When can you use C’est versus Il est?
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In this article I share with you When you can use c’est and il est.
C’est versus Il est
C’est / ce sont
- To identify a thing or a person
-C’est + singular noun
Example:
C’est un acteur. → It's an actor.
C’est une mangue. → It's a mango.
-Ce sont + plural noun
Example:
Ce sont des mangues. → These are mangos.
Ce sont des acteurs. → They are actors.
- When we ask a question, it is always singular
- To identify one or more things
Example:
Qu’est-ce que c’est ? → What is it?
C’est un dessin de Gauguin. → It is a drawing of Gauguin.
Ce sont des dessins de Picasso. → These are Picasso's drawings.
- To identify one or more people
Qui c’est ? → Who is it?
C’est mon cousin.→ He is my cousin.
Ce sont mes amis. → These are my friends.
- To introduce a person
C’est + singular noun
Ce sont + plural noun
Example:
C’est Pierre. → He is Pierre.
C’est mon directeur. → He is my director.
Ce sont mes parents. → They are my parents.
Ce sont des amis. → They are friends.
- We use c’est invariably (that is to say we cannot replace it with ce sont) when we announce: on the intercom, at the door, ...
Example:
C’est Julie et Sophie. → We are Julie and Sophie.
- To make a comment
C’est + adjective masculine singular
Example:
Les glaces, c’est bon. → Ice cream is good.
La mer, c’est beau. → The sea is beautiful.
Paris, c’est magnifique ! → Paris, it's beautiful!
- To announce a date
Example:
C’est le 5 janvier 2018. → It's January 5th, 2018.
Aujourd’hui c’est mercredi. → Today is Wednesday.
Il est/ elle est / ils sont / elles sont
- Il est + profession
Example:
Il est médecin. → He is a doctor.
- Il est + nationality
Example:
Il est mexicain. → He is Mexican.
- Il est + religion
Example:
Elle est musulmane. → She is Muslim.
- Il est + adjective
Example:
Il est sympathique. → He is nice.
In these cases the equivalent exists in the feminine:
Example:
Elle est médecin, elle est méxicaine, elle est amicale → She is a doctor, she is Mexican, she is friendly.
Exercises
1 - ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………une mangue.
It is a mango.
2 - ………………………………………………………………………………….…………un dessin de ma fille.
It's a drawing of my daughter.
3 - ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………professeur.
He is a professor.
4 - ………………………………………………………………………………………………….…………..Camille.
She is Camille.
5 - ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..danoise.
She is Danish.
6 - ……………………………………………………………………………………………..……….mon directeur.
He is my director.
7 - ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………….des amis.
These are friends.
8 - Qu’est-ce que……………………………………………………………………………………………..…….. ?
What is it?
9 - ………………………………………………………………………………………….……..mes chaussures.
These are my shoes.
10 - …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….marin.
He is a sailor.
Answers
1 - C’est
2 - C’est
3 - Il est
4 - C’est
5 - Elle est
6 - C’est
7 - Ce sont
8 - C’est
9 - Ce sont
10 - Il est
Find here another article about C'est versus Il est from https://www.thoughtco.com.
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Thomas Ricomard
Thomas Ricomard specializes in teaching French as a foreign language. He has been providing private lessons since 2015, both in-person and online (via Skype). He taught at the Popular University of the Canton of Geneva (Switzerland) from 2015 to 2018, instructing several groups of 20 students from around the world (United States, Canada, United Kingdom, Spain, Brazil, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mexico, etc.), ranging from beginner to intermediate levels (A1 to B2). With a Master’s degree in clinical and cognitive psychology from the University of Geneva, his knowledge of psychology allows him to tailor his teaching methods for optimal learning, taking into account factors such as visual memory versus auditory memory. He expresses his passion for the French language through writing texts, including poetry and songs, which he presents publicly at numerous music and slam events.