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Cheat sheet

Notamment and par exemple: a French example-marker cheat sheet

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Use notamment to highlight and par exemple to illustrate. Compare noun phrases, full sentences and article choices, then practise with four questions.

In short

Notamment means “notably” or “in particular”: it highlights an item. Par exemple means “for example”: it illustrates an idea. Put the example beside the category it belongs to, or give it a complete sentence of its own.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn

A simple still life of several entirely unlettered closed books, one plain sealed envelope and a postcard showing only a French coastal landscape, no writing or stamps.
A postcard supplies par exemple une carte postale. Illustration: Atelier

Donner un exemple · fiche

1 · Highlight an item with notamment

Name the wider group, then highlight a member. The group can include other members too.

Nous lisons différents types de textes, notamment des romans.We read different types of texts, notably novels.

2 · Offer an example with par exemple

Keep the article the noun phrase needs: une lettre, des lettres, cette lettre. The marker does not force de.

Apporte un document personnel, par exemple une lettre.Bring a personal document, for example a letter.

3 · Give a complete example sentence

After a full stop, Par exemple, can introduce a subject and verb. Add a comma after the introductory phrase.

On peut raconter un souvenir. Par exemple, on peut décrire une rencontre.You can recount a memory. For example, you can describe an encounter.

4 · Keep a verb’s preposition

With parler de, the topic still follows de. Notamment can sit just before that complement.

Le livre parle notamment de la mémoire.The book deals in particular with memory.

5 · Distinguish an example from a definition

Par exemple gives one possible member. C’est-à-dire explains exactly what the speaker means.

Choisissez un texte bref, par exemple une carte postale.Choose a short text, for example a postcard.

Choisissez un texte bref, c’est-à-dire un texte de moins de cent mots.Choose a short text, meaning a text of fewer than a hundred words.

What is the difference between notamment and par exemple?

Documents for a writing workshop

Question 1No account needed
Highlight two members of a larger group.Plusieurs personnes nous ont aidés, ___ Nora et Paul.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

notamment. Notamment highlights Nora and Paul among the people who helped.

Question 2No account needed
Keep the article after the example marker.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

par exemple une lettre. A possible document is une lettre. Par exemple leaves that article in place.

Question 3No account needed
Choose a complete illustrative sentence.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Par exemple, nous écrivons une lettre.. The sentence has a subject, nous, and a conjugated verb, écrivons.

Question 4No account needed
Does notamment Nora et Paul say only those two people helped?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

No, it highlights those two people.. Notamment selects people to mention from the larger group.

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