Hello everyone! Bonjour à tous! 💖
Welcome back to the French Made Easy podcast! This is episode number 91, numéro 91!
This episode is also part of the "Common Mistakes in French" series, where I share with you verbs, words, or expressions that often get mixed up!
So today, we'll look at two expressions that can often bring some confusion to French learners: "c'est" and "il est."
“C’est” can be translated as “it is”, “he is,” or “she is” and “il est” can also be translated as “it is” or “he is”. So fair to say it can be a bit confusing.
This lesson is beginner-friendly as per all my lessons, but this topic, the difference between "c'est" and "il est," can become pretty heavy and not-so-beginner friendly quite quickly. So I've stripped down this lesson to the bare minimum, the essential rules that you need to know at the beginner level. I often say it, but there are more rules, more exceptions, for a different level.
Before we start, if you're new to the podcast, make sure you have your lesson's cheat sheet in front of you during the lesson. It’s free. After the lesson, head over to the French Made Easy library to practice what you've learned today. All the links are in the episode notes.
Alright, are you ready? Vous êtes prêts? Let's see the basic rules on when you should use "c'est" and when you should use "il est."
C’est"C'est" is used to introduce or identify someone or something or to give an opinion or statement on something non-specified or general.
I want you to look at the sentence's grammatical structure.
"C'est" is followed either by:
a noun (feminine or masculine) with an article/possessive adjective or demonstrative adjectivea proper nounor a masculine adjective that refers to something non-specified or generalEXAMPLES
We will start with English first and translate it step by step into French.
1) "It is a table."
Here, I'm identifying something. Plus if we look at the grammatical structure of that sentence, "a table" is a noun with an article. So, “it is” = “c’est.”
-> C'est une table. (It's a table.)
Plural form: "Ce sont des tables."
2) "She is my sister."
Here, I'm identifying someone. Plus, my sister is a noun with a possessive adjective. So “she is” = “c’est”
-> C'est ma soeur. (She's my sister.)
Plural form: "Ce sont mes sœurs.”
3) "This is Alexandre."
Here I'm introducing someone. Plus, Alexandre is a name, a proper noun. “This is” = “c’est.”
-> C'est Alexandre. (This is Alexandre.)
Plural form: "Ce sont Alexandre et Alexandra."
4) “Careful, it is heavy!"
Here, I'm giving a statement on something that is not specified. Plus, if we look at the grammatical structure of this sentence, "heavy" is a (masculine) adjective. It is = c’est.
-> Attention, c'est lourd! (Careful, it’s heavy.)
Ok, so now that we've seen the examples illustrating the rule with "c'est," I’ve got something else to add:
✍️ "c'est" will change to "ce sont" in the plural form.
Il est"Il est" is used to describe someone or something specific or previously mentioned or express the time.
I also want you to look at the sentence's grammatical structure.
"Il est" can be followed either by:
an adjective, referring to someone or something specific or previously mentionedthe time or expressions related to the timea nationality, occupation, or religion without an article/possessive or demonstrative adjective. This is important; you will not find an article or a possessive or demonstrative adjective after "il est."EXAMPLES
1) “The couch is new and it is small.”
Here, I'm describing something specific that I’ve already mentioned. Plus, "small" is an adjective. So it is = il est.
Le canapé est nouveau et il est petit. (The couch is new and it is small.)
Feminine form: La table est neuve et elle est petite.
Plural form: Le canapé et la table sont neufs et ils sont sont petits.
2) It's 8:00 am.
Here we're expressing the time. 8.00 am is the time, so “it is” = “il est.”
Il est 8 h 00 du matin. (It's 8:00 am.)
3) Jean lives in France and he’s French.
I'm describing someone that I’ve already mentioned. Plus French is a nationality. “He is” = “il est.”
Il est français. (He is French.)
Feminine form: Jeanne habite en France et elle est française.
Plural form: Jean et Jeanne habitent en France et ils sont français.
✍️"il est" will become "elle est" in the feminine form and "ils sont" ou "elles sont" in the plural form.
So, to recap:
And that's the end of today’s lesson. I hope you enjoyed it. Now you know the difference between "c'est" and "il est." and when to use them. I'll chat with you in the next episode.
Merci beaucoup et à bientôt. 💋