How come?

John W.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

How come?

To the question (How come) Pauline porte cette robe? My answer 'Comment cela se fait-il que....' is rejected for 'Comment ca se fait'. Yet in the lesson we are told that my answer is the more 'elegant' French. Please explain.
Asked 6 years ago
CécileNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

If I may add to this debate -

Comment (cela)se fait-il que Pauline porte cette robe? 

Comment ça se fait que Pauline porte cette robe ?

Pauline porte cette robe, comment ça se fait ?

are all  correct, the first one sounds more elegant and stilted to me .

In spoken French you would use the latter two.

Hope this helps!

Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Hi John, 

if you examine the lesson carefully you will see toward the end that the correct answer is:

Comment se fait-il que.... OR Comment ça se fait que...

The answer "comment cela se fait-il..." is grammatically not correct even though sometimes used colloquially.

-- Chris (not a native speaker). 

Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

I realize that in the beginning of the lesson it seems to say that "comment cela se fait-il?" is more elegant. However this isn't born out later and i. The examples. 

I guess this should be clarified in the lesson. 

-- Chris. 

Alan G.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
I think the point is that "comment cela se fait-il?"  is used on its own, not when followed by que ...
Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Yes, I know. But that needs to be stated more clearly. 

Alan G.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
OK, but I thought the lesson was quite clear on the distinction between the phrase on its own, and when followed by a conjugated verb.
John W. asked:

How come?

To the question (How come) Pauline porte cette robe? My answer 'Comment cela se fait-il que....' is rejected for 'Comment ca se fait'. Yet in the lesson we are told that my answer is the more 'elegant' French. Please explain.

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