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French instruction verbs: décrire, expliquer, comparer, justifier

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

See what four French task verbs ask you to produce. Use a printable sheet, matched examples and four questions to move from instruction to answer.

In short

Décrire gives features; expliquer makes a reason or process clear; comparer relates two things; justifier supports a choice with reasons. Read the words after the verb too: they tell you exactly what to describe, explain, compare or support.

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A learner considers two course folders at a library table.
Comparer asks you to relate two options. Illustration: Atelier

Quatre verbes de consigne

1 · Décrire — give relevant features

Answer “What is it like?” Select details that let the reader understand the thing or situation.

Décrivez le cours.Describe the course.

Le cours se déroule en ligne, en petit groupe. Chaque séance dure une heure.The course takes place online, in a small group. Each session lasts an hour.

2 · Expliquer — make the relationship clear

With pourquoi, give a cause or reason. With comment, show how something works.

Expliquez pourquoi cet horaire vous convient.Explain why this time suits you.

Cet horaire me convient parce que je termine mon travail une heure avant le cours.This time suits me because I finish work an hour before class.

3 · Comparer — use a shared criterion

Keep both options in view. Compare the same feature, such as time, duration or cost.

Comparez les horaires des deux cours.Compare the times of the two courses.

Le cours A a lieu le matin, tandis que le cours B est proposé le soir.Course A takes place in the morning, whereas course B is offered in the evening.

4 · Justifier — support the choice

Name the choice and show why a relevant criterion favours it. Repeating the choice leaves the reason unstated.

Justifiez votre choix.Give reasons for your choice.

Je choisis le cours B, car je suis disponible le soir et je pourrai participer à toutes les séances.I choose course B because I am free in the evenings and will be able to attend every session.

What do décrire, expliquer, comparer and justifier ask you to do?

Décrivez brièvement les deux cours, comparez leurs horaires, puis justifiez votre choix.

Briefly describe both courses, compare their times, then give reasons for your choice.

A plan that follows the full instruction
StepUseful notesWhat the step delivers
Describe brieflyA: online, small group; B: online, individual.The main features of both courses.
Compare timesA: morning; B: evening.The relationship between their schedules.
Justify choiceB: fits my evening availability.A decision supported by the learner’s situation.

Brièvement limits the description. Give the useful features, then move to the comparison and choice. A detailed description of A alone leaves two other actions unfinished.

Question 1No account needed
Which reply describes a course?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Il a lieu en ligne et chaque séance dure une heure.. The first reply supplies features: format and duration. The other replies justify a choice or compare two options.

Question 2No account needed
Which reply explains why a time is difficult?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Le cours commence à 18 heures, mais je travaille jusqu’à 19 heures.. The overlap between class and work explains the difficulty. A day or a session count alone leaves the reason unclear.

Question 3No account needed
Which sentence compares both options?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Le cours A dure une heure, contre deux heures pour le cours B.. The sentence compares the same criterion, duration, across both courses.

Question 4No account needed
Which reply justifies the choice?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Je choisis B, car ses horaires correspondent à mes disponibilités.. Matching the learner’s availability gives a reason. Repeating the choice gives none, and a time alone leaves the link unstated.

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