Why is "Using the masculine adjective for a female friend (ma sœur est gentil)" a common mistake in Friends and relationships?

Why it happens: English adjectives never change, so beginners forget that French adjectives must agree in gender and number. How to avoid it: Decide the person's gender first, then make every adjective match: *ma sœur est gentille, sportive et généreuse*. Learn the patterns -e (feminine), -s (plural), -if→-ive, -eux→-euse. Source: Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Paper 4 (Writing), accuracy

Why is "Giving an opinion with no justification (just 'j'aime mon ami')" a common mistake in Friends and relationships?

Why it happens: Learners answer the question literally without realising that reasons earn marks. How to avoid it: Always add *parce que* + a reason: *j'aime mon ami parce qu'il est drôle*. Vary your openers (j'adore, je préfère, à mon avis) to show range. Source: Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Papers 3 & 4

Why is "Dropping the reflexive word (saying 'j'entends bien avec' instead of 'je m'entends bien avec')" a common mistake in Friends and relationships?

Why it happens: Reflexive verbs don't exist in this form in English, so the little me/te/se gets forgotten. How to avoid it: Remember *s'entendre* carries a pronoun that matches the subject: je **m'**entends, tu **t'**entends, il **s'**entend. Without it, *entendre* just means 'to hear'. Source: Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Paper 3 (Speaking)

Why is "Mismatching the noun and the person (mon ami for a girl, ma amie)" a common mistake in Friends and relationships?

Why it happens: Beginners don't track gender across the article and the noun. How to avoid it: Use *un ami / mon ami* for a male and *une amie / mon amie* for a female (mon, not ma, before a vowel — but the noun and adjectives stay feminine: *mon amie est gentille*). Source: Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Paper 4 (Writing)

Why is "Forgetting the elision in 'parce qu'il' / 'parce qu'elle'" a common mistake in Friends and relationships?

Why it happens: Learners write the full *parce que* and don't drop the -e before a vowel. How to avoid it: Before a word starting with a vowel, *parce que* becomes *parce qu'*: *parce qu'il est*, *parce qu'elle est*. The apostrophe is compulsory in writing. Source: Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Paper 4 (Writing), accuracy

Why is "Writing a list of short, unlinked sentences" a common mistake in Friends and relationships?

Why it happens: Beginners feel safer with simple sentences and don't risk connectives. How to avoid it: Join ideas with *et, mais, parce que, donc, par contre*: turn 'J'ai un frère. Il est gentil.' into 'J'ai un frère et il est gentil, donc on s'entend bien.' Source: Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Paper 3 (Speaking), fluency

Topic Area 2 - Personal and Social LifeCambridge IGCSE French (0520)

Friends and relationships

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Friends and relationships in French — vocabulary, opinions and sentence frames — Cambridge IGCSE French 0520 (2025-2027)

A complete beginner's toolkit for talking about friends, family and relationships in French: themed vocabulary, the verbs you reuse constantly, and ready-made question-and-answer frames that earn marks across Speaking and Writing.

At a glance

Personal and Social Life is one of the most-tested themes — you will almost certainly describe a friend or family member in Paper 3 Speaking and Paper 4 Writing.
Core people words: un ami / une amie (a friend, male/female), un copain / une copine (a friend or boy/girlfriend), un(e) meilleur(e) ami(e) (a best friend).
Describing character uses être (to be) + an adjective that agrees with the person: il est gentil (he is kind) but elle est gentille (she is kind).
The verb s'entendre avec (to get on with) is the single most useful relationship verb: je m'entends bien avec ma sœur (I get on well with my sister).
Opinions need a justification: don't just say j'aime (I like) — add parce que (because) + a reason to lift your mark.
Connectives like et (and), mais (but), parce que (because) and aussi (also) join short sentences into fluent ones.
Watch adjective agreement: most adjectives add -e for feminine and -s for plural — un ami sympa, des amis sympas.
Reusable question→answer frames (e.g. Comment est ton meilleur ami ? → Mon meilleur ami est…) let you prepare answers in advance.

What you’ll learn

Mapped to the Cambridge IGCSE 0520 syllabus (2025-2027).

Use accurate vocabulary for friends, family members and types of relationship.
Describe a person's character and appearance using adjectives that agree in gender and number.
Use key relationship verbs (être, avoir, s'entendre avec, se disputer) correctly in the present tense.
Express and justify opinions about people using opinion phrases + parce que + a reason.
Join ideas with common connectives (et, mais, parce que, aussi, donc) to build longer answers.
Answer common Speaking/Writing questions about friends and relationships using prepared sentence frames.
Recognise and avoid the typical anglophone errors in agreement and word order when describing people.

