French · CEFR Band 1 (A1) · Chapter 13
Qu'est-ce que c'est?What is this?
To ask what a thing is, French has a ready-made question: "Qu'est-ce que c'est?" — it's THE everyday way to say "what is it/this". You can point with ceci (near) and cela (far): Qu'est-ce que c'est que ceci? Once the thing is identified, gender returns: C'est une montre (f), c'est un parapluie (m). Objects: montre, parapluie, vêtements, chaussure, eau, porte, fenêtre, ordinateur, argent, papier.
Dialogue
i
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Quoi est ceci?
- MikeLucas, quoi est ceci ?Lucas, what is this? (slip: don't calque English word order — say the fixed "Qu'est-ce que c'est?")
- LucasOn dit « Qu'est-ce que c'est ? » — c'est une expression toute faite.We say "Qu'est-ce que c'est?" — it's a ready-made expression.
- MikeD'accord. Qu'est-ce que c'est ?Okay. What is this?
- LucasC'est un parapluie. Et cela, c'est une montre.It's an umbrella. And that's a watch.
Dialogue
i
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Dans le sac— In the Bag
- CamilleMike, qu'est-ce que c'est ?Mike, what's that?
- MikeC'est un ordinateur. Et ceci, c'est du papier.It's a computer. And this is paper.
- CamilleEt tu as de l'eau ?And do you have water?
- MikeOui, j'ai de l'eau, de l'argent et des chaussures.Yes, I have water, money and shoes.
Vocabulary
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- ceci
pronounthis
- cela
pronounthat
- montre
n.f.watch (f)
- parapluie
n.m.umbrella (m)
- vêtements
n.m.clothes (m pl)
- chaussure
n.f.shoe (f)
- eau
n.f.water (f)
- porte
n.f.door (f)
- fenêtre
n.f.window (f)
- ordinateur
n.m.computer (m)
- argent
n.m.money (m)
- papier
n.m.paper (m)
Grammar
i
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"Qu'est-ce que c'est?" and ceci/cela
Explanation
To ask "what is it?", French uses a fixed expression: "Qu'est-ce que c'est?". Word for word it's "qu'est-ce que ce + est" but you learn it as a block — it's the everyday question for identifying a thing. The answer starts with "C'est…" + the article: C'est une montre. C'est un parapluie. To point, ceci (near) and cela (far) are neutral: they're for when you don't know the word yet. Don't calque English "What is this?" word for word ("Quoi est ceci?" doesn't exist) — say "Qu'est-ce que c'est?".
Examples
- Qu'est-ce que c'est ? — C'est une montre.What's this? — It's a watch.
- Qu'est-ce que c'est ? — C'est un parapluie.What's that? — It's an umbrella.
- Ceci est de l'eau et cela, c'est du papier.This is water and that is paper.
- Quel est ton ordinateur ? — Celui-ci.Which is your computer? — This one.
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