B2 is the level at which you stop describing and start arguing. The CEFR descriptor says you can "develop an argument giving reasons in support of or against a particular point of view" — and the DELF B2 tests exactly that, twice. This lesson gives you the moves and the language to make them.
| French | Pronunciation | Strength |
|---|---|---|
| il me semble que | eel muh sahnbl KUH | tentative |
| j'ai l'impression que | zhay lan-pres-yohn KUH | tentative |
| Ă mon avis | ah mohn nah-VEE | neutral |
| selon moi / d'après moi | suh-lohn MWAH | neutral |
| je trouve que | zhuh troov KUH | neutral, personal |
| je suis persuadé que | zhuh swee pair-sü-ah-day KUH | strong |
| je suis convaincu que | zhuh swee kohn-van-kĂĽ KUH | strong |
| il est indéniable que | eel ay tan-day-nyahbl KUH | very strong, formal |
Straight from Lesson 7: Je pense que c'est vrai but Je ne pense pas que ce soit vrai. In an argued essay you will negate opinion verbs constantly — so the subjunctive will appear whether you plan for it or not.
French schooling teaches one structure and examiners expect it. Learn it and half the marking scheme is satisfied before you write a sentence.
| Part | Job | Typical opener |
|---|---|---|
| Introduction | Set the scene, state the problématique, announce the plan | De nos jours, … On peut donc se demander si… |
| Thèse | The case for | D'une part, … En effet, … |
| Antithèse | The case against | Cependant, … En revanche, … |
| Synthèse | Resolve, take a position | Il semble donc que… Tout bien pesé, … |
| Conclusion | Answer the problématique, open outward | En conclusion, … On peut se demander si… |
The problématique is the heart of it: the essay's central question, stated explicitly at the end of the introduction. An essay without one reads to a French examiner as an essay without a point.
This is what separates a B2 argument from a B1 list of opinions. You grant your opponent's point, then explain why it does not settle the matter.
| French | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| certes… mais | SAIRT may | admittedly… but |
| il est vrai que… cependant | eel ay vray KUH | it's true that… however |
| bien que… il n'en reste pas moins que | eel nahn rest pah mwan KUH | although… the fact remains that |
| on peut certes objecter que | ohn puh sairt ob-zhek-tay KUH | one might well object that |
| quoi qu'il en soit | kwah keel ahn SWAH | be that as it may |
| loin de moi l'idée de | lwan duh mwah lee-day DUH | far be it from me to |
A worked example: Certes, le télétravail réduit les trajets et améliore la qualité de vie. Il n'en reste pas moins que l'isolement qu'il engendre pèse lourdement sur les jeunes salariés.
| Job | French |
|---|---|
| Open / sequence | tout d'abord · en premier lieu · d'une part… d'autre part |
| Add | de plus · en outre · par ailleurs · qui plus est |
| Give an example | par exemple · ainsi · notamment · à titre d'exemple |
| Explain | en effet · c'est-à -dire · autrement dit |
| Contrast | en revanche · cependant · toutefois · néanmoins · or |
| Conclude a step | par conséquent · donc · ainsi · c'est pourquoi |
| Close | en conclusion · pour conclure · en définitive · en somme |
En effet confirms and explains what you just said — "indeed", "this is because". For the English "in effect", use en réalité or en fait. And note or (pronounced "or"), a small but powerful connector meaning "now, as it happens", used to introduce the fact that turns an argument.
Overstating is a B2 error just as much as understating. These let you make a claim with calibrated confidence.
| French | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| il semblerait que | eel sahn-bluh-ray KUH | it would seem that |
| dans une certaine mesure | dahn zĂĽn sair-ten muh-ZĂśR | to a certain extent |
| on pourrait soutenir que | ohn poo-ray soot-neer KUH | one could argue that |
| en règle générale | ahn regl zhay-nay-RAHL | as a general rule |
| tout porte Ă croire que | too port ah krwahr KUH | everything suggests that |
| sous réserve de | soo ray-zairv DUH | subject to |
Several of these are conditionals (Lesson 3) doing register work — il semblerait, on pourrait. The conditional is the mood of the careful claim.
The DELF B2 oral ends in a debate with the examiner, so you also need the spoken moves.
| French | Pronunciation | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Justement, … | zhüst-MAHN | Exactly — and here's why |
| Attendez, je termine. | ah-tahn-day zhuh tair-MEEN | Let me finish |
| Si vous permettez… | see voo pair-may-TAY | If I may… |
| Je ne suis pas sûr de vous suivre. | zhuh nuh swee pah sür duh voo SWEEVR | I'm not sure I follow |
| C'est un point de vue, mais… | say tuhn pwan duh VÜ may | That's one view, but… |
| Pour revenir à ce que vous disiez… | poor ruh-vuh-neer ah suh kuh voo dee-zee-AY | Coming back to your point… |
The thèse/antithèse/synthèse plan is drilled from the lycée onwards and is expected in the baccalauréat, at university and in the DELF. French debate culture tolerates — even enjoys — direct disagreement, so Je ne suis pas du tout d'accord is normal rather than rude. What is judged harshly is an argument with no visible structure.
The same written plan is taught in Québec's CÉGEPs. Spoken debate style is noticeably softer and more consensus-seeking than in France — hedges like mettons ("let's say"), j'dirais and admettons appear far more often, and blunt contradiction lands harder. If you are arguing in Montréal, lean on the concession moves above; in Paris, you can come straight to the point.
Write introduction, thèse, antithèse or conclusion.
1. What is a problématique?
2. En effet means:
3. Which move most clearly marks a B2-level argument?