FRENCH: c'est versus il est

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

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FRENCH: C’est versus Il est