Practice FrenchC1
Parenthetical clauses and comment framing
At C1, French writers often insert short parenthetical comments to guide the reader, soften a claim, or clarify a point without breaking the main flow.
Main patterns
- ce qui est intéressant, ce qui me frappe, pour ainsi dire
- je dirais, à vrai dire, si l'on peut dire as comment framing
- parenthetical clauses can interrupt or follow the main clause: Il a, semble-t-il, changé d'avis.
Why it matters
These devices help the writer signal attitude, distance, or interpretation while keeping the main sentence moving.
Watch out
Parentheticals should sound like deliberate commentary, not random hesitation. Use them to guide the reader, not to clutter the sentence.
Try three examples
Example 1
Choose the sentence that uses a parenthetical comment naturally.
- Il a finalement changé d'avis.
- Il a, semble-t-il, changé d'avis.
- Il a vraiment changé d'avis.
- Il a soudain changé d'avis.
Show answer
Il a, semble-t-il, changé d'avis.
He has, it seems, changed his mind.
Example 2
A parenthetical can soften the claim: *Il a, ___, changé d'avis.*
Il a, ___, changé d'avis.
Show answer
semble-t-il
He has, it seems, changed his mind.
Example 3
To frame the comment, the phrase is: *___, la situation est plus simple.*
___, la situation est plus simple.
Show answer
À vrai dire
To tell the truth, the situation is simpler.
Practise this lesson
Continue with the interactive exercise set and save your progress.