Using colloquial expressions and structures
In Unit 18, you learned to build sentences for formal and informal communication. You will now see some expressions called colloquialisms; these are only used in very informal communication. Although there are colloquialisms that are strictly limited to a certain area, this unit will introduce colloquialisms commonly used in all French-speaking regions.
Exclamatory expressions
Some exclamations beginning with qu’est-ce que and ce que (how) are used only in colloquial language. The speaker uses exclamations typical of informal conversational communication to emphasize admiration, praise, or just the opposite: contempt, disdain, scorn, dislike, and so on. Note the following constructions and how they are used:
In these idiomatic colloquial expressions, the expression ce que is used to introduce the action that is remarkable in its magnitude or frequency while the preposition comme is used to introduce the category in which magnitude or frequency occurs.
Complete the following sentences in French by translating the English in parentheses.
1. Quelles ________________________________! (Some habits he has!)
2. Qu’est-ce qu’il ________________________________! (What a home he bought!)
3. Qu’est-ce que tu ________________________________! (What crazy things you did!)
4. Ce qu’ils ________________________________! (They are so nice!)
5. Ce que ________________________________! (This is so easy!)
6. Qu’est-ce qu’elle ________________________________! (How beautiful she is!)
For each situation on the left, write the letter from the column on the right of your most likely reaction.
Short replies
The following expressions are short answers to yes or no questions or examples of simple replies to comments:
Circle one of the words or expressions from the choices in parentheses to complete Suzanne’s answer appropriately.
1. Tu aimes les examens?
Suzanne: (Pas grave / Du tout), Rémy!
2. Tu vas étudier pour l’examen de demain?
Suzanne:(Tu penses bien / Enfin)! Je veux réussir.
3. Moi, je crois que je vais échouer.
Suzanne: (Enfin / Mais enfin), Rémy!
4. Tu crois qu’il va être difficile, cet examen?
Suzanne: (C’est nul / Je parie que oui).
5. J’ai vraiment peur, Suzanne.
Suzanne: (Ça se voit. / Ça y est!), Rémy. Calme-toi!
6. Tu veux qu’on étudie ensemble?
Suzanne: (Mais évidemment / Vrai de vrai)!
Complete each sentence by filling in the blanks with the correct translations of the expressions in parentheses.
1. —Zut! J’ai brûlé le rôti! —__________________________________________, on peut commander
une pizza! (Not to worry)
2. —Je suis vraiment désolé! —__________________________________________! (Forget it)
3. —Tu veux sérieusement une pizza? —__________________________________________! (It’s true)
4. —On va en commander une à la nouvelle pizzeria? —__________________________________________! (That’s fine)
5. —Bon. Je téléphone tout de suite. —__________________________________________! (OK)
6. —Tu es vraiment gentil, tu sais! —__________________________________________! (Of course)
Short questions
The following expressions have an interrogative structure but are used to express surprise rather than to ask a real question:
Choose one of the words or expressions from the choices in parentheses to complete each of Joëlle’s answers to Eric appropriately.
1. Dis donc, Joëlle, j’ai vu Mireille tomber de son vélo.
Joëlle: (Quoi / Tu te paies ma tête)? Elle s’est fait mal?
2. Je crois qu’elle jouait à la malade.
Joëlle:(Comment ça / Sans blague)? Je ne comprends pas.
3. Tu sais, elle voulait probablement attirer notre attention.
Joëlle: (Et après / Qu’est-ce que tu racontes)?Mireille n’est pas comme ça, voyons!
4. Tu ne vois pas qu’elle est jalouse de sa sœur?
Joëlle: (Et alors / Tu dis)? Je ne vois pas ça du tout, Eric!
5. Ce matin, elle a mis le pull de Josie.
Joëlle: (Et après / Tu dis)? Ça se fait entre sœurs.
6. Tu es une vraie mère poule.
Joëlle: (C’est à dire / Tu te paies ma tête)? Explique un peu.
Using reflexive pronouns for emphasis
Reflexive pronouns are sometimes used even though they are not necessary to add emphasis to an action. This is a familiar form of speech. Consider the following examples:
In the following examples, note the use of être as an auxiliary verb when the reflexive pronoun is added. Also note that the past participles (mangé/trouvé) do not agree with the reflexive pronouns because the pronouns do not serve as direct object pronouns: We did not eat ourselves./You did not find yourselves.
Rewrite the following sentences replacing the italicized verbs with the reflexive pronoun structure used in familiar speech.
1. Les Dupuis ont acheté une ferme à la campagne.
2. M. Dupuis a choisi une vieille ferme pas très chère près de Paris.
3. Mme Dupuis a trouvé tout de suite de beaux géraniums.
4. Elle a déjà décoré toutes les fenêtres de sa ferme.
Using the impersonal pronoun on
Although the pronoun on is sometimes used in formal contexts where it is the English equivalent of one, it is most frequently used in informal French as a replacement for we, you, they, someone, everyone,or people.
Rewrite the following sentences in a more formal manner by replacing on with nous.
1. On va arroser les géraniums aujourd’hui.
2. On ira au village acheter des provisions.
3. Après le déjeuner, on va tailler les rosiers.
4. En fin d’après-midi, on fera une promenade à cheval.
5. On brossera les chevaux demain.
Adding a pronoun after a subject-noun
In familiar conversations, a subject-noun may be followed by a pronoun that is ordinarily unnecessary. Consider the following examples:
Rewrite the following sentences in a more formal manner by omitting unnecessary pronouns.
1. Les Dupuis, ils adorent l’équitation.
2. M. Dupuis, il monte vraiment bien à cheval.
3. Mme Dupuis, elle est encore débutante.
4. Leurs chevaux, ils sont doux.
Dropping parts of speech
Another colloquialism consists in dropping parts of speech such as ne in negative structures or il in impersonal expressions.
Dropping ne/n’ in negative structures
Since the adverbial part of the structure (pas, plus, jamais, rien, personne) is sufficient to convey a negative meaning, the ne part of the negative structure is frequently dropped in familiar communication.
Dropping the pronoun il in impersonal expressions
In impersonal expressions such as il y a (there is) and il faut(it is necessary), the subject cannot be anything other than il; this subject is therefore omitted in familiar communication.
Add the missing elements of speech to make the following familiar paragraph more formal.
M. Rateau (1) _______________________ va pas au bureau aujourd’hui. (2) ______________________________ y a une manifestation qui cause de gros bouchons au centre-ville. (3) _______________________ faudra attendre que ce soit terminé pour pouvoir circuler librement. (4) _______________________ suffit d’être patient et de suivre les nouvelles. Il (5) _______________________ a qu’à travailler un peu à la maison, c’est tout!