French grammar
Rapporter la manière : insinuer, laisser entendre, nuancer, préciser, prétendre
Report not just what someone said, but how they said it.
From the scene Il a insinué que… (He hinted that…)
In short
Report how it was said: insinuer, laisser entendre, nuancer, préciser, prétendre que + indicative, shifted back after a past verb.
Your turn
Which one goes with he made out that?
Options: il a laissé entendre que · il a insinué que · il a nuancé
Show answer
he made out that → il a laissé entendre que
How it works
Some reporting verbs tell you how something was said. Insinuer que and laisser entendre que mean saying it indirectly.
Good to know
Nuancer is adding a qualification, and préciser que is pointing out a detail. Prétendre que is claiming something the speaker doubts.
Good to know
When they report a statement they take the indicative, shifted back after a past verb: il a insinué que l'idée venait de lui.
he hinted that il a insinué que
Javi
Il ne l'a pas dit clairement. Il a insinué que l'idée venait de lui.
He didn't say it outright. He hinted that the idea had been his.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Il ne l'a pas dit clairement. (blank) l'idée venait de lui.
Options: Il a laissé entendre que · Il a nuancé · Il a insinué que
Show answer
Javi
Il ne l'a pas dit clairement. Il a insinué que l'idée venait de lui.
He didn't say it outright. He hinted that the idea had been his.
he made out that il a laissé entendre que
Javi
Et il a laissé entendre que tu faisais seulement les dessins.
And he made out that you only did the drawings.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Et (blank) tu faisais seulement les dessins.
Options: il a laissé entendre que · il a insinué que · il a nuancé
Show answer
Javi
Et il a laissé entendre que tu faisais seulement les dessins.
And he made out that you only did the drawings.
he qualified it il a nuancé
he pointed out that il a précisé
Javi
Et à la fin, il a précisé que le titre venait du marketing.
And at the end he pointed out that the title comes from marketing.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Et à la fin, (blank) que le titre venait du marketing.
Options: il a insinué que · il a laissé entendre que · il a précisé
Show answer
Javi
Et à la fin, il a précisé que le titre venait du marketing.
And at the end he pointed out that the title comes from marketing.
he claimed (doubtfully) that il a prétendu qu'il ne connaissait pas
Javi
Il a prétendu qu'il ne connaissait pas la dessinatrice.
He claimed he didn't know the woman who did the drawings.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank) la dessinatrice.
Options: Il a insinué que · Il a laissé entendre que · Il a prétendu qu'il ne connaissait pas
Show answer
Javi
Il a prétendu qu'il ne connaissait pas la dessinatrice.
He claimed he didn't know the woman who did the drawings.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| he hinted that | il a insinué que |
|---|---|
| he made out that | il a laissé entendre que |
| he qualified it | il a nuancé |
| he pointed out that | il a précisé |
| he claimed (doubtfully) that | il a prétendu qu'il ne connaissait pas |
More lines from the story
- JaviNuria, Borja vient de présenter la collection au grand stand.Nuria, Borja has just presented the series at the big stand.
- NuriaSeulement les dessins ? La proposition, c'est moi qui l'ai écrite !Only the drawings? I wrote the proposal myself!