What DELF A2 Vocabulary and Grammar Looks Like
DELF A2 builds on A1 by adding past tense narration, wider thematic vocabulary, and more complex sentence structures. This guide covers the DELF A2 vocabulary and grammar you need across all four sections. By exam day, you should be able to describe past events, express preferences, make plans, and write short emails using correct grammar.
A2 expects approximately 500 to 800 active words and command of key tenses: present, passe compose, and introductory imparfait. Grammar accuracy contributes to your score in both writing and speaking sections.
Essential Grammar Structures for DELF A2
| Grammar Point | Example | Common Error |
|---|---|---|
| Passe compose (avoir) | J ai mange au restaurant | Wrong past participle agreement |
| Passe compose (etre) | Je suis alle(e) a Paris | Using avoir instead of etre with movement verbs |
| Negation (ne…pas/plus/jamais) | Je ne fume plus | Forgetting the ne in writing |
| Possessive adjectives | mon livre, ta soeur, ses amis | Confusing son/sa/ses with gender of owner vs object |
| Demonstrative adjectives | ce livre, cette femme, ces enfants | Mixing up ce/cet/cette |
| Near future (futur proche) | Je vais voyager demain | Using aller without infinitive |
| Basic imparfait | Quand j etais petit… | Overusing passe compose for descriptions |
These grammar points appear in every A2 exam session. Make sure each one is solid before test day:
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Thematic Vocabulary for DELF A2
A2 listening and reading tasks draw from these everyday themes. Build your vocabulary around them:
- Daily routine and household: faire le menage (do housework), faire les courses (go shopping), preparer le repas (prepare a meal), ranger la chambre (tidy the room)
- Health and body: avoir mal a la tete (have a headache), aller chez le medecin (go to the doctor), la pharmacie, un medicament (medicine), la fievre (fever)
- Travel and accommodation: reserver une chambre (book a room), l hotel, l auberge de jeunesse (youth hostel), la valise (suitcase), le billet (ticket), le passeport
- Weather: il fait beau (it is nice), il pleut (it is raining), il fait froid/chaud (it is cold/hot), la neige (snow), le soleil (sun)
- Work and studies: un emploi (a job), un stage (an internship), un cours (a class), un examen, le bureau (office), le collegue (colleague)
Connectors and Linking Words
| Connector | English | Use |
|---|---|---|
| parce que | because | Giving reasons |
| mais | but | Contrasting ideas |
| alors / donc | so / therefore | Showing consequences |
| aussi | also | Adding information |
| d abord / ensuite / enfin | first / then / finally | Sequencing events |
| par exemple | for example | Illustrating a point |
Using connectors raises your writing and speaking scores because they show you can structure ideas beyond simple sentences:
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Verbs You Must Know for DELF A2
Beyond the basic A1 verbs, A2 adds these high-frequency verbs that appear in exam tasks:
- Communication: ecrire (write), lire (read), envoyer (send), recevoir (receive), appeler (call), repondre (answer)
- Movement: partir (leave), arriver (arrive), monter (go up), descendre (go down), rentrer (return home), sortir (go out)
- Daily actions: acheter (buy), vendre (sell), payer (pay), essayer (try), choisir (choose), attendre (wait)
- Opinions and feelings: aimer (like/love), preferer (prefer), detester (hate), croire (believe), esperer (hope)
How to Study DELF A2 Vocabulary and Grammar Effectively
Combine memorisation with active use. Learn vocabulary in context by reading short French texts and highlighting new words. For grammar, complete exercises that require producing sentences, not just identifying correct forms. Write a short diary entry in French each day to practise both vocabulary and grammar in a realistic context.
- Use spaced repetition for vocabulary (review at increasing intervals)
- Practise passe compose and imparfait by narrating your day in French
- Test yourself with A2-format exercises weekly to track progress
- Focus on the 20 most common irregular verbs before expanding to rarer ones
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Frequently Asked Questions
How many words should I know for DELF A2?
DELF A2 expects approximately 500 to 800 actively known words. This includes all A1 vocabulary plus expanded themes like health, travel, weather, and work. Focus on words that appear in everyday situations, as A2 tests practical communication rather than academic vocabulary.
Do I need to know the imparfait for DELF A2?
Basic imparfait is expected at A2, particularly for descriptions (il faisait beau, j etais content) and habitual past actions (quand j etais petit, je jouais). You do not need full mastery of imparfait versus passe compose contrasts, but you should be able to use simple imparfait forms.
What grammar mistakes lose the most marks at DELF A2?
The costliest grammar mistakes at A2 are using avoir instead of etre in passe compose with movement verbs, incorrect gender agreement with articles and adjectives, and missing negation particles. These errors recur throughout writing and speaking and accumulate into significant mark deductions.
Should I study grammar or vocabulary first for DELF A2?
Study both simultaneously. Grammar without vocabulary leaves you unable to form meaningful sentences. Vocabulary without grammar produces incomprehensible output. Dedicate half your study time to each, and practise them together by writing sentences that use new words in grammatically correct structures.
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