French Si Clauses: Practice with Storyboard That Activities

Q: What are 'si' clauses in French and how do they work?

Si clauses in French are conditional sentences that use the word si to mean "if." They link a condition (the "si" clause) with a result, and the verb tenses in each part must follow specific patterns to convey the correct meaning.

Q: How do you match verb tenses in French 'si' sentences?

In French, the tense of the verb in the "si" clause determines the tense in the main clause. Common combinations include si + présent, futur simple ; si + imparfait, conditionnel ; and si + plus-que-parfait, conditionnel passé .

Q: What's an easy classroom activity to teach French 'si' clauses?

You can have students create a storyboard where they complete and illustrate sentences starting with "si." This interactive method helps reinforce tense matching and sentence structure in a fun way.

Q: Can you use 'quand' or 'lorsque' instead of 'si' in conditional French sentences?

Yes, "quand" and "lorsque" (meaning "when") can sometimes replace "si" in certain conditional sentences, especially when talking about habitual actions or events that are likely to happen.

Q: What are some examples of French 'si' clauses with different tenses?

Examples include: Si je gagne à la loterie, j’achèterai une voiture (If I win the lottery, I will buy a car); Si j’avais un chien, je serais heureux (If I had a dog, I would be happy); Si j’avais étudié, j’aurais réussi (If I had studied, I would have passed).

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Lesson Plan Overview

Template and Class Instructions

Student Rubric

Lesson Plan Overview

Just as in English, complex sentences in French often require a combination of different verb tenses. To master the French language, students must learn the particular patterns expected in various sentence combinations. In this activity, students will create a storyboard that practices constructing complex sentences beginning with “si”.

The template included already indicates the tenses students should use. You can increase the difficulty of the assignment by removing the tense labels in the right-hand column, forcing students to determine the second tense on their own. This assignment can also be completed substituting “quand” or “lorsque” for “si”.

Si...présent...	...futur
Si les oiseaux mangent les miettes...	Hansel et Gretel ne retrouveront pas le chemin.
Si...imparfait...	...conditionnel
Si j'avais un million de dollars...	j'achèterais un château.
Si...plus-que-parfait...	...conditionnel passé
Si j'avais étudié cette semaine...	J'aurais réussi à mon examen ce matin.

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Template and Class Instructions

(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)

Student Instructions

Create a storyboard illustrating the construction of sentences beginning with "si". Remember, when “si” means “if” in French, it automatically creates a complex sentence consisting of both a dependent clause and an independent clause. When the tense of the dependent “si” clause changes, so does the tense of the independent clause.

Click "Start Assignment".
In the left column, write a clause beginning with “si” in the tense indicated.
In the right column, complete the sentence with a clause in the appropriate tense.
Create an image for each sentence using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.

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Lesson Plan Reference

Grade Level 6-12

Difficulty Level 3 (Developing to Mastery)

Type of Assignment Individual or Partner

Type of Activity: World Languages Activity Ideas

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Student Rubric

(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)

"Si" Constructions in French

Create one storyboard column using "si" to begin sentences in three different tenses. Add a second column to complete each sentence with an appropriate image and tense.

	Excellent 7 Points	Satisfaisant 4 Points	Insuffisant 1 Points
Use of Tenses	The storyboard includes proper verb tenses when moving between all clauses joined by "si". The student correctly conjugates in six different tenses.	The storyboard includes proper verb tenses when moving between most clauses joined by "si". The student correctly conjugates in at least four different tenses.	The storyboard uses many incorrect verb tenses when moving between clauses joined by "si". The student conjugates correctly in three tenses or fewer.
Storyboard Scenes	The storyboard depictions show strong effort and clearly convey the meaning of the text. In each scenario, the second scene is clearly a consequence of the first one.	The storyboard depictions show strong effort and somewhat convey the meaning of the text. In each scenario, the second scene is clearly related to the first one.	The storyboard depictions show a lack of effort and fail to convey the meaning of the text. The two scenes do not logically connect.
Spelling/Grammar	All sentences contain correct grammar and spelling (including accent marks).	Most sentences contain correct grammar and spelling (including accent marks).	The sentences contain many grammatical or spelling errors (including accent marks).

