C'est vs Il/Ells - Not part of this lesson but a good example...I think.

Alvin S.B1Kwiziq community member

C'est vs Il/Ells - Not part of this lesson but a good example...I think.

The rule with c'est vs il/elle is that you are speaking of a specific item.  In this lesson one of the examples doesn't appear to follow that rule:

The lesson translates "Is it a second-hand car?- No, it's new." to "C'est une voiture d'occasion? - Non, elle est neuve." 

Why doesn't the question use Elle instead of C'est?   They are talking about a specific car--i.e. the one purchased by the speaker.

Asked 5 years ago
CécileKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

Hi Alvin,

I can see your confusion but in the question -

C'est une voiture d'occasion? 

it has to be c'est because in French you cannot say-

il/elle est + une

I know it is tricky for English speakers but that's just how it is ...

C'est vs Il/Ells - Not part of this lesson but a good example...I think.

The rule with c'est vs il/elle is that you are speaking of a specific item.  In this lesson one of the examples doesn't appear to follow that rule:

The lesson translates "Is it a second-hand car?- No, it's new." to "C'est une voiture d'occasion? - Non, elle est neuve." 

Why doesn't the question use Elle instead of C'est?   They are talking about a specific car--i.e. the one purchased by the speaker.

Sign in to submit your answer

Don't have an account yet? Join today

Ask a question

Find your French level for FREE

Test your French to the CEFR standard

Find your French level
Let me take a look at that...