French Phrase
On a une assemblée avant le premier cours.
Meaning
The sentence tells the listener that there will be a gathering (an assembly) before the first lesson of the day or before the first class of the term. It is a typical way to announce a schedule change in a school or training setting.
When to use
Use this phrase when you need to inform classmates, colleagues, or parents that an assembly is scheduled prior to the first class, such as at the start of a school year, a training program, or a special event.
✦Grammar Breakdown
Onauneassembléeavantlepremiercours
On (impersonal pronoun)
‘On’ is an indefinite pronoun that can mean ‘we’, ‘people’, or ‘one’ in everyday French, and it takes a third‑person singular verb.
a (avoir, present)
The verb ‘avoir’ conjugated for ‘on’ is ‘a’, meaning ‘has’ or ‘there is/are’.
une assemblée (feminine noun)
‘Assemblée’ is a feminine noun; therefore the indefinite article is ‘une’ and adjectives agree in gender.
avant (preposition)
‘Avant’ means ‘before’ and is followed by a noun phrase without a preposition.
le premier cours (ordinal + noun)
‘Premier’ is the masculine singular form of the ordinal adjective ‘first’, matching the masculine noun ‘cours’.
🗨In Conversation
On a une assemblée avant le premier cours.
We have an assembly before the first class.
D'accord, je serai là à 8h30.
Okay, I’ll be there at 8:30.
✕Common Mistakes
On a un assemblée avant le premier cours.
‘Assemblée’ is feminine, so the article must be ‘une’, not ‘un’.
On a une assemblée avant le première cours.
‘Cours’ is masculine; the ordinal must agree: ‘premier’, not ‘première’.
On ont une assemblée avant le premier cours.
With the pronoun ‘on’, the verb is singular ‘a’, not the plural ‘ont’.
↔Alternatives
Nous avons une réunion avant le premier cours.
We have a meeting before the first class.
Il y a une assemblée avant le premier cours.
There is an assembly before the first class.
Une assemblée est prévue avant le premier cours.
An assembly is scheduled before the first class.
Cultural Tip
In French schools, especially at the beginning of the academic year, it is common to hold a brief ‘assemblée’ where the principal welcomes students, presents the agenda, and shares important announcements. The tone is usually formal but friendly, and attendance is expected. Outside of school, ‘assemblée’ can also refer to a meeting of a committee or a civic gathering.