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French collocation quiz: natural adjective and noun combinations

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Choose twelve established French adjective–noun pairings for formal writing, from une étroite collaboration to une preuve irréfutable.

In short

French collocations are words that regularly go together: une étroite collaboration, un échec cuisant, une preuve irréfutable. Choose the pairing that carries the intended meaning in standard formal French, even when the equivalent English adjective points elsewhere.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn

Two colleagues cooperating closely to assemble a small wooden model at a table.
A shared task illustrates une étroite collaboration. Illustration: Atelier

une lourde responsabilitéa heavy responsibility

Focus: weight as a burden

Cette décision représente une lourde responsabilité.
This decision carries a heavy responsibility.

une vive inquiétudedeep concern

Focus: strength of feeling

Ce retard suscite une vive inquiétude.
This delay causes deep concern.

un débat houleuxa heated debate

Focus: a tense, stormy exchange

La proposition a donné lieu à un débat houleux.
The proposal led to a heated debate.

Several French adjectives can describe the same noun. These questions give an English meaning and three choices: select the established pairing among those choices. A collocation is a useful phrase, not a ban on every other adjective.

  1. Question 1No account needed
    Express “close collaboration”.Ce projet repose sur une ___ collaboration entre les équipes.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    étroite. Une étroite collaboration is the established phrase for close cooperation. The adjective describes how closely the teams work together.

  2. Question 2No account needed
    Express “a firm conviction”.Elle défend cette réforme avec une ___ conviction.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    ferme. Une ferme conviction expresses a strongly held belief. The French adjective is ferme, rather than the literal physical hardness of dur.

  3. Question 3No account needed
    Express “a crushing failure”.Malgré les moyens engagés, la campagne s’est soldée par un échec ___.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    cuisant. Un échec cuisant is an established phrase for a painful, striking failure. Cuisant is figurative here.

  4. Question 4No account needed
    Express “broad consensus”.La proposition fait l’objet d’un ___ consensus.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    large. Un large consensus means broad agreement among the people involved. Spacieux normally describes physical space.

  5. Question 5No account needed
    Express “a serious error” in a formal assessment.Le rapport signale une ___ erreur de calcul.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    grave. Une grave erreur evaluates the seriousness of a mistake. Sévère naturally describes a judgement or a sanction in other contexts.

  6. Question 6No account needed
    Express “a scathing criticism”.L’éditorial contient une critique ___ de cette décision.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    acerbe. Une critique acerbe is a biting or scathing criticism. Pointilleuse would suggest attention to fussy details, a different meaning.

  7. Question 7No account needed
    Express “irrefutable evidence”.Cette pièce constitue une preuve ___.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    irréfutable. Une preuve irréfutable is evidence that cannot be refuted. Incassable concerns something that cannot be broken physically.

  8. Question 8No account needed
    Express “a categorical denial”.La direction a publié un démenti ___.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    formel. Un démenti formel is a clear, categorical denial. Here formel concerns firmness, rather than a form to complete.

  9. Question 9No account needed
    Express “a heated debate”.La séance s’est achevée sur un débat ___.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    houleux. Un débat houleux describes a stormy, tense exchange. The temperature adjectives do not express this established formal pairing.

  10. Question 10No account needed
    Express “a manageable workload”.Avec deux personnes supplémentaires, la charge de travail reste ___.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    tenable. Une charge de travail tenable is a workload people can sustain. The physical transport adjectives misread the metaphorical noun.

  11. Question 11No account needed
    Express “strong reservations”.Le comité a émis de ___ réserves sur le calendrier.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    sérieuses. De sérieuses réserves expresses substantial doubts or objections. Émettre des réserves is also a useful formal verb–noun pairing.

  12. Question 12No account needed
    Express “a reasonable deadline”.Nous demandons un délai ___ pour examiner le dossier.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    raisonnable. Un délai raisonnable allows a sensible amount of time. Raisonneur describes someone inclined to argue; it does not qualify a deadline.

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