Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes

Learn how to use the impersonal forms "Il y a" to express presence or quantity, and "C'est" to describe or identify objects, with examples like "Il y a un garage" and "C'est la cuisine".
  1. C'est is used to describe or identify something.
  2. Il y a is used to express the presence of something, or a quantity.
FormeExemples
Il y a + nomIl y a un garage dans la maison.
Il y a + adverbe / nombreIl y a beaucoup de fleurs dans le jardin. (There are lots of flowers in the garden.)
C'est + nom

SingulierC'est la cuisine.

PlurielCe sont les toilettes.

C'est + adjectifC'est grand.

Exercise 1: La forme impersonnelle: "Il y a", "C'est"

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

Ce sont, C'est, Il y a

1. Identification :
... les chambres de ma mère.
(These are my mother's rooms.)
2. Identification :
... l'appartement que vous voulez visiter.
(This is the flat you want to visit.)
3. Présence :
... des toilettes au rez-de-chaussée.
(There are toilets on the ground floor.)
4. Identification :
... la salle à manger.
(This is the dining room.)
5. Description :
... fermé.
(It is closed.)
6. Présence :
... un long couloir entre les chambres.
(There is a long corridor between the rooms.)
7. Quantité :
... trois fleurs dans la maison.
(There are three flowers in the house.)
8. Quantité :
... beaucoup de tableaux chez vous.
(There are a lot of paintings in your house.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. Il y a ___ chambres dans cette maison.

(There are ___ bedrooms in this house.)

2. ___ la cuisine, elle est grande et moderne.

(___ the kitchen, it is large and modern.)

3. Il y a une ___ dans le salon.

(There is a ___ in the living room.)

4. ___ les toilettes au fond du couloir.

(___ the toilets at the end of the hallway.)

5. Il y ___ beaucoup de fleurs dans le jardin.

(There ___ many flowers in the garden.)

6. ___ une maison décorée avec goût.

(___ a house decorated tastefully.)

Understanding the Impersonal Form: "Il y a" and "C'est"

This lesson introduces two essential impersonal expressions in French: "Il y a" and "C'est". These forms are foundational for describing situations, identifying objects, and expressing the presence or quantity of things. They are core building blocks for everyday communication at the A1 (beginner) level.

1. Using "Il y a" to Express Existence and Quantity

"Il y a" literally means "there is" or "there are" and is used to indicate that something exists or to specify the quantity of items present.

  • Il y a + noun: For example, Il y a un garage dans la maison. (There is a garage in the house.)
  • Il y a + adverb/number: For example, Il y a beaucoup de fleurs dans le jardin. (There are many flowers in the garden.)

2. Using "C'est" to Describe or Identify

"C'est" means "It is" or "This is" and is used to describe, identify, or point out something or someone.

  • C'est + noun (singular): C'est la cuisine. (This is the kitchen.)
  • Ce sont + noun (plural): Ce sont les toilettes. (These are the toilets.)
  • C'est + adjective: C'est grand. (It is big.)

Key Points to Remember

  • "Il y a" focuses on the presence or quantity of something.
  • "C'est" is used for identification and description.
  • Use "Ce sont" when referring to multiple items.
  • Adjectives follow "C'est" for descriptions.

Differences Between French and English

In French, "Il y a" is an impersonal phrase that must be used to express existence or quantity, unlike English where "there is" and "there are" change with singular/plural. French simplifies this with a single form regardless of number.

"C'est" directly translates to "It is" or "This is," but in French, it is also used broadly to identify or describe objects and can be followed by nouns or adjectives. In English, you might often use "It is" or "These are," but note how French distinguishes singular and plural with "C'est" vs. "Ce sont".

Useful Words and Expressions

  • un garage — a garage
  • la maison — the house
  • beaucoup de — many, a lot of
  • les fleurs — the flowers
  • la cuisine — the kitchen
  • les toilettes — the toilets
  • grand — big, large

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This content has been designed and reviewed by the coLanguage pedagogical team: About coLanguage

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Donia Ben Salem

Applied Foreign Languages

Université de Lorraine

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Last Updated:

Friday, 18/07/2025 01:13