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C'est by Bruce Sallee and David Hebert

The phrase c'est also means “it is.” Study its uses in this section, and then compare and contrast it with the previous section on il/elle est so you understand the differences between the choices.

With a Proper Name

When you wish to refer to someone using his or her proper name, c'est is the appropriate choice, rather than il/elle est.

<tgroup cols="2"> <colspec colname="col1" colnum="1" colwidth="50%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="left"/> <colspec colname="col2" colnum="2" colwidth="50%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="left"/> <tbody> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>C'est Yvon Lauliac</emphasis>.</p></td> <td><p>It's Yvon Lauliac.</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>C'est Monsieur Allard</emphasis>.</p></td> <td><p>It's Mr. Allard.</p></td> </tr> </tbody> </tgroup> </table> <h2>With a Disjunctive Pronoun</h2> <p>C'est is used before disjunctive pronouns in French.</p> <table frame="none" width="100%"> <title/> <tgroup cols="2"> <colspec colname="col1" colnum="1" colwidth="50%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="left"/> <colspec colname="col2" colnum="2" colwidth="50%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="left"/> <tbody> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>C'est moi</emphasis>.</p></td> <td><p>It is me.</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>C'est toi</emphasis>.</p></td> <td><p>It is you.</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>C'est elle</emphasis>.</p></td> <td><p>It is her.</p></td> </tr> </tbody> </tgroup> </table> <h2>When Referring to a Situation or Idea</h2> <p><emphasis>C'est</emphasis> is often used with a singular masculine adjective to refer to states of being or ideas.</p> <table frame="none" width="100%"> <title/> <tgroup cols="2"> <colspec colname="col1" colnum="1" colwidth="50%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="left"/> <colspec colname="col2" colnum="2" colwidth="50%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="left"/> <tbody> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>Oui, c'est vrai</emphasis>.</p></td> <td><p>Yes, that's right.</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>J'achèterai le livre, c'est certain</emphasis>.</p></td> <td><p>I will buy the book, it's certain.</p></td> </tr> </tbody> </tgroup> </table> <h2>When Referring to a Noun That Is Modified by Other Words</h2> <p>When a noun is used with adjectives that modify or refine the meaning of the noun, <emphasis>c'est</emphasis> is the appropriate choice. Even a single article used with a noun is enough to modify it and make it necessary to use the c'est construction.</p> <table frame="none" width="100%"> <title/> <tgroup cols="2"> <colspec colname="col1" colnum="1" colwidth="50%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="left"/> <colspec colname="col2" colnum="2" colwidth="50%" colsep="0" rowsep="0" align="left"/> <tbody> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>C'est un livre excellent</emphasis>.</p></td> <td><p>It's an excellent book.</p></td> </tr> <tr> <td><p><emphasis>C'est une jolie maison</emphasis>.</p></td> <td><p>It's a beautiful house.</p></td> </tr> </tbody> </tgroup> </table> <!--/gc--> <div id="pagination"><ul><li class="prev"><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/french/developing-a-basic-vocabulary/ilelle-est.htm" title="Il/Elle Est">Il/Elle Est</a></li><li class="next"><a href="http://www.netplaces.com/french/developing-a-basic-vocabulary/il-y-a.htm" title="Il Y A">Il Y A</a> </li></ul></div></div> <div id="coda"> <div id="rel"><div class="n5">Related 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