Question 1

Why does the second half of the sentence use c'est instead of il est to refer back to the result?

Accepted Answer

In French, when you describe or identify something using a noun phrase (an article plus a noun, like une grande différence), you must use c'est. You would only use il est if it were followed directly by a stand-alone adjective.

Question 2

The current lesson is about entre and parmi. If I wanted to expand this sentence to specify what the difference is between, which preposition would I use?

Accepted Answer

You would use entre. When pointing out a difference between explicit items or parties, you always use entre (e.g., une grande différence entre les deux méthodes). Parmi means "among" a broader, less defined group and is not used to compare specific differences.

Question 3

Why does the adjective grande come before the noun différence?

Accepted Answer

Adjectives describing size, such as grand and petit, fall under the common "BAGS" rule (Beauty, Age, Goodness, Size). These specific adjectives are almost always placed before the noun they modify, unlike most French adjectives which follow the noun.

Question 4

Are there any important liaisons to pronounce when reading this sentence out loud?

Accepted Answer

Yes, there is a very common (though technically optional) liaison between est and exceptionnel, sounding like "est-T-exceptionnel". There is also a mandatory liaison between c'est and une, which is pronounced "c'est-T-une" to ensure a smooth flow between the vowel sounds.

Ce résultat est exceptionnel, c'est une grande différence.

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