The problems are on the French Register And Irony worksheet. Try them on your own first, then compare with the answers below.
Quick answer: Register is the level of formality of a text: familier, courant or soutenu. This answer key corrects the 20 problems of the French B2 worksheet on French register and irony, from name the register to a sarcastic dialogue: the final answer in bold, the rule behind it, and a model answer for each writing task.
Here is the answer key of the French B2 worksheet on French register and irony. Try the worksheet first, then compare, and reread the lesson if a rule is unclear.
Level: French B2 (CEFR upper intermediate) · Standards: CEFR B2, Reading
French register and irony: the answers explained
Problem 1 Name the register
1. familier (crevé, le mec). 2. courant. 3. soutenu (harassé). 4. familier (boulot d’enfer).
Problem 2 Find the standard word
une voiture, un livre, les enfants, l’argent. Each casual noun has a neutral equivalent.
Problem 3 Tu or vous?
1. vous. 2. tu. 3. vous. 4. tu. Strangers, clients and superiors get vous; tu needs closeness or an invitation.
Problem 4 Greeting for the situation
1. Madame, Monsieur, (administration). 2. Coucou ! (sister). 3. Madame, Monsieur, (unknown company).
Problem 5 Ironic or sincere?
1. ironic (rain contradicts the compliment). 2. sincere. 3. ironic (losing keys is no success). 4. sincere.
Problem 6 What does it really say?
1. (a) good. 2. (b) expensive. 3. (a) clever. 4. (b) gloomy. A negated opposite is a litote.
Problem 7 Match the polite phrase
1-c, 2-d, 3-a, 4-b. Original used with hesitation often means strange; Il fait de son mieux admits weak results.
Problem 8 Casual to standard
1. Je ne sais pas ce qu’il veut, cet homme. 2. Il n’y a pas de lumière dans le couloir. 3. Nous partons, il est tard. Restore ne, il y a and a neutral verb.
Problem 9 Standard to formal
1. Je souhaiterais une réponse rapide. 2. Je vous remercie de bien vouloir répondre rapidement. 3. Je regrette de ne pas pouvoir venir. Formal French uses the conditional and polite verbs.
Problem 10 Soften the criticism
Model answers: 1. Votre rapport pourrait être plus précis sur quelques points. 2. Il serait préférable d’arriver un peu plus tôt. Check: vous or a general form, conditional, no insult, the point is still clear.
Problem 11 Which sentence is ironic?
a) Quelle générosité ! b) A lukewarm cup of water after four hours of delay is far from generous: the praise contradicts the facts, and the following sentence about no chairs confirms the complaint.
Problem 12 Correct the register
1. Madame, je vous écris pour vous signaler que votre appareil ne fonctionne pas. 2. J’apprécie beaucoup votre proposition. 3. Cordialement, Monsieur Roche.
Problem 13 Litote or exaggeration?
1. hyperbole. 2. litote. 3. hyperbole. 4. litote (he is outspoken). Hyperbole exaggerates; a litote understates.
Problem 14 Translate into French
1. Ce n’est pas mal du tout. 2. Je vous remercie de votre patience. 3. Vous auriez pu nous appeler. The conditional past carries the polite reproach.
Problem 15 Read the manager’s email
a) No: disons and the pause signal that “complete” is not a compliment. b) The report is too long. c) Send a two-page summary before Thursday; Je ne doute pas is a polite order. d) Model: Bien sûr, je vous enverrai un résumé de deux pages mercredi.
Problem 16 A restaurant review
a) Le service a été d’une rapidité remarquable. b) The forty-minute wait for the starter. c) Yes, praising the waiter’s smile as an exploit is mocking: the smile in the face of such a delay is called a feat only half seriously.
Problem 17 One message, three registers
Model: familier Eh, tu peux baisser le son ?; courant Pourriez-vous baisser la musique, s’il vous plaît ?; soutenu Je me permets de vous prier de bien vouloir diminuer le volume sonore. Check: three clearly different levels.
Problem 18 Read the notice board
A: courant, all residents. B: familier, young or friendly group. C: soutenu, formal, from the landlord or management. Clues: Merci de is neutral, Les gars and svp are casual, priés de bien vouloir s’abstenir is administrative.
Problem 19 Decline politely
Model: Madame, je vous remercie de votre proposition. Elle est ambitieuse. Peut-être faudrait-il encore examiner le calendrier et les moyens disponibles avant de nous engager. Je préfère donc ne pas m’associer au projet pour le moment. Cordialement. Check: vous, thanks, an implicit doubt, a clear refusal.
Problem 20 A sarcastic dialogue
Model: J’ai préparé le dîner. — Le pain est carbonisé ? Quel talent ! The praise Quel talent ! contradicts the burnt bread, so the reader sees sarcasm. Check: a remark that says the opposite of the facts and a plausible answer.