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Cela implique un vrai changement.

Cela implique un vrai changement.
That implies a real change.
From Lesson 442:Verbs that change meaning when reflexive·French

Breakdown of Cela implique un vrai changement.

vrai
true
le changement
the change
impliquer
to imply, to involve

Questions & Answers about Cela implique un vrai changement.

The current lesson is about pronominal verbs, but impliquer isn't pronominal here. What happens if we use s'impliquer?
Without a reflexive pronoun, impliquer means to imply or to involve, as seen in this sentence. However, when made pronominal, the meaning shifts idiomatically. S'impliquer means to get involved or to commit oneself personally, such as s'impliquer dans un projet (to get involved in a project).
Why is vrai placed before the noun changement rather than after it?
Vrai is an adjective that changes nuance based on its placement. Before the noun, it means real, genuine, or significant, which fits perfectly here for a real change. After the noun, it strictly means true as opposed to false, as in une histoire vraie (a true story).
Does impliquer only translate to to imply?
No, it is also the standard French verb for to involve or to entail. For example, Ce travail implique de voyager means This job involves traveling. You have to rely on context to know whether it means to imply or to involve, though both suggest a direct consequence.
Could I say Ça implique instead of Cela implique?
Yes, absolutely. Cela is simply the more formal, written version of ça. Since impliquer is a slightly elevated vocabulary word, cela pairs very naturally with it, but in everyday spoken French, you would almost always hear Ça implique.

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