Look at these examples:
Note that to describe things in general in French, you can use :
c'est (it is/this is/that is) + a simple adjective (describing word)
See also Standalone adjectives after c'est are always masculine
and more advanced C'est vs il/elle est: Saying it is
Learn more about these related French grammar topics
Examples and resources
Q&A
Laura
Kwiziq language super star
7/07/17
Bonjour Melissa,
You can say on or l'on in these cases; l'on is a euphonic technique:
https://www.lawlessfrench.com/grammar/on-vs-lon/
You can say on or l'on in these cases; l'on is a euphonic technique:
https://www.lawlessfrench.com/grammar/on-vs-lon/
Aurélie
Kwiziq language super star
7/07/17
Bonjour Mélissa !
This is a colloquial difference of expression between French and English :)
Indeed in such cases where the subject of a sentence with "être" is quite long, we tend to add a coma + "c'est" in French, which is a (slightly redundant I agree) way to take a breath and not get lost in the sentence I guess, as such:
Ce que j'aime le plus, c'est son sourire.
What I like the most is his smile.
Le jour que je préfère est le samedi.
Le jour que je préfère, c'est le samedi.
The day I prefer is Saturday.
I hope that's helpful!
À bientôt !
This is a colloquial difference of expression between French and English :)
Indeed in such cases where the subject of a sentence with "être" is quite long, we tend to add a coma + "c'est" in French, which is a (slightly redundant I agree) way to take a breath and not get lost in the sentence I guess, as such:
Ce que j'aime le plus, c'est son sourire.
What I like the most is his smile.
Le jour que je préfère est le samedi.
Le jour que je préfère, c'est le samedi.
The day I prefer is Saturday.
I hope that's helpful!
À bientôt !
Ron
Kwiziq community member
3/06/17
Bonjour Anish,
Je pense que cela au-dessous expliquera votre question.
Regarde ce dessin, c'est superbe!
Look at this drawing, it's superb!
C'est bleu.
It's blue.
Note that to describe things in general in French, you can use the simple expression c'est ('it is/this is'), followed by an adjective (describing word).
Peut-être l'adjectif qui suit serait la raison. «ce dessin» est une chose en général au contraire d'«un dessin de Monet» ce qui serait plus exact.
J'espère que ma réponse vous aidera.
bonne journée,
Ron
Je pense que cela au-dessous expliquera votre question.
Regarde ce dessin, c'est superbe!
Look at this drawing, it's superb!
C'est bleu.
It's blue.
Note that to describe things in general in French, you can use the simple expression c'est ('it is/this is'), followed by an adjective (describing word).
Peut-être l'adjectif qui suit serait la raison. «ce dessin» est une chose en général au contraire d'«un dessin de Monet» ce qui serait plus exact.
J'espère que ma réponse vous aidera.
bonne journée,
Ron
Aurélie
Kwiziq language super star
3/06/17
Bonjour Anish and Ron!
Actually here I agree with Anish : "il est superbe" would indeed be better here, as this is a specific drawing you have already mentioned.
I've now changed this example to better fit this lesson :)
Merci beaucoup et à bientôt !
Actually here I agree with Anish : "il est superbe" would indeed be better here, as this is a specific drawing you have already mentioned.
I've now changed this example to better fit this lesson :)
Merci beaucoup et à bientôt !
Adam
Kwiziq community member
7 January 2016
4 replies
C'est moi qui paye
Why can't you just say Je paye? Or someone corrected me after I said that my small daughter is ill (La petite est malade <- wrong, C'est la petite qui est malade <- why?)Laura
Kwiziq language super star
7/01/16
Bonjour Adam,
Je paye isn't wrong, it's just that "C'est moi qui paye" is more emphatic. For example, John says, "Je paye" but Bill insists that he's going to pay, so he says "C'est moi qui paye," which is equivalent to "No, *I'm* paying."
It's the same thing with "C'est la petite qui est malade" - there must be some context in which someone said something like "La grande est malade" and someone else is contradicting: "Non, c'est la petite qui est malade."
Without that sort of contradiction/emphasis, Je paye and La petite est malade are perfectly fine.
Je paye isn't wrong, it's just that "C'est moi qui paye" is more emphatic. For example, John says, "Je paye" but Bill insists that he's going to pay, so he says "C'est moi qui paye," which is equivalent to "No, *I'm* paying."
It's the same thing with "C'est la petite qui est malade" - there must be some context in which someone said something like "La grande est malade" and someone else is contradicting: "Non, c'est la petite qui est malade."
Without that sort of contradiction/emphasis, Je paye and La petite est malade are perfectly fine.
Adam
Kwiziq community member
8/01/16
There was no contradiction, just me saying that my little daughter is ill. He told me: "Ca ne sonne pas français" and corrected the sentense. Might this be related to his location? (Angers)
Laura
Kwiziq language super star
8/01/16
Maybe - I'm not familiar with any particuliarities about the French in that region of France. I don't see anything at all wrong with La petite est malade.
Aurélie
Kwiziq language super star
11/01/16
Bonjour Adam,
I'm French, and from what you explained, "la petite est malade" is perfectly acceptable, and sounds very French to me :) However, "Ça ne sonne pas français" is a very clumsy translation from English ;)
I'm French, and from what you explained, "la petite est malade" is perfectly acceptable, and sounds very French to me :) However, "Ça ne sonne pas français" is a very clumsy translation from English ;)
Ashley
Kwiziq community member
19 July 2017
1 reply
On the quiz it said that "c'est amusant " could mean it is funny or this is funny
I did not see in the lesson or video where c'est could mean "this is". That sounds specific to me. What do you think?
Gruff
Kwiziq language super star
19 July 2017
19/07/17