Responsible Source Paraphrasing | Learn French in English

Sentence explanations

1. Je crains que mes paraphrases restent trop proches des sources.

   I worry that my paraphrases stay too close to the sources.

   crains

   fear; worry

   paraphrases

   paraphrases

   restent

   stay; remain

   proches

   close

   sources

   sources

   More detail

   crains is the first-person singular present form of craindre, “to fear” or “to worry.” The form tells us that the speaker is the one who has this concern. In the pattern je crains que ..., the clause after que commonly uses the subjunctive: Je crains qu’il soit trop tard. — “I’m afraid it’s too late.” paraphrases is the plural of the feminine noun paraphrase, meaning a restatement in different words. Here, mes means “my” and is plural to agree with paraphrases; the possessive form does not itself state how many paraphrases there are beyond the plural noun form. Example: Je relis mes paraphrases. — “I reread my paraphrases.” restent is the third-person plural present form of rester, “to stay” or “to remain.” In this sentence it is also the present subjunctive form, required by the preceding expression of worry: Je crains que mes paraphrases restent .... The same written form can occur as the present indicative in another context, such as Mes paraphrases restent claires. — “My paraphrases remain clear.” proches is the plural form of the adjective proche, “close” or “similar in distance or relation.” It agrees with paraphrases, so the adjective is plural; its base form is proche, not the noun beside it. With trop, the combination trop proches means “too close,” expressing an excessive degree. Example: Ces deux versions sont proches. — “These two versions are close/similar.” sources is the plural of the feminine noun source, “source.” In proches des sources, des is the contraction of de and les, giving “close to the sources”; it is not the plural indefinite article here. Example: Je consulte les sources. — “I consult the sources.” Together, Je crains que introduces the speaker’s worry, mes paraphrases identifies the speaker’s paraphrases, and restent trop proches des sources says that they continue to be excessively similar to the sources. The complete meaning is: “I worry that my paraphrases stay too close to the sources.”

2. Un bon test consiste à vérifier si la structure de la phrase a changé.

   A useful test is whether the sentence structure has changed.

   bon

   useful

   test

   test

   consiste à

   consists in

   vérifier

   to check

   structure

   structure

   phrase

   sentence

   a changé

   has changed

   More detail

   bon means “good” here in the sense of useful or effective. It is the masculine singular form agreeing with test; before a feminine singular noun, the corresponding form is bonne. Example: une bonne idée — “a good idea.” test is a masculine noun meaning a test or a way of checking something. The article un marks it as an indefinite singular noun, but does not by itself specify a numerical count. consiste à comes from consister à, “to consist in.” This construction is followed by an infinitive to state what the thing involves: Le travail consiste à lire. — “The work consists in reading.” vérifier is the infinitive “to check” or “to verify.” After consiste à, it names the activity that the test involves. The infinitive does not show a separate subject here; the test is presented as involving this checking activity. structure is a feminine noun meaning “structure.” In this sentence it refers to the organization of the sentence, matching the fixed translation’s “sentence structure.” phrase is a feminine noun meaning “sentence” in this context. The phrase la structure de la phrase uses de to connect the structure with what it belongs to: “the structure of the sentence.” a changé is the third-person singular passé composé of changer: a plus the past participle changé. Here it means “has changed.” The singular subject is la structure, so the auxiliary is a; the past participle does not add a feminine ending in this construction. Example: La situation a changé. — “The situation has changed.” Together, Un bon test presents a useful test, and consiste à vérifier says what that test involves. The clause si la structure de la phrase a changé identifies what is checked: whether the sentence’s structure has changed. The whole utterance therefore means: “A useful test is whether the sentence structure has changed.”

3. Parfois, je change le vocabulaire, mais je garde la logique originale.

   Sometimes I change vocabulary but keep the original logic.

