A1 Questions & Negation 15 min read Easy

Asking 'How Many' and 'Which' (Combien & Quel)

Use Combien de for quantity and Quel for choice, ensuring Quel matches the noun's gender and number.
Mark as Learned
Practice it

Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'Combien de' for quantity and 'Quel' for selection, matching gender and number to the noun.

  • Use 'Combien de' + noun to ask for quantity: 'Combien de pommes ?'
  • Use 'Quel' + noun to ask for selection: 'Quel livre ?'
  • Always match 'Quel' to the gender and number of the noun it modifies.
Combien de + [Noun] ? / Quel(le)(s) + [Noun] ?

Overview

Mastering questions is fundamental to engaging in any language. In French, two key interrogative words, combien and quel, enable you to inquire about quantity, cost, and specific identity or choice. While both translate broadly to 'how much/many' or 'what/which' in English, their usage is precise and dictated by grammatical context.

Understanding this distinction is crucial for A1 learners to move beyond simple statements and begin interacting effectively.

Combien (how much/many) is used for quantifying nouns or determining prices. It functions as an interrogative adverb of quantity. Quel (which/what) acts as an interrogative adjective, always linked to a noun, to ask for specific identification or selection from a group.

This explanation will detail their formation, application, and common pitfalls, guiding you to formulate clear and grammatically correct questions.

How This Grammar Works

Combien: Interrogating Quantity and Cost
Combien fundamentally addresses quantity. When asking 'how many' or 'how much' of a noun, combien is almost always followed by the preposition de. This de is invariant, meaning it does not change based on the gender or number of the noun it precedes, unlike the partitive articles du, de la, de l', des.
  • Invariant de: This is a critical rule for combien. Whether the noun is singular or plural, masculine or feminine, de remains de. For example, Combien de livres ? (How many books?) and Combien de patience ? (How much patience?). This de signals that you are asking about the quantity of something. The only alteration is to d' before a noun starting with a vowel or a silent h (e.g., Combien d'argent ? – How much money?, Combien d'heures ? – How many hours?). This elision (combining de and the vowel) is for phonetic flow in French.
  • Asking about Cost: When inquiring about price, combien can be used in two primary ways: Combien coûte... ? (How much does... cost?) for specific items, or the more general and extremely common C'est combien ? (How much is it?). The verb coûter (to cost) agrees with the subject noun in number (e.g., Combien coûtent ces chaussures ? – How much do these shoes cost?).
Quel: Interrogating Choice and Identity
Quel operates differently, functioning as an interrogative adjective. Like all adjectives in French, quel must agree in gender and number with the noun it modifies. This agreement is non-negotiable and determines which of its four forms you use.
  • Agreement in French: French nouns have inherent gender (masculine or feminine) and can be singular or plural. Quel adapts to match these characteristics. This linguistic principle, grammatical agreement, is central to French and extends beyond quel to all adjectives, verbs, and articles. The agreement of quel with its noun clarifies precisely which item or person is being discussed from a potential set of options.
| Form | Gender | Number | Example | Translation |
| :------ | :--------- | :-------- | :---------------------------- | :--------------------------- |
| Quel | Masculine | Singular | Quel livre ? | Which book? / What book? |
| Quelle| Feminine | Singular | Quelle couleur ? | Which color? / What color? |
| Quels | Masculine | Plural | Quels films ? | Which films? / What films? |
| Quelles| Feminine | Plural | Quelles voitures ? | Which cars? / What cars? |
  • Pronunciation: It is important to note that while the written forms of quel, quelle, quels, and quelles differ significantly, their pronunciations are often identical, especially in casual speech (kel for all four). The distinction becomes clear primarily through the presence or absence of liaison with a following vowel sound, and crucially, through written context.

