Learn French: Ce que je préfère, c'est un sketch vraiment subtil.

Ce que je préfère, c'est un sketch vraiment subtil.

What I prefer is a really subtle sketch.

Breakdown of Ce que je préfère, c'est un sketch vraiment subtil.

Questions & Answers about Ce que je préfère, c'est un sketch vraiment subtil.

Why does this sentence use Ce que instead of Ce qui?

We use ce que because it acts as the direct object of the verb préfère (meaning you prefer what?). If the "what" was doing the action (acting as the subject), we would use ce qui instead, like in the phrase ce qui est drôle (what is funny).

Why is there a comma before c'est? Is it required?

Yes, the comma is standard in French for this emphasizing structure. It separates the setup (Ce que je préfère) from the reveal (c'est un sketch...). This creates a slight pause that heavily highlights the second half of the sentence.

Does un sketch mean a quick pencil drawing here, just like in English?

Not quite! In French, un sketch almost exclusively refers to a comedy skit or a short comedic performance. If you want to talk about a quick drawing, you would use the word un croquis.

Why are the words vraiment subtil placed after the noun sketch?

In French, most adjectives come after the noun they describe. Because the adverb vraiment (really) modifies the adjective subtil (subtle), they travel together as a single descriptive block and stay right after the noun.