NCERT Solutions for CBSE Class 9 French Chapter 12: Les Sports, les Loisirs et le Temps Libre

CBSE Class 9 French Chapter 12 Les Sports, les Loisirs et le Temps Libre is a high-weightage topic because it combines vocabulary, grammar, and conversational fluency in a single package. Board exams regularly feature questions like 'Décrivez vos sports préférés' (Describe your favorite sports) or 'Parlez de vos loisirs' (Talk about your hobbies), and the structures taught in this chapter — jouer à, jouer de, faire de — are the tools students need to answer confidently. The chapter appears in written composition sections worth 10-15 marks, oral assessments worth 5 marks, and reading comprehension passages where students must identify sports vocabulary and verb usage. According to the 2024-25 CBSE marking scheme, accurate use of prepositions and article contractions accounts for 30 percent of grammar marks in French papers, and Les Sports, les Loisirs et le Temps Libre is where those skills are formally introduced. Students who master this chapter perform significantly better in subsequent chapters on daily routines, travel, and cultural topics, because the same verb-preposition patterns recur throughout the Class 9 and 10 syllabi. Additionally, internal school exams often allocate 8-12 marks to this chapter alone, making it a high-return investment of study time. The vocabulary is also immediately useful: students can describe their real lives, making practice more engaging and retention stronger.

CBSE Class 9 French Chapter 12 Les Sports, les Loisirs et le Temps Libre introduces approximately 50-60 vocabulary items covering common sports, hobbies, and free-time activities. Students must memorize not only the French term but also its gender (masculine or feminine), because gender determines which article contraction to use. For sports, key terms include le football (football, masculine), le tennis (tennis, masculine or feminine depending on region), la natation (swimming, feminine), le ski (skiing, masculine), le cyclisme (cycling, masculine), le basketball (basketball, masculine), le volleyball (volleyball, masculine), l'équitation (horse riding, feminine), l'athlétisme (athletics, masculine), and le cricket (cricket, masculine). For leisure activities, the NCERT textbook lists la lecture (reading, feminine), la danse (dance, feminine), la musique (music, feminine), les jeux vidéo (video games, masculine plural), le dessin (drawing, masculine), le cinéma (cinema, masculine), la télévision (television, feminine), and les jeux de société (board games, masculine plural). Each term must be practiced with its corresponding verb: sports typically use jouer à or faire de, while hobbies like reading or drawing use simply lire or dessiner without a preposition. Students should create flashcards pairing each activity with its gender marker and a sample sentence, because exam questions often test whether a student writes 'Je joue au tennis' versus the incorrect 'Je joue le tennis'. The NCERT textbook also includes cultural notes explaining that football is by far the most popular sport in France, followed by rugby and tennis, which helps students answer comprehension questions about French culture.

The verb structure 'jouer à' is the first major grammar point in CBSE Class 9 French Chapter 12 Les Sports, les Loisirs et le Temps Libre. It translates to 'to play' and is used exclusively with sports and rule-based games. The pattern is: subject + conjugated form of jouer + à + definite article (contracted) + sport/game. The definite article contracts with the preposition à as follows: à + le = au, à + la = à la, à + l' = à l', à + les = aux. Students must memorize these contractions because writing 'Je joue à le football' is grammatically incorrect and loses marks immediately. The NCERT textbook provides 10-15 fill-in-the-blank exercises where students insert the correct form. For example, Exercise 3a asks: 'Complete: Marie ___ tennis le mercredi.' The correct answer is 'joue au tennis' (if tennis is treated as masculine) or 'joue à la tennis' (if feminine, though 'au tennis' is more common in standard French). Exercise 3b: 'Nous ___ cartes avec nos amis.' Answer: 'jouons aux cartes' (cartes is feminine plural, so à + les = aux). A common mistake is confusing jouer à with jouer de. Students write 'Je joue à la guitare' when they should write 'Je joue de la guitare', because musical instruments require 'de', not 'à'. To avoid this, remember: jouer à = sports/games where you compete or follow rules; jouer de = instruments where you produce music. The NCERT solutions manual emphasizes this distinction in every chapter review.

