Remember that in sentences it is/they are ... + article/determinant (un, une, le, la, les, des...) + noun/pronoun, you will use c'est or ce sont instead of il/elle est or ils/elles sont.
See C'est vs il/elle est: Saying it is
Now look at these examples:
Est-ce ta trousse? - Oui, c'est la mienne.
Is this your pencil case? - Yes, this is mine.
À qui sont ces livres? Ce sont mes livres.
Whose books are these? These are my books
Note that ce is used with the verb être as follows: in its singular form, c'est, means it is /this is /that is, and in its plural form, ce sont, means they are /these are /those are.
Both forms are used to refer to a thing or a person (i.e. a girl, a table, a house, ...), and they agree in number (singular or plural) with the thing they refer to.
BUT
When c'est is followed by an adjective or an adverb on its own, you NEVER use ce sont, even if the thing referred to is plural:
C'est pratique, les ciseaux.
They're practical, scissors.
Et leurs anniversaires ? - C'est bientôt !
What about their birthdays? - They're soon!
Note that if c'est is followed by an adverb AND a noun, then the noun is the one that matters!
ATTENTION:
It is worth noticing that the first rule is not always followed rigorously by French speakers. You could indeed hear them using c'est when they should use ce sont:
However, they will never use ce sont for c'est !
Learn more about these related French grammar topics
Examples and resources
À qui sont ces livres? Ce sont mes livres.
Whose books are these? These are my books
Est-ce ta trousse? - Oui, c'est la mienne.
Is this your pencil case? - Yes, this is mine.
C'est bientôt les vacances!
It's the holidays soon!
Et leurs anniversaires ? - C'est bientôt !
What about their birthdays? - They're soon!
Ce sont bientôt les vacances!
It's almost the holidays!
C'est pratique, les ciseaux.
They're practical, scissors.
C'est ma maison.
This is my house.
Ce sont mes maisons.
These are my houses.
Ce sont les amis de mon frère.
These are my brother's friends.
Q&A
Ron
Kwiziq community member
21/10/17
I am uncertain about your continued confusion with the c'est and ce sont demonstrative pronouns. Here is something from the lesson that may help:
«Note that ce is used with the verb être as follows: in its singular form, c'est, means it is /this is /that is, and in its plural form, ce sont, means they are /these are /those are. »
Here is a link to another site that could possibly help clear up the confusion:
https://www.tolearnfrench.com/exercises/exercise-french-2/exercise-french-3555.php
Bonne chance.
Ron
Kwiziq community member
17/10/17
I am quite uncertain of the meaning of your question. C'est and ce sont are both demonstrative pronouns. Would you be so kind as to clarify the meaning of «before a pronoun»?
Merci,
Cheryl
Kwiziq community member
18/10/17
Chris
Kwiziq community member
19/10/17
-- Chris. (not a native speaker)
Gruff
Kwiziq language super star
20/07/17
/revision/grammar/when-to-use-cest-or-il-est-elle-est-to-say-it-is
When referring to a specific person, you always used "C'est...".
Hope that helps.
Aurélie
Kwiziq language super star
10/02/17
This is the case 1 explained in the following lesson:
https://french.kwiziq.com/revision/grammar/when-to-use-cest-or-il-est-elle-est-to-say-it-is
"1. c'est in sentences "it/he/she is + a/the/my... + thing/people"
If "it/he/she is" is followed by un/une/le/la...(any form of article / determinant) - it is a beautiful dress / she is a nice person - then you will use c'est. "
À bientôt !
Susan
Kwiziq community member
12/02/17
What I'm finding confusing is what appears to be a conflict between the two rules. You say: mon pull, and il est (because its specific, not general), but you also say, ces livres and ce sont (also specific, not general). Other than that the first being singular and the second, plural, what is it that makes these two examples different?
I've read and re-read both lessons on this, and I'm still, unfortunately, missing the point (not that that hasn't happened before). I hope you will clarify further.
Aurélie
Kwiziq language super star
20/12/16
You never really use "Cela est" as the contraction "c'est" is done for pronunciation reasons: it's just easier to say "c'est", no one ever say "cela est" :)
I hope that's helpful!
À bientôt !
Aurélie
Kwiziq language super star
14/10/16
/revision/grammar/when-to-use-cest-or-il-est-elle-est-to-say-it-is
Please have a look at it, and let us know if you're still struggling with this concept, and what bothers you specifically, and we'll be happy to try and clarify it for you :)
À bientôt !
Chris
Kwiziq community member
11/10/16
-- Chris.
Chris
Kwiziq community member
11/10/16
(1) Les pommes sont fraîches. Ces pommes sont fraîches.
(2) Les pommes sont fraîches. Ce sont fraîches.
In the first example "ces" is a demonstrative pronoun and needs to agree in gender and number with "pommes". In the latter example "ce sont" is a fixed phrase meaning "they are" as a whole.
Hope that helps, -- Chris.
Jim
Kwiziq community member
11/10/16
The system for entering a question is a bit awkward because when I tried to add detail to my question the system closed my request and that is why no details were logged.
Laura on her Forum has answered me and your reply corresponds to that from Laura so thank you for taking the time to help I appreciate it.
Kind regards,
Alan
Chris
Kwiziq community member
11/10/16
Do you also find that the answering of questions is not so much in the focus of kwiziq? I have asked a couple of questions here which never got a reply. And I see other's having the same problem. Is Laura's forum better in that respect?
-- Chris.
Jim
Kwiziq community member
11/10/16
In fairness, they don't have a lot of staff and they are in the process of constant development as I understand it. I have a point about the use of "pour" in future usage acknowledged as valid but not yet addressed because of time constraints.
The thing about Laura's Forum is that there are some very knowledgeable members who are willing to help and I do get answers there.
Regards,
Alan
Laura
Kwiziq language super star
15/11/15
Thanks for your question. You're right, the explanation isn't clear - we'll get it fixed as soon as possible.
Susan
Kwiziq community member
15/11/15
CrystalMaiden
Kwiziq community member
18 April 2018
1 reply
Can you use Ceux sont to mean Ce Sont?
Aurélie
Kwiziq language super star
18 April 2018
18/04/18
Bonjour CrystalMaiden!
The answer is no, you would never say "ceux sont" in French :)
Bonne journée !