ce sont

Rene S.B2Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

ce sont

Hello, I m trying to understand this sentence:

J'utilise ces tomates. Ce sont les dernières.

Are we using ce sont here before the article les?  My first reaction was to say elles sont...
thank you.

Asked 4 years ago
Shrey R.A1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

Bonjour Rene,

Madame Cécile has addressed the question as to why “Elles sont” can’t be used here->

https://progress.lawlessfrench.com/questions/view/in-the-sentence-j-utilise-ces-tomates-ce-cont-les-dernieres-why-can-t-we-say-elles-sont-les-derniere

 

Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Ce sont les dernières. --The're the last ones.

Ces usually requires a noun to follow:
Ces tomates sont les dernières. -- These tomatoes are the last ones.

Rene S.B2Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Thanks for the replies... not very clear. :-(

Do I have to use "ce sont" because the following word is the article "le"?  I think there is a rule that says "c'est"and "ce sont" before "un, let, and possessive pronouns".  Am I on the right track?

Rene S.B2Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Thanks for the replies... not very clear. :-(

Do I have to use "ce sont" because the following word is the article "le"?  I think there is a rule that says "c'est"and "ce sont" before "un, let, and possessive pronouns".  Am I on the right track?

Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Ce is often used as a pronom neutre, a neutral pronoun. Most of the time it is followed by a form of être.

Ces is a demonstrative pronoun and is followed by a noun.

Maybe this helps to clarify further: https://french.stackexchange.com/questions/6226/when-to-use-ils-sont-ces-sont-or-ce-sont

Andrew T.C1Kwiziq community member

Hello, I too am struggling with "J'utilise ces tomates. ________ les dernières". According to the lesson "C'est" vs "Il/Elle est" to say it is/she is/he is in French, as we're talking about specific tomatoes we should use elles, and if we're using elles the adjective dernier (when qualifying the understood tomates) must agree, and in the question it does. Standalone adjectives after c'est are always masculine reinforces this. Please clarify, if this bump is found!

Andrew T.C1Kwiziq community member

Hello, I too am struggling with "J'utilise ces tomates. ________ les dernières". According to the lesson "C'est" vs "Il/Elle est" to say it is/she is/he is in French, as we're talking about specific tomatoes we should use elles, and if we're using elles the adjective dernier (when qualifying the understood tomates) must agree, and in the question it does. Standalone adjectives after c'est are always masculine reinforces this. Please clarify, if this bump is found!

ce sont

Hello, I m trying to understand this sentence:

J'utilise ces tomates. Ce sont les dernières.

Are we using ce sont here before the article les?  My first reaction was to say elles sont...
thank you.

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
I'll be right with you...