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C'est, Il est & Il y a in French A1

When to use « c'est », « il est / elle est » and « il y a » in French, three forms English often translates as “it is” or “there is”.

The rules

Does « il y a » change before singular and plural nouns?

No. The form stays the same.
Il y a un chat. Il y a des chats. (There is a cat. There are cats.)

When do you use « c'est » before a noun?

To identify someone or something: c'est + article + noun, or c'est + name
C'est une photo. C'est Marie. (It's a photo. It's Marie.)

What is the standard plural form of « c'est » before a plural noun?

ce sont
Ce sont mes clés. (These are my keys.)
In informal speech, you may also hear « c'est ».

When do you use « il est / elle est » + adjective?

To describe a person or thing already mentioned
Voici Paul. Il est gentil. (This is Paul. He is kind.)

Which form do you use to comment on a situation in general?

c'est + masculine adjective
C'est facile ! (It's easy!)

How do you normally state someone's job with « il est / elle est »?

Use no article before an unmodified job title.
Il est professeur. (He is a teacher.)

How do you state someone's job with « c'est »?

c'est + un / une + job
C'est un infirmier. (He's a nurse.)

Common mistakes

21 exercises

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Made by Léo Floissac, developer of Flashcards Master. Updated October 7, 2026.

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