The second critical verb structure in CBSE Class 9 French Chapter 12 Les Sports, les Loisirs et le Temps Libre is 'jouer de', used exclusively for musical instruments. The pattern is: subject + conjugated jouer + de + definite article (contracted) + instrument. The definite article contracts with 'de' as follows: de + le = du, de + la = de la, de + l' = de l', de + les = des. For example, 'Je joue du piano' (I play the piano) uses 'du' because piano is masculine and de + le = du. 'Elle joue de la guitare' (She plays the guitar) uses 'de la' because guitare is feminine. The NCERT textbook dedicates an entire exercise set (Exercise 5) to this structure. Exercise 5a: 'Mon frère ___ violon.' Answer: 'joue du violon' (violon is masculine, so de + le = du). Exercise 5b: 'Nous ___ flûte dans un orchestre.' Answer: 'jouons de la flûte' (flûte is feminine, so de + la stays unchanged). Students often confuse jouer de with jouer à, writing 'Je joue au piano' instead of 'Je joue du piano'. The mnemonic to remember is: if you physically touch and produce sound from an object (an instrument), use 'de'; if you compete or follow game rules, use 'à'. The NCERT solutions manual also notes that some students incorrectly use 'faire' with instruments ('Je fais du piano'), which is colloquially acceptable in spoken French but marked incorrect in CBSE exams, where the textbook explicitly requires 'jouer de'. Cultural context: learning an instrument is common in French schools, so this vocabulary appears in listening passages where students describe their hobbies.

The third essential verb structure in CBSE Class 9 French Chapter 12 Les Sports, les Loisirs et le Temps Libre is 'faire de', which translates to 'to do' or 'to engage in' an activity. It is used for sports, hobbies, and general activities where the emphasis is on the action itself rather than competition. The pattern is: subject + conjugated faire + de + definite article (contracted) + activity. The contractions are identical to jouer de: de + le = du, de + la = de la, de + l' = de l', de + les = des. For example, 'Je fais du ski' (I do skiing / I ski) uses 'du' because ski is masculine. 'Tu fais de la natation' (You do swimming / You swim) uses 'de la' because natation is feminine. 'Elle fait de l'équitation' (She does horse riding) uses 'de l'' because équitation starts with a vowel. The NCERT textbook provides Exercise 7 with 12 sentences requiring students to choose between faire de and jouer à. Exercise 7a: 'Le week-end, je ___ cyclisme.' Answer: 'fais du cyclisme' (cyclisme is masculine). Exercise 7b: 'Nous ___ jeux vidéo après l'école.' Answer: 'faisons des jeux vidéo' or 'jouons aux jeux vidéo' — both are acceptable, but the textbook prefers 'jouons aux' for video games because they are rule-based games. A critical distinction: while both jouer à and faire de can describe some sports (like football or tennis), faire de is preferred for individual, non-competitive activities like yoga, swimming, or cycling. The NCERT solutions manual states: 'Use faire de for activities emphasizing personal fitness or skill-building; use jouer à for team sports or games with opponents.' This distinction appears in CBSE board exam questions where students must justify their verb choice.

