Breakdown of Cette masse de données explique l'engouement actuel.
ce
this (before a noun)
de
of / from / any (in negative sentences) / about (concerning)
expliquer
to explain
la donnée
the datum, data
actuel
current
la masse
the mass
l'engouement
the craze (m)
Questions & Answers about Cette masse de données explique l'engouement actuel.
Why is the verb explique in the singular when it follows the plural noun données?
With collective nouns like une masse de or un groupe de, verb agreement depends on emphasis. Because explique is singular, the speaker is emphasizing the unified entity (Cette masse) rather than the individual pieces of data. If they wanted to emphasize the data itself, they could technically use the plural expliquent.
Why do we use de instead of des in Cette masse de données?
Just like with standard expressions of quantity like beaucoup de, collective nouns are followed by a simple de. You would only use des (which combines de + les) if you were talking about specific, previously identified data, such as la masse des données que tu as collectées.
I often confuse actuel with the English word "actual". Are they related?
Actuel is a classic false friend! In French, it means "current" or "present-day", which fits perfectly here to describe the current craze. If you want to say "actual" in the sense of "real" or "true", you need to use words like réel or véritable.
What exactly is an engouement?
Un engouement refers to a sudden, strong enthusiasm or a passing fad. It is exactly equivalent to a "craze" or a "mania" in English. You will often see it paired with prepositions like pour when specifying the object of the craze, such as un engouement pour la technologie.
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