Formation Pattern

1
Forming questions with combien and quel involves placing the interrogative word correctly within the sentence structure. French offers several ways to ask questions, with varying degrees of formality.
2
1. Using Combien (How much/many)
3
Quantity (with de): The most common structure.
4
Combien de + [Noun (singular or plural)] + [Verb] + [Subject (pronoun or noun)]?
5
Example 1 (Inversion): Combien de frères as-tu ? (How many brothers do you have?) – Here, frères is a plural noun, yet de remains de.
6
Example 2 (Est-ce que): Combien d'eau est-ce que vous buvez ? (How much water do you drink?) – Note the d' before eau.
7
Example 3 (Rising Intonation): Tu as combien de sœurs ? (You have how many sisters?) – This is very informal, common in spoken French.
8
Cost: Specific structures for inquiring about price.
9
Combien coûte + [Singular Noun]?
10
Example 1: Combien coûte ce café ? (How much does this coffee cost?)
11
Combien coûtent + [Plural Noun]?
12
Example 2: Combien coûtent ces baskets ? (How much do these sneakers cost?)
13
C'est combien ? (General informal question)
14
Example 3: C'est combien pour la place de cinéma ? (How much is it for the cinema ticket?)
15
2. Using Quel (Which/What)
16
Quel (or Quelle, Quels, Quelles) + [Noun] + [Verb] + [Subject]?
17
OR
18
Quel (or Quelle, Quels, Quelles) + être + [Noun/Pronoun Subject]?
19
Before a Noun (Directly Modifying):
20
Example 1 (Masc. Sing.): Quel film regardes-tu ? (Which film are you watching?)
21
Example 2 (Fem. Sing.): Quelle voiture préfères-tu ? (Which car do you prefer?)
22
Example 3 (Masc. Plur.): Quels jeux sont populaires ? (Which games are popular?)
23
Example 4 (Fem. Plur.): Quelles villes avez-vous visitées ? (Which cities have you visited?)
24
Before a Form of être (Asking for Identity/Definition): This construction is extremely common and translates to 'What is/are...?' or 'Which is/are...?' depending on context.
25
Example 1 (Masc. Sing.): Quel est ton nom ? (What is your name?)
26
Example 2 (Fem. Sing.): Quelle est ta passion ? (What is your passion?)
27
Example 3 (Masc. Plur.): Quels sont tes hobbies ? (What are your hobbies?)
28
Example 4 (Fem. Plur.): Quelles sont les options ? (What are the options?)
29
With Est-ce que: For A1 learners, using Est-ce que can simplify sentence structure, avoiding inversion. It's generally a safe and neutral option.
30
Quel livre est-ce que tu lis ? (Which book are you reading?)
31
Quelle heure est-ce qu'il est ? (What time is it?) – Note the elision of que to qu' before il.

When To Use It

Using Combien
Use combien whenever you need to quantify something or ascertain a price. Its utility spans various daily situations.
  • Quantities of Countable Nouns: When you want to know the number of distinct items.
  • Combien de personnes sont là ? (How many people are there?)
  • Combien de jours restez-vous ? (How many days are you staying?)
  • Quantities of Uncountable Nouns: When you want to know the amount of something that cannot be counted individually.
  • Combien de sucre voulez-vous dans votre café ? (How much sugar do you want in your coffee?)
  • Combien de temps faut-il ? (How much time is needed?)
  • Prices and Costs: This is one of combien's most frequent uses.
  • Combien coûte un billet pour Paris ? (How much does a ticket to Paris cost?)
  • C'est combien la baguette ? (How much is the baguette?)
Using Quel
Use quel when you are asking for specific identification, choice, or a characteristic from a group (either explicitly stated or implied).
  • Identifying a Specific Noun: You have options, and you want to know which one.
  • Quel train va à Lyon ? (Which train goes to Lyon?)
  • Quelle langue parlez-vous ? (Which language do you speak?)
  • Asking for a Definition or Characteristic (with être): Often translates to 'What is...?' when asking for information about something.
  • Quel est votre nom ? (What is your name?)
  • Quelle est votre adresse e-mail ? (What is your email address?)
  • Quels sont les ingrédients ? (What are the ingredients?)
  • Expressing a Choice: When faced with multiple possibilities.
  • Quelle robe vas-tu porter ? (Which dress are you going to wear?)
  • Quels plats végétariens proposez-vous ? (Which vegetarian dishes do you offer?)