CBSE Class 9 French Chapter 12 Les Sports, les Loisirs et le Temps Libre dedicates significant space to teaching students how to express their opinions about sports and hobbies using the verbs aimer (to like), adorer (to adore / love), and détester (to hate). These verbs can be followed by either a noun (with a definite article) or an infinitive verb. When followed by a noun, the structure is: subject + conjugated verb + definite article + noun. Example: 'J'aime le football' (I like football). The definite article 'le' is mandatory because in French, you like or dislike 'the' abstract concept of football, not just 'football' in general. When followed by an infinitive, the structure is: subject + conjugated verb + infinitive (+ preposition + article + object if needed). Example: 'J'aime jouer au football' (I like to play football). Here, no article comes before 'jouer', but 'au' appears because it is part of the verb phrase 'jouer au football'. The NCERT textbook provides Exercise 9 with 15 prompts where students write sentences about their preferences. Exercise 9a: 'Write a sentence using aimer and natation.' Sample answer: 'J'aime la natation parce que c'est relaxant.' (I like swimming because it is relaxing.) Exercise 9b: 'Write a sentence using détester and jeux vidéo.' Sample answer: 'Je déteste les jeux vidéo parce qu'ils sont ennuyeux.' (I hate video games because they are boring.) A common error is omitting the article: 'J'aime natation' is incorrect; it must be 'J'aime la natation'. Another mistake is using the wrong article with an infinitive: 'J'aime le jouer au football' is incorrect; it should be 'J'aime jouer au football'.

CBSE Class 9 French Chapter 12 Les Sports, les Loisirs et le Temps Libre teaches students to express preferences using the verb préférer (to prefer) and comparative structures like 'plus que' (more than) and 'mieux que' (better than). The basic pattern with préférer is: subject + conjugated préférer + noun/infinitive (+ comparison if needed). Example: 'Je préfère le tennis' (I prefer tennis). When comparing two activities, the structure is: subject + préférer + activity1 + à + activity2. Example: 'Je préfère le tennis au football' (I prefer tennis to football). Note the use of 'à' rather than 'que' in this construction, which is a common error point. When using infinitives, the structure is: 'Je préfère jouer au tennis plutôt que de faire du football' (I prefer to play tennis rather than do football). The phrase 'plutôt que de' is formal and appears in higher-level written tasks. The NCERT textbook provides Exercise 11 with 10 sentences requiring students to express preferences. Exercise 11a: 'Say which sport you prefer and why.' Sample answer: 'Je préfère le basketball au football parce que le basketball est plus rapide.' (I prefer basketball to football because basketball is faster.) Exercise 11b: 'Compare two hobbies.' Sample answer: 'J'aime mieux la lecture que les jeux vidéo parce que la lecture est plus éducative.' (I prefer reading to video games because reading is more educational.) The phrase 'aimer mieux' (to like better) is a synonym for préférer and is equally acceptable in CBSE exams. Students should also learn 'Ce que je préfère, c'est...' (What I prefer is...), an emphatic construction tested in oral assessments.

Students preparing CBSE Class 9 French Chapter 12 Les Sports, les Loisirs et le Temps Libre frequently make predictable errors that cost marks in board exams. The first and most common mistake is incorrect article contraction. Students write 'Je joue à le football' instead of 'Je joue au football', or 'Je joue de le piano' instead of 'Je joue du piano'. To avoid this, students must memorize the contraction table: à + le = au, de + le = du, à + la = à la, de + la = de la, à + les = aux, de + les = des, and practice writing 50-100 sentences until the contractions become automatic. The second major error is confusing jouer à with jouer de. Students write 'Je joue à la guitare' when they should write 'Je joue de la guitare'. The mnemonic is: jouer à = sports/games (you play 'at' a goal or 'with' opponents); jouer de = instruments (you play 'from' or 'produce' music). The third error is omitting the definite article after aimer, adorer, or détester. Students write 'J'aime natation' instead of 'J'aime la natation'. In French, abstract nouns like activities require the article when used as objects of these verbs. The fourth error is using the wrong gender: writing 'le natation' instead of 'la natation', or 'la football' instead of 'le football'. Students must memorize the gender of each sport and hobby as they learn the vocabulary. The fifth error is incorrect verb conjugation: writing 'Je joue' but 'Nous joue' instead of 'Nous jouons'. Regular -er verb conjugations must be drilled through repetition.

