Question 1

Why do we use "c'est" instead of "il est" to say "it is"?

Accepted Answer

In French, you must use c'est when "it is" is followed by a noun that has an article (like un or le). Because we are saying "a scandal" (un scandale), we use c'est. You would only use il est if it were followed by an adjective alone, for example: il est choquant (it is shocking).

Question 2

Why does the adjective "choquant" come after the noun it describes?

Accepted Answer

Most adjectives in French are placed right after the noun. Only a specific group of common, short adjectives (often remembered by the acronym "BAGS" for Beauty, Age, Goodness, and Size) come before the noun. Because choquant doesn't fit into those basic categories, it follows scandale.

Question 3

"Choquant" ends in "-ant". Is it related to English words ending in "-ing"?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Choquant comes from the verb choquer (to shock). In French, verbs ending in -ant can often be used as adjectives, exactly like English "-ing" adjectives (shocking, surprising, interesting). Just remember that when used as an adjective, the -ant word has to match the noun in gender and number.

Question 4

I thought words ending in "-e" were usually feminine. Why is it "un scandale"?

Accepted Answer

While words ending in -e are very often feminine, there are many exceptions in French, and un scandale is one of them. It is actually masculine! It is always a good idea to memorize the article (un or le) together with the noun so you don't get tricked by the spelling.

C'est un scandale choquant.

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