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11.3. Les grandes étapes de la vie

Talking About Life’s Major Milestones

11.3.1. The Main Idea

To talk about major life milestones, you can use verbs such as naître, grandir, étudier, travailler, se marier, and avoir des enfants.

naître	to be born
grandir	to grow up
étudier	to study
travailler	to work
se marier	to get married
avoir des enfants	to have children

These verbs help you describe someone’s life path, from childhood to adulthood.

11.3.2. Common Life Milestones

naître	to be born
grandir	to grow up
aller à l’école	to go to school
obtenir un diplôme	to get a diploma / degree
commencer l’université	to start university
finir ses études	to finish one’s studies
trouver un travail	to find a job
commencer sa carrière	to start one’s career
déménager	to move
se fiancer	to get engaged
se marier	to get married
avoir des enfants	to have children
prendre sa retraite	to retire

11.3.3. Talking About Birth and Childhood

Je suis né à Calgary.	I was born in Calgary. masculine speaker
Je suis née à Calgary.	I was born in Calgary. feminine speaker
Il est né en Chine.	He was born in China.
Elle est née au Canada.	She was born in Canada.
J’ai grandi à Beijing.	I grew up in Beijing.
Nous avons grandi en Alberta.	We grew up in Alberta.

Use naître with être in the passé composé: je suis né(e).

11.3.4. Talking About School and Studies

J’ai commencé l’université en 2024.	I started university in 2024.
J’ai étudié le français.	I studied French.
J’ai obtenu un diplôme.	I got a diploma / degree.
J’ai fini mes études.	I finished my studies.
Je vais finir mes études l’année prochaine.	I am going to finish my studies next year.

11.3.5. Talking About Work and Career

J’ai trouvé un travail.	I found a job.
J’ai commencé ma carrière.	I started my career.
Je travaille dans une école.	I work in a school.
Je vais chercher un travail.	I am going to look for a job.
Plus tard, je vais commencer ma carrière.	Later, I am going to start my career.

11.3.6. Talking About Family Milestones

Il s’est fiancé.	He got engaged.
Elle s’est fiancée.	She got engaged.
Ils se sont mariés.	They got married. masculine or mixed
Elles se sont mariées.	They got married. feminine
Ils ont eu un enfant.	They had a child.
Elle a eu deux enfants.	She had two children.

Se fiancer and se marier are pronominal verbs, so they use être in the passé composé.

11.3.7. Talking About Future Milestones

Un jour, je vais déménager.	One day, I am going to move.
Plus tard, je vais commencer ma carrière.	Later, I am going to start my career.
Après mes études, je vais chercher un travail.	After my studies, I am going to look for a job.
Dans le futur, je vais voyager.	In the future, I am going to travel.
Un jour, je vais acheter une maison.	One day, I am going to buy a house.

11.3.8. Asking About Life Milestones

Tu es né où ?	Where were you born? masculine
Tu es née où ?	Where were you born? feminine
Tu as grandi où ?	Where did you grow up?
Tu as commencé l’université quand ?	When did you start university?
Tu veux faire quoi plus tard ?	What do you want to do later?
Quels sont tes projets d’avenir ?	What are your future plans?

11.3.9. Useful Time Expressions

quand j’étais enfant	when I was a child
à l’âge de dix ans	at the age of ten
plus tard	later
un jour	one day / someday
dans le futur	in the future
après mes études	after my studies
l’année prochaine	next year
en 2024	in 2024

11.3.10. Core Patterns

Je suis né(e) à ___ .	I was born in ___.
J’ai grandi à ___ .	I grew up in ___.
J’ai commencé ___ .	I started ___.
J’ai obtenu ___ .	I got / obtained ___.
Je me suis marié(e).	I got married.
Je vais ___ .	I am going to ___.
Un jour, je vais ___ .	One day, I am going to ___.

11.3.11. Practice

I was born in Calgary. masculine speaker |

I was born in Calgary. feminine speaker |

I grew up in Beijing. |

I started university in 2024. |

I finished my studies. |

She got engaged. |

They got married. masculine or mixed |

One day, I am going to move. |

What are your future plans? |

11.3.12. Answers

I was born in Calgary. masculine speaker	Je suis né à Calgary.
I was born in Calgary. feminine speaker	Je suis née à Calgary.
I grew up in Beijing.	J’ai grandi à Beijing.
I started university in 2024.	J’ai commencé l’université en 2024.
I finished my studies.	J’ai fini mes études.
She got engaged.	Elle s’est fiancée.
They got married. masculine or mixed	Ils se sont mariés.
One day, I am going to move.	Un jour, je vais déménager.
What are your future plans?	Quels sont tes projets d’avenir ?

11.3.13. Short Dialogue

A : Tu es né où ?	A: Where were you born? masculine
B : Je suis né à Calgary, mais j’ai grandi à Beijing. Et toi ?	B: I was born in Calgary, but I grew up in Beijing. And you?
A : J’ai grandi ici. Tu veux faire quoi plus tard ?	A: I grew up here. What do you want to do later?
B : Après mes études, je vais chercher un travail et voyager.	B: After my studies, I am going to look for a job and travel.

11.3.14. Checkpoint

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to talk about major life milestones, including birth, childhood, education, work, moving, marriage, family, and future plans, using the passé composé, the imparfait, and the futur proche.

11.3.15. Try It Out

Try saying this in French:

Where were you born?

I grew up in [your city].

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Possible answer:

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