C1
Register shifts and phrasing
At C1, French is not only about correctness. It is also about choosing the right register for the situation, whether that is a report, an email, a meeting, or a casual exchange.
Main patterns
- Use vous instead of tu when distance or formality matters.
- Prefer cela / ceci over ça in more formal writing.
- Prefer il convient de, il est préférable de, or nous proposons de in formal contexts.
- Use on for neutral spoken French, but nous can sound more formal or precise in writing.
- Turn a blunt verb into a softer phrasing when the context needs diplomacy.
Common shifts
- Tu peux m'envoyer le fichier ? → Pourriez-vous m'envoyer le fichier ?
- Ça marche. → Cela fonctionne.
- On doit changer le plan. → Il convient de modifier le plan.
- Nous allons regarder ça. → Nous allons examiner cette question.
Watch out
A sentence can be grammatically correct and still sound wrong for the context. C1 learners need to hear the difference between plain French and French that fits the setting.
Try three examples
Example 1
Choose the most formal phrasing for "We need to change the plan."
- On doit changer le plan.
- Il convient de modifier le plan.
- Ça faut changer le plan.
- Nous devons change le plan.
Show answer
Il convient de modifier le plan.
It is appropriate to modify the plan.
Example 2
A softer formal phrase: *Il ___ de signaler ce problème.*
Il ___ de signaler ce problème.
Show answer
convient
It is appropriate to report this problem.
Example 3
Use a formal written subject pronoun: *___ fonctionne mieux dans ce cas.*
___ fonctionne mieux dans ce cas.
Show answer
Cela
This works better in this case.
Practise this lesson
Continue with the interactive exercise set and save your progress.