Breakdown of Or, la science prouve que la terre est ronde.
être
to be
que
that (introducing a clause)
rond
round
la terre
the earth, ground
prouver
to prove
or
yet / now (conjunction)
la science
the science
Questions & Answers about Or, la science prouve que la terre est ronde.
Why doesn't or mean "or" (as in a choice) here?
It is a major false friend! The French word for a choice between two things is ou. The French word or is a logical connector used to introduce a twist, a contradiction, or a new piece of evidence in an argument. In English, it usually translates to "yet", "however", or "now".
Can I just replace or with mais in this sentence?
You could, and the basic meaning would remain similar. However, or is more formal and carries a slightly different rhetorical weight. While mais simply links two contrasting ideas, or is often used in reasoning to introduce a pivotal new fact that builds toward a conclusion.
Why is there an article before science when the English translation just says "science"?
French requires a definite article (le, la, les) before abstract nouns and general concepts. Because this sentence refers to the concept of science as a whole, you must use la science.
Why is est ronde in the indicative mood and not the subjunctive?
Even though the sentence contains a que clause, the verb prouver (to prove) declares a certainty or an objective fact. The subjunctive is triggered by doubt, emotion, or subjective opinions. Since proving something establishes it as a fact, the normal indicative verb est is required.
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