why c'était , because the dog is not a human being?

chiara b.C1Kwiziq community member

why c'était , because the dog is not a human being?

I just wondered if we have to use C'était un bâtarde rather then il était because Pip was not a human being

Asked 7 months ago
Maarten K.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

Chiara, 

No, it has nothing to do with dog or human. 

The grammar here is that ‘ il/elle est… ‘ are almost never ( uncommon exceptions ) followed by a determiner-noun structure. C’est is (almost) always used when the following is determiner-noun - “ un batard “ in this example. 

See the links below for further discussion. 

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

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

Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

As a good rule: when the verb is être, use ce.

Tu connais cet homme? -- Oui, c'est mon oncle. -- Do you know that man? -- Yes, he is my uncle.

why c'était , because the dog is not a human being?

I just wondered if we have to use C'était un bâtarde rather then il était because Pip was not a human being

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