Il est/c'est

David S.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Il est/c'est

In the writing challenge "The benefits of music" these sentences appear:

"Que ce soit le jazz, le rock ou la variété, il est indéniable que la musique fait partie intégrante de nos vies. Mais que nous apporte-t-elle qui nous soit si indispensable ? C'est bien connu : la musique adoucit les mœurs."

Why is "il est" applicable in the first bold phrase but "c'est" in the second? It appears to me that both are making general statements (about la musique) and both follow est by an adjectival phrase - not a noun, so I would think that case 2a applies in the A1 lessonn "C'est vs il/elle est: Saying it is".

Perhaps that rule is inappropriate here since "la musique" is not a "pre-mentioned thing" but what are the rules being followed here?

Asked 6 years ago
CécileKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

Hi David,

In the first example - Il est indéniable que ..., you use 'il est' because of the 'que'  but you would say: " Ça, c'est indéniable!"

You would also say - 

"Il est bien connu que les bonnes habitudes alimentaires se créent dans l'enfance"

But -

 "C'est bien connu: les bonnes habitudes alimentaires..."

 

You will also find examples when both are possible but never when it is simply  C'est + adjectif 

Hope this helps!

David S.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor
Thank you. Very clear.

Il est/c'est

In the writing challenge "The benefits of music" these sentences appear:

"Que ce soit le jazz, le rock ou la variété, il est indéniable que la musique fait partie intégrante de nos vies. Mais que nous apporte-t-elle qui nous soit si indispensable ? C'est bien connu : la musique adoucit les mœurs."

Why is "il est" applicable in the first bold phrase but "c'est" in the second? It appears to me that both are making general statements (about la musique) and both follow est by an adjectival phrase - not a noun, so I would think that case 2a applies in the A1 lessonn "C'est vs il/elle est: Saying it is".

Perhaps that rule is inappropriate here since "la musique" is not a "pre-mentioned thing" but what are the rules being followed here?

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