefit from pre-selected topics to help them organize their categories.
To practice facility with multiple verbs, require students to rotate between -er verbs such as aimer, adorer, détester, and préférer. The example storyboard demonstrates a use of negation with a variety of verbs in order to avoid repetition of any verb more than once.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a T Chart expressing your likes and dislikes in four different categories. Consider discussing your preferences for books, sports, music, classes, movies, clothing, food, animals, weather, or other topics.
Use the verbs aimer, adorer, détester, and préférer. Make sure to avoid using any particular expression or verb more than once. You may use each verb a second time if you turn it into a negative.
- Click "Start Assignment".
- In the left-hand column, write a sentence about something you like.
- In the right hand column, write a sentence about something you dislike.
- Create an illustration for each sentence using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Excellent 5 Points | Satisfaisant 3 Points | Insuffisant 1 Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Negative Adverbs | All negative adverbs are used correctly and make logical sense in the sentences. | Most negative adverbs are used correctly and make logical sense in the sentences. | Sentences demonstrate a lack of understanding of negative adverbs. Most or all are used incorrectly. |
| Expressions of Preference | The sentences clearly express likes and dislikes in the same category by making use of the verbs aimer, adorer, détester, and préférer. | The sentences clearly express likes and dislikes in the same category, but may rely only two or three verbs to express ideas. | The sentences do not express likes and dislikes in consistent categories. The sentences use only one or two different verbs throughout. |
| Images | The storyboard depictions show strong effort and help convey the meaning of the sentences. | The storyboard depictions show some effort and roughly convey the meaning of the sentences. | The storyboard depictions show a lack of effort and do not effectively convey the meaning of the sentences. |
| Spelling/Grammar | All sentences and/or dialogue contain correct grammar and spelling (including accent marks) as appropriate for the class level. | Most sentences and/or dialogue contain correct grammar and spelling (including accent marks) as appropriate for the class level. | The sentences and/or dialogue contain many grammatical or spelling errors (including accent marks). |
Activity Overview
As students begin their courses of beginning level French, they will learn to express likes and dislikes. This vocabulary naturally pairs with learning the adverb construction of “ne...pas”. Breathe life into your early practice exercises by allowing students to depict their opinions as they express them. For visual learners, this will help reinforce their basic vocabulary retention.
In this activity, students will use a T-Chart to express what “j’aime” in one column and what “je n’aime pas” in the other. Keep each row consistent by requiring that students choose a specific category for each row. Younger students may benefit from pre-selected topics to help them organize their categories.
To practice facility with multiple verbs, require students to rotate between -er verbs such as aimer, adorer, détester, and préférer. The example storyboard demonstrates a use of negation with a variety of verbs in order to avoid repetition of any verb more than once.
Template and Class Instructions
(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)
Student Instructions
Create a T Chart expressing your likes and dislikes in four different categories. Consider discussing your preferences for books, sports, music, classes, movies, clothing, food, animals, weather, or other topics.
Use the verbs aimer, adorer, détester, and préférer. Make sure to avoid using any particular expression or verb more than once. You may use each verb a second time if you turn it into a negative.
- Click "Start Assignment".
- In the left-hand column, write a sentence about something you like.
- In the right hand column, write a sentence about something you dislike.
- Create an illustration for each sentence using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.
Lesson Plan Reference
Rubric
(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)
| Excellent 5 Points | Satisfaisant 3 Points | Insuffisant 1 Points | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Negative Adverbs | All negative adverbs are used correctly and make logical sense in the sentences. | Most negative adverbs are used correctly and make logical sense in the sentences. | Sentences demonstrate a lack of understanding of negative adverbs. Most or all are used incorrectly. |
| Expressions of Preference | The sentences clearly express likes and dislikes in the same category by making use of the verbs aimer, adorer, détester, and préférer. | The sentences clearly express likes and dislikes in the same category, but may rely only two or three verbs to express ideas. | The sentences do not express likes and dislikes in consistent categories. The sentences use only one or two different verbs throughout. |
| Images | The storyboard depictions show strong effort and help convey the meaning of the sentences. | The storyboard depictions show some effort and roughly convey the meaning of the sentences. | The storyboard depictions show a lack of effort and do not effectively convey the meaning of the sentences. |
| Spelling/Grammar | All sentences and/or dialogue contain correct grammar and spelling (including accent marks) as appropriate for the class level. | Most sentences and/or dialogue contain correct grammar and spelling (including accent marks) as appropriate for the class level. | The sentences and/or dialogue contain many grammatical or spelling errors (including accent marks). |
How Tos about French Negation with Likes and Dislikes
Incorporate French negation into classroom games for active practice
Gamify learning by turning negation practice into engaging activities like Bingo, charades, or memory match. This approach motivates students and encourages quick thinking with sentences like "Je n’aime pas..." or "Je préfère..."
Model clear examples using visuals and gestures
Demonstrate how to use "ne...pas" with picture cards and expressive gestures. For example, hold up a picture of pizza and say, "J’aime la pizza," then cross your arms and say, "Je n’aime pas la soupe." Visual cues help students connect meaning and structure.
Guide students to build sentences with scaffolded prompts
Provide sentence starters such as "J’aime..." and "Je n’aime pas..." on the board. Encourage students to complete them using classroom vocabulary. Scaffolds boost confidence and support all learners.
Encourage peer interviews to practice likes and dislikes
Pair students up to ask and answer questions using negation. For example, "Qu’est-ce que tu n’aimes pas?" and "Qu’est-ce que tu préfères?" This interactive step builds speaking skills and reinforces new structures.
Wrap up with a creative group poster project
Assign small groups to make posters illustrating collective likes and dislikes using full sentences and images. Display posters in class for ongoing review and celebration of student work!
Frequently Asked Questions about French Negation with Likes and Dislikes
How do you teach French negation with likes and dislikes to beginners?
To teach French negation with likes and dislikes, introduce the "ne...pas" structure with common verbs like aimer (to like), adorer (to love), détester (to hate), and préférer (to prefer). Use T-Charts so students can write sentences with "j’aime" (I like) and "je n’aime pas" (I don’t like) about familiar topics, helping them practice both positive and negative expressions.
What are some easy activities for practicing likes and dislikes in French class?
Try T-Charts where students list likes and dislikes in categories such as food, sports, or music. Use visual aids, sentence starters, and encourage students to illustrate each sentence. Rotate verbs like aimer, adorer, détester, and préférer for variety and deeper practice.
What is the best way to introduce 'ne...pas' negation to K-12 French learners?
Start by modeling simple positive sentences (e.g., "J’aime le chocolat"), then demonstrate the negative form ("Je n’aime pas le chocolat"). Use clear visuals and sentence frames, and provide opportunities for students to compare and contrast their own preferences using the ne...pas structure.
Why use T-Charts for expressing likes and dislikes in French lessons?
T-Charts help students organize thoughts visually, making it easier to compare likes ("j’aime") and dislikes ("je n’aime pas"). They encourage category-based thinking and support vocabulary retention, especially for visual learners.
What are examples of French sentences using negation with different verbs?
Examples: J’adore la musique (I love music), Je n’adore pas les épinards (I don’t love spinach), Je préfère les livres (I prefer books), Je ne préfère pas les films d’horreur (I don’t prefer horror movies).
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