Grade by Grade
C. Reading / D. Writing · Reading and Writing in French: Real Texts for Real Readers

Recettes et instructions: Reading and Writing How-To Texts

C2 D1 D2 C1About 45 minutes
Learning goals
  • I can name the parts of a recipe: title, ingredients, steps.
  • I can read and write command verbs (the imperative): mélange, mélangez.
  • I can use order words: d'abord, ensuite, puis, après, enfin.
  • I can follow French instructions step by step.
  • I can write clear instructions for a reader.

Words to know

une recette
A recipe.
les ingrédients
The things you need to make a recipe.
les étapes
The steps, in order.
l'impératif
The command form of a verb: Mélange ! Ajoutez !
d'abord, ensuite, puis, après, enfin
First, next, then, after that, finally.
mL
Millilitre, a metric unit for small amounts of liquid. In French: millilitre.

Texts that tell you what to do

Recipes, game rules, craft instructions: these are how-to texts (textes qui expliquent comment faire). Their purpose is to help the reader do something, step by step.

In Grade 4 you read menus and signs. Now you will read and write instructions, which use a special kind of verb: the command form (l'impératif).

Flour, three eggs, a jug of milk, a bowl, a whisk, a measuring cup and maple syrup on a kitchen counter.
Ingredients for pancakes (des crêpes). A recipe lists the ingredients first, then gives commands: Mélange! Ajoute le lait! AI-generated image

The command form (l'impératif)

To give an order in French, use the verb without the pronoun.

  • To one friend (tu): take the tu form and, for -er verbs, drop the -s: tu mélanges → Mélange ! tu ajoutes → Ajoute !
  • To an adult or a group (vous): take the vous form: vous mélangez → Mélangez !
  • Let's... (nous): take the nous form: nous mélangeons → Mélangeons ! (Let's mix!)

To say don't, use ne ... pas: Ne touche pas ! (Don't touch!) Ne mangez pas la neige !

Some French recipes use the infinitive instead: Mélanger le yogourt. It means the same thing.

Make a command: drop the pronountu mélangesdrop tu and the -sMélange !to one friendvous mélangezdrop vousMélangez !to a group or an adultnous mélangeonsdrop nousMélangeons !Let’s mix!
Take the tu, vous or nous form and drop the pronoun. For -er verbs with tu, drop the -s too.
Verbtuvousnous (let's)
laver (to wash)LaveLavezLavons
mélanger (to mix)MélangeMélangezMélangeons
ajouter (to add)AjouteAjoutezAjoutons
couper (to cut)CoupeCoupezCoupons
mettre (to put)MetsMettezMettons
faire (to do, make)FaisFaitesFaisons
Command forms. mettre and faire are irregular: learn them as words.
Worked example

Let's read a recipe

Read this recipe. Find the features of a recipe and the command verbs.

Parfait à l'érable

Pour 2 personnes. Préparation : 10 minutes.

Ingrédients

  • 250 mL de yogourt nature
  • 250 mL de petits fruits (bleuets, fraises ou framboises)
  • 30 mL de sirop d'érable
  • 60 mL de céréales croquantes

Étapes

  1. D'abord, lavez les petits fruits.
  2. Ensuite, mélangez le yogourt et le sirop d'érable dans un bol.
  3. Puis, mettez la moitié du yogourt dans deux verres.
  4. Après, ajoutez les petits fruits et les céréales.
  5. Enfin, mettez le reste du yogourt sur le dessus.

Bon appétit !

  1. Title: Parfait à l'érable (maple parfait). Information: for 2 people, 10 minutes.
  2. Ingredients: a list with metric amounts in mL: yogurt (yogourt, the Canadian spelling), berries (petits fruits: bleuets = blueberries in Canadian French, fraises = strawberries, framboises = raspberries), maple syrup, crunchy cereal.
  3. Steps: numbered, in order, each starting with an order word: D'abord, Ensuite, Puis, Après, Enfin.
  4. Command verbs (vous form): lavez (wash), mélangez (mix), mettez (put), ajoutez (add), mettez.
  5. Closing: Bon appétit ! (Enjoy your meal!)

A recipe has a title, a list of ingredients with amounts, and numbered steps that use command verbs and order words.

