Key points about the advantages and disadvantages of celebrity culture
Use impersonal verbs to describe the advantages and disadvantages of celebrity culture.
Two of the most common impersonal verbs are il faut, meaning 'it's necessary to', and il y a, 'there is' or 'there are'.
This guide contains two reading activities.
Vocabulary – The advantages of being famous
| French | English |
|---|---|
| gagner beaucoup d’argent | earn a lot of money |
| créer une carrière intéressante | create an interesting career |
| avoir de l’influence culturelle | have some cultural influence |
| apprendre de nouvelles compétences | learn new skills |
| aller à des fêtes extraordinaires | go to extraordinary parties |
| acheter une belle maison et beaucoup de voitures | buy a beautiful house and lots of cars |
| voyager ou vivre à l’étranger | travel or live abroad |
For example:
L’avantage de la célébrité, c’est qu’on peut gagner beaucoup d’argent et devenir riche. - The advantage of celebrity is that you can earn a lot of money and become rich.
Je veux suivre ma passion et réaliser mon rêve d’être célèbre. - I want to follow my passion and achieve my dream of being famous.
How being a celebrity can positively impact different relationships or be used to benefit others:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| inspirer les autres | inspire others |
| être un bon exemple pour les jeunes | be a good example for young people |
| se faire des amis célèbres | make famous friends |
| aider sa famille et ses copains | help one’s family and friends |
| rencontrer ses stars préférées | meet one’s favourite stars |
| recevoir des message positifs de ses fans | get positive messages from one’s fan |
| faire du travail bénévole | do voluntary work |
Grammar – Impersonal verbs
Some verbs in French are always used in the third person. This means they always start with il as they are impersonal. In other words, they are general statements not related to any particular person. They are set phrases. This means the subject pronoun they start with never changes and they are only ever conjugated in the third person.
For example:
Il faut poster une photo. - It’s necessary to post a photo.
Il y a beaucoup de problèmes. – There are lots of problems.
Using il y a in different tenses
The impersonal phrase il y a is useful to know in different time frames.
| Time frame | Expression | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Present | il y a there is/are | l y a beaucoup d’influenceurs en ligne. - There are a lot of influencers online. |
| Past | il y avait there used to be / there was / there were | Dans le passé, il y avait plus de grandes stars du cinéma. - In the past there were more big film stars. |
| Future | il y aura there will be | Il y aura toujours des commentaires négatifs. - There will always be negative remarks. |
Impersonal verbs – Mini quiz
Translate the following sentences into English
Il faut avoir un peu de chance.
It’s necessary to have a bit of luck
Il y aura des personnes célèbres à cet événement.
There will be famous people at this event.
Hier, il y avait un concours pour les chanteurs.
Yesterday, there was a competition for singers.
To find more about using impersonal verbs in the Impersonal verbs and expressions in French guide
Reading practice
Read the text about why Jules and their friend, Alex, like watching reality TV. Answer the questions in English.
La téle-réalité, c’est un moyen de devenir célèbre très facilement. Quand je regarde ces émissions, je peux oublier ma vie quotidienne. Je trouve les personnes qui y participent plutôt drôles.
Mon copain, Alex, veut toujours comparer leurs vêtements. Il a noté que des célébrités peuvent gagner de l’argent en lançant leur propre marque de mode.
Après avoir fini chaque épisode, nous devons discuter les avantages et les inconvénients de tous les couples pendant des heures. C’est fou!
- Why does Jules watch reality TV?
To forget everyday life.
The text says - Quand je regarde ces émissions, je peux oublier ma vie quotidienne. - When I watch reality TV, I can forget my daily life.
- What does Jules think about the contestants?
Jules thinks that the contestants are (rather) funny.
The text says - Je trouve les personnes qui y participent plutôt drôles. - I find the people who take part in them rather funny.
- What does Alex want to do?
Alex wants to compare the contestants' clothes.
The text says - Mon copain, Alex, veut toujours comparer leurs vêtements. - My friend, Alex, always wants to compare their clothes.
- What do Jules and Alex do after every episode?
They discuss the pros and cons of each couple for hours.
The text says - Après avoir fini chaque épisode, nous devons discuter les avantages et les inconvénients de tous les couples pendant des heures. - After having finished each episode, we have to discuss the pros and cons of all the couple for hours.
Click or tap on Show more to read a translation.
Reality TV is a really easy way of becoming famous. When I watch reality TV, I can forget my daily life. I find the people who take part in them rather funny. My friend, Alex, always wants to compare their clothes. He has noticed that celebrities can earn money by launching their own fashion brand. After having finished each episode, we have to discuss the pros and cons of all the couple for hours. It’s crazy.