Who's who — the people vocabulary

Learn the words for friends and family, and notice that many change between masculine and feminine.

Before you can talk about relationships you need the people words. In French almost every person-word has a masculine and a feminine form, and you must pick the right article — un / une (a) or le / la (the).

French	Pronunciation	English
un ami / une amie	uh-na-MEE / ü-na-MEE	a friend (male / female)
un copain / une copine	uh ko-PANH / ün ko-PEEN	a friend; also boyfriend / girlfriend
un(e) meilleur(e) ami(e)	meh-YUR a-MEE	a best friend
un petit ami / une petite amie	puh-tee ta-MEE	a boyfriend / a girlfriend
un voisin / une voisine	vwa-ZANH / vwa-ZEEN	a neighbour
un camarade de classe	ka-ma-RAD duh klass	a classmate
la famille	la fa-MEE-yuh	the family
les parents	lay pa-RON	the parents
la mère / le père	mair / pair	the mother / the father
le frère / la sœur	frair / sur	the brother / the sister

Notice the pattern. The feminine form very often just adds -e and that makes the final consonant sound: ami (a-MEE, silent i) → amie sounds the same here, but copain (ko-PANH, nasal) → copine (ko-PEEN, clear n). The added -e "switches on" the consonant before it.

Worked mini-example. You want to say "my best friend (a girl)". Best friend = meilleur(e) ami(e); for a girl everything goes feminine: ma meilleure amie (my best friend). For a boy: mon meilleur ami. Always match the words to the person's gender.

Most people-words have a masculine and a feminine form: ami / amie, copain / copine.
Choose the article to match: un / le (masculine), une / la (feminine).
copain / copine can mean 'friend' OR 'boyfriend / girlfriend' depending on context.
Adding -e for feminine often switches on a silent consonant (copain → copine).

Describing character — adjectives that agree

Use être + an adjective, and make the adjective agree with the person you describe.

A mind-map for describing a friend: character, appearance, the verb être, and opinions with a reason.

To describe someone you use the verb être (to be) plus an adjective. The adjective must agree with the person — feminine and plural forms usually add letters.

The verb être (to be) — learn it cold:

French	English
je suis	I am
tu es	you are (informal)
il / elle est	he / she is
nous sommes	we are
vous êtes	you are (formal/plural)
ils / elles sont	they are

Character adjectives (with masculine → feminine):

Masculine	Feminine	Pronunciation	English
gentil	gentille	zhon-TEE / zhon-TEEY	kind
sympa	sympa	sanh-PA	nice/friendly (no change)
drôle	drôle	drohl	funny (no change)
timide	timide	tee-MEED	shy (no change)
bavard	bavarde	ba-VAR / ba-VARD	talkative/chatty
sportif	sportive	spor-TEEF / spor-TEEV	sporty
généreux	généreuse	zhay-nay-RUH / -RUHZ	generous
paresseux	paresseuse	pa-reh-SUH / -SUHZ	lazy

The agreement rule (simple version):

Masculine singular: the basic form — Il est gentil. (He is kind.)
Feminine singular: usually + -e — Elle est gentille. (She is kind.)
Plural: usually + -s — Ils sont gentils. (They are kind.) / Elles sont gentilles.
Adjectives already ending in -e (drôle, timide, sympa) don't change in the feminine.
Note the patterns: -eux → -euse (généreux → généreuse), -if → -ive (sportif → sportive).

Worked mini-example. Describe a kind, funny girl: start with elle est (she is), make every adjective feminine: Elle est gentille et drôle. (She is kind and funny.) Drôle already ends in -e so it doesn't change; gentil adds -le → gentille.

Describe people with être + adjective: il est…, elle est…
Feminine usually adds -e; plural usually adds -s.
Adjectives ending in -e (drôle, timide, sympa) don't change for feminine.
Useful patterns: -eux → -euse, -if → -ive (sportif → sportive).

Relationship verbs — getting on (or not)

A small set of verbs lets you say how you get along with people.

Talking about relationships (not just people) needs a handful of high-value verbs. The star is s'entendre avec (to get on with) — examiners love it.

