Language/French/Grammar/Verbs-with-personal-subject-used-impersonally
[CHANGED]
Definition: impersonal form[edit | edit source]
A sentence is in the impersonal form if:
- The subject is the word "il".
- 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]
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Adverbs ending in —ment derived from the masculine form of an adjective
- Adjectives preceded by de
- Differences in the use of numbers in French and English Addresses
- Conventions for writing cardinal numbers in figures
- Intransitive verbs and auxiliary “être”
- Ditransitive verbs
- Location of adverbs modifying sentences
- The plural indefinite article des
- Use of il, ce, cela and ça as impersonal pronouns
- Plural indefinite article "des" VS preposition "de" and definite article "les"
- Conditional Mood and Future Tense
- Vous and Tu Complete Guide
- Non specific use of y
- Changes in the stem form of some —er conjugation verbs
- Difference between Nombre, Chiffre and Numéro