When Not To Use It

Understanding the boundaries of combien and quel is as important as knowing when to use them. Misapplying these interrogatives can lead to confusion or ungrammatical sentences.
Do NOT use Combien for:
  • Manner or Method: To ask 'how' something is done, use comment. Combien vas-tu à l'école ? (incorrect) should be Comment vas-tu à l'école ? (How do you go to school?).
  • Partitive Articles with Nouns: Crucially, never combine combien de with du, de la, de l', or des. Combien des pommes ? is grammatically incorrect. The de after combien replaces the need for these articles. Remember, it's always combien de + noun.
  • Asking 'which one' when combien is not tied to quantity: For instance, Combien est ton livre ? (incorrect) if you mean 'Which one is your book?' (you'd use Lequel est ton livre ?).
Do NOT use Quel for:
  • Unspecified 'What' (as a general object/action): If you're asking about an action or an unspecified thing, use Qu'est-ce que or Que. Quel regardes-tu ? (incorrect) should be Qu'est-ce que tu regardes ? (What are you watching?). Quel must always precede a noun or a form of être followed by a subject noun/pronoun.
  • Asking 'Who': To inquire about a person, use qui. Quel est là ? (incorrect if you mean 'Who is there?') should be Qui est là ?. Quel asks 'which person?' from a group, not simply 'who?'.
  • Standing Alone to Mean 'Which one?': Quel cannot function as a pronoun. If you want to say 'Which one?' without explicitly stating the noun, you need the interrogative pronouns lequel, laquelle, lesquels, lesquelles. These are A2+ concepts. For A1, always ensure quel is followed by its noun or être.

Common Mistakes

Learning from common errors solidifies understanding. These pitfalls frequently trip up A1 learners but are easily avoidable with careful attention.
  • The Combien des Trap: This is arguably the most common error. English speakers are accustomed to 'how many of the books' or 'how much of the water'. In French, combien de already implies 'how many/much of'. The presence of a plural noun does not change de to des.
  • Incorrect: Combien des étudiants sont présents ?
  • Correct: Combien d'étudiants sont présents ? (How many students are present?)
  • Why it's wrong: Des is a partitive article (some) or a contracted definite article (de + les). Combien de functions as a unit; adding another article is redundant and ungrammatical.
  • Forgetting d' after Combien: Elision is a key phonetic rule in French. Failing to contract de to d' before a vowel or silent h sounds unnatural.
  • Incorrect: Combien de amis as-tu ?
  • Correct: Combien d'amis as-tu ? (How many friends do you have?)
  • Confusing Quel with Qu'est-ce que: This distinction is fundamental. Remember: Quel always modifies a noun (or identifies one via être), while Qu'est-ce que asks about an unspecified action or thing.
  • Incorrect: Qu'est-ce que livre lis-tu ? (Literally, 'What is it that book you read?')
  • Correct: Quel livre lis-tu ? (Which book are you reading?)
  • Incorrect: Quel tu fais ? (Literally, 'Which you do?')
  • Correct: Qu'est-ce que tu fais ? (What are you doing?)
  • Rule of thumb: If there's a noun immediately following the 'what/which' in English, you likely need Quel in French. If the 'what' refers to the action itself or an unknown object (without a specific noun immediately after), Qu'est-ce que is appropriate.
  • Lack of Agreement for Quel: Using the wrong gender or number for quel with its noun.
  • Incorrect: Quel maison est la tienne ? (Maison is feminine)
  • Correct: Quelle maison est la tienne ? (Which house is yours?)
  • Incorrect: Quelle livres as-tu ? (Livres is masculine plural)
  • Correct: Quels livres as-tu ? (Which books do you have?)
  • Over-reliance on Est-ce que: While Est-ce que is useful, it's good to recognize that inversion (e.g., Quel film regardes-tu ?) is also common, especially when the interrogative word is at the beginning. Conversely, purely rising intonation (Tu regardes quel film ?) is frequent in informal spoken French, especially for A1 contexts.

Real Conversations

Observing combien and quel in authentic usage helps contextualize their grammatical rules. Modern French communication often prioritizes clarity and efficiency, especially in digital or casual settings.

- At a Café (Asking about quantity and cost):

- Bonjour, combien de sucres pour le café ? (Hello, how many sugars for the coffee?)

- Un croissant, s'il vous plaît. C'est combien ? (A croissant, please. How much is it?)

- Combien coûte le thé à la menthe ? (How much does the mint tea cost?)

