Pearson Edexcel International GCSE French 4FR1
Verb conjugations, grammar rules, theme vocabulary and exam technique for the three Pearson Edexcel French papers — your complete 4FR1 reference for 2026.
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Aligned with the latest 2026 syllabus and board specifications. This sheet is prepared to match your exam board’s official specifications for the 2026 exam series.
Pearson Edexcel International GCSE French (4FR1) tests three skills across three papers: Paper 1 Listening, Paper 2 Reading & Writing (combined) and Paper 3 Speaking. This reference sheet brings together every essential tense, grammar rule and theme vocabulary you need, plus exam technique tailored to the Edexcel paper structure.
All exam tenses: present, perfect, imperfect, future, conditional, pluperfect, subjunctive
Articles, agreement, pronouns and key grammar rules
Vocabulary across the five Pearson Edexcel themes
Exam technique for Papers 1 (Listening), 2 (Reading & Writing) and 3 (Speaking)
Master the regular endings first; irregulars build on this foundation.
What you do/are doing now.
-ER (parler)
je parle · tu parles · il/elle parle · nous parlons · vous parlez · ils/elles parlent -IR (finir)
je finis · tu finis · il/elle finit · nous finissons · vous finissez · ils/elles finissent -RE (vendre)
je vends · tu vends · il/elle vend · nous vendons · vous vendez · ils/elles vendent Completed actions in the past.
Formula
Subject + AVOIR/ÊTRE (present) + past participle Past participle (-ER)
parler → parlé Past participle (-IR)
finir → fini Past participle (-RE)
vendre → vendu ÊTRE verbs
MRS VANDERTRAMP — aller, venir, arriver, partir, entrer, sortir, monter, descendre, naître, mourir, rester, tomber, retourner + reflexive verbs (must agree with subject) Used to describe what was happening, used to happen, or background.
Formula
Take 'nous' present-tense stem (drop -ons) + endings: -ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient Example: parler
je parlais · tu parlais · il parlait · nous parlions · vous parliez · ils parlaient Trigger words: souvent, toujours, tous les jours, quand j'étais petit(e), pendant que
What WILL happen.
Formula
Infinitive (drop -e on -re verbs) + -ai, -as, -a, -ons, -ez, -ont Example: parler
je parlerai · tu parleras · il parlera · nous parlerons · vous parlerez · ils parleront Near future (futur proche)
ALLER (present) + infinitive — 'je vais manger' = I'm going to eat What WOULD happen / polite requests.
Formula
Future stem + imperfect endings (-ais, -ais, -ait, -ions, -iez, -aient) Example: parler
je parlerais · tu parlerais · il parlerait · nous parlerions · vous parleriez · ils parleraient Use for polite requests: 'je voudrais' (I would like), 'pourriez-vous' (could you).
Had done — completed before another past action.
Formula
AVOIR/ÊTRE in the imperfect + past participle j'avais parlé = I had spoken · j'étais allé(e) = I had gone Used after expressions of doubt, emotion, necessity. 'Il faut que...', 'Je veux que...', 'Bien que...'
Formation (regular)
Take 'ils' present stem + -e, -es, -e, -ions, -iez, -ent Recognise it for Reading. For top marks in Writing/Speaking, attempt at least one example such as 'il faut que je sois'.
Edexcel papers test these in every tense — memorise them in present, perfect, imperfect and future.
je suis · tu es · il/elle est · nous sommes · vous êtes · ils/elles sont Past participle
été j'ai · tu as · il/elle a · nous avons · vous avez · ils/elles ont Past participle
eu je vais · tu vas · il/elle va · nous allons · vous allez · ils/elles vont Past participle
allé(e)(s) — uses ÊTRE je fais · tu fais · il/elle fait · nous faisons · vous faites · ils/elles font Past participle
fait je viens · tu viens · il/elle vient · nous venons · vous venez · ils/elles viennent Past participle
venu(e)(s) — uses ÊTRE Venir de + infinitive = to have just done — 'je viens de manger' = I've just eaten.
