1.2Core vocabulary
This theme divides into what you eat, what exercise you take, and what you have changed. Questions almost always ask about a change, so the vocabulary of before and after is as important as the food words themselves.
- une alimentation equilibree
- a balanced diet
- faire de la musculation
- to do weight training
- se detendre
- to relax
- le manque de sommeil
- lack of sleep
- nocif
- harmful
- arreter de fumer
- to stop smoking
- prendre du poids
- to put on weight
- etre en forme
- to be fit
- le bien-etre
- wellbeing
- eviter
- to avoid
1.2Giving advice
Advice is asked for constantly on this theme, and there are three ways to give it. Il faut plus an infinitive is the safest. Devoir plus an infinitive is more precise about who should act. The imperative is the most direct.
Worked example
Answer:
Common mistake
Using 'il faut' with a conjugated verb. Il faut is always followed by an infinitive, so it is il faut dormir, never il faut je dors.
1.2Describing a change of habit
The single most useful structure on this theme is the contrast between the imperfect, for what you used to do, and the perfect, for the moment you changed. Examiners reward it heavily because it demonstrates control of two tenses in one sentence.
Worked example
Answer:
Common mistake
Using the perfect for a repeated past habit. 'Je suis alle a la piscine tous les jours' describes one completed trip; for a habit use j'allais.
1.2Answering on this theme
Quantity expressions are a reliable source of marks and a reliable source of error. Beaucoup de, trop de, assez de and un peu de all take de with no article: beaucoup de legumes, never beaucoup des legumes.
- Il faut and devoir are both followed by an infinitive
- Imperfect for a past habit, perfect for the moment of change
- Quantity words take de with no article
- After a negative, du, de la and des all become de