trouver in literary & formal French
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The register you read in reports and novels.
Trouver in formal French
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
👨🏫 How to use « trouver » at this level
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.
Il se trouve que la loi a changé.As it happens, the law has changed.
Il trouva la porte close.He found the door closed.
Le projet a trouvé grâce auprès du jury.The project found favour with the jury.
Nous nous trouvons dans l’obligation de refuser.We find ourselves obliged to refuse.
🎮 Practise « trouver »
Play the free French games → · Back to the full « trouver » chart →
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