que (exclamatif)
What a... with Que
The exclamative que is used to say 'How...!' or 'So...!' in French. It intensifies an adjective or adverb to show surprise, admiration, or frustration.
How It Works
The exclamative que functions as an intensifying adverb. It is used to express a subjective emotional peak.
1. Syntax and Word Order
The most important rule is that the word order remains declarative. You do not move the adjective or invert the subject and verb.
- Que tu es grand ! (How tall you are!)
2. Elision
Just like the relative pronoun or the conjunction, que becomes qu' before a vowel or a mute 'h'.
- Qu'il est drôle ! (How funny he is!)
3. Register and Usage
While que is often considered more formal or literary than comme, the specific construction Que c'est... is extremely common in everyday spoken French to comment on a situation. In very casual speech, qu'est-ce que (e.g., Qu'est-ce que c'est beau !) is the most common form.
- Que c'est dommage ! (What a pity!)
4. What it intensifies
It can intensify adjectives, adverbs, or even entire verb actions.
- Adjective: Que c'est beau !
- Adverb: Qu'il court vite !
- Verb: Que j'ai faim ! (I'm so hungry!)
5. Expressing Quantity with 'Que de'
When followed by de and a noun, que expresses a high quantity or number, similar to 'so much' or 'so many'.
- Que de monde ! (So many people!)
- Que de patience il faut ! (So much patience is needed!)
Examples (6)
- Que tu es gentil !
How kind you are!
Word by Word: That you are kind!
Here, 'que' intensifies the adjective 'gentil'. Note that the word order is exactly the same as a normal statement (Tu es gentil).
- Qu'elle chante bien !
How well she sings!
Word by Word: That she sings well!
In this case, 'que' intensifies the adverb 'bien'. 'Que' undergoes elision to 'qu'' before 'elle'.
- Que c'est triste !
How sad it is!
Word by Word: That it is sad!
This is a very common everyday expression using 'c'est' to comment on a situation.
- Que de monde !
So many people!
Word by Word: That of world!
When followed by 'de' and a noun, 'que' expresses a large quantity, similar to 'so much' or 'so many'.
- Que vous avez grandi !
How you have grown!
Word by Word: That you have grown!
'Que' can also be used with a verb in a compound tense to express surprise at an action.
- Qu'il fait chaud aujourd'hui !
How hot it is today!
Word by Word: That it makes hot today!
Used with weather expressions to emphasize the intensity of the temperature.
Common Mistakes
Using 'que' directly before an adjective without a verb.
Que beau !Que c'est beau !In French, 'que' must be followed by a full clause (subject + verb). You cannot say 'Que [adjective]' like you might in Spanish or English.
Using 'comment' for exclamations.
Comment c'est grand !Que c'est grand !Learners often use 'comment' because it means 'how' in questions, but 'comment' is only for the manner of an action, not for intensification.
Inverting the subject and verb.
Que c'est-il beau !Qu'il est beau !Exclamative sentences do not use inversion. They follow the standard subject-verb order.
How It Connects
Learn This First
To understand 'Exclamative que', learners must first be comfortable with the particle 'que' in its basic interrogative or relative forms. They also need to understand how to form basic descriptive sentences using 'c'est' and adjectives, as this pattern typically intensifies a standard descriptive statement.
- que / quoiWhat with Que and Quoi
The learner needs to be familiar with 'que' as a functional particle used to introduce clauses or questions before learning its use as an exclamative intensifier.
Level 1 - c'est / il est / elle estIdentifying with C'est Versus Describing with Il/elle Est
Exclamative 'que' is frequently used with 'c'est' (e.g., 'Que c'est beau !') to describe a state or quality.
Level 1
Related Patterns
- comme (exclamatif)How... with Comme
A more neutral/informal alternative to 'que' for making exclamations.
Level 3 - quel (exclamatif)What a... with Quel
Used to make exclamations specifically with a noun (e.g., 'Quel film !') rather than a full clause.
Level 3 - Dropping a vowel before another vowel
Explains why 'que' becomes 'qu'' before words starting with a vowel or mute 'h'.
Level 1 - commentHow with Comment
The question word for 'how', which should not be confused with the exclamative 'que'.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice que (exclamatif) in Bubblegum
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