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French Phrase

Quels effets ça a à long terme ?

/kɛl‿e.fɛ sa a a lɔ̃ tɛʁm/

Meaning"What long‑term effects does it have?"

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Meaning

The sentence asks about the long‑term consequences of something, whether it’s a habit, a policy, a medication, or any action. It’s a neutral question that seeks a detailed answer about future impact.

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When to use

Use this phrase when you want to discuss the lasting impact of a decision, a product, a lifestyle change, or a societal trend. It works well in both casual conversation and more formal discussions, such as meetings or interviews, as long as you keep the informal ‘ça’ appropriate to the setting.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Quelseffetsçaaàlongterme?

1

Quel(s) (interrogative adjective)

‘Quel’ agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies; here ‘effets’ is masculine plural, so we use ‘Quels’.

2

ça vs cela

‘ça’ is informal spoken French for ‘that/it’; in formal contexts you’d use ‘cela’.

3

a (avoir, 3rd person singular)

The verb ‘avoir’ conjugated for ‘il/elle/on’; here the subject is the impersonal ‘ça’.

4

à long terme (fixed expression)

A prepositional phrase meaning ‘in the long term’; ‘long’ stays masculine singular regardless of the noun that follows.

🗨In Conversation

A

J’ai commencé à prendre ce complément chaque matin.

I started taking this supplement every morning.

Quels effets ça a à long terme ?

What long‑term effects does it have?

B

✕Common Mistakes

Quel effets ça a à long terme ?
‘Quel’ must agree with the plural noun ‘effets’, so use ‘Quels’.
Quels effets ça a à long terme ?
In formal writing, replace informal ‘ça’ with ‘cela’.
Quels effets ça a à long termes ?
The expression is ‘à long terme’ (singular), not ‘termes’.

↔Alternatives

Quelles sont les conséquences à long terme ?
What are the long‑term consequences?
Quel impact cela aura-t-il sur le long terme ?
What impact will it have in the long run?
Quels effets cela produit‑il à long terme ?
What effects does it produce in the long term?

Cultural Tip

In spoken French, ‘ça’ is perfectly natural, but in written or formal contexts you should replace it with ‘cela’. Also, the phrase ‘à long terme’ is widely used in business, scientific, and political discourse, so mastering it helps you sound more sophisticated. Remember that French often prefers the plural ‘effets’ when talking about multiple possible outcomes, even if you’re thinking of a single effect.