/səla/
Translation
that, it (formal)
Word origin
A compound of the demonstrative ce (from Latin ecce istum) and the adverb la ('there', from Latin illac). It means 'that'.
- Origin
- Latin
- Root
- ce + la
Examples
' , .
That doesn't surprise me, I have known for a long time.
- ?
How is that possible in such a big school?
, .
That said, we still need to finish the work on time.
' .
It's been years since I last saw my cousin.
.
All of that seems a bit suspicious to me.
est le pronom démonstratif neutre formel ou écrit, équivalent de ça à l'oral. Il désigne une chose, une idée ou une situation déjà mentionnée. Dans les textes écrits et les discours soignés, cela est préféré à ça. À l'oral courant, ça domine presque complètement.
Cela dit (that said) et cela étant (that being the case) sont des locutions de transition très utiles à l'écrit. Malgré cela (despite that) et pour cela (for that reason) structurent le raisonnement. La distinction cela (éloigné, déjà mentionné) vs ceci (proche, qui va être mentionné) est en pratique souvent neutralisée au profit de cela ou ça.
Where this fits
Used in
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Start your free weekThis word is part of lesson 4.