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C'est une table.

C'est une table.
It is a table.
From Lesson 3:Identifying vs. describing (c'est vs. il est)·French

Breakdown of C'est une table.

la table
the table
c'est
it is, that is

Questions & Answers about C'est une table.

Why do we use c'est here instead of elle est, since table is feminine?
We use c'est because we are identifying what the object is using a noun (une table). You only use elle est (or il est) when you are describing the object using just an adjective. For example, to say "It is big," you would say Elle est grande, but to say "It is a table," you must use C'est une table.
Why is it written as c'est and not ce est?
In French, when the word ce (meaning "it" or "this") comes right before a vowel, the e is dropped and replaced with an apostrophe to make pronunciation smoother. Since est (is) starts with an e, ce est squishes together to become c'est.
Why do we use une instead of un here?
Every noun (word for an object, person, or place) in French has a grammatical gender, either masculine or feminine. The word table happens to be feminine. Therefore, we have to use the feminine word for "a", which is une. If the object were masculine, like a book (livre), we would use un.
Can c'est une table also mean "this is a table"?
Yes! The phrase c'est is very versatile. Depending on the situation, it can translate to "it is", "this is", or "that is". If you are pointing at the object, translating it as "This is a table" makes perfect sense.

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