Ready to make your explanations clearer in French? This lesson gathers natural spoken frames you can use right away. Practice them out loud and try to notice them in real conversation.
Level B1: In this short lesson you'll practice 12 handy French phrases for explaining results, listing reasons, comparing ideas, and giving quick summaries. These are CEFR-aligned, conversational frames you can repeat, reuse, and adapt in real talk.
After this lesson you'll be able to:
Recognize and use 12 common spoken frames for giving explanations and comparisons.
Make short, clear explanations: give reasons, contrast ideas, and restate simply.
Practice speaking each phrase aloud and use them in a short conversation.
Ready? Let's go!
When you tap play on phrases, we track your progress through this lesson.
1. Reading + Listening Practice
Hear core phrases, repeat aloud.
C'est pour ça que ___.
That's why ___ .
Meaning: That's why ___.
When to use: Use this to state the result or consequence of what you just explained.
Tip: Don't swap with 'parce que' — 'c'est pour ça que' points to a result, not the cause clause.
Il a raté le train. C'est pour ça qu'il est en retard.
He missed the train. That's why he's late.
Le site est fermé aujourd'hui. C'est pour ça que je n'ai pas commandé.
The site is closed today. That's why I didn't order.
Le problème, c'est que ___.
The problem is that ___ .
Meaning: The problem is that ___.
When to use: Use this to highlight the main obstacle or issue in a situation.
Nous voulons agrandir l'équipe. Le problème, c'est que le budget est limité.
We want to expand the team. The problem is that the budget is limited.
Je comprends la théorie. Le problème, c'est que je manque de pratique.
I understand the theory. The problem is that I lack practice.
C'est un peu comme ___.
It's similar to ___ .
Meaning: It's similar to ___.
When to use: Use this when you compare something unfamiliar to a more familiar idea.
C'est un peu comme prendre un taxi: tu paies et tu vas là-bas rapidement.
It's a bit like taking a taxi: you pay and get there quickly.
C'est un peu comme une réunion sans agenda: tout le monde parle mais rien n'avance.
It's a bit like a meeting without an agenda: everyone talks but nothing moves forward.
La différence, c'est ___.
The difference is ___ .
Meaning: The difference is ___.
When to use: Use this to contrast two ideas simply and clearly.
Les deux propositions sont bonnes. La différence, c'est le prix.
Both proposals are good. The difference is the price.
La différence, c'est que l'une est en ligne et l'autre en présentiel.
The difference is that one is online and the other in person.
Il y a deux raisons : ___ et ___.
There are two reasons: ___ and ___ .
Meaning: There are two reasons: ___ and ___.
When to use: Use this to introduce a short list of two reasons or causes.
Il a quitté l'entreprise. Il y a deux raisons : le manque de promotion et le salaire.
He left the company. There are two reasons: lack of promotion and salary.
On a annulé l'événement. Il y a deux raisons : la pluie et l'absence d'artistes.
We canceled the event. There are two reasons: the rain and the absence of artists.
Autrement dit, ___.
To put it another way, ___.
Meaning: To put it another way, ___.
When to use: Use this to restate or simplify an idea for clarity.
La réunion a été confuse. Autrement dit, nous devons clarifier les objectifs.
The meeting was confusing. In other words, we need to clarify the goals.
Il est débordé par les e-mails. Autrement dit, il ne peut pas répondre rapidement.
He's overwhelmed by emails. To put it another way, he can't reply quickly.
Le plus simple pour l'expliquer, c'est ___.
The easiest way to explain it is ___.
Meaning: The easiest way to explain it is ___.
When to use: Use this when you want a simple, approachable explanation before details.
Tip: Beginners sometimes try to add too many details after this phrase; keep the first short example clear.
Le cloud peut sembler compliqué. Le plus simple pour l'expliquer, c'est de dire que c'est comme un disque dur en ligne.
The cloud can seem complicated. The easiest way to explain it is to say it's like an online hard drive.
La taxe est liée au revenu. Le plus simple pour l'expliquer, c'est de montrer un exemple chiffré.
The tax relates to income. The easiest way to explain it is to show a numeric example.
Ça veut dire que ___.
This means that ___.
Meaning: This means that ___.
When to use: Use this to explain the consequence or meaning of a fact or rule.
Il a passé l'examen. Ça veut dire qu'il peut commencer le stage.
He passed the exam. This means that he can start the internship.
Le magasin est fermé le dimanche. Ça veut dire que nous irons lundi.
The shop is closed on Sunday. This means that we'll go on Monday.
Dans ce cas, ___.
In this case, ___.
Meaning: In this case, ___.
When to use: Use this to limit your explanation to the current situation or example.
Dans ce cas, il vaut mieux annuler la commande.
In this case, it's better to cancel the order.
Si le client est allergique, dans ce cas, on change la recette.
If the customer is allergic, in this case we change the recipe.
Pour faire court, ___.
The short answer is ___.
Meaning: The short answer is ___.
When to use: Use this to give a brief direct response before any longer explanation.
Pour faire court, non, nous ne pouvons pas livrer demain.
The short answer is no, we can't deliver tomorrow.
Pour faire court, oui, la formation est utile.
The short answer is yes, the training is useful.
La règle de base, c'est ___.
The basic rule is ___.
Meaning: The basic rule is ___.
When to use: Use this to introduce a simple general rule or guideline.
La règle de base, c'est de vérifier les prix avant d'acheter.
The basic rule is to check prices before buying.
La règle de base, c'est d'arriver dix minutes en avance.
The basic rule is to arrive ten minutes early.
Pour faire simple, ___.
The simple version is ___ .
Meaning: The simple version is ___.
When to use: Use this to give a brief summary or simplified version of a complex idea.
Pour faire simple, on paie d'abord, puis on reçoit le service.
To put it simply, you pay first, then you receive the service.
Pour faire simple, l'algorithme trie les éléments par ordre d'importance.
The simple version is the algorithm sorts items by importance.
2. Conversational Listening Practice
Hear phrases in a real mini-conversation.
Anna explains why she missed a meeting.
What is Anna explaining about why she missed the meeting?
Anna
Le problème, c'est que le train a eu du retard.
The problem is that the train was delayed.
David
Ça veut dire que tu es arrivée après l'heure ?
That means you arrived late?
Anna
C'est pour ça que j'ai raté le début.
That's why I missed the start.
David
Autrement dit, tu ne pouvais pas prévenir ?
In other words, you couldn't warn us?
Anna
Dans ce cas, j'enverrai le compte rendu maintenant.
In that case, I'll send the minutes now.
3. Guided Practice
Quizzes and matching to lock in meaning.
Which French phrase best completes: '... the meeting was cancelled because of the weather' (The short answer is ___)?
Which phrase means 'The basic rule is...'?
Choose the phrase that best restates or simplifies an idea:
Which phrase fits: 'Compare to something familiar: It's a bit like ___'?
‘Pour faire court’ is used to give a quick summary or short answer.
To summarize quickly: ___.
Use ‘C'est pour ça que ...’ to state the resulting effect of an earlier fact.
If you want to explain the result: ___.
‘Autrement dit’ is the go-to phrase for restating in simpler words.
When you want to restate more simply: ___.
Match the core phrases
Match the extra phrases
4. Speaking Practice
Say phrases yourself (mic/recording).
Recording stays on your device only. Check speech uses your browser's speech tools when available.
