Impersonal Expressions with "Il est"
When you want to give general advice, evaluate an action, or state a fact without directing it at a specific person, use an impersonal expression. In French, you form these by combining il est, an adjective, the preposition de, and an infinitive verb:
il est + adjective + de + infinitive
Even though il usually means "he", in this structure it simply means "it".
| It is normal to feel sad sometimes. | Il est normal de se sentir triste parfois. |
| It is essential to follow a therapy to feel better. | Il est essentiel de suivre une thérapie pour se sentir mieux. |
Using "C'est"
In everyday spoken French, you will often hear c'est used instead of il est. The structure stays exactly the same.
Remember that de changes to d' when the following infinitive verb begins with a vowel.
| It is important to express this emotion. | C'est important d'exprimer cette émotion. |
| It is difficult to find a good psychologist. | C'est difficile de trouver un bon psychologue. |
Making Impersonal Expressions Negative
To express that something is not normal, easy, or necessary, simply place ne (or n') and pas around the verb est.
| It is not normal to always feel sad. | Il n'est pas normal de se sentir toujours triste. |
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