- Planning a Weekend (Asking about choices and duration):

- On va au cinéma ? Quel film tu veux voir ? (Are we going to the cinema? Which film do you want to see?)

- Quelle heure est-ce qu'il est ? (What time is it?)

- Combien de temps on a pour manger avant le film ? (How much time do we have to eat before the film?)

- Online Shopping/Social Media (Identifying specific items/information):

- J'hésite entre deux robes. Quelle couleur tu préfères ? (I'm hesitating between two dresses. Which color do you prefer?)

- J'ai vu une recette de gâteau. Quels sont les ingrédients ? (I saw a cake recipe. What are the ingredients?)

- Combien d'avis a ce produit ? (How many reviews does this product have?)

- Asking for Personal Information (Informal tu vs. Formal vous):

- Quel est ton numéro de téléphone ? (What is your phone number? - informal)

- Quelle est votre adresse ? (What is your address? - formal)

Notice that in very casual speech, especially with rising intonation, combien and quel can appear at the end of the sentence: Tu veux combien de pains ? or Ton film préféré, c'est quel ?. While grammatically less formal, this is a common occurrence in spoken French.

Progressive Practice

1

Consistent practice with increasing complexity will solidify your understanding and natural use of combien and quel. Start with basic recognition and move towards active question formation.

2

- Phase 1: Identification (A1 Foundation)

3

- Read simple French sentences and identify combien or quel and its role. Determine if quel agrees correctly with its noun.

4

- Exercise: Combien de pommes ? (Quantity) Quelle est la date ? (Identity/characteristic). Identify the function.

5

- Phase 2: Fill-in-the-Blanks (A1 Application)

6

- Complete sentences with the correct form of quel (quel, quelle, quels, quelles) or combien de/d'.

7

- Exercise: ______ est ta boisson préférée ? (Answer: Quelle) Tu as ______ soeurs ? (Answer: combien de)

8

- Phase 3: Question Formation (A1 Production)

9

- Given an answer or a scenario, formulate the appropriate question.

10

- Scenario 1: You want to know the price of a coffee. Question: Combien coûte le café ? or C'est combien le café ?

11

- Scenario 2: You want to know which day of the week it is. Question: Quel jour sommes-nous ? or Quel jour est-ce aujourd'hui ?

12

- Phase 4: Real-World Simulation (A1 Integration)

13

- Practice asking questions in simulated conversations or by observing your surroundings.

14

- Look at a picture with multiple objects: Combien d'objets verts vois-tu ? Quelle est la couleur de la voiture ?

15

- Think about your daily routine: Quelle heure est ton cours ? Combien de cafés tu bois par jour ?

16

- Listen Actively: Pay attention to how native speakers use these words in films, podcasts, or conversations. Notice the agreement, the elisions, and the natural placement. This passive exposure reinforces the rules you are learning.

Quick FAQ

Addressing common queries helps clarify specific points about combien and quel.
  • Q: Can Quel be used alone to mean 'Which one?'?
  • A: No, not at the A1 level. Quel is an adjective, so it needs to modify a noun. If you want to say 'Which one?' as a pronoun (e.g., 'I want the red one, which one do you want?'), you need to use the interrogative pronouns lequel, laquelle, lesquels, lesquelles. These are typically introduced at A2 or B1.
  • Q: Is Combien always at the beginning of a sentence?
  • A: Grammatically, it often is, especially in formal or inverted questions (Combien de livres avez-vous ?). However, in very common informal spoken French, especially at the A1 level, it can appear at the end with rising intonation: Vous voulez combien de cafés ? (You want how many coffees?). For cost, C'est combien ? is also very frequent.
  • Q: Can Combien refer to duration or time?
  • A: Yes, absolutely. Combien de temps ? literally means 'how much time?' or 'how long?'. For example, Combien de temps dure le film ? (How long is the film?).
  • Q: Why does Quel have four different forms if they often sound the same?
  • A: The four forms (quel, quelle, quels, quelles) are a direct reflection of grammatical agreement in French. Just like other adjectives, quel must match the gender (masculine/feminine) and number (singular/plural) of the noun it modifies. While pronunciation might be similar, the written distinction is crucial for grammatical correctness and understanding the sentence structure. It ensures clarity in written communication and aligns with fundamental French linguistic principles.
  • Q: What's the difference between Quel est ton nom ? and Qu'est-ce que c'est ??
  • A: Quel est ton nom ? (What is your name?) uses quel to ask for specific identification or information about a known noun (nom). It implies you are seeking a particular characteristic of that noun. Qu'est-ce que c'est ? (What is that/it?) is a very general question asking for the identity of an unspecified object or thing. You might use Qu'est-ce que c'est ? if you see an unfamiliar object and don't know what it is. You would use Quel est ton nom ? to ask for the name (a specific piece of information) of a person.

