Interrogative Adjectives in French
This section explains interrogative adjectives in French and includes tips for students studying foundation and higher tiers.
What is an Interrogative Adjective?
Interrogative adjectives are used to ask questions about a noun. In English, they correspond to "which" or "what" (e.g., Which book do you want?).
In French, the interrogative adjective is quel, which must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies.
Foundation Tier: Forms of "Quel"
| English | Masculine Singular | Feminine Singular | Masculine Plural | Feminine Plural |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Which / What | quel | quelle | quels | quelles |
đź“Ś Key Rule:
- Quel is used before masculine singular nouns (quel livre ? – which book?).
- Quelle is used before feminine singular nouns (quelle robe ? – which dress?).
- Quels is used before masculine plural nouns (quels films ? – which films?).
- Quelles is used before feminine plural nouns (quelles voitures ? – which cars?).
Foundation Tier Examples
| French Sentence | English Translation |
|---|---|
| Quel film veux-tu regarder ? | Which film do you want to watch? |
| Quelle couleur préfères-tu ? | What colour do you prefer? |
| Quels livres sont intéressants ? | Which books are interesting? |
| Quelles chansons Ă©coutes-tu ? | What songs do you listen to? |
Higher Tier: "Quel" in Exclamatory Sentences
"Quel" can also be used in exclamatory sentences to express surprise or admiration. This is similar to saying "What a..." in English.
| French | English Translation |
|---|---|
| Quel beau paysage ! | What a beautiful landscape! |
| Quelle surprise ! | What a surprise! |
| Quels idiots ! | What idiots! |
| Quelles belles fleurs ! | What beautiful flowers! |
Higher Tier: Difference Between "Quel" and "Lequel"
Be careful not to confuse quel (which/what) with lequel (which one).
| French | English Translation |
|---|---|
| Quel livre préfères-tu ? | Which book do you prefer? |
| Lequel veux-tu ? | Which one do you want? |
đź“Ś Key Difference:
- Quel is used before a noun (quel film).
- Lequel replaces the noun when it is already understood (Lequel veux-tu ? – Which one do you want?).
Common Mistakes to Avoid
❌ Quel maison préfères-tu ? → ✅ Quelle maison préfères-tu ? ("Maison" is feminine, so use "quelle"!)
❌Quels fille sont là ? → ✅ Quelles filles sont là ? (Plural agreement needed!)
❌Quelle est ton sport préféré ? → ✅ Quel est ton sport préféré ? ("Sport" is masculine, so use "quel"!)
Key Takeaways
âś… Quel must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies.
âś…Use "quel, quelle, quels, quelles" to ask questions about a noun.
âś…"Quel" can also be used in exclamatory sentences to express admiration.
âś…Do not confuse "quel" with "lequel" (which one).
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