French	Pronunciation	English
s'entendre (bien/mal) avec	son-TON-druh a-VEK	to get on (well/badly) with
se disputer (avec)	suh dee-spü-TAY	to argue (with)
aimer	eh-MAY	to like/love
adorer	a-do-RAY	to adore/love
détester	day-teh-STAY	to hate
respecter	reh-spek-TAY	to respect
faire confiance à	fair kon-fee-ONS	to trust
connaître	ko-NEH-truh	to know (a person)

Using s'entendre avec (a reflexive verb). "Reflexive" just means it carries a little word (me, te, se…) that changes with the subject:

French	English
je m'entends bien avec…	I get on well with…
tu t'entends bien avec…	you get on well with…
il / elle s'entend bien avec…	he / she gets on well with…
nous nous entendons bien avec…	we get on well with…

Examples:

Je m'entends bien avec ma sœur. (I get on well with my sister.)
Il s'entend mal avec son frère. (He gets on badly with his brother.)
Nous nous disputons parfois. (We argue sometimes.)

Worked mini-example. Say "I get on well with my friends but I argue with my brother." Build it in blocks: Je m'entends bien avec mes amis + connective mais (but) + je me dispute avec mon frère. Result: Je m'entends bien avec mes amis, mais je me dispute avec mon frère. Notice the reflexive word changes from m' to me before the verb.

s'entendre (bien/mal) avec = to get on (well/badly) with — the key relationship verb.
se disputer avec = to argue with.
Reflexive verbs carry a small word (me/te/se) that matches the subject.
Pair them with people: Je m'entends bien avec ma mère.

Opinions with justifications — the mark-winning move

Always add a reason: opinion phrase + parce que (because) + reason.

At IGCSE, an opinion on its own scores little. An opinion with a reason scores well. The formula is simple:

Opinion phrase + parce que (because) + reason

Opinion phrases (strongest first):

French	English
j'adore	I love
j'aime (bien)	I like
je préfère	I prefer
je n'aime pas	I don't like
je déteste	I hate
à mon avis	in my opinion
je pense que	I think that
je trouve que	I find that

Reasons (with parce que):

parce qu'il est gentil — because he is kind
parce qu'elle est drôle — because she is funny
parce que nous avons les mêmes goûts — because we have the same tastes
parce qu'on s'amuse ensemble — because we have fun together

Put it together:

J'adore ma meilleure amie parce qu'elle est gentille et drôle. (I love my best friend because she is kind and funny.)
Je m'entends bien avec mon frère parce qu'on a les mêmes goûts. (I get on well with my brother because we have the same tastes.)
À mon avis, un bon ami est quelqu'un de fidèle. (In my opinion, a good friend is someone loyal.)

Note on elision. Parce que loses its final -e before a vowel: parce que il → parce qu'il; parce que elle → parce qu'elle. You must write the apostrophe.

Worked mini-example. Turn a flat sentence into a mark-winner. Flat: J'aime mon ami. (I like my friend.) Add the reason: J'aime mon ami parce qu'il est généreux et on s'amuse ensemble. (I like my friend because he is generous and we have fun together.) One parce que doubles the value of the sentence.

Formula: opinion + parce que (because) + reason.
Use a range of openers: j'adore, je préfère, à mon avis, je trouve que.
parce que → parce qu' before a vowel (parce qu'il, parce qu'elle).
A justified opinion scores far higher than a bare j'aime.

Connectives — gluing sentences into fluent answers

Short linking words turn a list of facts into flowing speech and writing.

One quick way to raise your level is to join short sentences with connectives instead of stopping after each one. Examiners reward "linked" language.

French	Pronunciation	English	Use
et	ay	and	add an idea
mais	meh	but	contrast
aussi	oh-SEE	also/too	add similarly
parce que	pars kuh	because	give a reason
donc	donk	so/therefore	result
ou	oo	or	alternative
par contre	par KON-truh	on the other hand	contrast
par exemple	par eg-ZONP-luh	for example	illustrate

Before (choppy): J'ai un frère. Il est gentil. Je m'entends bien avec lui. (I have a brother. He is kind. I get on well with him.)

After (linked): J'ai un frère et il est gentil, donc je m'entends bien avec lui. (I have a brother and he is kind, so I get on well with him.)

Worked mini-example. Combine three facts — I have two friends / one is sporty / one is shy — using connectives: J'ai deux amis : l'un est sportif, mais l'autre est timide. (I have two friends: one is sporty, but the other is shy.) The single word mais (but) signals the contrast and makes the sentence flow.

Join ideas with et (and), mais (but), aussi (also), donc (so).
Give reasons with parce que (because); contrast with par contre (on the other hand).
Linked sentences score higher than a list of short ones.
par exemple (for example) lets you add detail and length.

Question → answer frames you can reuse

Prepare ready-made answers to the questions examiners ask again and again.

