Using c'est

nicole r.A2Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Using c'est

HI,

I forget what lesson in A1 I saw this and now I can't find it. But one sentence has c'est un Vieux sac for it's an old bag but the second one is c'est un vieil home for he's an old man. My question is why is c'est for he is or she is shouldn't it be il/Elle est?


Thanks

Nicole

Asked 1 year ago
Maarten K.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

Nicole, “ c’est un …” is correct in both your examples. 

The attached lesson covers this. You might like to look at the other links for further discussion too. 

In a nutshell, you will (almost) never use ‘il/elle est’ followed by article/determiner-noun - that will (almost) always need ‘c’est’. 

"C'est" vs "Il/Elle est" to say it is/she is/he is in French 

https://www.frenchtoday.com/blog/french-grammar/cest-versus-il-elle-est/

 https://www.lawlessfrench.com/grammar/cest-vs-il-est/

Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

As a good rule of thumb: if the verb is est, use c'est.

Using c'est

HI,

I forget what lesson in A1 I saw this and now I can't find it. But one sentence has c'est un Vieux sac for it's an old bag but the second one is c'est un vieil home for he's an old man. My question is why is c'est for he is or she is shouldn't it be il/Elle est?


Thanks

Nicole

Sign in to submit your answer

Don't have an account yet? Join today

Ask a question

Find your French level for FREE

Test your French to the CEFR standard

Find your French level
Thinking...