Breakdown of Il est essentiel de dire la vérité pour se sentir libre.
être
to be
libre
free
pour
for
de
of / from / any (in negative sentences) / about (concerning)
il
it (impersonal subject)
dire
to say, to tell
la vérité
the truth
se sentir
to feel (oneself)
essentiel
essential
Questions & Answers about Il est essentiel de dire la vérité pour se sentir libre.
Why does this sentence start with Il est instead of C'est?
When making a general statement using an adjective followed by an infinitive, the standard rule is to use Il est (as in Il est essentiel). In everyday spoken French, you will often hear people say C'est essentiel de dire, but Il est is the correct form for written or formal grammar.
Why is there a de before dire?
This is the required connecting word for this grammar structure. When you use an impersonal expression (like Il est essentiel) and follow it with an infinitive verb (like dire), you must link them with de.
Why use se sentir instead of just sentir for 'to feel'?
The regular verb sentir usually means to smell or to physically feel an object. When you are talking about experiencing a state of being or emotion (like feeling free or tired), you must use the reflexive verb se sentir.
Why is se sentir in the infinitive form rather than conjugated?
It follows the word pour. In French, when you use pour to mean 'in order to', it must be followed directly by an infinitive verb.
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