In Paper 3 (Speaking) and Paper 4 (Writing) the same questions about friends and family come up. Learn the question so you recognise it, and prepare an answer frame you can fill in.

Question (French)	English	Answer frame
As-tu beaucoup d'amis ?	Do you have many friends?	Oui, j'ai beaucoup d'amis. / Non, j'ai peu d'amis mais ils sont fidèles.
Comment est ton meilleur ami / ta meilleure amie ?	What is your best friend like?	Mon meilleur ami est… / Ma meilleure amie est… (+ 2 adjectives + parce que)
T'entends-tu bien avec ta famille ?	Do you get on well with your family?	Je m'entends bien avec… mais je me dispute parfois avec…
Qu'est-ce qu'un bon ami pour toi ?	What is a good friend for you?	Pour moi, un bon ami est quelqu'un de… (fidèle / gentil).
Que faites-vous ensemble ?	What do you do together?	On aime… ensemble. / Nous aimons…

Model answer (Speaking style). Comment est ta meilleure amie ? (What is your best friend like?)

Ma meilleure amie s'appelle Léa. Elle est gentille, drôle et très généreuse. Je m'entends très bien avec elle parce qu'on a les mêmes goûts et on s'amuse ensemble. Par contre, elle est un peu bavarde ! (My best friend is called Léa. She is kind, funny and very generous. I get on very well with her because we have the same tastes and we have fun together. On the other hand, she is a little chatty!)

Worked mini-example. Take the frame Mon meilleur ami est… parce qu'il est… and fill it for a boy named Tom: Mon meilleur ami s'appelle Tom. Il est sympa et sportif. Je l'adore parce qu'il est toujours là pour moi. (My best friend is called Tom. He is nice and sporty. I love him because he is always there for me.) Prepare two or three of these before the exam and you'll never be stuck.

Learn the common questions so you recognise them instantly.
Keep a fill-in-the-blank frame for each: Mon meilleur ami est… parce qu'il est…
Add a name, 2-3 agreeing adjectives, a relationship verb, and a reason.
Prepare 2-3 full answers in advance — they reuse across Speaking and Writing.

Memorise this

Verbatim phrases and definitions Cambridge mark schemes credit.

un ami / une amie (a friend, m/f); un copain / une copine (friend or boy/girlfriend).
mon meilleur ami / ma meilleure amie (my best friend, m/f).
être: je suis, tu es, il/elle est, nous sommes, vous êtes, ils/elles sont.
gentil → gentille; sportif → sportive; généreux → généreuse (adjective agreement).
s'entendre bien avec = to get on well with → je m'entends bien avec ma sœur.
se disputer avec = to argue with → je me dispute avec mon frère.
Opinion + parce que + reason → J'aime mon ami parce qu'il est généreux.
parce que → parce qu'il / parce qu'elle (elision before a vowel).
Connectives: et (and), mais (but), aussi (also), donc (so), par contre (on the other hand).
Comment est ton meilleur ami ? → Mon meilleur ami est… (question→answer frame).

How it’s examined

Friends and relationships is a core part of the Personal and Social Life theme and appears across all four papers of Cambridge IGCSE French 0520.

Paper 1 (Listening): You hear people describe friends and family — listen for character adjectives (gentil, bavard), relationship verbs (s'entend bien, se dispute), and opinion + reason structures to answer comprehension questions.
Paper 2 (Reading): Texts (messages, blogs, emails) describe relationships. Recognise vocabulary and connectives to follow who likes whom and why.
Paper 3 (Speaking): This theme is almost guaranteed in the conversation. You'll be asked to describe a friend or family member and say how you get on with them — agreement, the verb s'entendre, and justified opinions all earn marks. Prepare flexible answer frames.
Paper 4 (Writing): Common tasks ask you to write about your best friend or family. Accurate adjective agreement, correct reflexive verbs, and opinions justified with parce que lift you up the mark bands.

Examiner reports for 0520 repeatedly flag weak adjective agreement (using the masculine form for a female friend) and bare opinions with no justification as the things that hold candidates back on this topic.

Sources: Cambridge IGCSE French 0520 Syllabus 2025-2027; Cambridge 0520 Paper 3 (Speaking) & Paper 4 (Writing) Specimen 2025-2027; Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports 2022-2024. Last reviewed 2026-06-02.

Master this Topic

Worked examples, formulae, definitions and the mistakes examiners flag — everything you need to push from a pass to an A*.

