Language/French/Grammar/Verbs-with-personal-subject-used-impersonally

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Verbs that take a personal subject can also sometimes be used impersonally

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Definition: impersonal form[edit | edit source]

A sentence is in the impersonal form if:

  1. The subject is the word "il".
  2. The subject represents nothing and no one.

Examples[edit | edit source]

  • Il se passe ici des choses étranges

Strange things are happening here

  • Il est arrivé hier matin un événement qui sort de l'ordinaire

Something out of the ordinary happened yesterday morning

  • Il convient d'être prudent de nos jours avec les conditions sanitaires

It is advisable to be careful nowadays with the sanitary conditions

  • Il nous arrive souvent de recevoir des stars de la télé

We often receive TV stars

  • Il manque un treizième couvert à la table

A thirteenth place setting is missing at the table

  • Il y va de sa réputation

His reputation is at stake

  • Il nous manque plusieurs de nos amis ce soir

Several of our friends are missing tonight

  • Il ne me souvient pas d'avoir été présenté à cette dame

He don't remember being introduced to this lady

“être” can also be used impersonally[edit | edit source]

“être” can also be used impersonally, either in set expressions or more formally as an alternative to il y a:

  • Il est grand temps que nous partions en vacances

It is high time we went on vacation

  • Il n'est absolument pas question de rester client de cet opérateur Internet

There is absolutely no question of remaining a customer of this Internet operator

  • Il est dommage d'avoir été si mal reçu par le service clients

It is a shame to have been so badly received by customer service

  • Est-Il besoin de vous rappeler que vous devez absolument arriver à l'heure? (formal style)

Is there any need to remind you that you absolutely must arrive on time?

  • Il est des jours où l'on souhaiterait être seul

There are days when one would wish to be alone

Introduce fairy stories[edit | edit source]

There are two set phrases used to introduce fairy stories:

  • « Il était une fois » (most used) OR « Il y avait une fois »

Once upon a time …

Other Chapters[edit | edit source]

Table of Contents

Nouns


Determiners


Personal and impersonal pronouns


Adjectives


Adverbs


Numbers, measurements, time and quantifiers


Verb forms


Verb constructions


Verb and participle agreement


Tense


The subjunctive, modal verbs, exclamatives and imperatives


The infinitive


Prepositions


Question formation


Relative clauses


Negation


Conjunctions and other linking constructions

Other Lessons[edit | edit source]

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