She's a good dancer - c'est?

Arndis K.A2Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

She's a good dancer - c'est?

I understand that things have a male/female gender in French, unlike English where things generally are neutral, but is it really so that you can use "c'est" about a person? 
Asked 6 years ago
Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Hi Arndís,

I do believe that the English translations are misleading. 

"C'est la fille de Marie." Should be translated as "It's Martha's daughter." And not "She is Martha's daughter." Which would, in fact, be "Elle est la fille de Martha."

-- Chris. 

Alan G.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

I'm not sure this is right. According to the first part of this lesson:

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.

So strictly speaking you shouldn't say "Elle est la fille de Martha."

Therefore "C'est" will be used in many cases where you would say "he/she is" in English and should be translated as "he/she".

Arndis K.A2Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

That's not what I'm confused about. That sounds perfectly logical to me. 

I asked the question after doing a writing excercise where the correct translation of "she's a good dancer" started with c'est (I can't remember the exact sentence, but probably it was "c'est une bonne danseuse") and that makes no sense to me. Is that correct French? 

Alan G.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
Yes, it's correct French. I'm not sure what you're confused about, and what you think is logical. How do you think "she's a good dancer" should be translated into French, given that it can't be "elle est une bonne danseuse"?
Arndis K.A2Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor
"Elle est une bonne danseuse" sounds logical to me, and strange to talk about people as "it". Thank you for the confirmation, I'll just have to get used to it, then, haha! :) 
Diego B.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

I think they took the "general rule" too far in this case. French people say "Il est un" / "Elle est une" all the time, and as far as I know, there's nothing wrong with it...

https://diccionario.reverso.net/frances-espanol/elle+est+une+bonne

https://diccionario.reverso.net/frances-espanol/elle%20est%20une

She's a good dancer - c'est?

I understand that things have a male/female gender in French, unlike English where things generally are neutral, but is it really so that you can use "c'est" about a person? 

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...