Take this whole topic with you

Download a branded revision sheet — worked examples, formulae, definitions and common mistakes for Friends and relationships, ready to print or save as PDF.

Step-by-step worked examples — Friends and relationships

Step-by-step solutions to past-paper-style questions on friends and relationships, written exactly the way a tutor would explain them at the board.

1Choose the correct word for a friend (gender + article)
Getting started
Question
Complete the sentence about a female best friend: ___ ___ ___ s'appelle Léa. (My best friend is called Léa.) Choose between mon meilleur ami and ma meilleure amie.
Step-by-step solution
1. Step 1
  Identify the gender. Léa is a girl, so you need the feminine form throughout.
2. Step 2
  Make every word feminine. ami → amie (add -e), meilleur → meilleure (add -e), and the article mon → ma. So: ma meilleure amie.
3. Step 3
  Plug it in. Ma meilleure amie s'appelle Léa. (Tip: s'appelle = is called, literally 'calls herself'.)
Answer
Ma meilleure amie s'appelle Léa. (Feminine throughout: ma / meilleure / amie.)
Examiner tip
Choosing the wrong gender is one of the most common errors on this topic. Decide the person's gender first, then make the article AND the adjectives match. For a boy it would be Mon meilleur ami s'appelle Tom.
2Make the adjectives agree with the person
Building confidence
Question
Put the adjectives in brackets into the correct form: Ma sœur est (gentil), (sportif) et (généreux). (My sister is kind, sporty and generous.)
Step-by-step solution
1. Step 1
  The subject is feminine (ma sœur = my sister), so every adjective takes the feminine form.
2. Step 2
  gentil → gentille. This irregular adjective doubles the l and adds -e.
3. Step 3
  sportif → sportive. Adjectives ending in -if change to -ive.
4. Step 4
  généreux → généreuse. Adjectives ending in -eux change to -euse.
Answer
Ma sœur est gentille, sportive et généreuse. (Feminine: -ille, -ive, -euse.)
Examiner tip
Examiner reports list adjective agreement as a top accuracy issue in Paper 4. Learn the patterns: regular adjectives add -e; -if → -ive; -eux → -euse; and irregulars like gentil → gentille must be memorised whole.
3Use s'entendre avec to say how you get on
Building confidence
Question
Say in French: I get on well with my mother, but I argue with my brother. Use s'entendre bien avec and se disputer avec.
Step-by-step solution
1. Step 1
  Start with the reflexive verb for 'I'. s'entendre with je becomes je m'entends. Add bien (well) and avec ma mère (with my mother).
2. Step 2
  Add the contrast connective mais (but) to signal the change of idea.
3. Step 3
  Second reflexive verb. se disputer with je becomes je me dispute; add avec mon frère (with my brother).
4. Step 4
  Check the reflexive words: m' before a vowel (m'entends), me before a consonant (me dispute).
Answer
Je m'entends bien avec ma mère, mais je me dispute avec mon frère. (I get on well with my mother, but I argue with my brother.)
Examiner tip
Dropping the reflexive word is a frequent slip: j'entends means 'I hear', not 'I get on'. The full structure je m'entends bien avec… is high-value and examiners reward it.
4Turn a bare opinion into a justified one
Stretch
Question
Improve this weak sentence for a higher mark: J'aime mon ami. (I like my friend.) Add an opinion opener and a justification with parce que.
Step-by-step solution
1. Step 1
  Upgrade the opinion verb. J'aime → J'adore (I love) or add vraiment (really) for emphasis: J'aime vraiment.
2. Step 2
  Add a reason with parce que. Choose a character reason: parce qu'il est gentil et généreux (because he is kind and generous). Note the elision: parce que il → parce qu'il.
3. Step 3
  Add a second linked idea with a connective: et on s'amuse ensemble (and we have fun together).
4. Step 4
  Reassemble into one flowing sentence.
Answer
J'adore mon ami parce qu'il est gentil et généreux, et on s'amuse ensemble. (I love my friend because he is kind and generous, and we have fun together.)
Examiner tip
A bare j'aime sits in the lowest band. The same idea + an opener + parce que + a reason + a connective jumps several marks. The apostrophe in parce qu'il is required in writing.

Model Answers — Friends and relationships

High-scoring sample answers for friends and relationships on the Cambridge IGCSE 0520 paper, with examiner-style notes mapping each response to the mark scheme and assessment objectives.

