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À la lumière de: read a decision revised after new information

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Read a short French planning note, see how à la lumière de introduces new information, and practise de, du and des with this formal phrase.

In short

À la lumière de means “in the light of”. It introduces information used to understand a situation or revise a judgement: À la lumière de vos réponses, nous avons modifié le programme. Follow it with a noun phrase.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn

Two colleagues reviewing papers together at a sunlit office table.
Colleagues reconsider a training plan à la lumière de new replies. Illustration: Atelier

A team is preparing an online training session. Read the first plan and the revised note. What information changes the plan, and which decision follows?

Planning note · C1

Une formation, deux horaires

Lundi · Première proposition

Nous proposons une formation en ligne jeudi à 18 heures. Une seule séance devrait permettre à toute l’équipe de découvrir la nouvelle méthode. Merci de confirmer votre disponibilité avant mardi soir.

Mercredi · Note révisée

Les réponses reçues mardi montrent que six collègues travaillent encore à 18 heures. Trois autres seront en déplacement. À la lumière de ces réponses1, le créneau proposé paraît mal adapté2 aux disponibilités de l’équipe.

Nous proposons donc deux séances, jeudi à 12 heures et vendredi à 19 heures, avec le même contenu. Chaque personne pourra choisir la séance qui lui convient. À la lumière du bilan3 de cette première semaine, nous déciderons ensuite si ce fonctionnement doit être maintenu4.

Read it in English

Monday: We suggest an online training session on Thursday at 6 pm. A single session should allow the whole team to discover the new method. Please confirm your availability by Tuesday evening.

Wednesday: Tuesday’s replies show that six colleagues are still working at 6 pm. Three others will be away on business. In the light of these replies, the proposed slot seems poorly suited to the team’s availability.

We therefore suggest two sessions, Thursday at noon and Friday at 7 pm, with the same content. Everyone will be able to choose the session that suits them. In the light of the review of this first week, we will then decide whether to keep this arrangement.

What does the phrase point back to?

Information → judgement → decision
InformationJudgement or decision
les réponses de mardiThe 18.00 slot seems unsuitable.
le bilan de la première semaineThe team will decide whether to keep two sessions.

The first phrase points to replies already received. The second points to a review that will happen later. The surrounding verbs carry that timeline: paraît gives the present judgement; nous déciderons places the decision ahead.

Build the noun complement
Starting noun phraseFull expression
ce messageà la lumière de ce message
le bilanà la lumière du bilan
les réponsesà la lumière des réponses
une précisionà la lumière d’une précision

Cette remarque prend un autre sens à la lumière de la phrase précédente.

This remark takes on a different meaning in the light of the preceding sentence.

This also works for interpretation. A previous sentence can change how you understand a remark. In everyday conversation, avec ces nouvelles informations is a simpler way to introduce the same information; à la lumière de suits a report, review or considered written reply.

Question 1No account needed
Why does the team revise the original slot?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Several colleagues cannot attend at 18.00.. Tuesday’s replies reveal availability problems. Those replies are the basis of the revised plan.

Question 2No account needed
What will inform the later decision?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Le bilan de la première semaine.. The final sentence places the decision after a review of the first week.

Question 3No account needed
Complete the expression.À la lumière ___ bilan, nous déciderons.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

du. The expression keeps de, and de + le bilan contracts to du bilan.

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