CBSE board exams regularly feature questions from CBSE Class 9 French Chapter 12 Les Sports, les Loisirs et le Temps Libre in both the written and oral components. A typical written question is: 'Écrivez un paragraphe de 60-80 mots sur vos loisirs préférés.' (Write a paragraph of 60-80 words about your favorite hobbies.) A model answer would be: 'J'aime beaucoup les sports et les loisirs. Je joue au football le samedi avec mes amis. Je fais de la natation trois fois par semaine parce que c'est bon pour la santé. J'adore jouer du piano le soir, et je préfère la musique classique. Le dimanche, je fais du cyclisme avec ma famille. Je déteste les jeux vidéo parce qu'ils sont ennuyeux. Ce que je préfère, c'est le football parce que c'est un sport d'équipe.' (I really like sports and hobbies. I play football on Saturday with my friends. I do swimming three times a week because it is good for health. I love playing the piano in the evening, and I prefer classical music. On Sunday, I do cycling with my family. I hate video games because they are boring. What I prefer is football because it is a team sport.) This answer uses jouer au, faire de, jouer de, aimer, adorer, détester, and préférer — covering all key structures from the chapter. It also includes justifications with 'parce que', which earns extra marks. Another common question is: 'Complétez les phrases avec la forme correcte de jouer ou faire.' (Complete the sentences with the correct form of jouer or faire.) Example: 'Mes frères ___ du tennis le mercredi.' Answer: 'jouent au tennis' or 'font du tennis' — both are acceptable, though the textbook prefers 'jouent au' for competitive sports. In oral exams, students are asked: 'Quels sports pratiquez-vous?' (What sports do you practice?) A strong answer: 'Je joue au cricket et au badminton. Je fais aussi de la natation le week-end.' (I play cricket and badminton. I also do swimming on the weekend.)

CBSE Class 9 French Chapter 12 Les Sports, les Loisirs et le Temps Libre includes cultural notes that are tested in reading comprehension and oral assessments. In France, football (soccer) is the dominant sport, with iconic clubs like Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique de Marseille. The French national team won the FIFA World Cup in 1998 and 2018, making football a source of national pride. Tennis is the second most popular sport, with the French Open (Roland-Garros) held annually in Paris. Cycling is also deeply embedded in French culture, symbolized by the Tour de France, the world's most famous cycling race. The NCERT textbook notes that French teenagers typically join sports clubs (clubs de sport) after school, and many practice swimming, basketball, or martial arts like judo. In listening comprehension passages, students hear dialogues where French teenagers discuss their club activities, requiring familiarity with phrases like 'Je fais partie d'un club de natation' (I am part of a swimming club). Leisure activities in France emphasize balance: French culture values reading, cinema, and family outings as much as sports. The concept of 'le temps libre' (free time) is protected, with shorter work weeks and long vacations, a contrast to some other cultures. CBSE exams include questions like: 'Why is football important in France?' Expected answer: 'Le football est important en France parce que l'équipe nationale a gagné la Coupe du Monde deux fois, en 1998 et en 2018. C'est un sport très populaire et beaucoup de jeunes jouent au football.' (Football is important in France because the national team won the World Cup twice, in 1998 and 2018. It is a very popular sport and many young people play football.)

Many Class 9 students struggle with CBSE Class 9 French Chapter 12 Les Sports, les Loisirs et le Temps Libre because the chapter demands simultaneous mastery of vocabulary, verb conjugations, prepositions, article contractions, and cultural context — a heavy cognitive load. CBSETUTOR.ai, India's most-used 24×7 AI tutor for CBSE Classes 6–12, has ingested the full NCERT Class 9 French textbook, including every exercise and explanation from Chapter 12. Students can upload a photo of any NCERT exercise from Les Sports, les Loisirs et le Temps Libre — whether a fill-in-the-blank drill, a paragraph-writing prompt, or a translation task — and receive step-by-step solutions in under 60 seconds. The AI tutor breaks down each sentence, explaining why 'Je joue au tennis' uses 'au' (because à + le contracts to au) and why 'Je joue de la guitare' uses 'de la' (because instruments require 'de' and guitare is feminine). For students preparing for board exams, CBSETUTOR.ai generates unlimited practice questions modeled on past CBSE papers, covering every verb structure and vocabulary item from Chapter 12. Parents across India trust CBSETUTOR.ai because it runs at a flat ₹999 per month — one price for every class from 6 to 12 — with a 3-day free trial and no card required to start. The platform adapts to each student's pace: if a learner needs 50 practice sentences on article contractions before moving to preferences, the AI provides exactly that. For oral exam preparation, students can type out their answers and receive immediate feedback on grammar, vocabulary choice, and sentence structure, simulating the board exam experience.

