Question 1

Why use the phrase en l'espace de instead of just saying en une semaine?

Accepted Answer

While en une semaine (in a week) would be grammatically correct, en l'espace de (in the space of / in the span of) adds emphasis. It highlights how remarkable or surprising it is that such a massive change (une métamorphose) happened within such a short, confined timeframe.

Question 2

Could I say dans l'espace de since dans also means 'in'?

Accepted Answer

No, en l'espace de is a fixed idiomatic expression for time. Even though dans is often used for physical spaces or future timeframes, this specific phrase for duration always requires en.

Question 3

Why is there a comma and c'est in the middle? Couldn't we just say Ce que j'ai vu est une métamorphose?

Accepted Answer

While omitting c'est is sometimes done in formal writing, it sounds unnatural in everyday French. When you start a sentence with a phrase like Ce que... or Ce qui... (meaning 'What...'), it is standard to 'resume' the subject with a comma and c'est. It gives the sentence a natural rhythm and adds emphasis to what follows.

Question 4

As a quick refresher, why does this sentence start with Ce que and not Ce qui?

Accepted Answer

You use ce que because the 'what' acts as the direct object of the verb. It is the thing being seen (j'ai vu). If the 'what' were the subject performing an action, you would use ce qui instead, such as in Ce qui s'est passé... (What happened...).

Ce que j'ai vu, c'est une métamorphose en l'espace d'une semaine.

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