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Lesson Plan Overview

Si...présent...	...futur
Si les oiseaux mangent les miettes...	Hansel et Gretel ne retrouveront pas le chemin.
Si...imparfait...	...conditionnel
Si j'avais un million de dollars...	j'achèterais un château.
Si...plus-que-parfait...	...conditionnel passé
Si j'avais étudié cette semaine...	J'aurais réussi à mon examen ce matin.

Copy Activity

Template and Class Instructions

(These instructions are completely customizable. After clicking "Copy Activity", update the instructions on the Edit Tab of the assignment.)

Student Instructions

Click "Start Assignment".
In the left column, write a clause beginning with “si” in the tense indicated.
In the right column, complete the sentence with a clause in the appropriate tense.
Create an image for each sentence using appropriate scenes, characters, and items.

More options

Copy This Storyboard

Lesson Plan Reference

Grade Level 6-12

Difficulty Level 3 (Developing to Mastery)

Type of Assignment Individual or Partner

Type of Activity: World Languages Activity Ideas

Copy Activity

Student Rubric

(You can also create your own on Quick Rubric.)

"Si" Constructions in French

Create one storyboard column using "si" to begin sentences in three different tenses. Add a second column to complete each sentence with an appropriate image and tense.

	Excellent 7 Points	Satisfaisant 4 Points	Insuffisant 1 Points
Use of Tenses	The storyboard includes proper verb tenses when moving between all clauses joined by "si". The student correctly conjugates in six different tenses.	The storyboard includes proper verb tenses when moving between most clauses joined by "si". The student correctly conjugates in at least four different tenses.	The storyboard uses many incorrect verb tenses when moving between clauses joined by "si". The student conjugates correctly in three tenses or fewer.
Storyboard Scenes	The storyboard depictions show strong effort and clearly convey the meaning of the text. In each scenario, the second scene is clearly a consequence of the first one.	The storyboard depictions show strong effort and somewhat convey the meaning of the text. In each scenario, the second scene is clearly related to the first one.	The storyboard depictions show a lack of effort and fail to convey the meaning of the text. The two scenes do not logically connect.
Spelling/Grammar	All sentences contain correct grammar and spelling (including accent marks).	Most sentences contain correct grammar and spelling (including accent marks).	The sentences contain many grammatical or spelling errors (including accent marks).

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How Tos about “Si” Constructions in French

Incorporate 'si' sentence practice into daily warm-ups

Use short 'si' sentence prompts at the start of class to help students regularly practice complex sentence construction. This builds confidence and reinforces grammar patterns over time.

Model thinking aloud as you choose tenses for 'si' clauses

Demonstrate your thought process when selecting verb tenses for both parts of a 'si' sentence. Students benefit from hearing how you decide which tense fits each scenario.

Encourage peer review of storyboard sentences

Have students exchange storyboards and check each other's tense choices. This collaborative step helps them spot errors and learn from different examples.

Provide visual cues or anchor charts for tense pairings

Display a simple chart or poster showing which tenses pair together in 'si' constructions. Keeping this visible gives students a quick reference as they write.

Differentiate by offering challenge options or scaffolds

Let advanced students try sentences without tense labels, while others use supports or sentence starters. This ensures all students can participate at their level while working toward mastery.

Frequently Asked Questions about “Si” Constructions in French

What are 'si' clauses in French and how do they work?

Si clauses in French are conditional sentences that use the word si to mean "if." They link a condition (the "si" clause) with a result, and the verb tenses in each part must follow specific patterns to convey the correct meaning.

How do you match verb tenses in French 'si' sentences?

In French, the tense of the verb in the "si" clause determines the tense in the main clause. Common combinations include si + présent, futur simple; si + imparfait, conditionnel; and si + plus-que-parfait, conditionnel passé.

What's an easy classroom activity to teach French 'si' clauses?

You can have students create a storyboard where they complete and illustrate sentences starting with "si." This interactive method helps reinforce tense matching and sentence structure in a fun way.

Can you use 'quand' or 'lorsque' instead of 'si' in conditional French sentences?

Yes, "quand" and "lorsque" (meaning "when") can sometimes replace "si" in certain conditional sentences, especially when talking about habitual actions or events that are likely to happen.

What are some examples of French 'si' clauses with different tenses?

Examples include: Si je gagne à la loterie, j’achèterai une voiture (If I win the lottery, I will buy a car); Si j’avais un chien, je serais heureux (If I had a dog, I would be happy); Si j’avais étudié, j’aurais réussi (If I had studied, I would have passed).