Difference between revisions of "Language/French/Grammar/Subject-verb-agreement-—-Verb-“être”"
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=== Subject-verb agreement === | === Subject-verb agreement === | ||
The agreement in French (the agreement) is the way to choose the correct ending for verbs in terms of grammatical persons, gender and number, depending on their subject. | The agreement in French (the agreement) is the way to choose the correct ending for verbs in terms of grammatical persons, gender and number, depending on their subject. | ||
==Subject-verb Agreement with "être"== | ==Subject-verb Agreement with "être"== | ||
*'''Mon problème''' étai'''t''' mes enfants, car je n'avais personne pour les garder | *'''Mon problème''' étai'''t''' mes enfants, car je n'avais personne pour les garder | ||
My problem was my children, for I had no-one to look after them | My problem was my children, for I had no-one to look after them | ||
=="C'est" or "Ce sont"== | =="C'est" or "Ce sont"== | ||
When "ce" is the subject of "être", there is a choice between using "c'est" or "ce sont". | When "ce" is the subject of "être", there is a choice between using "c'est" or "ce sont". | ||
Whereas most nouns and pronouns follow "c'est", as in the examples below: | Whereas most nouns and pronouns follow "c'est", as in the examples below: | ||
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*'''C'est''' le facteur | *'''C'est''' le facteur | ||
<blockquote>It's the postman</blockquote> | <blockquote>It's the postman</blockquote> | ||
In written French, plural nouns and plural pronouns in the third person are meant to follow "ce sont": | In written French, plural nouns and plural pronouns in the third person are meant to follow "ce sont": | ||
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*'''Ce sont''' eux | *'''Ce sont''' eux | ||
<blockquote>It's them</blockquote> | <blockquote>It's them</blockquote> | ||
However, most speakers use "c'est" in these days, as in the examples below: | However, most speakers use "c'est" in these days, as in the examples below: | ||
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*'''C'est''' eux | *'''C'est''' eux | ||
<blockquote>It's them</blockquote> | <blockquote>It's them</blockquote> | ||
Where numbers are involved, "c'est" is always used: | Where numbers are involved, "c'est" is always used: | ||
*'''C'est''' 2 000 euros que je te dois | *'''C'est''' 2 000 euros que je te dois | ||
<blockquote>It's 2,000 euros that I owe you</blockquote> | <blockquote>It's 2,000 euros that I owe you</blockquote> | ||
The c'est/ce sont construction is often used with relative clauses, and it is important to remember that the verb in the relative clause agrees in person and number with the complement of c'est/ce sont: | The c'est/ce sont construction is often used with relative clauses, and it is important to remember that the verb in the relative clause agrees in person and number with the complement of c'est/ce sont: | ||
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*'''Ce sont''' elles qui sont parties | *'''Ce sont''' elles qui sont parties | ||
<blockquote>They are the ones who left</blockquote> | <blockquote>They are the ones who left</blockquote> | ||
More information on the difference between "c'est" and "ce sont": | More information on the difference between "c'est" and "ce sont": | ||
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==Other Chapters== | ==Other Chapters== | ||
{{French-Grammar-Course-Menu}} | {{French-Grammar-Course-Menu}} | ||
<span links></span> | |||
Latest revision as of 14:01, 27 March 2023
[Changed]
Definitions[edit | edit source]
Subject-verb agreement[edit | edit source]
The agreement in French (the agreement) is the way to choose the correct ending for verbs in terms of grammatical persons, gender and number, depending on their subject.
Subject-verb Agreement with "être"[edit | edit source]
- Mon problème était mes enfants, car je n'avais personne pour les garder
My problem was my children, for I had no-one to look after them
"C'est" or "Ce sont"[edit | edit source]
When "ce" is the subject of "être", there is a choice between using "c'est" or "ce sont".
Whereas most nouns and pronouns follow "c'est", as in the examples below:
- C'est moi/nous (not "Ce sont nous/vous")
It's me/us/you/him/her
- C'est le facteur
It's the postman
In written French, plural nouns and plural pronouns in the third person are meant to follow "ce sont":
- Ce sont mes parents
It's my parents
- Ce sont eux
It's them
However, most speakers use "c'est" in these days, as in the examples below:
- C'est mes parents
It's my parents
- C'est eux
It's them
Where numbers are involved, "c'est" is always used:
- C'est 2 000 euros que je te dois
It's 2,000 euros that I owe you
The c'est/ce sont construction is often used with relative clauses, and it is important to remember that the verb in the relative clause agrees in person and number with the complement of c'est/ce sont:
- C'est moi qui suis le moins grand
It's me who's the smallest
- C'est nous qui sommes les demandeurs
We are the ones applicants
- C'est vous qui avez pris mes lunettes
It's you who has taken my glasses
- Ce sont elles qui sont parties
They are the ones who left
More information on the difference between "c'est" and "ce sont":
https://polyglotclub.com/wiki/Language/French/Grammar/%22C%27est%22-or-%22Ce-sont%22
Sources[edit | edit source]
- https://polyglotclub.com/wiki/Language/French/Grammar/%22C%27est%22-or-%22Ce-sont%22
- https://www.francaisfacile.com/exercices/exercice-francais-2/exercice-francais-3555.php
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FElxuzzNFXE
Other Chapters[edit | edit source]