As a student of French, have you ever been confused by the difference between il est and c’est ? If you have, you’re hardly alone! Both of these phrases can mean he is or it is, and knowing how and when to use them is notoriously confusing. Let’s try to shed some light on this difficult, but extremely important, part of French grammar.
Describing or Identifying?
The most basic difference between il est and c’est is that c’est is used when you’re identifying or classifying something, and il est is used when you’re describing or qualifying something. Let’s start with some examples using c’est.
- C’est un professeur.
He’s a teacher. - C’est un français (originaire) de Paris.
He’s a Frenchman (originally) from Paris. - C’est un nouvel ordinateur.
It’s a new computer. - C’est un crime.
It’s a crime.
In all of these examples, we’re identifying or classifying something, whether it’s a person, an object, or even an abstract idea. Think of c’est as having a function of pointing to something and saying what it is. This is easy enough in English when we’re talking about objects or ideas, with a meaning along the lines of this is a… or it is a… But the catch in French is that you also use c’est with people, and that may sound odd to the ears of an English speaker, but it’s perfectly correct in French.
Now let’s contrast those examples with some examples that use il est.
- Que fait Jean dans la vie ? Il est professeur.
What does Jean do for a living? He’s a teacher. - De quelle nationalité est Jean ? Il est français.
What nationality is Jean? He’s French. - Il est nouveau, ton ordinateur ?
Is your computer new? - Il est sérieux, ce crime.
It’s serious, this crime.
In these examples, we’re describing or qualifying something rather than identifying it. In the first two examples we’re supplying more information about Jean. And in the second two examples we’re adding more information to describe or quality an object or an abstract idea. Notice that il est can be followed by an adjective (français, nouveau, sérieux) or a noun (professeur), and in the case of the first example, which is a profession, there’s no article.
Il est beau ! C’est beau !
Both il est… and c’est can be followed by adjectives, and this is often where the greatest confusion comes in for people learning French. The general rule of thumb is that il est (or elle est) refers back to a specific noun, whether it’s a person or not, and c’est refers to something in a more general way.
Take a look at these examples. First, we introduce something (Marc, Christine, my computer, my car) using c’est, because we’re identifying it. But when we qualify or describe those specific things, we switch to il or elle, referring back to the specific nouns. Don’t forget that il and elle can both mean it (as well as he or she), because all French nouns have gender.
- C’est Marc. Il est beau/sympa/intelligent/suisse.
This/It is Marc. He’s handsome/friendly/intelligent/Swiss. - C’est Christine. Elle est belle/sympa/intelligente/suisse.
This/It is Christine. She’s beautiful/friendly/intelligent/Swiss. - C’est mon ordinateur. Il est neuf/cher/noir.
This/It is my computer. It’s brand new/expensive/black. - C’est ma voiture. Elle est neuve/chère/noire.
This/It is my car. It’s brand new/expensive/black.
But if you’re describing a general situation, use c’est… followed by an adjective. For example, imagine that your friend brings you a present, and you say the following:
- C’est un cadeau pour moi ? C’est un tableau ! Il est beau ! C’est très gentil (de ta part).
It’s a present for me? It’s a painting! It’s beautiful! It’s/That’s very nice (of you).
Let’s break that down.
- C’est un cadeau pour moi ?
It’s a present for me?
C’est because you’re asking about the identity, confirming that it’s a present. - C’est un tableau !
It’s a painting!
C’est because you’re identifying the present, classifying it as a painting as opposed to something else. - Il est beau !
It’s beautiful!
Il est because you’re qualifying or describing the specific thing, the painting. - C’est très gentil !
It’s/That’s very nice!
C’est because you’re referring not specifically to the painting, but to the entire situation in a general way, the kind act of giving you a painting.
Now imagine that you get a rose instead of a painting. Everything else in the exchange remains the same, but now you’ve got a feminine noun, la rose, so we’ve got to change the specific qualifying/ describing part.
- C’est un cadeau pour moi ? C’est une rose ! Elle est belle ! C’est très gentil (de ta part).
It’s a present for me? It’s a rose! It’s beautiful! It’s/That’s very nice (of you).
Here are some more examples where il/elle is specific, and c’est is more general.
- Mon chien, il très fidèle.
My dog is very loyal.
Il est because you’re talking specifically about your dog - Un chien, c’est très fidèle.
A dog is very loyal.
C’est because you’re talking about dogs in general, and you’re commenting on a general quality of dogs - Ma veste, elle n’est pas très chaude.
My jacket isn’t very warm.
Elle est because you’re talking specfically about your jacket - Une veste, ce n’est pas très chaud.
A jacket isn’t very warm.
C’est because you’re talking about jackets in general
Notice that c’est always takes masculine singular agreement. So in the last example, even though it’s une veste, after c’est you use chaud and not chaude. Compare that to elle n’est pas très chaude.
Il est…/C’est.. Referring to Verbs or Verb Phrases
You can use the construction il est (ADJ) de (INF) to describe verbs or verb phrases. In this use, il est… comes first and introduces the verb phrase that follows de.
- Il est difficile de bien réussir cette recette.
It is difficult to get this recipe right. - Il est agréable de faire une sieste.