Agreement Table for 'Quel'

Gender Singular Plural
Masculine
Quel
Quels
Feminine
Quelle
Quelles

Meanings

These are interrogative determiners used to seek specific information about quantity or identity.

1

Quantity

Asking for a specific number or amount.

“Combien de temps ?”

“Combien de personnes ?”

2

Selection

Asking to identify a specific item from a group.

“Quel jour sommes-nous ?”

“Quelle heure est-il ?”

Reference Table

Reference table for Asking 'How Many' and 'Which' (Combien & Quel)
Form Structure Example
Quantity
Combien de + Noun
Combien de chats ?
Selection (M. Sing)
Quel + Noun
Quel chien ?
Selection (F. Sing)
Quelle + Noun
Quelle chaise ?
Selection (M. Plur)
Quels + Noun
Quels garçons ?
Selection (F. Plur)
Quelles + Noun
Quelles filles ?

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Combien en souhaitez-vous ?

Combien en souhaitez-vous ? (Ordering food)

Neutral
Combien en voulez-vous ?

Combien en voulez-vous ? (Ordering food)

Informal
Tu en veux combien ?

Tu en veux combien ? (Ordering food)

Slang
T'en veux combien ?

T'en veux combien ? (Ordering food)

Question Word Map

Interrogatives

Quantity

  • Combien de How many

Selection

  • Quel(le)(s) Which
Sign up free to read full explanation

Examples by Level

1

Combien de stylos ?

How many pens?

2

Quel âge as-tu ?

How old are you?

3

Quelle heure est-il ?

What time is it?

4

Combien de frères ?

How many brothers?

1

Combien de personnes y a-t-il ?

How many people are there?

2

Quel film veux-tu voir ?

Which movie do you want to see?

3

Quels livres lis-tu ?

Which books are you reading?

4

Combien de temps ça prend ?

How much time does it take?

1

Quelle est ta couleur préférée ?

Which is your favorite color?

2

Combien de fois par semaine ?

How many times per week?

3

Quelles villes as-tu visitées ?

Which cities have you visited?

4

Combien de travail reste-t-il ?

How much work is left?

1

À quelle heure commence la réunion ?

At what time does the meeting start?

2

Combien de candidats se sont présentés ?

How many candidates applied?

3

Quels sont les enjeux de ce projet ?

What are the stakes of this project?

4

Quelle décision a été prise ?

Which decision was made?

1

Quel est le fondement de cette théorie ?

What is the basis of this theory?

2

Combien de nuances peut-on percevoir ?

How many nuances can one perceive?

3

Quelles sont les implications juridiques ?

What are the legal implications?

4

Combien de fois faut-il le répéter ?

How many times must it be repeated?

1

Quel destin attend ces âmes errantes ?

What destiny awaits these wandering souls?

2

Combien de siècles ont passé ?

How many centuries have passed?

3

Quelles subtilités linguistiques observe-t-on ?

What linguistic subtleties are observed?

4

Combien de voix se sont élevées ?

How many voices were raised?

Easily Confused

Asking 'How Many' and 'Which' (Combien & Quel) vs Quel vs Lequel

Both mean 'which'.

Asking 'How Many' and 'Which' (Combien & Quel) vs Combien vs Comment

Both start with 'Com'.

Asking 'How Many' and 'Which' (Combien & Quel) vs Quel vs Qu'est-ce que

Both translate to 'what'.

Common Mistakes

✗

Combien pommes ?

✓

Combien de pommes ?

Missing 'de'.
✗

Quel voiture ?

✓

Quelle voiture ?

