evedna

[rancid python]

Please be patient

Our volunteers look into many questions every day; sometimes it takes them a little while to answer.

Pro tip: you can rename the thread title with `.tr <thread name>`

Make it descriptive, including relevant context, but also to the point. This way you improve your chances of getting a more relevant and specific answer.

[strong imp]

Which one of these is more formal? does the first one sound weird because of the use of "est-ce que", which is typically used for standard everyday speech, as far as I know, followed by "cela" and the conditional, which are typically more formal?
The conditional is fine. What sounds strange is the juxtaposition of "est-ce que" and "cela" specifically. It's not something anyone would ever say.
"Est-ce que ça serait possible de....?" with "ça" instead of "cela" sounds totally natural.

With that in mind, "Serait-il possible de...?" is the more formal one.

And yes, in most situations it is too formal, especially in spoken French. It's fine in a professional e-mail for example.

[woeful pasture]

Is "cela" too formal for "est-ce que"? In what context could I use "cela"? Maybe not in questions, but in statements?
"Cela est impressionnant"

[strong imp]

You would essentially never use "cela" in spoken French, it's too formal

"ça" is used instead

[woeful pasture]

What about "ceci" though...?

I heard it in boulangeries

They say "et avec ceci?"

I almost never hear it other than when they ask if you want anything else when you're ordering something

[strong imp]

That's basically the only time "ceci" is used, in the set phrase "et avec ceci ?"
It's also very formal otherwise

[woeful pasture]

So is this just wrong?

[strong imp]

It's not wrong, those are perfectly correct sentences. It's just formal.

So IRL you'd say "ça va être difficile à croire", "ça me rappelle un film...", "ça doit figurer".... etc

[woeful pasture]

I'm going to have to unlearn this

I just assumed "cela" is "ça", but more formal

Thank you so much for clearing up my confusion. I appreciate it☺️

[strong imp]

Well, yes, that's what it is. But since it's formal, it is never used in spoken French, unless you're reciting a rehearsed speech or something

[woeful pasture]

What if you're talking to a mayor

Would it still be too much

[strong imp]

Yes, too much. It would work if you were a reporter doing a TV interview with a mayor, but not as a normal human speaking to them

[woeful pasture]

So there are different levels of formality

Is there a book that talks about this or something?

[strong imp]

not sure tbh

[woeful pasture]

I'm advanced in French, but still can't tell when something formal would be said by a real person

And when it would only be written