POUVOIR (can)
je peux · tu peux · il peut · nous pouvons · vous pouvez · ils peuvent · pp: pu VOULOIR (want)
je veux · tu veux · il veut · nous voulons · vous voulez · ils veulent · pp: voulu DEVOIR (must)
je dois · tu dois · il doit · nous devons · vous devez · ils doivent · pp: dû PRENDRE → je prends · METTRE → je mets · VOIR → je vois · DIRE → je dis · LIRE → je lis · ÉCRIRE → j'écris · BOIRE → je bois · CONNAÎTRE → je connais · SAVOIR → je sais le (m. sing) · la (f. sing) · l' (vowel/h) · les (plural) un (m.) · une (f.) · des (pl.) — becomes 'de' after a negative du (m.) · de la (f.) · de l' (vowel) · des (pl.) — used for 'some' food/drink Add -e (feminine) · -s (plural) · -es (feminine plural) — petit, petite, petits, petites Most adjectives go AFTER the noun. Common exceptions: BAGS (Beauty, Age, Goodness, Size) — beau, jeune, bon, grand, petit, joli, nouveau, vieux.
Comparative
plus + adjective + que (more than) · moins + adjective + que (less than) · aussi + adjective + que (as...as) Superlative
le/la/les plus + adjective (the most) · le/la/les moins + adjective (the least) Irregular
bon → meilleur(e) → le/la meilleur(e) · mauvais → pire je · tu · il/elle/on · nous · vous · ils/elles me · te · le/la/l' · nous · vous · les Position: BEFORE the verb. 'Je le vois' = I see him/it.
me · te · lui · nous · vous · leur Replace 'à + person'. 'Je lui parle' = I speak to him/her.
Y
Replaces 'à + place/thing' — j'y vais (I'm going there) EN
Replaces 'de + thing' or quantities — j'en mange (I'm eating some) me/te/se/nous/vous → le/la/les → lui/leur → y → en ne...pas (not) · ne...jamais (never) · ne...rien (nothing) · ne...personne (nobody) · ne...plus (no more) · ne...que (only) · ne...ni...ni (neither...nor) qui (who) · que/qu' (what) · quand (when) · où (where) · pourquoi (why) · comment (how) · combien (how much/many) · quel(le) (which) Build vocabulary banks for each theme — Edexcel rewards range and accuracy across all five.
Self, family, friends, relationships, lifestyle and cultural traditions.
Sub-themes
la famille, les amis, les relations, la routine quotidienne, la nourriture, les fêtes, la mode Key verbs
s'entendre avec, se disputer, fêter, célébrer, se sentir, partager Home town, region, transport, holidays, tourism and travel experiences.
Sub-themes
ma ville, le quartier, les transports, les vacances, le tourisme, l'hébergement, les directions Key verbs
habiter, voyager, visiter, prendre le train, séjourner, réserver School life, subjects, teachers, school routine, rules and pressures.
Sub-themes
l'école, les matières, les profs, l'emploi du temps, l'uniforme, les examens, le stress Key verbs
étudier, apprendre, réviser, passer un examen, réussir, échouer Career plans, further study, part-time jobs, work experience and ambitions.
Sub-themes
les métiers, le stage, l'université, l'avenir, l'argent, les langues, l'entretien Key verbs
travailler, gagner, devenir, espérer, avoir l'intention de, postuler Global issues, environment, charity, world events and life in francophone countries.
Sub-themes
l'environnement, la pollution, le recyclage, les pays francophones, la pauvreté, les actualités, les œuvres caritatives Key verbs
protéger, recycler, polluer, sauver, soutenir, faire du bénévolat These give your writing and speaking sophistication — drop several into every Paper 2 essay and Paper 3 conversation.