Gender mismatch.
✗

Combien des pommes ?

✓

Combien de pommes ?

Incorrect article usage.
✗

Quels est ton nom ?

✓

Quel est ton nom ?

Plural agreement error.
✗

Combien de temps il est ?

✓

Combien de temps est-ce ?

Word order.
✗

Quelle est ton livre ?

✓

Quel est ton livre ?

Gender mismatch.
✗

Combien de gens sont là ?

✓

Combien de personnes sont là ?

Lexical choice.
✗

Combien de que tu veux ?

✓

Combien en veux-tu ?

Incorrect pronoun usage.
✗

Quel est le meilleur ?

✓

Lequel est le meilleur ?

Using adjective instead of pronoun.
✗

Quelle est la raison pour laquelle ?

✓

Pourquoi ?

Over-complication.
✗

Combien de fois que tu es allé ?

✓

Combien de fois y es-tu allé ?

Syntax error.
✗

Quel est le but de faire ça ?

✓

Quel est le but de cette action ?

Stylistic preference.
✗

Combien de personnes sont-ils ?

✓

Combien de personnes y a-t-il ?

Existential error.

Sentence Patterns

Combien de ___ as-tu ?

Quel est ton ___ préféré ?

Quelle ___ veux-tu ?

Quels ___ aimes-tu ?

Real World Usage

Ordering food constant

Combien de croissants voulez-vous ?

Social media common

Quel est votre avis ?

Job interview very common

Quelles sont vos compétences ?

Travel common

Combien de temps dure le vol ?

Texting constant

Tu en veux combien ?

Shopping common

Quelle taille faites-vous ?

Sign up free to see all examples
💡

The 'de' rule

Always remember 'de' after 'combien'. It never changes!
⚠️

Gender check

Check the noun's gender before saying 'Quel' or 'Quelle'.
🎯

Liaison

Link the 'l' in 'Quel' to the next word if it starts with a vowel.
💬

Politeness

In formal settings, use 'Combien de' with 'souhaitez-vous'.

Smart Tips

Always add 'de' after 'combien'.

Combien pommes ? → Combien de pommes ?

Match 'Quel' to the noun's gender.

Quel voiture ? → Quelle voiture ?

Don't forget the 's' on 'Quels' or 'Quelles'.

Quel livres ? → Quels livres ?

Use 'd'' for 'Combien'.

Combien de amis ? → Combien d'amis ?

Pronunciation

Quel-est (Keh-leh)

Liaison

When 'Quel' is followed by a vowel, you must link the 'l' sound.

Rising intonation

Combien de pommes ? ↗

Standard question tone.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Combien counts the items, Quel picks the one.

Visual Association

Imagine a 'Combien' robot counting coins and a 'Quel' judge pointing at a specific painting.

Rhyme

Combien de for the count you see, Quel for the choice, as it should be.

Story

Pierre goes to the market. He asks 'Combien de pommes ?' because he needs to count them. Then he looks at the fruit and asks 'Quelle pomme est la meilleure ?' to choose the best one.

Word Web

CombienQuelQuelleQuelsQuellesDe

Challenge

Ask 5 people around you questions using 'Combien de' or 'Quel' in French today.

Cultural Notes

French speakers value precision in questions.

Often use 'Combien de' with 'ça' in casual speech.

Similar usage to standard French, but often more direct.

Derived from Latin 'quantus' (how much) and 'qualis' (what kind).

Conversation Starters

“

Combien de frères et sœurs as-tu ?

“

Quel est ton film préféré ?

“

Combien de pays as-tu visités ?

“

Quelles langues parles-tu ?

Journal Prompts

List 5 things you have in your bag using 'Combien de'.
Describe your ideal day using 'Quel' to ask questions about it.
Write a dialogue between a customer and a waiter.
Reflect on your language learning journey.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Sign up free to see all tips

Test Yourself

Fill in the blank.

___ de pommes veux-tu ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Combien
Combien is for quantity.
Choose the correct form. Multiple Choice

___ voiture est à toi ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Quelle
Voiture is feminine singular.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Combien pommes as-tu ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Combien de pommes
Missing 'de'.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

Arrange the words in the correct order:

All words placed

Click words above to build the sentence

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Combien de pommes tu veux ?
Standard question order.
Translate to French. Translation

Which books?

