Exclamations

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Les exclamations

An exclamation is any word or phrase that expresses a strong emotion or feeling. The meaning behind the exclamation may be positive or negative, but either way it’s usually

• Spoken suddenly and loudly
• Written with an exclamation point (un point d’exclamation)

Exclamative Adjective

In addition to being an interrogative adjective, quel (and its agreeable feminine/plural forms) is an exclamative adjective, used to emphasize a noun.

Par exemple…

Quelle catastrophe !	What a catastrophe!
Quels bons enfants !	What good children!
Quel courage tu as eu !	What courage you had!

Exclamative Adverbs

An exclamative adverb is a word or phrase that expresses a strong feeling about the clause it precedes.

Par exemple…

Combien il a grandi !		He’s grown so much!
Comme tu es belle !		You’re so beautiful!
Qu’ils sont gentils !		They are so kind!

Exclamative Conjunctions

The exclamative conjunctions mais and que reinforce a response (yes/no), phrase, or statement.

Par exemple…

Mais c’est bizarre !		That’s so crazy!
Que non !		Absolutely not!

Imperative Mood

The imperative is the verb mood used for telling people what to do.

Par exemple…

Arrêtez !		Stop!
Fais tes devoirs !		Do your homework!

 Note that not all uses of the imperative are necessarily exclamations – sometimes the imperative just makes a request or recommendation. See the lesson for details.

Indirect Commands

Since there’s no imperative for the third person, que + subjunctive is used for indirect commands and wishes.

Par exemple…

Qu’elle arrive saine et sauve !		May she arrive safe and sound!
Qu’ils se taisent !		I wish they’d shut up!

Interjections

Pretty much any word or phrase can be used as an exclamation if spoken emphatically or written with an exclamation point.

Par exemple…

Ouaou !		Wow!
C’est pas vrai !		No way!
Quoi ! Je ne te crois pas !		What! I don’t believe you!

 Related lessons

• Parts of speech
• Verb moods

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