C'est with a determiner

Question

I have to say I start to sweat when this question shows up on my tests, because I will ALWAYS get it wrong.  I have read the lesson over and over and it seems like I will decided that I should use c'est because there is a determiner, but then it tells me to use elle or il.  Then I use il or elle because there isn't a determiner and it will tell me to use c'est.  I feel like all the lessons help me, and I see my mistakes, but this one is not helping me.  Any other way to explain this to me?

Jim Jones · Accepted Answer

Hi Katie,
This might help:-
MaartenC1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer
It is always “c’est” when followed by an article, whether definite or indefinite
C'est vs il/elle est: Saying it is/she is/he is

Katie Krohn · Answer

Tu aimes la pizza? Oui, ________ est délicieux, surtout en Italie !       So according to the quiz this is c'est not elle.  To me we are speaking about the exact pizza that she is eating... and there is no article in this sentence.  I don't understand why it is c'est... it doesn't fit that rule, there is no article and it isn't a general pizza.  In my opinion it is a specific pizza.  Still struggling.

Maarten Kamp · Answer

Katie - the example you give is effectively covered under the ambiguous cases in the lesson Tu aimes la pizza ? "You like pizza ?" (generally) or do "You like the pizza ?" (Specific to one pizza).

The question uses an article but the answer of "C’est délicieux “ ( a general statement ) does not.

"Elle est délicieuse" does not fit here, as that is specific in meaning, and not a good fit to be followed by “especially in Italy”, which indicates that this is a general statement about pizza being delicious.

That is, by replying “it is delicious, especially in Italy” - the context is general and “c’est délicieux“ is correct.

(Unless you are thinking this is 'shorthand' for something like "(the) pizza is delicious, especially {while sitting here eating it} in Italy").

The thing to remember from the previous discussion is if you did use “(Oui,) c’est UNE pizza délicieuse” - this is specific, but “Elle est UNE pizza délicieuse” is not correct.

(There are a few expressions where the 'following article' dogma does not apply eg “Il était une fois”, but in general speech you are not going to use Il/Elle être ARTICLE- NOUN ).

See link for further information

https://www.frenchtoday.com/blog/french-grammar/cest-versus-il-elle-est/