Exemple and modèle in French: see a pattern, then adapt it

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Learn how an exemple illustrates a point and a modèle gives you a pattern to follow. Adapt four storage sentences and check their articles and meaning.

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In short

An exemple shows a point; a modèle gives you a pattern to follow. The same sentence can do both: read Elle range les cartes dans une boîte as an example, then use its pattern to describe different objects.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn

A person puts plain coloured pencils into a simple open fabric pencil case on a tidy table, viewed as a wide room scene with no written marks.
The action gives je range les crayons dans une trousse a setting. Illustration: Atelier

un exemplean example

Focus: something that illustrates a point

Cet exemple montre comment préciser le lieu.
This example shows how to specify the location.

Peux-tu donner un autre exemple ?
Can you give another example?

un modèlea model, pattern

Focus: something you can follow or adapt

Utilise cette phrase comme modèle.
Use this sentence as a model.

Je suis le modèle, mais je change les objets.
I follow the model, but change the objects.

Choose objects for a new sentence

One pattern, four usable sentences
PersonAction and objectsLocation
Ellerange les cartesdans une boîte.
Ilrange les boutonsdans un bocal.
Jerange les crayonsdans une trousse.
Nousrangeons les clésdans un tiroir.

The relationship stays the same: someone puts objects away in a container. The nouns and articles change with the objects. Boîte and trousse are feminine; bocal and tiroir are masculine. With nous, the verb becomes rangeons: the e keeps the soft sound before o.

À toi de changer la phrase
  1. Léa

    Donne-moi un exemple avec « dans ».

    Give me an example with “in”.

  2. Noé

    Elle range les cartes dans une boîte.

    She puts the cards away in a box.

  3. Léa

    Très bien. Maintenant, utilise cette phrase comme modèle pour parler des crayons.

    Very good. Now use that sentence as a model to talk about the pencils.

  4. Noé

    Je range les crayons dans une trousse.

    I put the pencils away in a pencil case.

Une réponse modèle montre une façon de répondre à la consigne.

A model answer shows one way to answer the task.

For an open task, compare the model with the instruction. Keep your own names, dates and intended message when you adapt it.

Adapt one sentence

A self-review aid, not a grade. Ticks are not saved.

Question 1No account needed
Someone says Peux-tu donner un exemple ? What are they asking for?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

An illustration of the point.. An exemple illustrates the point being explained.

Question 2No account needed
Choose the correct adaptation with nous.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Nous rangeons les clés dans un tiroir.. With nous, use rangeons, including the e before o.

Question 3No account needed
Which sentence asks you to follow a pattern?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Utilise cette phrase comme modèle.. Utiliser une phrase comme modèle means using its pattern for a new sentence.

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