1. D’abordlavezwash berries2. Ensuitemélangezyogurt + maplesyrup in a bowl3. Puismettezhalf the yogurtin each glass4. Aprèsajoutezberries andcereal5. Enfinmettezthe rest of theyogurt on top
The maple parfait, step by step. Each step starts with an order word and a command verb (vous form).
Worked example

Let's change instructions from tu to vous

Read the snowman instructions (written for one child, with tu).

Comment faire un bonhomme de neige

D'abord, roule une grosse boule de neige. Ensuite, roule une boule moyenne et place-la sur la grosse boule. Puis, ajoute une petite boule pour la tête. Après, cherche deux branches pour les bras. Enfin, mets une tuque et un foulard à ton bonhomme. Ne mange pas la neige !

Rewrite the first two sentences for a whole class (with vous).

  1. roule is the tu command of rouler (to roll). For vous: vous roulez → Roulez.
  2. place-la (put it) becomes placez-la.
  3. Keep the order words and the rest of the sentence the same.

D'abord, roulez une grosse boule de neige. Ensuite, roulez une boule moyenne et placez-la sur la grosse boule.

Just for fun

Why did the yogourt go to the art gallery?

Because it was cultured! (Yogourt really is made with tiny helpful bacteria called cultures.)

Writing good instructions

  1. Start with a clear title.
  2. List what you need.
  3. Write one action per step, in order.
  4. Begin steps with order words and command verbs.
  5. Add a safety warning if needed: Attention !
Hands-on activity

Make the maple parfait (with a grown-up)

You need: plain yogurt, berries, maple syrup, crunchy cereal, a bowl, a spoon, a measuring cup, 2 cups or small bowls (plastic is best).

  1. Read the recipe out loud in French with your grown-up.
  2. Before each step, say what it means in English, then do it.
  3. Afterwards, write your own recipe card in French for a snack you like (for example a sandwich or a fruit salad): title, Ingrédients, Étapes with order words and command verbs.

Safety and allergies: A grown-up should check for allergies (milk, nuts in some cereals) before making it. Wash your hands first. If you cut fruit, a grown-up does the cutting or supervises closely.

Your turn

1

Give the tu command of danser.

2

Give the vous command of écouter.

3

What does Enfin mean?

4

How much maple syrup is in the recipe?

5

What is step 2 of the recipe in English?

6

In the snowman text, what do you use for the arms?

7

Write Don't touch! to one friend.

More practice: warm-up

1

What are les ingrédients?

2

What does D'abord mean?

3

What does Mélangez mean?

4

What is the Canadian French word for blueberries?

5

What does Bon appétit ! mean?

More practice: on your own

1

Change to a tu command: Vous ajoutez le sucre.

2

Put in order: Enfin, mange. / D'abord, lave la pomme. / Ensuite, coupe la pomme.

3

Why is the recipe written with vous commands?

4

Write Let's dance! in French.

5

You want to make the parfait for 4 people. How much yogurt do you need?

Challenge

1

Rewrite step 5 of the recipe for one friend (tu form).

2

Write 4 steps in French to brush your teeth. Use 4 order words and the tu form. (la brosse à dents = toothbrush, le dentifrice = toothpaste, brosser = to brush, rincer = to rinse)

3

Find and fix 3 mistakes in these instructions to a friend: D'abord, laves tes mains. Ensuite, tu mélange la farine. Enfin, mettez le gâteau au four avec un adulte.

Check your understanding

Quiz

1.

What is the tu command of jouer?

2.

Which word means next?

3.

What is the main purpose of a recipe?

4.

Mettez la moitié du yogourt dans deux verres. What do you do?

5.

How do you say Let's start! (commencer)?

6.

Which is NOT a feature of a recipe?

For parents and teachers

Big idea: The curriculum asks Grade 5 students to identify the purpose and features of text forms, including informational ones like recipes and instructions (C2); to understand them (C1); to write in a variety of forms for a purpose (D1); and to revise and edit their writing (D2). The imperative and sequence words are the key language tools for this form.

Canadian French used: le yogourt (France: le yaourt), les bleuets (France: les myrtilles), les petits fruits (berries), une tuque.

Common difficulties:

  • Lave / Laves. Tu commands of -er verbs drop the -s.
  • Mixing tu and vous in one text. Choose one reader and stay consistent.
  • Leaving the pronoun in: Tu mélange ! A command has no tu or vous.

Safety: The cooking activity needs adult supervision, an allergy check, and an adult for any cutting or heat. The snowman text includes Ne mange pas la neige ! (snow can be dirty).