The register you read in reports and novels.
Formal written French prefers il se trouve que to introduce a fact: « il se trouve que la loi a changé » — as it happens, the law has changed. It is impersonal, neutral and common in journalism.
The past historic il trouva belongs to narrative prose and is worth recognising, never saying. And trouver grâce auprès de — to find favour with — survives in formal and ironic writing.
💡 Focus at this level: Literary & formal
1. « Il se trouve que » opens a fact without claiming it as your opinion.
2. Recognise « il trouva ». Past historic: read it, don’t speak it.
3. Keep set phrases whole. Trouver grâce auprès de does not take substitutions.
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