French - Giving Examples

Lesson 40 of 159

Learner practicing French example phrases to explain ideas clearly.

Goal: Phrases to introduce and clarify with examples

Free French lessons with guided practice, audio, and speaking support.

Ready to make your explanations clearer? In this short lesson we'll focus on natural French phrases to introduce examples and illustrate ideas. Have fun — a good example often makes everything click!

Level B1: This lesson teaches 13 useful ways to give examples in French (phrases like « Par exemple..., », « Pour te donner un exemple, ... », « Imagine : ... »). You'll hear the chunks in a short dialogue, practice recognizing and choosing the right phrase, and say each expression aloud. CEFR-aligned and very practical for conversations and presentations.

After this lesson you'll be able to:

  • Recognize and use common French phrases to introduce examples.
  • Practice B1-level spoken phrases for clarifying or illustrating ideas.
  • Be able to choose the right example phrase for different contexts.
Two people preparing a short presentation and planning examples in French.

Ready? Let's go!

When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.

1. Reading + Listening Practice

Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.

Par exemple, ___.

For example, ___.

Meaning: For example, ___.

When to use: Use this neutral phrase to introduce a concrete example in speech or writing.

Par exemple, je prends le bus tous les matins.
For example, I take the bus every morning.
Par exemple, beaucoup de villes encouragent le vélo.
For example, many cities encourage cycling.

Par exemple, ___.

For instance, ___.

Meaning: For instance, ___.

When to use: Similar to « Par exemple » but useful when you want a slightly more formal or careful tone.

Par exemple, certaines entreprises offrent des horaires flexibles.
For instance, some companies offer flexible hours.
Par exemple, on peut comparer les résultats entre deux années.
For instance, we can compare results between two years.

Comme ___.

Like ___.

Meaning: Like ___.

When to use: Use this short phrase for quick, informal examples in conversation.

Tip: Don't confuse with 'comme' meaning 'as' — here it introduces an example.

Comme les cafés près de la gare, ils ferment tard.
Like the cafés near the station, they close late.
Il aime les sports, comme le tennis.
He likes sports, like tennis.

Des choses comme ___.

Things like ___.

Meaning: Things like ___.

When to use: Add one or more examples after mentioning a general category.

Nous avons besoin de matériaux, des choses comme du bois et du béton.
We need materials, things like wood and concrete.
Pour le pique-nique, pense à des choses comme des serviettes et de l'eau.
For the picnic, think of things like napkins and water.

Comme ___.

Such as ___.

Meaning: Such as ___.

When to use: Introduce members of a group or category; more neutral in spoken use.

Tip: Be careful: in writing use 'tels que' when you need agreement with a plural noun.

Des sports d'hiver, comme le ski et le snowboard, sont populaires ici.
Winter sports, such as skiing and snowboarding, are popular here.
Il y a plusieurs langues, comme l'espagnol et l'italien.
There are several languages, such as Spanish and Italian.

Je vais te donner un exemple.

Let me give you an example.

Meaning: Let me give you an example.

When to use: Use to signal you will now explain with an example; friendly and direct.

Je vais te donner un exemple pour clarifier le problème.
Let me give you an example to clarify the problem.
Avant d'expliquer, je vais te donner un exemple concret.
Before explaining, let me give you a concrete example.

Pour te donner un exemple, ___.

To give you an example, ___.

Meaning: To give you an example, ___.

When to use: Start an example before giving details; polite and explanatory.

Pour te donner un exemple, regarde comment ils organisent les données.
To give you an example, look at how they organize the data.
Pour te donner un exemple, imagine une école sans devoirs le week-end.
To give you an example, imagine a school with no homework on weekends.

Un exemple, c’est ___.

One example is ___.

Meaning: One example is ___.

When to use: Present a single concrete example from many possibilities.

Un exemple, c'est la réduction des déchets en entreprise.
One example is waste reduction in companies.
Un exemple, c'est la pause déjeuner plus courte dans certaines villes.
One example is the shorter lunch break in some cities.

Prenons ___, par exemple.

Take ___, for example.

Meaning: Take ___, for example.

When to use: Use to point to a specific case that illustrates a larger idea.

Prenons Paris, par exemple, c'est une ville très touristique.
Take Paris, for example, it's a very touristic city.
Prenons l'exemple des écoles, par exemple celle du quartier sud.
Take schools, for example the one in the south neighborhood.

