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Fait or opinion? Read a French meeting report

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Read a short French report and two reactions. Separate checkable details, judgements and a prediction, then choose faithful summaries in a B1 quiz.

In short

Un fait is a fact or event; une opinion is a view or judgement. A factual statement gives something you can check, such as a time or number. An opinion evaluates it: La réunion a duré deux heures gives a duration; elle était trop longue gives a judgement.

Yellow the idea to rememberBlue French to learn

Two association members discussing a meeting after it ends.
Nora and Karim share des opinions about the same meeting. Illustration: Atelier

B1 reading · a report and two reactions

Une réunion, plusieurs regards

Le compte rendu

Le compte rendu1 de l’association indique que la réunion a commencé à neuf heures et s’est terminée à onze heures. Vingt-quatre personnes étaient présentes. Trois propositions ont été discutées : créer un groupe de conversation, organiser des rencontres mensuelles et proposer des activités le samedi.

Le groupe de conversation a été retenu2. Les membres ont décidé de se réunir une fois par mois. La première rencontre est prévue le 6 novembre. Le nombre de participants à cette rencontre n’est pas encore connu.

Deux réactions

Nora donne son opinion : « À mon avis, cette réunion était très utile. Nous avons enfin pris une décision. » Karim n’est pas du même avis : « Deux heures, c’était trop long. Je trouve que nous avons passé trop de temps à discuter des horaires. »

Nora ajoute : « Je pense que notre première rencontre attirera3 une trentaine de personnes. » Karim répond qu’il préfère attendre les inscriptions avant de donner un chiffre.

Le résumé de Léa

Selon le compte rendu, la réunion a duré deux heures et vingt-quatre personnes étaient présentes. Nora la juge4 utile, tandis que Karim la trouve trop longue. Nora prévoit environ trente participants à la première rencontre. Le total reste à confirmer.

Read it in English

The association’s minutes state that the meeting began at nine and ended at eleven. Twenty-four people were present. Three proposals were discussed: creating a conversation group, organising monthly meetings and offering activities on Saturdays.

The conversation group was selected. The members decided to meet once a month. The first meeting is scheduled for 6 November. The number of participants at that meeting is not yet known.

Nora gives her opinion: “In my view, this meeting was very useful. We finally made a decision.” Karim disagrees: “Two hours was too long. I think we spent too much time discussing the times.”

Nora adds: “I think our first meeting will attract around thirty people.” Karim replies that he would rather wait for registrations before giving a figure.

According to the minutes, the meeting lasted two hours and twenty-four people were present. Nora considers it useful, while Karim finds it too long. Nora predicts around thirty participants at the first meeting. The total remains to be confirmed.

How do you tell a fact from an opinion in French?

What is the sentence doing?
French exampleKind of statementWhat to keep in a summary
Vingt-quatre personnes étaient présentes.A checkable detail about the meeting.The source and the number.
La réunion était très utile.An evaluation.Nora is the person judging it useful.
La rencontre attirera une trentaine de personnes.A prediction.It is a future estimate from Nora.

À mon avis and je trouve que often introduce an opinion. Je pense que can also introduce a belief about a checkable detail: Je pense que la réunion commence à neuf heures. Read the claim itself. In this report, une trentaine means around thirty, so keep the estimate when you summarise.

Question 1No account needed
How many people attended the completed meeting, according to the minutes?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Twenty-four.. The minutes give twenty-four attendees. Around thirty is Nora’s prediction for the next event.

Question 2No account needed
Which sentence contains an evaluation?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

La réunion était très utile.. Utile evaluates the meeting. The time and number of proposals are checkable details.

Question 3No account needed
Choose the faithful summary of Karim’s reaction.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Karim trouve la réunion trop longue.. Karim judges two hours too long. He neither speaks for everyone nor changes the duration.

Question 4No account needed
How should you report Nora’s number for the first meeting?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Nora prévoit environ trente participants.. Prévoit keeps the future prediction; environ preserves the approximate number.

Question 5No account needed
What does un fait name in Il faut vérifier les faits?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

A factual matter to check.. Here faits is the plural noun. In il a fait, fait is the past participle of faire.

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