Question 1
6 marks
Paper 3 (Speaking) style. Comment est ton meilleur ami ou ta meilleure amie ? (What is your best friend like?) Give a full model answer.
Model answer
Ma meilleure amie s'appelle Sophie. Elle est gentille, drôle et très généreuse. Je m'entends très bien avec elle parce qu'on a les mêmes goûts et on s'amuse toujours ensemble. Par contre, elle est un peu bavarde !

(My best friend is called Sophie. She is kind, funny and very generous. I get on very well with her because we have the same tastes and we always have fun together. On the other hand, she is a little chatty!)
Why this scores
Why this scores. It names the friend, uses three agreeing feminine adjectives (gentille, drôle, généreuse), the high-value verb je m'entends bien avec, a justified opinion (parce que…), and two connectives (parce que, par contre). The light negative (un peu bavarde) shows range and sounds natural.
Question 2
5 marks
Paper 4 (Writing) style. T'entends-tu bien avec ta famille ? (Do you get on well with your family?) Write a short justified answer.
Model answer
En général, je m'entends bien avec ma famille. J'adore ma mère parce qu'elle est patiente et compréhensive. Par contre, je me dispute parfois avec mon petit frère parce qu'il est pénible, mais on se réconcilie vite.

(In general, I get on well with my family. I love my mother because she is patient and understanding. On the other hand, I sometimes argue with my little brother because he is annoying, but we make up quickly.)
Why this scores
Why this scores. It answers the question directly, balances a positive and a negative (a sign of range), and justifies both with parce que. The reflexive verbs (je m'entends, je me dispute, on se réconcilie) are used correctly, and the adjectives agree (patiente, compréhensive).
Question 3
Paper 3 (Speaking) style. Qu'est-ce qu'un bon ami pour toi ? (What is a good friend for you?) Give a model response.
Model answer
Pour moi, un bon ami est quelqu'un de fidèle et d'honnête. À mon avis, un bon ami est toujours là pour toi, surtout quand ça va mal. Je pense aussi qu'il faut pouvoir se faire confiance.

(For me, a good friend is someone loyal and honest. In my opinion, a good friend is always there for you, especially when things are going badly. I also think that you have to be able to trust each other.)
Why this scores
Why this scores. It opens with Pour moi and À mon avis (two ways to give an opinion), uses the natural structure quelqu'un de + adjective (someone + adjective), and includes se faire confiance (to trust each other). The range of opinion phrases and the abstract idea lift it into a higher band.

Key Definitions and Keywords — Friends and relationships

Definitions to memorise and the exact keywords mark schemes credit for friends and relationships answers — sharpened from recent examiner reports for the 2026 0520 sitting.

un ami / une amie
Examiner keyword
A friend — masculine (un ami) for a male, feminine (une amie) for a female. The article must match the person's gender.
Example
Mon ami est gentil. (My friend [m] is kind.) / Mon amie est gentille. (My friend [f] is kind.)
un copain / une copine
A friend, or (in context) a boyfriend / girlfriend. Less formal than ami/amie.
Example
Je sors avec mes copains. (I'm going out with my friends.) / C'est ma copine. (She's my girlfriend.)
mon meilleur ami / ma meilleure amie
Examiner keyword
My best friend. Both the adjective (meilleur/meilleure) and the noun (ami/amie) agree with the person's gender.
Example
Ma meilleure amie s'appelle Léa. (My best friend [f] is called Léa.)
s'entendre (bien/mal) avec
Examiner keyword
To get on (well/badly) with someone. A reflexive verb: je m'entends, tu t'entends, il/elle s'entend.
Example
Je m'entends bien avec ma sœur. (I get on well with my sister.)
se disputer (avec)
Examiner keyword
To argue / quarrel (with someone). Also reflexive: je me dispute, il se dispute.
Example
Je me dispute parfois avec mon frère. (I sometimes argue with my brother.)
être (to be)
Examiner keyword
The verb 'to be', used to describe people: je suis, tu es, il/elle est, nous sommes, vous êtes, ils/elles sont.
Example
Elle est drôle. (She is funny.) / Ils sont sympas. (They are nice.)
gentil / gentille
Kind. An irregular adjective: the feminine doubles the l and adds -e (gentille).
Example
Il est gentil. (He is kind.) / Elle est gentille. (She is kind.)
parce que
Examiner keyword
Because — introduces a reason/justification. It elides to 'parce qu'' before a vowel.
Example
J'aime mon ami parce qu'il est généreux. (I like my friend because he is generous.)
à mon avis
In my opinion — a useful opener for giving and justifying a point of view.
Example
À mon avis, un bon ami est fidèle. (In my opinion, a good friend is loyal.)
et / mais / donc
Core connectives: et (and) adds, mais (but) contrasts, donc (so/therefore) gives a result. They link short sentences into fluent ones.
Example
Il est gentil mais timide, donc il a peu d'amis. (He is kind but shy, so he has few friends.)

