The problems are on the Short Messages In French worksheet. Try them on your own first, then compare with the answers below.
Quick answer: A short message in French has three parts: an opening that matches the reader (Salut or Bonjour Madame), one or two present-tense facts such as Je suis à Nice. This answer key corrects the 20 problems of the French A1 worksheet on short messages in French, from tone of the opening to read the postcard: the final answer in bold, the rule behind it, and a model answer for each writing task.
Here is the answer key of the French A1 worksheet on short messages in French. Try the worksheet first, then compare, and reread the lesson if a rule is unclear.
Level: French A1 (CEFR beginner) · Standards: CEFR A1, Writing
Short messages in French: the answers explained
Problem 1 Tone of the opening
Friends and cousins take the casual greeting; an adult you must respect takes Bonjour.
1. Salut · 2. Bonjour Madame · 3. Salut · 4. Bonjour Madame
Problem 2 Tone of the closing
Family and friends: affection. Building manager and hotel: neutral and polite.
1. Gros bisous · 2. Cordialement · 3. Gros bisous · 4. Cordialement
Problem 3 Cher or Chère
The adjective agrees with the person you write to.
1. Chère · 2. Cher · 3. Chère · 4. Cher
Problem 4 Decode the text
These are the four most common short forms.
1. beaucoup · 2. désolé · 3. s’il te plaît · 4. à plus tard
Problem 5 Unscramble the words
Subject, then verb, then the rest; the question keeps its question mark.
1. Je rentre samedi. · 2. Il fait beau ici. · 3. Tu es libre ce soir ?
Problem 6 Dates in words
Day first, month in lowercase, ordinal only for the first.
1. le 3 mai · 2. le 14 juillet · 3. le 1er janvier · 4. le 25 décembre
Problem 7 Meeting times
Use the 24-hour clock and the letter h.
1. Rendez-vous à 19 h devant la gare. · 2. Rendez-vous à 20 h 30 au café. · 3. Rendez-vous à 14 h au marché.
Problem 8 Postcard verbs
Weather uses faire; location uses être; manger keeps its e in the nous form.
1. fait · 2. suis · 3. mangeons · 4. visite
Problem 9 From English to French
Fixed phrases to memorize.
1. À demain ! · 2. Merci beaucoup ! · 3. Désolé, je ne peux pas. (Désolée if the writer is a woman) · 4. Tu es libre ce soir ?
Problem 10 From French to English
Present tense with a day name means the coming day.
1. I’m coming home on Sunday. · 2. Shall we meet at 8 p.m.? · 3. Lots of kisses to your mother. · 4. It’s cold here.
Problem 11 Tu becomes vous
Change the pronoun, the verb ending and the object pronoun.
1. Vous êtes libre demain ? · 2. Vous pouvez venir à 9 h ? · 3. Je vous remercie.
Problem 12 Find the mistake
Agreement, date format, verb form, and tone.
1. Chère Amina, · 2. Le 5 juin · 3. Il fait chaud à Rabat. · 4. Bonjour Madame Perrin,
Problem 13 Choose the reply
Match the function of each message.
1. a · 2. c · 3. b
Problem 14 Reading a text chat
All details are in the first three bubbles and the plan at the end.
a) In Dakar · b) 34 degrees · c) Tuesday · d) Wednesday at 10 a.m.
Problem 15 Complete the postcard
Opening agrees with a woman; the weather uses il fait; the nous forms end in -ons.
Chère Julie, … Il fait très froid … Nous visitons le vieux port. Nous rentrons vendredi. Bises, Pascal
Problem 16 Invite a friend
Model: Salut Maxime ! Tu es libre vendredi ? On dîne chez moi à 20 h. Gros bisous, Anaïs
Check: informal opening, a question, the hour with h, a closing.
Problem 17 Write a postcard
Model: Chère Clara, je suis à Bordeaux. Il fait beau. Je visite le port. Je rentre dimanche. Bises, Idriss
Check: place, weather, activity, return day, signature, correct accents.
Problem 18 Formal reply
Model: Bonjour Madame Girard, je ne suis pas libre lundi. Pouvez-vous passer mardi à 10 h ? Cordialement, Julien Marchal
Check: vous form, no short forms, formal closing.
Problem 19 Order the message
Greeting, place, question, plan, goodbye.
b – d – e – c – a
Problem 20 Read the postcard
Read each line of the message carefully.
a) Samir · b) a tajine · c) Thursday · d) Amitiés