diff --git a/lib/ansible/modules/files/file.py b/lib/ansible/modules/files/file.py
index 1dda03537a0..ca12a7ec9a0 100644
--- a/lib/ansible/modules/files/file.py
+++ b/lib/ansible/modules/files/file.py
@@ -37,8 +37,9 @@ options:
       not exist as the state did not change.
     - If C(directory), all intermediate subdirectories will be created if they
       do not exist. Since Ansible 1.7 they will be created with the supplied permissions.
-    - If C(file), the file will NOT be created if it does not exist; see the C(touch)
-      value or the M(copy) or M(template) module if you want that behavior.
+    - If C(file), without any other options this works mostly as a 'stat' and will return the current state of C(path).
+      Even with other options (i.e C(mode)), the file will be modified but will NOT be created if it does not exist;
+      see the C(touch) value or the M(copy) or M(template) module if you want that behavior.
     - If C(hard), the hard link will be created or changed.
     - If C(link), the symbolic link will be created or changed.
     - If C(touch) (new in 1.4), an empty file will be created if the C(path) does not