PSC SLE French Writing: Workplace word choice and prepositions

Every original question, with optional answers, explanations and official references. Open an answer to study, or take the test above for instant feedback.

1. Complétez : Cette version diffère ____ précédente par sa mise en page.

   1. de la
   2. à la
   3. sur la
   4. dans la
   Show answer and explanation

   Correct answer: de la

   Différer de expresses a difference from another version. The feminine article refers to version, understood after précédente.

   Based on: Original independent grammar exercise; the reference is for further grammar study, not the source of this sentence or an official PSC answer.

   Official reference ↗

2. Complétez : Vous pouvez compter ____ notre aide pour l’installation.

   1. à
   2. de
   3. par
   4. sur
   Show answer and explanation

   Correct answer: sur

   The expression compter sur means to rely on. The other prepositions do not complete that expression here.

   Based on: Original independent grammar exercise; the reference is for further grammar study, not the source of this sentence or an official PSC answer.

   Official reference ↗

3. Complétez : La mise à jour sera terminée ____ la fin de la journée; elle ne dépassera pas ce délai.

   1. depuis
   2. d’ici
   3. pendant que
   4. il y a
   Show answer and explanation

   Correct answer: d’ici

   D’ici introduces a future deadline. The second clause confirms that the work will be completed no later than that point.

   Based on: Original independent grammar exercise; the reference is for further grammar study, not the source of this sentence or an official PSC answer.

   Official reference ↗

4. Complétez : Le colis sera livré ____ deux jours, donc vendredi.

   1. depuis
   2. dans
   3. il y a
   4. pendant que
   Show answer and explanation

   Correct answer: dans

   Dans marks the delay before a future event. Depuis and il y a point to other time relationships; pendant que needs a clause.

   Based on: Original independent grammar exercise; the reference is for further grammar study, not the source of this sentence or an official PSC answer.

   Official reference ↗

5. Complétez : Merci de répondre ____ courriel avant mardi.

   1. à ce
   2. de ce
   3. en ce
   4. sur ce
   Show answer and explanation

   Correct answer: à ce

   Répondre à un courriel requires à. With the masculine singular noun courriel and demonstrative ce, the phrase is à ce courriel.

   Based on: Original independent grammar exercise; the reference is for further grammar study, not the source of this sentence or an official PSC answer.

   Official reference ↗

6. Complétez : Les fiches sont rangées ____ les deux classeurs de gauche, et non sur la table.

   1. dans
   2. chez
   3. envers
   4. parmi de
   Show answer and explanation

   Correct answer: dans

   Dans locates the sheets inside the filing binders. Chez and envers cannot express that relationship here, and parmi de is malformed.

   Based on: Original independent grammar exercise; the reference is for further grammar study, not the source of this sentence or an official PSC answer.

   Official reference ↗

7. Complétez : Nous participons ____ séance d’information.

   1. de la
   2. sur la
   3. à la
   4. pour la
   Show answer and explanation

   Correct answer: à la

   Participer à takes the preposition à. Séance is feminine singular, giving à la séance.

   Based on: Original independent grammar exercise; the reference is for further grammar study, not the source of this sentence or an official PSC answer.

   Official reference ↗

8. Complétez : Ce formulaire permet ____ réserver une salle.

   1. à
   2. pour
   3. de
   4. en
   Show answer and explanation

   Correct answer: de

   Permettre de followed by an infinitive expresses what the form enables. The infinitive réserver therefore follows de.

   Based on: Original independent grammar exercise; the reference is for further grammar study, not the source of this sentence or an official PSC answer.

   Official reference ↗

9. Complétez : Cette fiche est conforme ____ modèle validé.

   1. du
   2. au
   3. par le
   4. sur le
   Show answer and explanation

   Correct answer: au

   Conforme takes à; à plus le contracts to au before the masculine singular modèle.

   Based on: Original independent grammar exercise; the reference is for further grammar study, not the source of this sentence or an official PSC answer.

   Official reference ↗

10. Complétez : Ces documents doivent rester confidentiels ____ la fin de l’examen du dossier.

    1. jusqu’à
    2. depuis
    3. pendant que
    4. malgré que
    Show answer and explanation

    Correct answer: jusqu’à

    Jusqu’à introduces the endpoint of the confidentiality period. The options with que require a clause rather than this noun group.

    Based on: Original independent grammar exercise; the reference is for further grammar study, not the source of this sentence or an official PSC answer.

    Official reference ↗

11. Complétez : Le technicien a réussi ____ résoudre la panne.

    1. de
    2. à
    3. pour
    4. en
    Show answer and explanation

    Correct answer: à

    Réussir à followed by an infinitive means to manage to do something. À is needed before résoudre.

    Based on: Original independent grammar exercise; the reference is for further grammar study, not the source of this sentence or an official PSC answer.

    Official reference ↗

12. Complétez : L’atelier a duré ____ trois heures, puis la salle a fermé.

    1. depuis
    2. d’ici
    3. envers
    4. pendant
    Show answer and explanation

    Correct answer: pendant

    Pendant introduces the duration of the completed workshop. The sentence gives a finished interval followed by another event.

    Based on: Original independent grammar exercise; the reference is for further grammar study, not the source of this sentence or an official PSC answer.

    Official reference ↗

13. Complétez : La panne a empêché la séance prévue lundi; nous l’avons reportée ____ mardi.

    1. de
    2. dans
    3. chez
    4. à
    Show answer and explanation

    Correct answer: à

    Reporter une activité à a new date takes à. Mardi names the replacement date rather than a duration.

    Based on: Original independent grammar exercise; the reference is for further grammar study, not the source of this sentence or an official PSC answer.

    Official reference ↗

14. Complétez : La nouvelle réceptionniste travaille ici ____ janvier et y travaille encore.

    1. il y a
    2. pendant que
    3. depuis
    4. dès que
    Show answer and explanation

    Correct answer: depuis

    Depuis links the starting point in January to a situation that continues in the present. The last clause makes that continuity explicit.

    Based on: Original independent grammar exercise; the reference is for further grammar study, not the source of this sentence or an official PSC answer.

    Official reference ↗