Je pense que... · Je crois que... · À mon avis... · Selon moi... · D'après moi... Je suis d'accord (avec) · Je ne suis pas d'accord · Je trouve que... et · mais · ou · car · parce que · donc · alors · cependant · en effet · pourtant · néanmoins · par exemple d'abord · ensuite · puis · après · enfin · finalement · au début · à la fin hier · aujourd'hui · demain · le week-end dernier · l'année prochaine · il y a deux ans · pendant · depuis il est essentiel de... · il faut que (+ subjunctive) · si j'avais le choix... · ce qui m'intéresse, c'est... · non seulement... mais aussi... Note: Pearson Edexcel combines Reading and Writing into a single Paper 2 — different from Cambridge.
~45 minutes. Multiple-choice and short-answer questions in French.
Read all questions BEFORE the audio plays · Predict vocabulary · Listen for negatives, time markers, qualifiers You hear each section twice. Use the second listen to confirm details, not start from scratch.
~1 hour 45 minutes. Pearson combines reading comprehension AND writing tasks into one paper.
Reading section
Skim for gist → scan for specific information → read carefully for inference. Beware false friends and negatives. Writing section
Plan: introduction · 2–3 main points (each in different tense) · conclusion Range
Use different tenses · varied vocabulary · connectives · opinion + justification · subjunctive (one example) Time management is critical: budget reading vs writing carefully — many students run out of time on the writing tasks.
Picture-based discussion + conversation on themes.
Picture description
Cover: who, what, where, when, opinion, prediction (a future tense). Use a range of tenses. Conversation
Aim for at least one example each of: opinion, past tense, future tense, justification Top tip
Use 'je voudrais', 'pourriez-vous', 'il faudrait que' for polite/sophisticated language. Boost your Cambridge exam confidence with these proven study strategies from our tutoring experts.
Even 10 minutes of speaking French daily — about your day, opinions, plans — builds the fluency examiners reward in Paper 3.
For each of the five Pearson themes, build a list of 30+ words organised by sub-theme. Add useful verbs and connectives next to each.
Top-band Paper 2 writing uses present, perfect, imperfect AND future tenses. Plan to include each in every long writing answer.
Paper 2 packs reading and writing together. Practise full timed papers so you don't sacrifice writing range to finish reading questions.
Quick answers about this free PDF and how to use it for exam revision and active recall.
Yes. This Tutopiya formula sheet is free to use and you can download it as a PDF from this page for offline revision. There is no payment or account required for the PDF download.
This page groups key French formulas in one place for revision. Master Pearson Edexcel International GCSE French (4FR1) with this 2026 reference sheet. Covers verb conjugations across all tenses, key grammar, the five Pearson Edexcel themes and exam technique for Papers 1 (Listeni… Always cross-check with your official syllabus and past papers for your exam session.
No. In the exam you must follow only what your exam board allows in the hall—usually the official formula booklet or data sheet where provided. This page is a revision and teaching aid, not a replacement for board-issued materials.
It is written for students preparing for assessments at Secondary in French, including classroom revision, homework support, and independent study. Teachers and tutors can also share it as a quick reference.
Work through past paper questions, quote the correct formula before substituting values, and check units and notation every time. Pair this sheet with timed practice and mark schemes so you see how examiners expect working to be set out.
Explore Tutopiya’s study tools, past paper finder, and revision checklists linked from our tools hub, or book a trial lesson with a subject specialist for personalised support alongside this formula reference.
Practice Pearson-style picture-based speaking, combined reading & writing tasks and theme-based vocabulary with a native or near-native French tutor. We focus on tense range, vocabulary breadth and 4FR1 exam technique.
Pair this reference sheet with past papers, revision checklists, and planners — all free on our study tools hub.
This reference sheet aligns with Pearson Edexcel International GCSE French (4FR1) syllabus content for 2026 examinations.
Always include examples of past, present AND future tenses in every long writing answer — range of tenses is heavily rewarded in Paper 2 and Paper 3.