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Cheat sheet

Follow a French explanation: reason, result or example?

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

A French listening cheat sheet for parce que, donc, puis and par exemple. Separate reasons, results, sequence and limited examples with a four-question check.

In short

A French explanation tells you a point and how the other details support it. Parce que introduces a reason; donc introduces a result; par exemple gives a case. Puis puts events in order, so check for a reason before summarising one event as the cause of another.

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Two colleagues discuss an explanation at a French office table.
An explication can give a reason, a result or an example. Illustration: Atelier

Suivre une explication · fiche

1 · Find the point being explained

Ask “What situation is the speaker explaining?” Keep the time limit too: en ce moment makes the claim temporary.

Les délais sont plus longs en ce moment.The waiting times are longer at the moment.

2 · Find the reason

The reason answers “Why?” It can follow or precede a reformulated main point. Keep the direction of the explanation clear.

parce que / carbecause / for: a reason follows

Les délais sont plus longs parce que l’équipe est réduite.Waiting times are longer because the team is smaller.

3 · Follow the consequence

The same relationship can be told from cause to result. Here the smaller team is the cause and longer waiting times are the result.

donc / par conséquentso / consequently

L’équipe est réduite, donc les délais sont plus longs.The team is smaller, so waiting times are longer.

4 · Keep sequence separate from cause

Puis says what happened next. A summary that adds “because” needs support from the surrounding explanation.

puis / ensuitethen / next: sequence

La réunion a commencé, puis Paul est arrivé.The meeting began, then Paul arrived.

5 · Keep an example inside the claim’s limits

Certains, parfois and dans ce cas limit a statement. One Friday meeting can illustrate changed schedules while other schedules stay the same.

par exemplefor example: one case
certains / parfoissome / sometimes

Certains horaires ont changé. Par exemple, notre réunion du vendredi commence plus tôt.Some times have changed. For example, our Friday meeting starts earlier.

6 · Use the reformulation to check the point

Autrement dit gives another way of saying the point. Compare it with what came before, especially words such as certains and tous.

Certains horaires ont changé. Autrement dit, une partie du programme a été modifiée.Some times have changed. In other words, part of the programme has been modified.

How do you follow a spoken explanation in French?

Pourquoi ce changement ?
  1. Léa

    Pourquoi certains horaires ont-ils changé ?

    Why have some times changed?

  2. Samir

    Parce que l’équipe est réduite cette semaine. On regroupe donc certaines activités.

    Because the team is smaller this week. So we’re combining some activities.

  3. Samir

    Par exemple, on regroupera les deux réunions du vendredi en une seule séance à neuf heures.

    For example, we’ll combine the two Friday meetings into one session at nine.

  4. Léa

    D’accord. Donc, cela concerne une partie du programme de cette semaine ?

    All right. So this concerns part of this week’s programme?

  5. Samir

    Oui, c’est ça. Les autres horaires restent les mêmes.

    Yes, that’s right. The other times remain the same.

Question 1No account needed
What reason does Samir give for the changes?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

The team is smaller this week.. Samir’s parce que clause gives the reduced team as the reason for this week’s changes.

Question 2No account needed
What does the sentence establish?La réunion a commencé, puis Paul est arrivé.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

The meeting began before Paul arrived.. Puis gives the order of events; the sentence supplies no reason for starting.

Question 3No account needed
What role do the Friday meetings play in Samir’s explanation?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

They illustrate how some activities are being combined.. Par exemple introduces one case of combining activities in the revised programme.

Question 4No account needed
Which summary preserves the scope of the explanation?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Some activities are combined this week because the team is smaller.. The explanation concerns some activities this week; Samir confirms that the other times stay the same.

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