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Réussir or accomplir? Eight questions on success and completed tasks

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Choose réussir or accomplir in eight French questions. Practise réussir à, exam results and completed tasks, with a short reference before the quiz.

In short

Réussir highlights success: réussir un examen means pass an exam; réussir à ouvrir means manage to open. Accomplir une tâche means carry out or complete a task. A completed task can also be a success.

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A student leaving an exam room with a relaxed, satisfied posture and plain books under one arm.
A completed goal gives context to réussir un examen. Illustration: Atelier

réussirto succeed; manage

Focus: the successful result

réussir + noun / réussir à + infinitive

Elle a réussi son examen.
She passed her exam.

Nous avons réussi à finir à temps.
We managed to finish on time.

accomplirto carry out; accomplish

Focus: the task performed or fulfilled

accomplir + noun

L’équipe a accompli sa mission.
The team accomplished its mission.

Il reste deux tâches à accomplir.
There are two tasks left to carry out.

Study first: useful forms
Subjectréussiraccomplir
jeréussisaccomplis
elleréussitaccomplit
nousréussissonsaccomplissons
past participleréussiaccompli

Accomplir suits tasks, duties and missions, and can sound more formal than faire or terminer. Completing three tasks may leave the wider project unfinished. For a result, réussir tells you that the goal was reached. Choose the answer that matches the cue in each question.

  1. Question 1No account needed
    Translate “She passed her exam.”

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    Elle a réussi son examen.. Réussir un examen is the usual way to say pass an exam.

  2. Question 2No account needed
    Complete “We managed to finish.”Nous avons réussi ___ terminer.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    à. Use réussir à + infinitive: réussir à terminer.

  3. Question 3No account needed
    Choose the natural expression for carrying out assigned duties.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    accomplir ses tâches. Accomplir takes a direct object: accomplir ses tâches.

  4. Question 4No account needed
    Put accomplir in the present tense.Nous ___ cette mission ensemble.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    accomplissons. Accomplir follows the finir pattern: nous accomplissons.

  5. Question 5No account needed
    Put réussir in the present tense.Elle ___ souvent cet exercice.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    réussit. With elle, the present form is réussit, ending in -t.

  6. Question 6No account needed
    A learner answers every question, but most answers are wrong. Which sentence matches?

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    Elle a terminé, mais elle n’a pas réussi l’exercice.. Finishing all the questions and getting the answers right are different results.

  7. Question 7No account needed
    The team has completed three tasks; two remain. Choose the accurate report.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    L’équipe a accompli trois tâches, mais le projet continue.. The sentence gives the completed scope: three tasks, with more work remaining.

  8. Question 8No account needed
    Complete “He finally managed to explain his idea.”Il a enfin ___ son idée.

    Choose one answer.

    Answer and explanation

    réussi à expliquer. After il a, use the participle réussi, then à expliquer.

What is the difference between réussir and accomplir?

Nous avons accompli notre mission : nous avons réussi à ouvrir la bibliothèque à temps.

We accomplished our mission: we managed to open the library on time.

The mission is fulfilled and the opening goal is met. Here the two verbs describe different aspects of the same achievement.

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