of the verb or noun that follows.
Exclamations and commands
151
combien + declarative sentence + !
exclamatory sentence
Combien j’aime ce pays!
How I love this country!
Combien j’ai attendu ce moment!
How I waited for this moment!
combien de + noun + !
exclamatory phrase
Combien de roses!
How many roses!
Combien de compliments!
How many compliments!
Combien d’argent il a hérité!
How much money he inherited!
que de + noun + !
exclamatory phrase
Que de cadeaux sous l’arbre de Noël!
How many gifts under the Christmas tree!
Que d’amour!
How much love!
que de + noun + declarative sentence + !
exclamatory sentence
Que de confettis on jette dans les rues!
How much confetti they throw into the streets!
Que de papier vous gaspillez!
How much paper you waste!
Que de sucreries
elle mange!
How many sweets she eats!
Exclamations with
quel
Exclamations can also be introduced by a form of the adjective quel (what). This exclamation
word underscores the quality, nature, or intensity of the noun or noun phrase it describes.
quel/quelle/quels/quelles + noun + !
exclamatory phrase
Quel conducteur!
What a driver!
Quels sportifs!
What athletes!
Quelles magnifiques couleurs!
What magnificent colors!
quel/quelle/quels/quelles + noun + !
exclamatory sentence
Quelle imagination elle a!
What imagination she has!
Quelle peur bleue j’ai eue hier soir!
What horrible fright I had last night!
Quelle force ils ont!
What strength they have!
These exclamations may have several meanings. For example, the exclamation Quelle voi-
ture! (
What a car!) could praise the size, value, performance, beauty, or other qualities of the car;
or the context may suggest the car is ugly, old, or otherwise despicable.
Quel costume!
What a cool (or awful) suit!
Quelle maison il a achetée!
What a great (or
horrible)
house he bought!
8·3
EXERCICE
Translate the following sentences into English.
1. Que de plaisirs on trouve dans la vie!
2. Combien de surprises elle nous réserve!
3. Quelle innocence on voit dans les enfants!
4. Combien nous sommes attachés à la vie!
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practice makes perfect Complete French All-in-One
5. Comme nous sommes heureux!
6. Quelle chance nous avons!
8·4
EXERCICE
Place the sentence fragments provided in the right order to create exclamatory sentences
about crazy drivers. Beware of capitalization and punctuation.
1. conduit vite / que / ce monsieur
2. il y a / accidents / combien d’ / sur les routes
3. dangereux / comme / les chauffards / sont
4. que d’ / sur la route / obstacles / il y a
5. les feux rouges / fous / combien de / brûlent
Interjections and exclamatory sentences
Interjections are words or phrases used in an exclamation to add emotion. These utterances fre-
quently appear in or with exclamatory sentences to express a reaction to what we perceive around
us. Interjections end in an exclamation mark.
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