It’s nice to take a nap. - Il est utile de réviser ses leçons.
It’s useful to review one’s lessons. - Il est important de rire.
It’s important to laugh.
You can also use c’est in the same situations, but here c’est comes after the verb phrase, and refers back to it.
- Bien réussir cette recette, c’est difficile.
Getting this recipe right is difficult. - Faire une sieste, c’est agréable.
Taking a nap is nice. - Réviser ses leçons, c’est utile.
Reviewing one’s lessons is useful. - Rire, c’est important.
Laughing is important.
Note that in common spoken French, c’est is acceptable at the beginning of the sentence in cases like this.
- C’est important de rire.
It’s important to laugh. - C’est agréable de faire une sieste.
It’s nice to take a nap.
Il est… C’est… Que…
In more formal or literary languages, when a que clause follows an adjective, you may see il est and c’est used more or less interchangeably.
- Il est vrai/C’est vrai que cette situation est gênante.
It is true that this situation is embarrassing. - Il est/C’est possible que j’arrive en retard.
It’s possible that I arrive late. - Il est/C’est honteux qu’il ne vous ait pas dit la vérité.
It is/is shameful that he didn’t tell you the truth.
Just keep in mind that il est is used in cases that are more abstract or objective, for example in public or legal notices.
- Il est interdit de fumer.
Smoking is prohibited. / It’s forbidden to smoke. - Il est prévisible que les investissements diminueront.
It is foreseeable that investments will decrease. - Il est rappelé au public que l’utilisation des portables est interdit pendant le spectacle.
The public is reminded that the use of cell phones is prohibited during the show.
Summary of C’est
Remember that the typical uses of c’est are as follows:
1. To identify or classify someone or something.
- C’est qui ?
Who is that? - C’est Pierre.
It’s/That’s/This is Pierre. - Voilà Pierre, c’est un voisin (sympa).
Here’s Pierre, he’s a (nice/cool) neighbor. - C’est quoi ? / Qu’est-ce que c’est ?
What’s that? - C’est un chat.
It’s a cat.
2. To refer back to a noun in a general or non-specific sense.
- Un grand appartement à Paris, c’est cher.
A big apartment in Paris is expensive. - Une voiture, c’est plus pratique qu’une moto.
A car is more practical than a motorcycle.
3. To refer to a general situation without reference to a specific noun.
- C’est beau ici !
It’s beautiful here! - C’est méchant, ça !
That’s mean!
4. To refer to proper nouns such as locations or works of art.
- Paris, c’est grand !
Paris is beautiful! - La tour Eiffel, c’est incroyable.
The Eiffel Tower is incredible.
5. To refer back to verb phrases, typically at the end of a sentence.
- Apprendre les langues, c’est très intéressant.
Learning languages is very interesting. - Manger des légumes, c’est bon pour la santé.
Eating vegetables is healthy.
Summary of Il est
Remember that the typical uses of il est are as follows:
1. To refer to a specific (masculine) subject. Elle is of course used for feminine subjects.
- Pierre est à Paris. Il est arrivé hier.
Pierre is in Paris. He arrived yesterday. - Michelle n’est pas à la maison. Elle est déjà partie.
Michelle isn’t home. She’s left already.
2. To qualify something specific.
- Mon voisin s’appelle Richard. Il est très sympa.
My neighbor’s name is Richard. He’s very friendly. - Mon chat, il est mignon.
My cat is cute. - Tu as vu mon nouveau vélo ? Il est beau, n’est-ce pas ?
Have you seen my new bike? It’s beautiful, isn’t it?
3. To introduce verb phrases, used at the beginning of a sentence.
- Il est important de boire de l’eau.
It’s important to drink water. - Il est difficile de trouver un appartement dans ce quartier.
It’s difficult to find an apartment in this neighborhood.
4. In impersonal expressions, often with que or de phrases.
- Il est dix heures.
It’s ten o’clock - Il est l’heure/temps de se coucher.
It’s time to go to bed. - Il est question d’aller en ville ce soir.
There is talk of going to town tonight. - Il est probable que je sois un peu en retard.
I am likely to be a little late. - Il est vrai que cette proposition est tentante.
It is true that this proposal is tempting. - Il est bon de parler de ces choses ensemble.
It is good to talk about these things together. - Il est possible de résoudre ce problème autrement.
It is possible to solve this problem in other ways. - Il est certain qu’il mange avec nous.
It is certain that he’s eating with us. - Il est évident que c’est la meilleure solution.
It is obvious that this is the best solution. - Il est nécessaire de fermer la porte à clé.
It is necessary to lock the door.
5. In abstract or objective expressions, such as public notices.
- Il est strictement défendu de marcher sur la pelouse.
It is strictly forbidden to walk on the lawn. - Il est interdit de fumer.
It is forbidden to smoke.
6. In certain poetical, often ancient French expressions, to mean il y a:
- Il était une fois…
Once upon a time… - Il était un petit navire… (Traditional French children song)
There was once a little ship… - Il est une petite maison au fond d’un hameau.
There is a small house at the bottom of a hamlet. - Il est des pensées qu’il vaut mieux taire.
There are thoughts that are better left unsaid. - Comme il est dit dans les proverbes…
As it is said in the proverbs…
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