Translation traps

A. Translation into English. Complete the last column with the correct translations. The first one has been done for you.

French phrase Word for word translation Correct translation

1. J’ai douze ans I have 12 years I am 12 (years old)

2. J’ai froid I have cold

3. J’ai de la chance I have some luck

4. Je joue au football I play to the football

5. Je suis d’accord I am of agreement

6. Je ne suis pas d’accord I am not of agreement

7. Il y a du soleil There is some sun

8. Il fait froid He makes cold

9. Il pleut He rains

10. La chambre de ma sœur The bedroom of my sister

11. Le chien de mon copain The dog of my friend

12. Chez ma tante Home my aunt

13. Chez mon copain Home my friend

14. À la télévision At the television

15. J’aime l’histoire I like the history

16. Je déteste le tennis I hate the tennis

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 Translation traps
B. Translation into English. Complete the blank columns. The first one has been done for you.

French phrase Word for word translation Correct translation

1. J’ai douze ans I have 12 years I am 12 (years old)

2. J’ai froid

3. J’ai de la chance

4. Je joue au football

5. Je suis d’accord

6. Je ne suis pas d’accord

7. Il y a du soleil

8. Il fait froid

9. Il pleut

10. La chambre de ma sœur

11. Le chien de mon copain

12. Chez ma tante

13. Chez mon copain

14. À la télévision

15. J’aime l’histoire

16. Je déteste le tennis

© www.teachitlanguages.co.uk 2016 26694 Page 2 of 5

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C. Translation into French. Complete the French phrases, using the word for word translation to help you.

French phrase Word for word translation Correct translation

1. J’ai douze ans I have 12 years I am 12 (years old)

2. I have cold I am cold

3. I have some luck I am lucky

4. I play to the football I play football

5. I am of agreement I agree

6. I am not of agreement I don’t agree

7. There is some sun It is sunny

8. He makes cold It is cold

9. He rains It is raining

10. The bedroom of my sister My sister’s bedroom

11. The dog of my friend My friend’s dog

12. Home my aunt At my aunt’s

13. Home my friend At my friend’s

14. At the television On television

15. I like the history I like history

16. I hate the tennis I hate tennis

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 Translation traps
D. Translation into French. Complete the blank columns. The first one has been done for you.

French phrase Word for word translation Correct translation

1. J’ai douze ans I have 12 years I am 12 (years old)

2. I am cold

3. I am lucky

4. I play football

5. I agree

6. I don’t agree

7. It is sunny

8. It is cold

9. It is raining

10. My sister’s bedroom

11. My friend’s dog

12. At my aunt’s

13. At my friend’s

14. On television

15. I like history

16. I hate tennis

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 Translation traps
Teaching notes
This resource is designed to raise awareness of some common mistakes when translating to and from French. The translation traps
grids are differentiated, with more support offered on pages 1 and 3 for weaker students. Students could also create their own lists
of similar phrases with word for word and correct translations.

Answers

French phrase Word for word translation Correct translation

1. J’ai douze ans I have 12 years I am 12 (years old)
2. J’ai froid I have cold I am cold
3. J’ai de la chance I have some luck I am lucky
4. Je joue au football I play to the football I play football
5. Je suis d’accord I am of agreement I agree
6. Je ne suis pas d’accord I am not of agreement I don’t agree
7. Il y a du soleil There is some sun It is sunny
8. Il fait froid He makes cold It is cold
9. Il pleut He rains It is raining
10. La chambre de ma sœur The bedroom of my sister My sister’s bedroom
11. Le chien de mon copain The dog of my friend My friend’s dog
12. Chez ma tante Home my aunt At my aunt’s
13. Chez mon copain Home my friend At my friend’s
14. À la télévision At the television On television
15. J’aime l’histoire I like the history I like history
16. Je déteste le tennis I hate the tennis I hate tennis

© www.teachitlanguages.co.uk 2016 26694 Page 5 of 5