Breakdown of L'entreprise ferait faillite, mais il ne s'agit que d'une rumeur.
une
a / an (feminine)
mais
but
l'entreprise
the company (f)
faire
to do, to make
il
it (impersonal subject)
la rumeur
the rumor
la faillite
the bankruptcy
ne... que
only (with ne)
s'agir de
to be about / to be a matter of
Questions & Answers about L'entreprise ferait faillite, mais il ne s'agit que d'une rumeur.
How does il s'agit de translate in this sentence?
Why is it il ne s'agit que instead of just using seulement?
The ne ... que structure is a common restriction that means 'only' or 'nothing but'. Wrapping it around the conjugated verb gives il ne s'agit que de, meaning 'it is only a matter of'. You could also say il s'agit seulement d'une rumeur, but ne ... que is widely used and sounds very natural to native speakers.
Why is the conditional tense (ferait) used when the English says 'is reportedly going'?
This is a classic concept often called the journalistic conditional. French frequently uses the conditional tense (ferait) to report unconfirmed information, allegations, or rumors. It signals that the speaker does not guarantee the truth of the statement, which English often handles by adding words like 'reportedly' or 'allegedly'.
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