Breakdown of Il est difficile de déterminer précisément ce que fait la cellule.
être
to be
difficile
difficult
de
of / from / any (in negative sentences) / about (concerning)
faire
to do, to make
Questions & Answers about Il est difficile de déterminer précisément ce que fait la cellule.
Why does this sentence use 'ce que' instead of 'ce qui' for 'what'?
Why is the word order ce que fait la cellule instead of ce que la cellule fait?
Both are grammatically correct! However, in French, when an indirect question or relative clause begins with ce que and the subject is a noun (like la cellule), it is very common to put the verb before the subject for a better flow. This is called stylistic inversion, and you will often see it when the verb is short.
Could I say C'est difficile de instead of Il est difficile de?
Yes, in everyday spoken French, you will often hear C'est difficile de déterminer. However, Il est difficile de is the standard, grammatically formal form for impersonal expressions (where 'it' doesn't refer to a specific object) in written French. Be careful not to confuse this with C'est difficile à, which is used when 'it' refers to a specific noun mentioned earlier.
Why does the adverb précisément come after the verb déterminer?