Emphasizing Details with "C'est ... que"
To highlight a specific detail in a sentence—like exactly where or how something happens—wrap the prepositional phrase between c'est (it is) and que (that).
Pattern: C'est + [prepositional phrase] + que + [rest of the sentence]
| It is at the top of the tree that the eagle nests. | C'est à la cime de l'arbre que l'aigle niche. |
| It is in the nest that the bird sleeps. | C'est dans le nid que l'oiseau dort. |
You can emphasize locations with prepositions like à, dans, or au:
| It is in the marsh that the swan nests. | C'est au marais que le cygne niche. |
| It is in this tree that the owl lays its eggs. | C'est dans cet arbre que la chouette pond ses œufs. |
It also works for emphasizing tools, methods, or reasons using prepositions like avec (with) or grâce à (thanks to):
| It is with its beak that the swan catches fish. | C'est avec son bec que le cygne attrape les poissons. |
| It is thanks to its feathers that the owl flies. | C'est grâce à ses plumes que la chouette vole. |
Remember that que contracts to qu' before a vowel or mute h:
| It is in the marsh that they observe the birds. | C'est dans le marais qu'ils observent les oiseaux. |
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