Vocabulary – The disadvantages of being famous
Useful phrases to describe the disadvantages of becoming famous include:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Il y aura des photos de toi dans les journaux. | There will be photos of you in the papers. |
| On est toujours le centre d’attention. | You are always the centre of attention. |
| On peut avoir des problèmes avec les médias. | You can have problems with the media. |
| Il faut vivre sa vie personnelle en public. | You have to live your personal life in public. |
| Il ya des commentaires méchants ou des menaces en ligne. | There are nasty comments or threats online. |
| Il faut poster quelque chose tous les jours | You have to post something every day. |
| On n’est jamais seule. | You are never alone. |
For example:
L’inconvénient de la célébrité, c’est qu’on n’est jamais seul. - The disadvantage of celebrity is that you are never alone.
Je ne voudrais pas être célèbre car je déteste être le centre d’attention. - I wouldn’t like to be famous because I hate being the centre of attention.
All Foundation Tier vocabulary listed in this guide can be found on the vocabulary sheet below.
Reading Practice
Read this online article and complete the sentences below in English.
J’ai écrit et enregistré une chanson originale quand j’avais seize ans. Ma sœur a posté la vidéo sur l’internet, sans trop y penser.
J’ai immédiatement eu beaucoup d’attention sur les réseaux sociaux car une influenceuse a aimé le clip et l’a partagé avec ses fans.
Il y avait beaucoup de réponses positives mais il était impossible d’oublier les commentaires méchants. Ensuite, les gens que je connaissais même pas ont commencé de m’harceler* en ligne.
Du jour au lendemain, ma vie a complètement changé. J’ai gagné de l’argent mais j’ai perdu ma liberté et ma paix. Il ne faut pas croire que la richesse* signifie bonheur. Heureusement, ma célébrité n’a pas duré trop longtemps.
*harceler - to bully
**paix - peace
***richesse - wealth
- When he was sixteen, Hakim …
When he was sixteen, Hakim wrote and recorded an original song.
- His sister…
His sister posted it on the Internet, without thinking too much about it
- The video was successful on social media because …
The video was successful on social media because an influencer liked the clip and shared it with her fans.
- Hakim found it impossible to…
Hakim found it impossible to forget the nasty comments.
- People he didn’t know…
People he didn’t know started bullying him online.
- From one day to the next, his life…
From one day to the next, his life completely changed.
- He earned some money but lost his freedom and his peace.
He earned some money but lost his freedom and his peace.
- Luckily…
Luckily, his fame didn’t last too long.
Click or tap on Show more to read a translation.
I wrote and recorded an original song when I was sixteen years old. My sister posted the video online without really thinking about it too much.
I immediately had a lot of attention on social media because an influencer liked the clip and shared it with her fans.
There were lots of positive responses but it was impossible to forget the nasty comments.
Next, people I didn’t even know started to bully me online. From one day to the next, my life completely changed.
I earned some money but I lost my freedom and my peace. You mustn’t believe that wealth means happiness. Luckily, my fame did not last too long.
Vocabulary Sheet
Click or tap on the image below for a list of useful vocabulary to use when describing the advantages and disadvantages of celebrity culture.
Higher Tier – Vocabulary – Celebrity culture
Advantages of celebrity culture include:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| suivre sa passion | follow one’s passion |
| réaliser son rêve | achieve one’s dreams |
| recevoir des vêtements de marque ou des produits gratuit | receive free designer clothes or products |
| avoir une bonne relation avec son public | have a good relationship with one’s public |
| se faire des amis célèbres | make famous friends |
| encourager la diversité et l’égalité | encourage diversity and equality |
Disadvantages of celebrity culture include:
| French | English |
|---|---|
| Il faut gérer son image | You have to manage your image. |
| Il est difficile de faire confiance aux gens. | It is difficult to trust people. |
| On peut être victime de scandale. | You can be a victim of scandals. |
All vocabulary listed in this guide can be found on the vocabulary sheet below.
Higher Tier – Grammar – Impersonal verbs
Other useful verb phrases
Il vaut mieux followed by the infinitive - It is better to…
il vaut la peine de followed by the infinitive - It is worth…
For example:
Il vaut mieux suivre sa passion - It is better to follow your passion.
Il vaut la peine de suivre cette personne. - It is worth following this person.
Impersonal verb phrases with adjectives and the infinitive
Some impersonal verbs with adjectives are also used with the infinitive.
For example:
Il est difficile de followed by the infinitive - It is/it’s difficult to…
Il est possible de followed by the infinitive - It is/it’s possible to…
Il est important de followed by the infinitive - It is/it’s important to…
For example:
Il est difficile de devenir connu dans le monde entier. - It is difficult to become known all around the world.
Il est possible d’avoir une carrière passionnante. - It is possible to have an exciting career.
Il est important de garder ses vieux amis. - It’s important to keep your old friends
Higher Tier - Vocabulary sheet
Click or tap on the image below for a list of Higher Tier useful vocabulary to use when talking about the advantages and disadvantages of celebrity culture.
Now you have practiced the key vocabulary and grammar needed for talking about the advantages and disadvantages of celebrityculture, why not have a look at the Describing celebrities guide?
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