Ch 4 · Lesson 9French · Chapter 4 · Lesson 9 · Grammar primer
C'est or il est?
, but : a noun with , or takes ; a bare job or an adjective about someone takes .
The short version
before a bare job
. .
Why?Hide
Both mean he is or it is, and what follows decides. A noun with , or takes : . A job with no article takes : . So but , both he's a doctor. is the classic slip.
c'est or il est?
Both translate as it is or he is, and English gives no clue which to use. What comes next decides it.
| Next comes | Use | Example |
|---|---|---|
| , , + noun | . - He's a friend. | |
| a name, , | Pierre. - It's Pierre. | |
| a job, no article | . - He's a doctor. | |
| adj. for a person | / | Pierre ? . - He's tall. |
| adj. for a situation | . - It's difficult. |
The article is the tell: . but . Both mean he's a doctor. is the classic slip; it is always .
Going further: il y a: there is / there are and the rest of the guide, when you want them. This lesson does not need them.
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