French Grammar lessons – C’est vs Il est

C’est vs Il est, Which one to Use?

Don’t you find it puzzling when you hear a French person using c’est about a person? For instance: c’est un Anglais – il est avocat (he is an English man, he is a lawyer). As you probably already know, c’est means “this/it is” so why not use il est or elle est ? Well, we just have to accept that when introducing or presenting something or a person, the French will use one or the other but the choice is not always straight forward. Here are some guidelines that we hope will help you:

First, a brief reminder that the plural of c’est is ce sont (these are). The plural of il/elle est is ils/elles sont (they are).

In general, c’est or ce sont are followed by a noun (c’est une voiture française = it’s a French car; c’est un livre = it’s a book; c’est Julien = it’s Julien…) while il/elle est or ils/elles sont are followed by an adjective (il est gentil = he is nice; elle est adorable = she is adorable).

Where do we use c’est or ce sont?

C’est is used:

– To identify or introduce a person or a thing.

Examples:
Qu’est-ce que c’est ? = What is it?
C’est un arbre exotique = It is an exotic tree (identifying something).
Qui est-ce ? = Who is it?
C’est Charles, mon ami = This is Charles, my friend (introducing someone).
Qui sont-ils ? = Who are they?
Ce sont des Américains = They are Americans.

– To announce oneself (for example on the telephone).

Examples:
Allo, c’est Carole ! = Hello, this is Carole!
Est-ce que c’est Carole ? = Is it Carole?
Non, ce n’est pas Carole ! = No, it’s not Carole!

– To make a general statement.

Examples :
Les vacances, c’est bien ! = Holidays, they’re great!
Le travail, c’est difficile = Work, it’s difficult.

Note: If you have a possessive adjective such as mon, ma, mes, then you would always use c’est: c’est mon chien = it’s my dog; c’est ma voiture = it’s my car.

Where do we use il/elle est or ils/elles sont?

Il/elle est is used:

– To describe something or someone in particular.

Examples:
Carine ? Elle est grande, brune et intelligente = Carine? She is tall, brunette and intelligent.
Il est sympathique, le professeur = He is nice, the teacher.

– When talking about someone’s profession, nationality, religion or family status. In this case, you don’t add an article (take out the un, une, des, le, la, les).

Examples:
Carla est informaticienne = Carla is a computer specialist.
Elle est française = She is French.
Elle est célibataire = She is single.

BUT you will add an article if you add a descriptive adjective, and in this case you will say:
C’est une informaticienne intelligente = she is an intelligent computer specialist.

Note that we also use c’est for expressing the following: Oh, c’est bien ! = Oh, that’s great!