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Il est difficile de cacher un sentiment triste.

Il est difficile de cacher un sentiment triste.
It is difficult to hide a sad feeling.
From Lesson 148:Impersonal expressions (il est important de)·French

Questions & Answers about Il est difficile de cacher un sentiment triste.

Why use Il est instead of C'est here?
For expressions like 'It is [adjective] to [do something]', both Il est and C'est are correct. Il est is more formal and common in writing. In everyday spoken French, you will hear C'est difficile de cacher... much more often.
Why do we need de before cacher? Can I just say 'Il est difficile cacher'?
No, you cannot skip de. The structure for this type of impersonal expression requires it: Il est + adjective + de + infinitive verb. Think of the de as the 'to' in 'It is difficult to hide'.
Why does the adjective triste come after the noun sentiment?
Most French adjectives go after the noun they describe. Only a specific group of short, common adjectives (like bon, petit, or grand) go before the noun. Triste doesn't belong to that special group, so it follows the normal rule and goes after sentiment.
Is sentiment used the exactly same way as the English word 'sentiment'?
Not quite. While they are related, un sentiment is the most common French word for a basic 'feeling' or 'emotion' (like sadness, joy, or fear). The English word 'sentiment' is a bit narrower and often refers to an opinion, an attitude, or nostalgia.

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