   Parfois

   sometimes

   change

   change

   le vocabulaire

   the vocabulary

   mais

   but

   garde

   keep

   la logique

   the logic

   originale

   original

   More detail

   Parfois means “sometimes” and places the statement in an occasional, not constant, time frame. It is a useful frequency adverb: parfois, je... = “sometimes I...”. change is the present-tense form of changer, “to change”. In this sentence, je change means “I change”; the subject je supplies the first-person singular, while change is the verb form. Example: Je change de méthode. — “I change methods.” Le vocabulaire means “the vocabulary”. Vocabulaire is a masculine noun, so its singular definite article is le. Here it refers generally to vocabulary, not to a stated numerical quantity. Example: Le vocabulaire est simple. — “The vocabulary is simple.” Mais connects two contrasting actions: “but”. The contrast is between changing the vocabulary and retaining the logic. Garde is the present-tense form of garder, “to keep” or “to retain”. With the preceding subject je, je garde means “I keep”. The form garde is also used with il or elle, so the subject is important for identifying the person. Example: Je garde ce livre. — “I keep this book.” La logique means “the logic”. Logique is a feminine noun, so its singular definite article is la. Example: La logique est claire. — “The logic is clear.” Originale means “original” here, describing la logique. Its base form is the adjective original; originale is the feminine singular form agreeing with the feminine singular noun logique. The masculine singular form is original, as in un texte original; the feminine form is une idée originale. Together, Parfois, je change le vocabulaire means “Sometimes I change the vocabulary”. Mais je garde la logique originale contrasts that change with retaining the original logic. The complete utterance therefore means: “Sometimes I change vocabulary but keep the original logic.”

4. Dans ce cas, la paraphrase peut encore dépendre trop fortement de la source.

   Then the paraphrase may still depend too heavily on the source.

   Dans ce cas

   in this case

   paraphrase

   paraphrase

   peut

   may; can

   encore

   still

   dépendre

   depend

   trop

   too; excessively

   fortement

   strongly

   source

   source

   More detail

   Dans ce cas means “in this case.” dans introduces a situation or context, and ce cas is the demonstrative noun phrase “this case.” The phrase can be reused at the start of a sentence: Dans ce cas, je continue. — “In that case, I continue.” la paraphrase is the feminine noun phrase “the paraphrase.” The noun is paraphrase; la agrees with its grammatical gender and marks it as definite. The related indefinite phrase is une paraphrase, “a paraphrase.” peut is the third-person singular present form of pouvoir, “to be able to” or “may/can.” Here it expresses possibility, so the translation uses “may.” Pouvoir is followed by an infinitive: Il peut attendre. — “He may be able to wait” / “He can wait.” In this sentence, the infinitive is dépendre. encore means “still” here: the possibility described by peut remains true at this point. Its position before dépendre helps give the sense “may still depend.” dépendre is the infinitive “to depend.” It commonly takes de: dépendre de quelque chose, “to depend on something.” In the fixed sentence, peut dépendre means “may depend,” rather than asserting that the dependence definitely occurs. trop fortement combines two adverbs. fortement means “strongly,” modifying the degree or manner of dépendre; trop means “too” or “excessively,” marking that degree as beyond what is appropriate. Together they mean “too heavily” in this context. For example, Le résultat dépend trop fortement du prix. — “The result depends too heavily on the price.” source is the noun “source.” With de la, the phrase is de la source, “on the source” or “from the source” in the dependency expression used here. The fixed translation identifies the intended meaning as dependence on the source. A useful related contrast is la source (“the source”) versus les sources (“the sources”); the noun changes from singular to plural and the article changes with it. Taken together, Dans ce cas sets the situation, la paraphrase is the subject, and peut encore dépendre says that the paraphrase may still be dependent on something. trop fortement qualifies the extent of that dependence, while de la source identifies what it depends on. The complete meaning is: “Then the paraphrase may still depend too heavily on the source.”

5. Je devrais probablement refermer l'article avant de rédiger.

   I should probably close the article before drafting.

