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Partant in French: therefore, starting from or willing?

Edited by Chris Lee · Updated · About the library

Read partant as a formal therefore, then distinguish partant de cette idée and être partant. A short reading, three-way comparison and four questions.

In short

As a formal connector, partant means “therefore” or “consequently”. Compare partant de cette idée (“starting from this idea”) and je suis partant (“I’m willing” or “I’m up for it”). The surrounding words show which meaning fits.

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Two colleagues compare stacks of papers at a table.
The colleagues consider a conclusion introduced by partant. Illustration: Atelier

A short editorial note

Deux versions, une comparaison difficile

Les deux versions du rapport ne couvrent pas la même période. La première s’arrête en juin ; la seconde inclut juillet et août. Partant, comparer directement leurs totaux donnerait une image trompeuse1 de l’évolution. Il faut d’abord définir une période commune.

L’équipe propose donc de reprendre les données de janvier à juin dans les deux versions. Les résultats de juillet et août seront présentés séparément. Partant de cette base commune2, les rédacteurs pourront examiner les écarts et expliquer les changements. Cette méthode permettra au lecteur de comparer des périodes de même durée.

Read it in English

The two versions of the report do not cover the same period. The first stops in June; the second includes July and August. Consequently, directly comparing their totals would give a misleading picture of the change. A common period must first be defined.

The team therefore proposes using January-to-June data in both versions. July and August results will be presented separately. Starting from this common basis, the writers will be able to examine the differences and explain the changes. This method will let the reader compare periods of the same length.

What does partant mean in French?

Partant, la comparaison serait trompeuse.Therefore, the comparison would be misleading.

Focus: a connector introduces the conclusion

partant + comma + clause

Partant de cette base, ils comparent les résultats.Starting from this basis, they compare the results.

Focus: a participle takes a starting-point complement

partant de + noun phrase

Je suis partante pour participer.I’m up for taking part.

Focus: an adjective expresses willingness; this speaker is a woman

être partant / partante pour + infinitive

In the reading, the first partant links different reporting periods to a misleading comparison. Replace it with par conséquent. The second belongs to partir de: it introduces the basis from which the writers work. Replace that phrase with en prenant cette base comme point de départ.

Reason first, conclusion second

The order matters
ReasonLinkConclusion
Les périodes sont différentes.Partant,les totaux sont difficiles à comparer.
Les périodes sont différentes.Doncles totaux sont difficiles à comparer.

Donc is the simpler choice in an ordinary exchange. In a formal note, partant gives the same direction: reason, then conclusion. Keep the conditional in donnerait when paraphrasing the reading: it describes what a direct comparison would produce.

Question 1No account needed
What does the first Partant in the reading introduce?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

A consequence of using different periods.. The different periods explain why a direct comparison would mislead.

Question 2No account needed
In Partant de cette base commune, which meaning fits?

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Starting from this common basis.. De cette base commune is the starting-point complement of the participle.

Question 3No account needed
A woman agrees to join the project. Complete her reply.Oui, je suis ___ pour participer.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

partante. With être, the adjective agrees with the speaker: feminine partante.

Question 4No account needed
Replace the consequence connector with a plainer equivalent.

Choose one answer.

Answer and explanation

Par conséquent. Par conséquent preserves the movement from the reason to its conclusion.

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