par l' ensemble
par the ensemble
Literally: {"par":"by","l'":"the","ensemble":"group\/whole"}
In 15 Seconds
- Means 'by the whole group' or 'collectively'.
- Emphasizes unity and shared action.
- Use for team efforts, group decisions.
- Avoid for solo actions or singling out.
Meaning
This phrase means 'by the whole group' or 'by the entirety of something.' It’s like saying everyone pitched in, or the whole thing was done together. Think of a team celebrating a win – they do it together, `par l'ensemble` of the players. It carries a vibe of unity and collective action, whether for good or for bad.
Key Examples
3 of 12Texting a friend about a group project
Le succès du projet, c'était vraiment `par l'ensemble` de notre équipe !
The project's success was truly by the whole of our team!
Instagram caption for a team photo
Une autre victoire pour nous ! Gagné `par l'ensemble`, comme toujours. 💪 #TeamSpirit
Another victory for us! Won by the whole group, as always. 💪 #TeamSpirit
Job interview (discussing past project)
La résolution de ce problème complexe a été réalisée `par l'ensemble` des départements concernés.
The resolution of this complex problem was achieved by the entirety of the departments involved.
Cultural Background
The concept of 'l'ensemble' is tied to the 'esprit de corps' in French institutions like the Grandes Écoles or the civil service. In Quebec, 'par l'ensemble' is frequently used in political debates regarding 'la nation québécoise' and collective rights. In many West African French-speaking countries, collective action and community consensus ('la palabre') are central, making this phrase common in local governance. Used in the complex Belgian political landscape to describe agreements between different linguistic communities.
Use it in the Passive Voice
This phrase sounds most natural when used with passive verbs like 'été décidé par', 'été vu par', or 'été fait par'.
Don't forget the 'DES'
When followed by a plural noun, always use 'par l'ensemble DES'. 'Par l'ensemble de' is only for singular collective nouns like 'la classe'.
In 15 Seconds
- Means 'by the whole group' or 'collectively'.
- Emphasizes unity and shared action.
- Use for team efforts, group decisions.
- Avoid for solo actions or singling out.
What It Means
Par l'ensemble really means 'by the whole group' or 'collectively.' It emphasizes that an action or outcome involves everyone, not just one person. Imagine a group project where everyone contributed equally. That's the spirit of par l'ensemble. It’s about unity and shared responsibility. It’s not just about *what* happened, but *who* was involved – everyone!
How To Use It
You use this phrase when you want to highlight collective effort or impact. Think about a sports team winning a championship. The victory isn't just the captain's; it's par l'ensemble of the team. Or maybe a family deciding on a vacation destination together. The decision was made par l'ensemble of the family members. It’s a versatile phrase for showing unity. It works for decisions, actions, and even consequences.
Real-Life Examples
- Social media: "Our fundraising goal was met
par l'ensembleof our amazing followers!" 🥳 - Family chat: "We decided on pizza for dinner
par l'ensembleof the kids. Lucky me!" - Work meeting: "The project's success was achieved
par l'ensembleof the dedicated team." - News report: "The new policy was implemented
par l'ensembleof the council members after much debate."
When To Use It
Use par l'ensemble when you want to stress that an action was done by *everyone* in a group. It’s perfect for situations where collaboration is key. Think team sports, group projects, or family decisions. It also works when a whole set of things is affected together. For instance, a whole batch of cookies might be burnt par l'ensemble if the oven malfunctioned. That’s a sad thought, but a good example!
When NOT To Use It
Avoid par l'ensemble if only one or a few people were involved. If just one person did all the work, saying they did it par l'ensemble would be inaccurate and confusing. It's also not for situations where you want to single someone out for praise or blame. This phrase is strictly for collective actions. Don't use it to describe a solo performance, unless you're being ironic. "He finished the marathon par l'ensemble of himself." (Spoiler: he didn't!)
Common Mistakes
Learners sometimes confuse par l'ensemble with phrases that focus on individual effort. Or they might use a similar-sounding word that doesn't fit. It’s easy to mix up prepositions too! Remember, par is key here for 'by the'.
pour l'ensemble
✓par l'ensemble (Wrong: 'for the whole group' vs. 'by the whole group')
avec l'ensemble
✓par l'ensemble (Wrong: 'with the whole group' vs. 'by the whole group')
de l'ensemble
✓par l'ensemble (Wrong: 'of the whole group' vs. 'by the whole group')
Similar Expressions
Collectivement: This is a direct adverb meaning 'collectively.' It’s very similar and often interchangeable. "Ils ont décidé collectivement." (They decided collectively.)Ensemble: This just means 'together.' It's simpler and more general. "Nous avons travaillé ensemble." (We worked together.)Par l'ensembleadds a layer of 'by the entire unit.'De concert: Means 'in agreement' or 'in concert.' It implies coordination and agreement. "Ils ont agi de concert." (They acted in concert.)
Common Variations
Sometimes you might see slight variations depending on context, but par l'ensemble is quite standard. The main variation is the *type* of ensemble: par l'ensemble de la classe (by the whole class), par l'ensemble du personnel (by the whole staff). The core phrase remains the same. It’s like a reliable old friend.
Memory Trick
Picture a parrot wearing a whole ensemble of clothes! 🦜 The parrot acted by the whole outfit. It sounds silly, but it links par (by), l' (the), and ensemble (whole outfit/group) in a memorable, slightly absurd image. Plus, parrots are smart – you’ll remember this!
Quick FAQ
Q. Is par l'ensemble formal?
A. It's generally neutral to slightly formal. You can use it in professional settings or more casual conversations when you want to be precise about collective action. It’s not slang, but it’s not stuffy either. Think of it as a well-dressed friend who fits in most places.