Common Mistakes and Misconceptions — Friends and relationships

The traps other students keep falling into on friends and relationships questions — taken from recent Cambridge IGCSE 0520 examiner reports and mark schemes — and how to avoid them.

✕Using the masculine adjective for a female friend (ma sœur est gentil)
Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Paper 4 (Writing), accuracy
Why it happens
English adjectives never change, so beginners forget that French adjectives must agree in gender and number.
How to avoid it
Decide the person's gender first, then make every adjective match: ma sœur est gentille, sportive et généreuse. Learn the patterns -e (feminine), -s (plural), -if→-ive, -eux→-euse.
✕Giving an opinion with no justification (just 'j'aime mon ami')
Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Papers 3 & 4
Why it happens
Learners answer the question literally without realising that reasons earn marks.
How to avoid it
Always add parce que + a reason: j'aime mon ami parce qu'il est drôle. Vary your openers (j'adore, je préfère, à mon avis) to show range.
✕Dropping the reflexive word (saying 'j'entends bien avec' instead of 'je m'entends bien avec')
Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Paper 3 (Speaking)
Why it happens
Reflexive verbs don't exist in this form in English, so the little me/te/se gets forgotten.
How to avoid it
Remember s'entendre carries a pronoun that matches the subject: je **m'**entends, tu **t'**entends, il **s'**entend. Without it, entendre just means 'to hear'.
✕Mismatching the noun and the person (mon ami for a girl, ma amie)
Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Paper 4 (Writing)
Why it happens
Beginners don't track gender across the article and the noun.
How to avoid it
Use un ami / mon ami for a male and une amie / mon amie for a female (mon, not ma, before a vowel — but the noun and adjectives stay feminine: mon amie est gentille).
✕Forgetting the elision in 'parce qu'il' / 'parce qu'elle'
Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Paper 4 (Writing), accuracy
Why it happens
Learners write the full parce que and don't drop the -e before a vowel.
How to avoid it
Before a word starting with a vowel, parce que becomes parce qu': parce qu'il est, parce qu'elle est. The apostrophe is compulsory in writing.
✕Writing a list of short, unlinked sentences
Cambridge 0520 Examiner Reports — Paper 3 (Speaking), fluency
Why it happens
Beginners feel safer with simple sentences and don't risk connectives.
How to avoid it
Join ideas with et, mais, parce que, donc, par contre: turn 'J'ai un frère. Il est gentil.' into 'J'ai un frère et il est gentil, donc on s'entend bien.'

Past paper style quiz

Get a report showing which sub-topics you've nailed and which ones still need work.

French

Pronunciation

English

un ami / une amie

uh-na-MEE / ü-na-MEE

a friend (male / female)

un copain / une copine

uh ko-PANH / ün ko-PEEN

a friend; also boyfriend / girlfriend

un(e) meilleur(e) ami(e)

meh-YUR a-MEE

a best friend

un petit ami / une petite amie

puh-tee ta-MEE

a boyfriend / a girlfriend

un voisin / une voisine

vwa-ZANH / vwa-ZEEN

a neighbour

un camarade de classe

ka-ma-RAD duh klass

a classmate

la famille

la fa-MEE-yuh

the family

les parents

lay pa-RON

the parents

la mère / le père

mair / pair

the mother / the father

le frère / la sœur

frair / sur

the brother / the sister

French

English

je suis

I am

tu es

you are (informal)

il / elle est

he / she is

nous sommes

we are

vous êtes

you are (formal/plural)

ils / elles sont

they are

Masculine

Feminine

Pronunciation

English

gentil

gentille

zhon-TEE / zhon-TEEY

kind

sympa

sanh-PA

nice/friendly (no change)

drôle

drohl

funny (no change)

timide

tee-MEED

shy (no change)

bavard

bavarde

ba-VAR / ba-VARD

talkative/chatty

sportif

sportive

spor-TEEF / spor-TEEV

sporty

généreux

généreuse

zhay-nay-RUH / -RUHZ

generous

paresseux

paresseuse

pa-reh-SUH / -SUHZ

lazy

French

Pronunciation

English

s'entendre (bien/mal) avec

son-TON-druh a-VEK

to get on (well/badly) with

se disputer (avec)

suh dee-spü-TAY

to argue (with)

aimer

eh-MAY

to like/love

adorer

a-do-RAY

to adore/love

détester

day-teh-STAY

to hate

respecter

reh-spek-TAY

to respect

faire confiance à

fair kon-fee-ONS

to trust

connaître

ko-NEH-truh

to know (a person)

