C1 Expression 正式

Être à l'origine de

To be the cause of

意思

To be the creator, source, or primary reason for something.

🌍

文化背景

In French media, this phrase is used to maintain a 'neutral' journalistic tone. Instead of saying 'The government failed', they might say 'Certains décrets sont à l'origine de la situation', which sounds more objective. While the phrase is used identically, Quebecers might also use 'être la bougie d'allumage' (to be the spark plug) in more colorful, informal contexts to mean the same thing. In formal administrative French in countries like Senegal or Ivory Coast, this phrase is very common in official speeches to honor founders or ancestors of institutions. Used frequently in the complex political landscape of Belgium to trace the 'origin' of specific laws or regional agreements.

🎯

Use 'En' for brevity

If the topic is already known, say 'J'en suis à l'origine' instead of repeating the whole phrase. It sounds very native.

⚠️

Watch the contractions

Don't forget: à l'origine + le = à l'origine du. This is the most common error at B1 level.

意思

To be the creator, source, or primary reason for something.

🎯

Use 'En' for brevity

If the topic is already known, say 'J'en suis à l'origine' instead of repeating the whole phrase. It sounds very native.

⚠️

Watch the contractions

Don't forget: à l'origine + le = à l'origine du. This is the most common error at B1 level.

💬

Neutrality

Use this phrase in arguments to sound more objective and less accusatory than 'C'est ta faute'.

自我测试

Complete the sentence with the correct form of 'être à l'origine de'.

Les fortes pluies ________ l'inondation du mois dernier.

✓ 正确! ✗ 不太对。 正确答案: ont été à l'origine de

We need the past tense (ont été) and 'de' because 'l'inondation' starts with a vowel, so no contraction happens with 'la'.

Which sentence is the most formal way to say 'He started the rumor'?

Comment dire 'He started the rumor' de façon formelle ?

✓ 正确! ✗ 不太对。 正确答案: Il est à l'origine de cette rumeur.

'Être à l'origine de' is the standard formal way to attribute the start of an abstract thing like a rumor.

Match the cause with the result using the logic of 'être à l'origine de'.

Associez la cause et l'effet.

✓ 正确! ✗ 不太对。 正确答案: All pairs are logically sound examples of the phrase.

In each case, the first item is 'à l'origine de' the second.

Fill in the missing part of the dialogue.

A: Pourquoi le projet a-t-il échoué ? B: Le manque de budget ________ l'échec.

✓ 正确! ✗ 不太对。 正确答案: est à l'origine de

We use 'de' before 'l'échec' (vowel).

🎉 得分: /4

视觉学习工具

练习题库

4 练习
Complete the sentence with the correct form of 'être à l'origine de'. Fill Blank B1

Les fortes pluies ________ l'inondation du mois dernier.

✓ 正确! ✗ 不太对。 正确答案: ont été à l'origine de

We need the past tense (ont été) and 'de' because 'l'inondation' starts with a vowel, so no contraction happens with 'la'.

Which sentence is the most formal way to say 'He started the rumor'? Choose B2

Comment dire 'He started the rumor' de façon formelle ?

✓ 正确! ✗ 不太对。 正确答案: Il est à l'origine de cette rumeur.

'Être à l'origine de' is the standard formal way to attribute the start of an abstract thing like a rumor.

Match the cause with the result using the logic of 'être à l'origine de'. Match A2

将左侧的每个项目与右侧的配对匹配:

✓ 正确! ✗ 不太对。 正确答案: All pairs are logically sound examples of the phrase.

In each case, the first item is 'à l'origine de' the second.

Fill in the missing part of the dialogue. dialogue_completion B1

A: Pourquoi le projet a-t-il échoué ? B: Le manque de budget ________ l'échec.

✓ 正确! ✗ 不太对。 正确答案: est à l'origine de

We use 'de' before 'l'échec' (vowel).

🎉 得分: /4

常见问题

10 个问题

Yes! Unlike 'à cause de', which is usually negative, 'être à l'origine de' is neutral and works perfectly for inventions, successes, and happy events.

It is always 'à l'origine'. 'En l'origine' is incorrect in modern French.

Technically no. You need the 'à'. 'Je suis l'origine' sounds like you are a mystical being who is the source of all existence.

It's a bit formal, but not weird. It's like saying 'I'm the one behind this' in English.

'Causer' is a verb that focuses on the action. 'Être à l'origine de' is a state that focuses on the source.

Just conjugate 'être': 'Il a été à l'origine de...', 'Il était à l'origine de...'.

Yes, 'La pluie est à l'origine de l'accident'.

Constantly. It's the standard way to discuss project origins and responsibility.

No, it is followed by a noun or an infinitive, so no subjunctive is needed.

No, you cannot follow it with 'que' and a clause. Use a noun: 'être à l'origine du fait que...'.

相关表达

🔄

causer

synonym

To cause

🔗

provenir de

similar

To stem from

🔗

déclencher

specialized form

To trigger

🔗

engendrer

similar

To generate/give birth to

🔗

aboutir à

contrast

To lead to

有帮助吗?
还没有评论。成为第一个分享想法的人!