A2 · être, avoir and there is
c’est or il est
An article after it means c’est in front of it.
Both come out in English as «it is», «that is» or «he is», so the English sentence gives no clue. The French rule does, and it is worth learning once: *what follows decides*.
If a noun with an article follows, or a name, it is c'est. If a bare adjective follows, or a job without an article, it is il est or elle est.
In the plural these become ce sont and ils sont. English marks none of this, which is why the test has to be mechanical rather than felt: look right, then choose left.
Die Form
| c’est plus an article or a name | c’est mon frère |
| c’est plus a stressed adjective | c’est intéressant |
| il est plus an adjective | il est fatigué |
| il est plus a job without an article | il est médecin |
| ce sont plus a plural | ce sont mes parents |
Die Regeln im Einzelnen
Before an article or a name it is c’est.
C’est le directeur.That is the manager.
Before an adjective describing a person it is il est or elle est.
Elle est très gentille.She is very kind.
A job without an article takes il est.
Il est boulanger.He is a baker.
A general judgement about a thing takes c’est.
C’est difficile.That is difficult.
Woran man es erkennt
- mon
- le
- un
- très
- trop
Beispielsätze
C’est ma voisine. Elle est architecte.That is my neighbour. She is an architect.
Ce sont des amis de Lyon.They are friends from Lyon.
Le film ? Il est long, mais c’est un bon film.The film? It is long, but it is a good film.
C’est trop cher pour moi.That is too expensive for me.
Die typisch deutsche Falle
Aufgepasst
The job appears twice in different shapes and both are right: Il est médecin without an article, C'est un médecin with one. Only the crossing is wrong — Il est un médecin — and it is exactly what «he is a doctor» invites. The test is the article: where there is one, c'est goes in front.
An article behind it means c’est in front of it.
Jetzt selbst
5 Aufgaben zu diesem Thema. Die Antworten werden im Browser geprüft; nichts davon verlässt Ihr Gerät.