French

English

je m'entends bien avec…

I get on well with…

tu t'entends bien avec…

you get on well with…

il / elle s'entend bien avec…

he / she gets on well with…

nous nous entendons bien avec…

we get on well with…

French

English

j'adore

I love

j'aime (bien)

I like

je préfère

I prefer

je n'aime pas

I don't like

je déteste

I hate

à mon avis

in my opinion

je pense que

I think that

je trouve que

I find that

French

Pronunciation

English

Use

and

add an idea

mais

meh

but

contrast

aussi

oh-SEE

also/too

add similarly

parce que

pars kuh

because

give a reason

donc

donk

so/therefore

result

alternative

par contre

par KON-truh

on the other hand

contrast

par exemple

par eg-ZONP-luh

for example

illustrate

Question (French)

English

Answer frame

As-tu beaucoup d'amis ?

Do you have many friends?

Oui, j'ai beaucoup d'amis. / Non, j'ai peu d'amis mais ils sont fidèles.

Comment est ton meilleur ami / ta meilleure amie ?

What is your best friend like?

Mon meilleur ami est… / Ma meilleure amie est… (+ 2 adjectives + parce que)

T'entends-tu bien avec ta famille ?

Do you get on well with your family?

Je m'entends bien avec… mais je me dispute parfois avec…

Qu'est-ce qu'un bon ami pour toi ?

What is a good friend for you?

Pour moi, un bon ami est quelqu'un de… (fidèle / gentil).

Que faites-vous ensemble ?

What do you do together?

On aime… ensemble. / Nous aimons…

Friends and relationships is a core part of the Personal and Social Life theme and appears across all four papers of Cambridge IGCSE French 0520.

Paper 1 (Listening): You hear people describe friends and family — listen for character adjectives (gentil, bavard), relationship verbs (s'entend bien, se dispute), and opinion + reason structures to answer comprehension questions.
Paper 2 (Reading): Texts (messages, blogs, emails) describe relationships. Recognise vocabulary and connectives to follow who likes whom and why.
Paper 3 (Speaking): This theme is almost guaranteed in the conversation. You'll be asked to describe a friend or family member and say how you get on with them — agreement, the verb s'entendre, and justified opinions all earn marks. Prepare flexible answer frames.
Paper 4 (Writing): Common tasks ask you to write about your best friend or family. Accurate adjective agreement, correct reflexive verbs, and opinions justified with parce que lift you up the mark bands.

Friends and relationships

Detailed Notes

What you’ll learn

How it’s examined

1Choose the correct word for a friend (gender + article)

2Make the adjectives agree with the person

3Use s'entendre avec to say how you get on

4Turn a bare opinion into a justified one

un ami / une amie

un copain / une copine

mon meilleur ami / ma meilleure amie

s'entendre (bien/mal) avec

se disputer (avec)

être (to be)

gentil / gentille

parce que

à mon avis

et / mais / donc

✕Using the masculine adjective for a female friend (ma sœur est gentil)

✕Giving an opinion with no justification (just 'j'aime mon ami')

✕Dropping the reflexive word (saying 'j'entends bien avec' instead of 'je m'entends bien avec')

✕Mismatching the noun and the person (mon ami for a girl, ma amie)

✕Forgetting the elision in 'parce qu'il' / 'parce qu'elle'

✕Writing a list of short, unlinked sentences

Past paper style quiz

Friends and relationships

Detailed Notes

What you’ll learn

How it’s examined

1Choose the correct word for a friend (gender + article)

2Make the adjectives agree with the person

3Use s'entendre avec to say how you get on

4Turn a bare opinion into a justified one

un ami / une amie

un copain / une copine

mon meilleur ami / ma meilleure amie

s'entendre (bien/mal) avec

se disputer (avec)

être (to be)

gentil / gentille

parce que

à mon avis

et / mais / donc

✕Using the masculine adjective for a female friend (ma sœur est gentil)

✕Giving an opinion with no justification (just 'j'aime mon ami')

✕Dropping the reflexive word (saying 'j'entends bien avec' instead of 'je m'entends bien avec')

✕Mismatching the noun and the person (mon ami for a girl, ma amie)

✕Forgetting the elision in 'parce qu'il' / 'parce qu'elle'

✕Writing a list of short, unlinked sentences

Past paper style quiz