C’est vs il/elle est

Anne D.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

C’est vs il/elle est

I notice nearly all the subjects in these examples are proper nouns (with one qui?). When using a subject pronoun instead, would it become ce /c’ to avoid the il/elle + determiner construction ?

For example:  

 Elle est intelligente —> c’est la fille la plus intelligente de la classe 

Asked 1 week ago
CécileKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

Bonjour Anne, 

Yes, you can say this.

Ce lit est confortable, il est super confortable, c'est le lit le plus confortable que j'aie possédé This bed is comfortable, it is super comfortable, it's the most comfortable bed I've owned

Bonne Continuation !

CécileKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

I now see what you mean, Anne.

Although we stress the rule to use "C'est, rather than Il/Elle est before a substantive" it is a good rule of thumb but there are some exceptions when you can use either.

1. When a superlative modifies the noun:

Elle est la fille la plus intelligente de la classe She is the most intelligent girl in the class

2. In exclamations or emphatic statements:

Elle est ma fille après tout ! She is my daughter after all!

3.  When a possessive adjective precedes the noun:

Il est mon meilleur ami He is my best friend

4.  In some fixed expressions or idiomatic phrases:

Elle est l'âme de la fête = She is the life of the party

5.  When making a strong identification or definition:

Elle est la seule personne qui puisse m'aider = She is the only person who can help me

While these exceptions exist, they are less common in everyday speech. For most situations, especially for learners, it's safer to stick to the general rule of using "c'est" before nouns.

P.S. That wouldn't be the case with my bed example .

Hope this helps!

 

 

 

 

 

Anne D.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Thank you for your reply, Cécile, but I was hoping for confirmation that you can’t use "Il est le lit le plus confortable" and "Elle est la fille la plus intelligente", you need to have "C’est" instead?

Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

@Cécile:

Actually, item 3 in the list, has me confused. The use of il/elle in the example you provide seems to stem from the use of the superlative. 

Qui est ce beau mec? -- C'est le petit-ami de ma soeur. Il est artist.

Just from a pedagogic perspective, I would simply say to use il/elle est in emphatic statements, which also include superlatives but also any other emphatic expression.

Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

@Anne D.:

According to Cécile's explanation, you'd use il/elle in the examples you quote.

C’est vs il/elle est

I notice nearly all the subjects in these examples are proper nouns (with one qui?). When using a subject pronoun instead, would it become ce /c’ to avoid the il/elle + determiner construction ?

For example:  

 Elle est intelligente —> c’est la fille la plus intelligente de la classe 

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