"C'est bon signe" and other expressions which do not use an indefinite article

JeanC1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

"C'est bon signe" and other expressions which do not use an indefinite article

Is there any general rule about how to identify which French expressions do not use an indefinite article where English would use one. In other words, why not "c'est un bon signe" ?

Asked 4 years ago
ChrisC1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

Yes, I noticed that too. There are quite a few idiomatic expressions which omit the article. In my experience the "why" question only has one answer: because that's the way it is. Just resign yourself to learning these expressions. After a while they become second nature. That's how the French do it. :)

JeanC1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

I was afraid of that answer Chris !  But I had suspected that was the case... :(

"C'est bon signe" and other expressions which do not use an indefinite article

Is there any general rule about how to identify which French expressions do not use an indefinite article where English would use one. In other words, why not "c'est un bon signe" ?

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