Give an opinion in French: a judgement, a reason and a useful detail

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Move beyond c’est génial or c’est nul. Give a clear French opinion with reasons, compare familiar and neutral wording, and practise adjective agreement.

B1Practical guide2 min readIn the B1 notebook →

In short

Build a French opinion from three parts: what you are judging, what you think, and why. Je trouve cette idée géniale parce qu’elle nous fait gagner du temps gives your listener much more than C’est génial !

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn

Two colleagues discussing a presentation as they leave a French meeting room, plain folders and chairs behind them.
Give a reason for je trouve cette idée géniale. Illustration: Atelier

How do you give an opinion in French?

From a reaction to a useful explanation
StepFrench modelWhat it adds
Name the targetCette explication…One explanation, rather than the whole activity.
Give your judgementCette explication est claire.The feature you value.
Give a reasonCette explication est claire parce qu’elle donne deux exemples.Something your listener can check.

C’est génial !That’s brilliant!

Focus: a lively positive reaction

c’est + adjective

C’est génial : on peut participer à distance.
That’s brilliant: we can take part remotely.

Je trouve cette proposition intéressante.I find this proposal interesting.

Focus: a measured opinion with room for a reservation

je trouve + noun + adjective

Je trouve cette proposition intéressante, mais elle coûte trop cher.
I find this proposal interesting, but it costs too much.

How do you give mixed feedback in French?

Après une présentation
  1. Nora

    Tu as trouvé la présentation comment ?

    What did you think of the presentation?

  2. Léa

    Les exemples étaient super, mais la conclusion était trop rapide.

    The examples were great, but the conclusion was too rushed.

  3. Nora

    Qu’est-ce qui manquait à la fin ?

    What was missing at the end?

  4. Léa

    Un résumé des trois idées principales.

    A summary of the three main ideas.

Super is familiar and stays unchanged: des exemples super. C’est nul is a blunt familiar criticism. For feedback someone can act on, name the problem: La conclusion est trop rapide or Il manque un exemple. A precise reason works in a friendly chat and in a more neutral discussion.

Check the noun before choosing the ending
NounPositive judgementNegative judgement
un exercicegénialmauvais
une idéegénialemauvaise
des exercicesgéniauxmauvais
des idéesgénialesmauvaises
Before you keep an opinion in your phrase notes

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

Question 1No account needed
Complete the feminine plural agreement.Ces idées sont ___.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

géniales. Idées is feminine plural, so the adjective is géniales.

Question 2No account needed
Which reply gives a specific criticism with a reason?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

La conclusion est confuse parce qu’elle introduit trois idées nouvelles.. The second reply names the conclusion and explains what makes it confusing.

Question 3No account needed
Keep the positive meaning and make the wording more neutral.Les exemples sont super.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Les exemples sont très bons.. Très bons preserves the praise while giving the sentence a more neutral tone.

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