   Je devrais

   I should

   probablement

   probably

   refermer

   close

   article

   article

   avant de

   before

   rédiger

   draft

   More detail

   Je devrais means “I should.” devrais is the first-person singular conditional form of devoir (“to have to,” and in this use “should”). The conditional presents this as advice or a suitable course of action rather than a direct command. For example: Tu devrais vérifier. — “You should check.” probablement means “probably.” It is an adverb and comments on the likelihood of the action; it does not change the form of the verb. refermer means “close” here. It is an infinitive, and the prefix re- commonly contributes the idea of closing something again or bringing it back to a closed state. The ordinary verb fermer means “to close”; refermer is more specific when reopening or an open state is relevant. In this sentence, the intended object is the article. article means “article.” It is a masculine French noun: un article, but after the elided definite article it appears as l'article. The apostrophe in l'article reflects elision before the vowel sound; it does not make l' a separate gender-neutral form. avant de means “before” when it is followed by an infinitive. The pattern avant de + infinitive introduces an action that is earlier than the action in the main clause. For example: Avant de partir, vérifie la porte. — “Before leaving, check the door.” rédiger means “to draft” or “to write in a considered, structured way.” It is an infinitive here because it follows avant de. The sentence uses the general activity of drafting without stating an explicit object in this clause. Together, Je devrais probablement refermer l'article says “I should probably close the article.” avant de rédiger adds the earlier action: the speaker should close the article before drafting. The complete meaning is: “I should probably close the article before drafting.”

6. Cela peut t'obliger à reconstruire l'idée avec tes propres mots.

   That can force you to reconstruct the idea in your own terms.

   Cela

   That

   peut

   can

   t'obliger

   force you

   reconstruire

   reconstruct

   l'idée

   the idea

   propres

   own

   mots

   words

   More detail

   Cela is the demonstrative pronoun meaning “that” here. It points to an already understood situation or fact; unlike a demonstrative adjective such as cette, it stands on its own and does not accompany a noun. In this sentence, the translation confirms the intended reading “that.” peut is the third-person singular present form of pouvoir (“can,” “may,” or “be able to”). Here it expresses possibility or potential: “that can…”. The form agrees with the singular subject Cela. A useful pattern is X peut + infinitive: Cela peut aider. — “That can help.” t'obliger combines te (“you,” as the object) with the infinitive obliger (“to force” or “to compel”). The e of te is elided before the vowel of obliger, giving t'obliger. The reusable construction is obliger quelqu'un à + infinitive, meaning “to force someone to do something.” Here, t' identifies the person being forced, while the following à introduces the action. reconstruire is an infinitive meaning “to reconstruct” or “to rebuild.” In this sentence it is the action that the person is forced to perform. The pattern à + infinitive makes that action explicit: à reconstruire. For example, Elle doit reconstruire le plan. — “She has to reconstruct the plan.” l'idée means “the idea.” The noun is idée, and l' is the elided definite article la before a vowel. Idée is feminine, but the elided form l' does not visibly show that gender here. propres is the plural form of the adjective propre in the expression tes propres mots, meaning “your own words.” It agrees with the plural noun mots, not with the person addressed. In this use, propre emphasizes that the words belong to or come directly from the person: ses propres idées means “his/her own ideas.” mots is the plural of the noun mot, “word.” The possessive adjective tes marks the words as belonging to or being associated with “you”; mots is plural, which is why tes and propres are plural as well. The singular contrast is ton propre mot — “your own word.” Together, Cela peut gives “That can,” t'obliger à reconstruire gives “force you to reconstruct,” and l'idée avec tes propres mots gives “the idea in your own terms.” The complete meaning is: “That can force you to reconstruct the idea in your own terms.”

7. Je devrais aussi citer les affirmations, même si la formulation est différente.

   I should also cite claims even when the wording differs.

