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C'est sur ce forum qu'il diffuse ce canular.

C'est sur ce forum qu'il diffuse ce canular.
It is on this forum that he spreads this hoax.
From Lesson 411:Logical connector for contradiction (or)·French

Questions & Answers about C'est sur ce forum qu'il diffuse ce canular.

Why do we use C'est ... qu'il instead of just saying Il diffuse ce canular sur ce forum?
This structure is called a cleft sentence (mise en relief). Just like in English, framing it as C'est ... que (It is ... that) adds strong emphasis. Here, it highlights that he spread the hoax on this specific forum, rather than somewhere else.
Why does the second part use qu'il (que) instead of qui?
In this emphatic structure, you only use qui when you are emphasizing the subject of the sentence (for example, C'est lui qui diffuse le canular). Because we are emphasizing a location (sur ce forum), the main clause's subject is still il, so we must use que.
Is diffuse a false friend here?
It is a partial false friend. While the English word diffuse usually means to spread out thinly or scatter, the French verb diffuser is the standard, everyday term for broadcasting, airing, or distributing information, media, and rumors.
What exactly is a canular?
A canular is a hoax, prank, or practical joke. In the context of the internet, it specifically refers to a fabricated story or piece of fake information meant to deceive people.

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