Q. Can it refer to objects?
A. Yes! If an entire set of items is affected, you can use it. Like "The entire shipment was damaged par l'ensemble due to poor handling." It emphasizes the totality of the damage.
Q. What's the vibe?
A. The vibe is unity, collaboration, and shared responsibility. It's about the power of the group working or experiencing something as one.
Usage Notes
The phrase `par l'ensemble` is generally neutral in formality and can be used in both spoken and written French. It's important to remember that `par` here signifies agency – the group is the one *doing* the action. Avoid using it when you mean 'for the benefit of the group' (`pour l'ensemble`) or simply 'together' (`ensemble`).
Use it in the Passive Voice
This phrase sounds most natural when used with passive verbs like 'été décidé par', 'été vu par', or 'été fait par'.
Don't forget the 'DES'
When followed by a plural noun, always use 'par l'ensemble DES'. 'Par l'ensemble de' is only for singular collective nouns like 'la classe'.
Political Weight
In a French context, saying something was done 'par l'ensemble' gives it a lot of democratic legitimacy.
Examples
12Le succès du projet, c'était vraiment `par l'ensemble` de notre équipe !
The project's success was truly by the whole of our team!
Here, `par l'ensemble` emphasizes that everyone on the team contributed to the success.
Une autre victoire pour nous ! Gagné `par l'ensemble`, comme toujours. 💪 #TeamSpirit
Another victory for us! Won by the whole group, as always. 💪 #TeamSpirit
This highlights the collective nature of the win, perfect for a celebratory team photo.
La résolution de ce problème complexe a été réalisée `par l'ensemble` des départements concernés.
The resolution of this complex problem was achieved by the entirety of the departments involved.
In a professional context, it shows you understand and value interdepartmental collaboration.
Nous avons choisi la destination des vacances `par l'ensemble` de la famille. Tout le monde était d'accord !
We chose the vacation destination by the whole family. Everyone agreed!
This shows a unanimous family decision, emphasizing collective agreement.
Mon gâteau était immangeable, `par l'ensemble` de mes erreurs de recette ! 😂
My cake was inedible, by the entirety of my recipe mistakes! 😂
Used humorously here to blame the collective mess-up of all the errors.
Je suis tellement reconnaissant pour notre succès, obtenu `par l'ensemble` de vos efforts incroyables.
I am so grateful for our success, achieved by the entirety of your incredible efforts.
This conveys deep appreciation for the collective contribution to a positive outcome.
✗ Le succès était pour l'ensemble de l'équipe. → ✓ Le succès était `par l'ensemble` de l'équipe.
✗ The success was for the whole team. → ✓ The success was by the whole team.
Using 'pour' implies the success was *intended for* the team, not *achieved by* them. `Par` correctly indicates the agent.
✗ Nous avons décidé avec l'ensemble des membres. → ✓ Nous avons décidé `par l'ensemble` des membres.
✗ We decided with the whole of the members. → ✓ We decided by the whole of the members.
'Avec' suggests they decided *alongside* the members, not that the decision came *from* the collective group itself.
Le colis entier est arrivé endommagé `par l'ensemble` des chocs pendant le transport.
The entire package arrived damaged by the entirety of the impacts during transport.
Here, it refers to the collective effect of multiple impacts damaging the whole package.
La loi a été adoptée `par l'ensemble` des représentants présents.
The law was adopted by the entirety of the representatives present.
This signifies a unanimous or near-unanimous decision by the group of representatives.
Ce voyage incroyable, c'est `par l'ensemble` de nos aventures partagées !
This incredible trip, it's by the entirety of our shared adventures!
Captures the essence of the trip being defined by the collective experiences.
L'implémentation de la nouvelle stratégie a été menée `par l'ensemble` du personnel.
The implementation of the new strategy was carried out by the entire staff.
Indicates that the entire workforce was involved in executing the strategy.
Test Yourself
Complete the sentence with the correct form of 'par l'ensemble'.
Le nouveau projet a été validé _______ des directeurs.
We are identifying the agent who validated the project, so 'par' is required.
Which sentence is the most formal and correct?
How would you say 'The whole neighborhood felt the earthquake' in a news report?
The passive voice with 'par l'ensemble du' is the standard formal reporting style.
Match the phrase with its meaning.
Match the following:
Distinguishing between these similar-looking phrases is key for B2 mastery.
Fill in the missing part of the dialogue.
A: Est-ce que les critiques ont aimé le film ? B: Oui, il a été très bien reçu _______.
The press is the agent receiving the film.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesLe nouveau projet a été validé _______ des directeurs.
We are identifying the agent who validated the project, so 'par' is required.
How would you say 'The whole neighborhood felt the earthquake' in a news report?
The passive voice with 'par l'ensemble du' is the standard formal reporting style.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Distinguishing between these similar-looking phrases is key for B2 mastery.
A: Est-ce que les critiques ont aimé le film ? B: Oui, il a été très bien reçu _______.
The press is the agent receiving the film.
🎉 Score: /4
Video Tutorials
Find video tutorials on YouTube for this phrase.
Frequently Asked Questions
4 questionsYes, significantly. 'Par tout le monde' is common in speech, while 'par l'ensemble' is preferred in writing and formal presentations.
Technically yes, but it sounds very strange. It's better to use 'par les deux' or 'par tous les deux'.
'L'intégralité' is even more emphatic, suggesting that not a single tiny part was left out. 'L'ensemble' is the standard term.
Yes, in this specific collocation, you always say 'par l'ensemble'.
Related Phrases
dans l'ensemble
similaroverall / in general
à l'unanimité
specialized formunanimously
en bloc
synonymas a whole / all at once
tous ensemble
similarall together
par tous
synonymby all