Answer starts with: Que...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Quels livres
Plural masculine.
Match the question to the answer. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: J'ai deux frères
Matches quantity.
Select the correct form. Conjugation Drill

___ (Which) stylos ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Quels
Stylos is masculine plural.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: ___ de temps as-tu ? B: J'ai une heure.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Combien
Quantity question.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank.

___ de pommes veux-tu ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Combien
Combien is for quantity.
Choose the correct form. Multiple Choice

___ voiture est à toi ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Quelle
Voiture is feminine singular.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Combien pommes as-tu ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Combien de pommes
Missing 'de'.
Reorder the words. Sentence Reorder

tu / veux / combien / de / pommes

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Combien de pommes tu veux ?
Standard question order.
Translate to French. Translation

Which books?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Quels livres
Plural masculine.
Match the question to the answer. Match Pairs

Combien de frères ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: J'ai deux frères
Matches quantity.
Select the correct form. Conjugation Drill

___ (Which) stylos ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Quels
Stylos is masculine plural.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: ___ de temps as-tu ? B: J'ai une heure.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Combien
Quantity question.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Fill in the blank Fill in the Blank

_______ est ton nom ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Quel
Fix the agreement Error Correction

Quels heure est-il ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Quelle heure est-il ?
Order the words to ask about price Sentence Reorder

coûte / combien / ce / burger / ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Combien coûte ce burger ?
Translate to French Translation

Which languages do you speak?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Quelles langues parles-tu ?
Match the question to the object Match Pairs

Match the correct Quel/Combien to the noun.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: all
Pick the right form Multiple Choice

_______ d'argent as-tu ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Combien
Fill in the blank Fill in the Blank

_______ sont tes chaussures préférées ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Quelles
Translate 'How much is it?' Translation

How much is it?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: C'est combien ?
Fix the sentence Error Correction

Quelle pays visites-tu ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Quel pays visites-tu ?
Order the words Sentence Reorder

tu / préfères / Quelle / couleur / ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Quelle couleur tu préfères ?

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

In French, 'de' is used to indicate quantity. 'Des' would imply 'some of the'.

Yes, it becomes 'Quels' or 'Quelles'.

Yes, 'Combien en veux-tu ?' (How many do you want?).

Usually, yes. If not, you might need 'Lequel'.

Check your dictionary; look for 'f' or 'fem'.

Yes, 'Combien ça coûte ?' (How much does it cost?).

It is neutral and used in all registers.

Use 'd'' instead of 'de' for 'Combien'.

Scaffolded Practice

1

1

2

2

3

3

4

4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

Sign up free to practice

In Other Languages

Spanish high

Cuánto / Cuál

Spanish 'cuál' doesn't have as many gender forms as French 'quel'.

German moderate

Wie viel / Welcher

German has case endings.

Japanese low

Ikura / Dore

Japanese is agglutinative and lacks gender.

Arabic moderate

Kam / Ayy

Arabic has a dual form.

Chinese low

Duoshao / Na

Chinese is isolating and lacks inflection.

English moderate

How many / Which

English lacks the gender/number agreement required by French.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Previous
French Question Words: Who, What, Where (Les mots interrogatifs)

Related Grammar Rules

A2

Asking Formal Questions (Inversion)

Overview French offers several methods to formulate questions, each conveying a different level of formality and registe...
A2

French Negation: Saying 'Nothing' (Ne...Rien)

Overview French negation, a cornerstone of its grammar, frequently employs a two-part structure. While `ne...pas` serves...
A1

French Question Words: Who, What, Where (Les mots interrogatifs)

Overview French question words, known as **`les mots interrogatifs`**, are fundamental tools for extracting specific inf...
A2

Saying 'No' in French (Ne...pas)

Overview French negation, particularly with the structure `ne...pas`, is a foundational element for A2 learners aiming t...
A2

Saying 'No' in the Past: Negating French (Passé Composé)

Overview Mastering negation in the French `passé composé` is fundamental for clear communication about past events that...
Was this helpful?

Comments (0)

Login to Comment
No comments yet. Be the first to share your thoughts!