A well-structured paragraph on hobbies is a 10-mark question in CBSE Class 9 French exams, and mastery of CBSE Class 9 French Chapter 12 Les Sports, les Loisirs et le Temps Libre is essential to score full marks. The paragraph should be 60-80 words, include 6-8 sentences, use at least three different verb structures (jouer à, jouer de, faire de), express likes and dislikes (aimer, adorer, détester), state a preference (préférer), and include justifications with 'parce que'. Here is a step-by-step guide. Step 1: Opening sentence introducing the topic. Example: 'J'aime beaucoup les sports et les loisirs.' (I really like sports and hobbies.) This sets the tone and uses 'aimer' correctly. Step 2: Mention a team sport with jouer à. Example: 'Je joue au football le samedi avec mes amis.' (I play football on Saturday with my friends.) This demonstrates correct use of 'jouer au' and adds time context. Step 3: Mention an individual activity with faire de. Example: 'Je fais de la natation trois fois par semaine parce que c'est bon pour la santé.' (I do swimming three times a week because it is good for health.) This uses 'faire de' and includes a justification. Step 4: Mention a musical instrument with jouer de. Example: 'J'adore jouer du piano le soir.' (I love playing the piano in the evening.) This uses 'jouer du' and adds time context. Step 5: Express a preference. Example: 'Je préfère le football au tennis parce que le football est plus dynamique.' (I prefer football to tennis because football is more dynamic.) This uses 'préférer' with a comparison. Step 6: Mention a dislike. Example: 'Je déteste les jeux vidéo parce qu'ils sont ennuyeux.' (I hate video games because they are boring.) This uses 'détester' with justification. Step 7: Closing sentence summarizing preference. Example: 'Ce que je préfère, c'est le football.' (What I prefer is football.) This uses the emphatic structure.

To fully master CBSE Class 9 French Chapter 12 Les Sports, les Loisirs et le Temps Libre, students must complete dozens of practice exercises covering every verb structure and vocabulary item. Here is a set of 10 practice questions modeled on CBSE board exam patterns, with detailed answer keys. Question 1: Fill in the blank: 'Marie ___ tennis le mercredi.' Answer: 'joue au tennis' (tennis is masculine, à + le = au). Question 2: Fill in the blank: 'Nous ___ piano depuis cinq ans.' Answer: 'jouons du piano' (piano is masculine, de + le = du). Question 3: Fill in the blank: 'Ils ___ natation trois fois par semaine.' Answer: 'font de la natation' (natation is feminine, de + la = de la). Question 4: Translate to French: 'I like playing football.' Answer: 'J'aime jouer au football.' (aimer + infinitive; à + le = au). Question 5: Translate to French: 'She hates video games.' Answer: 'Elle déteste les jeux vidéo.' (détester + article + noun). Question 6: Write a sentence using préférer and two sports. Answer: 'Je préfère le basketball au volleyball parce que le basketball est plus rapide.' Question 7: Correct the error: 'Je joue à le cricket.' Answer: 'Je joue au cricket.' (à + le contracts to au). Question 8: Correct the error: 'Elle joue à la guitare.' Answer: 'Elle joue de la guitare.' (instruments use 'de', not 'à'). Question 9: Write a sentence using faire de and a hobby. Answer: 'Je fais du cyclisme le dimanche matin.' Question 10: Write three sentences describing your hobbies using aimer, jouer à, and faire de. Sample answer: 'J'aime le cricket. Je joue au cricket le samedi. Je fais aussi de la danse le vendredi soir.'