91 - “C'est” Vs. ”Il est”: Which One to Choose?

 
 

In this “Common Mistakes in French” series, you’ll learn when to use the expression “c’est” and when to use “il est” in French. 🤓

If you’d prefer to listen on the go, listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.

Links & Cheat Sheet

Transcript

Intro: Welcome to the French Made Easy podcast, where I give you all the basics you need to speak French clearly and confidently. I'm your host, Mathilde, and I'm a French teacher, mumpreneur, and bread and cheese lover. Join me as I dive into all things French for beginners, and deliver to you bite-sized and easy-to-follow lessons every Tuesday. Let's get started, "on commence"!

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 adjective

  • a proper noun

  • or a masculine adjective that refers to something non-specified or general

EXAMPLES

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 mentioned

  • the time or expressions related to the time

  • a 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.”

Jean habite en France et il est français. (Jean lives in France and he’s 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: 

  • "C'est" is used to introduce or identify someone or something or to give an opinion or statement on something non-specified or general.

  • "Il est" is used to describe someone or something specific or to express the time.

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. 💋

 
Mathilde Kien6 Comments