Un bon exemple, c’est ___.

A good example is ___.

Meaning: A good example is ___.

When to use: Introduce a strong or typical example to support your point.

Un bon exemple, c'est l'application qui aide à gérer son budget.
A good example is the app that helps manage your budget.
Un bon exemple, c'est cette initiative locale qui réduit le gaspillage.
A good example is this local initiative that reduces waste.

Pour te montrer ce que je veux dire, ___.

To show what I mean, ___.

Meaning: To show what I mean, ___.

When to use: Use this to introduce an example that will make your point clearer.

Pour te montrer ce que je veux dire, voici un graphique.
To show what I mean, here is a chart.
Pour te montrer ce que je veux dire, écoute cet extrait.
To show what I mean, listen to this excerpt.

Voilà ce que je veux dire : ___.

Here's what I mean: ___.

Meaning: Here's what I mean: ___.

When to use: Clarify a previous point by giving a concrete example; natural in speech.

Voilà ce que je veux dire : nous devons réduire notre consommation d'énergie.
Here's what I mean: we must reduce our energy consumption.
Voilà ce que je veux dire : il suffit de changer une petite habitude.
Here's what I mean: just change one small habit.

Imagine : ___.

Imagine this: ___.

Meaning: Imagine this: ___.

When to use: Ask the listener to picture a simple imagined situation to illustrate a point.

Imagine : un parc sans voitures, uniquement des piétons.
Imagine this: a park without cars, only pedestrians.
Imagine : une ville où tout le monde se déplace à vélo.
Imagine this: a city where everyone travels by bike.

2. Conversational Listening Practice

Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.

Planning a presentation and choosing examples

Anna and David using French example phrases during a friendly discussion.

What are Anna and David talking about?

Portrait of Anna in a French lesson dialogue

Anna

Je vais te donner un exemple pour la présentation.

Let me give you an example for the presentation.

Portrait of David in a French lesson dialogue

David

D'accord. Prenons Paris, par exemple — que montrerais-tu ?

Okay. Take Paris, for example — what would you show?

Portrait of Anna in a French lesson dialogue

Anna

Pour te montrer ce que je veux dire, je montrerai des photos des musées.

To show what I mean, I'll show photos of the museums.

Portrait of David in a French lesson dialogue

David

Oui, voilà ce que je veux dire : des choses comme le Louvre et les cafés.

Yes, here's what I mean: things like the Louvre and the cafés.

Portrait of Anna in a French lesson dialogue

Anna

Par exemple, le Louvre attire des millions de visiteurs chaque année.

For example, the Louvre attracts millions of visitors every year.

Portrait of David in a French lesson dialogue

David

Imagine : une longue file devant l'entrée — c'est une image forte.

Imagine this: a long line in front of the entrance — that's a strong image.

3. Guided Practice

Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.

Which French phrase best translates 'Let me give you an example.'?

Which phrase would you use to introduce a concrete case: 'Take Tokyo, for example.'?

Which phrase is used to ask the listener to picture a situation: 'Imagine this: ...'?

Which phrase means 'Things like ___'?

For example, I will talk about local climate solutions.

Dans mon exposé, ___ je parlerai des solutions locales pour le climat.

To show what I mean, ...

Quand je veux clarifier, je dis souvent : ___

Things like tennis, swimming, and hiking.

Nous parlions de loisirs : ___ le tennis, la natation et la randonnée.

Match the core phrases

Match the extra phrases

4. Speaking Practice

Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).

Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.

Say this phrase out loud:

Par exemple, ___.

For instance, ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

Par exemple, ___.

For instance, ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

Comme ___.

Such as ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

Des choses comme ___.

Things like ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

Comme ___.

Such as ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

Je vais te donner un exemple.

Let me give you an example.

Say this phrase out loud:

Pour te donner un exemple, ___.

To give you an example, ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

Un exemple, c’est ___.

One example is ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

Prenons ___, par exemple.

Take ___, for example.

Say this phrase out loud:

Un bon exemple, c’est ___.

A good example is ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

Pour te montrer ce que je veux dire, ___.

To show what I mean, ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

Voilà ce que je veux dire : ___.

Here's what I mean: ___.

Say this phrase out loud:

Imagine : ___.

Imagine this: ___.