Gap-fill
French argument gap-fill: agreeing with the idea but not the example
Practise a French response that accepts an argument’s general idea but questions its example, with ten precisely cued gaps and a better illustration.
- B1
- 10 gaps
- Translation included
- Learn this in the B1 notebook →
In short
Separate the idée générale from the exemple choisi. Je partage cette idée, mais cet exemple ne me paraît pas convaincant accepts the principle while challenging its support. Then explain the mismatch and offer a more relevant illustration.
Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn
Suppose a contributor argues that a shared library should help neighbours meet. Their only example is a locked cupboard in a private office, accessible to one employee. You can support the social aim and still question whether that example demonstrates it. The correction targets the link between claim and evidence, not the contributor personally.
Complete the response using each precise cue
Je suis (d’ + accord) avec l’idée générale : une bibliothèque partagée peut créer des rencontres. (connector: Cependant), l’exemple du placard fermé me paraît mal choisi.
(connector: En effet), une seule personne peut y prendre des livres. Cet exemple ne montre donc pas comment plusieurs voisins se rencontrent. Il est vrai que ce placard (contenir, prés. ind., il) des ouvrages ; il n’est pas sûr qu’il (favoriser, prés. subj., il) les échanges.
Je ne remets pas en (remettre en…) le projet lui-même. Je distingue son objectif de l’illustration proposée. (connector: Autrement dit), je partage le principe, mais je demande un exemple plus pertinent.
(connector: Par exemple), on pourrait décrire une permanence où chacun vient choisir un livre et discuter. Même si cette solution (demander, prés. ind., il) une organisation, elle montrerait mieux les rencontres possibles. (closing: Pour conclure), gardons l’idée et changeons l’exemple.
Read it in English
I agree with the general idea: a shared library can create encounters. However, the example of the locked cupboard seems poorly chosen.
Indeed, only one person can take books from it. The example therefore does not show how several neighbours meet. It is true that the cupboard contains books; it is not certain that it encourages exchanges.
I am not questioning the project itself. I distinguish its aim from the proposed illustration. In other words, I share the principle but ask for a more relevant example.
For example, we could describe a staffed session where everyone comes to choose a book and talk. Even if this solution requires organisation, it would better show the possible encounters. To conclude, let us keep the idea and change the example.
Explain the mismatch
The weak example contains books, so it illustrates storage. It does not illustrate meetings between neighbours because access is limited to one employee. The better example changes exactly that missing feature: several people can attend and talk. Naming this relation makes the criticism useful instead of merely calling the example bad.
Keep the connector and verb choice together
Il est vrai que presents the cupboard’s contents as a fact and takes the indicative contient. Il n’est pas sûr que introduces uncertainty and takes the subjunctive favorise. Même si is followed here by the indicative demande. The surface forms favorise and demande do not reveal their moods on their own; the construction supplies the analysis.
Je partage votre objectif ; c’est le lien avec cet exemple que je trouve peu clair.
I share your aim; it is the connection with this example that I find unclear.
Several connectors could express similar relations in a free response. The cues specify the exact expressions for this gap-fill so you can practise the construction without guessing an author’s preferred synonym. In your own writing, choose the connector that names the relation you actually intend.