Question 1

Why do we need "c'est" here? Couldn't we just say "Ce que j'aime est la dentelle"?

Accepted Answer

While English just uses "is" (What I like is lace), French strongly prefers the double structure Ce que... c'est... to highlight and emphasize a point. It literally translates to "That which I like, it is lace." Dropping the c' sounds quite unnatural in everyday spoken French.

Question 2

How would I use the word "dentelle" to say "a lace dress"? Does it use "à" or "de"?

Accepted Answer

Since lace is the material the dress is made out of, you would use en or de: une robe en dentelle or une robe de dentelle. You wouldn't use à, because that preposition is reserved for characteristics, features, or patterns (like une robe à fleurs for a floral dress).

Question 3

Why is it "Ce que" and not "Ce qui" at the beginning?

Accepted Answer

You use ce que because the "what" acts as the direct object of the verb aime (I like what?). If the pronoun were the subject of the clause actually doing the action, you would use ce qui, as in Ce qui me plaît, c'est la dentelle (What pleases me is lace).

Question 4

Why does the sentence use "la dentelle" instead of just "dentelle" or "de la dentelle"?

Accepted Answer

Verbs expressing general likes and dislikes, such as aimer, adorer, and détester, require the definite article (le, la, les). Even though we don't say "the lace" in English here, French requires la because you are talking about the concept of lace in a general sense.

Ce que j'aime, c'est la dentelle.

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