Questions & Answers about Tu es un ami.
The lesson says we use c'est before a noun. Why can we use Tu es with the noun un ami?
The rule about using c'est instead of il est or elle est only applies when talking about "he", "she", or "it". When you are saying "I am", "you are", or "we are", you just use the regular pronouns like Je or Tu, followed directly by the noun. How do I pronounce es un here? Do the words link together?
Yes, they do! The letter 's' at the end of es is normally silent. But because un starts with a vowel sound, you connect them (this is called a liaison). You pronounce the 's' like a 'z', so es un sounds a bit like 'eh-zuhn'. If I am talking to a female friend, does the word Tu change?
No, Tu is used for both men and women. However, the end of the sentence changes to match her gender. You would use the feminine article and noun: Tu es une amie. Since a friend is someone you are close to, do I always have to use Tu?
Usually, yes! Tu is the informal 'you' used for friends, family, and kids. However, if you are expressing friendship toward someone older or a professional colleague you still address formally, you could say Vous êtes un ami, using the formal 'you'. Learn Tu es un ami and more in French
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