   Je devrais

   I should

   aussi

   also

   citer

   to cite

   les affirmations

   the claims

   même si

   even if

   la formulation

   the wording

   est différente

   is different

   More detail

   Je devrais means “I should” here. Je is the first-person singular subject. devrais is the first-person singular present conditional of devoir; here, the conditional presents a recommendation or duty less directly than present Je dois (“I must / I have to”). Example: Tu devrais vérifier. — “You should check.” aussi means “also” and adds this action to another relevant action. In Je devrais aussi citer, it contributes to the meaning “I should also cite.” citer is the infinitive “to cite.” After a conjugated form of devoir, the following verb stays in the infinitive: Je devrais citer — “I should cite.” Example: Elle doit répondre. — “She must answer.” les affirmations means “the claims.” affirmations is the feminine plural noun affirmation; les is the definite plural article. The plural indicates more than one claim, while the exact set is supplied by context; the article itself does not state a numerical count. Example: Je vérifie les affirmations. — “I check the claims.” même si introduces a condition that does not cancel the main point: “even if” or “even when.” It is a reusable conjunction. Example: Je viendrai même s'il pleut. — “I will come even if it rains.” la formulation means “the wording” or “the formulation.” formulation is a feminine singular noun, so its definite article is la here. It names how an idea is expressed, rather than the idea itself. Example: La formulation est claire. — “The wording is clear.” est différente means “is different.” est is the third-person singular present form of être (“to be”), agreeing with the singular subject la formulation. différente is the feminine singular form of the adjective différent; its final -e agrees with formulation. The masculine singular form is différent, while the plural forms are différents and différentes according to gender. Example: Les formulations sont différentes. — “The wordings are different.” Together, Je devrais aussi citer les affirmations says “I should also cite the claims,” and même si la formulation est différente adds the concession “even when the wording is different.” The complete utterance therefore means: “I should also cite claims even when the wording differs.”

8. C'est essentiel, car les idées doivent aussi être attribuées.

   That is essential, because ideas require attribution too.

   C'est

   that is

   essentiel

   essential

   car

   because

   idées

   ideas

   doivent

   must; need to

   aussi

   too; as well

   être attribuées

   be attributed

   More detail

   C'est is the contraction of ce and est: literally “that/it is.” Here it points to the situation or proposition understood from the context, without identifying a more specific referent. The reusable pattern is c'est + adjective, used to describe or evaluate something. essentiel means “essential” here. It is an adjective; its base form is essentiel, with feminine essentielle and plural forms essentiels or essentielles as required by the noun or expression it describes. In this sentence it follows c'est in a predicative construction, so it evaluates the relevant situation rather than directly modifying idées. car introduces the reason for the preceding statement and is a useful written or neutral equivalent of “because.” It links the evaluation to its explanation. idées is the plural of the noun idée, “idea.” The plural ending is visible in the written form. Example: Cette idée est claire. — “This idea is clear.” doivent is the third-person plural present form of devoir, “must” or “need to.” With a plural subject such as les idées, it expresses a requirement applying to those ideas. Compare doit, the third-person singular present form: L'idée doit être attribuée. — “The idea must be attributed.” aussi means “too” or “as well.” It adds this requirement to another relevant requirement or action; its exact scope is understood from the sentence and context. être attribuées forms a passive infinitive: être plus the past participle attribuées of attribuer, “to attribute” or “to assign credit.” The passive presents the ideas as receiving attribution, rather than naming the person who gives it. attribuées is feminine plural because it agrees with idées; the infinitive être itself does not carry that agreement. Example: Les sources doivent être attribuées. — “The sources must be attributed.” Together, les idées doivent être attribuées means “ideas require attribution” or more literally “the ideas must be attributed.” The sequence C'est essentiel, car ... says that this is essential and then gives the reason: ideas also need to receive attribution. The whole utterance is therefore: “That is essential, because ideas require attribution too.”