  We clarify the differences between the usual Kaloper-Sorbo description of
axion monodromy and the effective axionic potential in terms of Minkowski
4-forms derived in string compactifications. The fact that the metric of the
3-form fields coming from string theory is field dependent (unlike in
Kaloper-Sorbo) leads to the backreaction issues recently studied in axion
monodromy models within string theory. We reanalyse these problems in terms of
the 4-forms focusing on the case in which the non-periodic scalars backreact on
the Kahler metric of the inflaton reducing the physical field range. In the
closed string sector of Type II Calabi-Yau compactifications with fluxes the
metric becomes field dependent precisely when $\Delta\phi\sim M_p$,
independently of the choice of fluxes. We propose, however, some
counter-examples to this universal behaviour by including open string fields.
