A comprehensive guide to forming and understanding exclamatory sentences in French, including sentence structures, common expressions, and usage tips.

Exclamatory sentences express strong emotions such as surprise, joy, anger, or admiration. In French, these sentences can be formed using various structures and expressions to convey intensity and feeling.

Forms of Exclamatory Sentences in French

French uses several grammatical structures to create exclamations. Here are the most common forms:

. Using Que / Quel / Quelle

Que + subject + verb... (How…!)
Quel + noun (masc. sing.)... (What a…!)
Quelle + noun (fem. sing.)... (What a…!)

Examples:

Que c’est beau ! (How beautiful it is!)
Quel dommage ! (What a pity!)
Quelle surprise ! (What a surprise!)

. Using C’est + adjective + de + infinitive

C’est + adjective + de + infinitive…

Examples:

C’est incroyable de voir ça ! (It’s incredible to see that!)
C’est gentil de ta part ! (It’s kind of you!)
C’est facile de comprendre. (It’s easy to understand.)

. Using the Interjection “Comme”

Comme + subject + verb… (How…!)

Examples:

Comme il est grand ! (How tall he is!)
Comme elle chante bien ! (How well she sings!)
Comme c’est triste ! (How sad it is!)

. Using an Exclamation Point with an Imperative or Statement

A simple sentence or command can become exclamatory with an exclamation mark.

Examples:

Mangez ! (Eat!)
Attention ! (Watch out!)
Ça suffit ! (That’s enough!)

Common Exclamatory Expressions in French

French has many set phrases to express emotions. Here are some frequently used exclamations:

Oh là là ! — Oh dear! / Wow!
Bravo ! — Well done!
Zut ! — Darn!
Hélas ! — Alas!
Vivement… ! — Can’t wait for…!

Examples:

Oh là là, ce gâteau est délicieux ! (Wow, this cake is delicious!)
Bravo pour ton examen ! (Well done on your exam!)
Zut, j’ai oublié mes clés ! (Darn, I forgot my keys!)
Hélas, il a plu toute la journée. (Alas, it rained all day.)
Vivement les vacances ! (Can’t wait for the holidays!)

Expressing Intensity with “Que” + Adverb / Adjective

To intensify an exclamation, use que + an adjective or adverb:

Que + adjective/adverb + subject + verb…!

Examples:

Que c’est rapide ! (How fast it is!)
Que tu es drôle ! (How funny you are!)
Que nous sommes chanceux ! (How lucky we are!)

How do you increase the intensity of a French exclamation using “que”?

Use que at the end of the sentence

Use que + an adjective or adverb before the subject and verb

Use que + a noun

Use que + infinitive

Use que + an adjective or adverb before the subject and verb

To intensify an exclamation, French places que + an adjective or adverb at the beginning of the sentence, e.g., “Que c’est rapide !” (How fast it is!). This structure adds emotional weight.

Tips for Using Exclamatory Sentences in French

Match adjectives to nouns in gender and number: Quel temps ! (masc. sing.), Quelle idée ! (fem. sing.)
Use intonation in speech: The exclamation mark shows strong feeling, but tone of voice is key.
Be mindful of formality: Some expressions (e.g., Oh là là, Zut) are informal.
Context matters: Exclamations often respond to situations or express immediate reactions.

Which of these statements about formality is TRUE regarding French exclamations?

All exclamations are formal

Some expressions like “Oh là là” and “Zut” are informal

Exclamations are never used in formal writing

Formal French avoids exclamation marks

Some expressions like “Oh là là” and “Zut” are informal

Certain exclamatory expressions such as “Oh là là” and “Zut” are considered informal and are more common in spoken or casual French. However, exclamation marks and other forms can appear in formal contexts as well.

Summary

French exclamatory sentences can be formed using:

Que / Quel / Quelle + noun or clause
C’est + adjective + de + infinitive
Comme + subject + verb
Simple sentences or imperatives with an exclamation mark
Common interjections and set phrases

These structures allow you to express a wide range of emotions naturally and vividly.

Next Up: Negations

Last updated: Thu Jun 12, 2025