Exclamatory sentences express strong feelings, surprise, or emphasis in French. They often begin with que or use specific exclamatory words and are usually followed by an exclamation mark (!).
French Constructions
Using "Que" + [Clause]
- Que means "how" or "what" and introduces a clause that expresses a feeling.
- The verb usually comes immediately after que.
| French Singular Example | English Singular Example | French Plural Example | English Plural Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Que c’est beau ! | How beautiful it is! | Que vous êtes gentils ! | How kind you all are! |
Using "Quel/Quelle/Quels/Quelles" + [Noun]
- These mean "what a" and must agree in gender and number with the noun.
- They are followed by a noun and an adjective or simply a noun.
| French Singular Example | English Singular Example | French Plural Example | English Plural Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quel spectacle ! | What a show! | Quelles idées incroyables ! | What incredible ideas! |
Exclamatory Adverbs
- Comme, Combien, and À quel point are used to emphasize adjectives or verbs.
- They often appear at the beginning of the sentence.
| French Example | English Example |
|---|---|
| Comme il est grand ! | How tall he is! |
| Combien elle travaille ! | How much she works! |
| À quel point c’est important ! | How important it is! |
How do you say 'How tall he is!' using an exclamatory adverb?
Comme il est grand !
'Comme' is the correct adverb for emphasizing the adjective 'grand' here.
Intonation and Punctuation
- In spoken French, exclamatory meaning can come from tone of voice.
- In writing, exclamation marks () are essential.
- Sometimes, just using a strong adjective or adverb with an exclamation mark is enough.
| French Example | English Example |
|---|---|
| Super ! | Great! |
| Génial ! | Awesome! |
Can a single adjective or adverb followed by an exclamation mark form a complete exclamatory sentence in French?
Yes
Short exclamations like 'Super !' or 'Génial !' are complete and common in French.
Common French Exclamatory Words
| French Word | Meaning | Usage Example | English Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Que | How/What (introduces a clause) | Que c’est beau ! | How beautiful it is! |
| Quel/Quelle/Quels/Quelles | What a (with noun) | Quelle surprise ! | What a surprise! |
| Comme | How (emphasizing adjective/verb) | Comme il est gentil ! | How kind he is! |
| Combien | How much/many | Combien ça coûte ! | How much does it cost! |
| À quel point | How much/How deeply | À quel point je t’aime ! | How much I love you! |
Summary
- Exclamatory sentences express strong feelings or surprise.
- Use que + clause, quel/quelle/quiz/quelles + noun, or adverbs like comme and combien.
- End with ! and use tone for spoken emphasis.
How can you convey exclamation in spoken French without changing the sentence structure?
through intonation (tone of voice)
Tone of voice alone can make a sentence exclamatory in speech.
Flashcards (1 of 12)
- English Singular Example: How beautiful it is!
- English Plural Example: How kind you all are!
Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025
