Question 1

Why does this sentence use C'est instead of Il est to mean 'He is'?

Accepted Answer

When a profession is introduced by a definite article like le, la, or les, or an indefinite article like un or une, French requires c'est instead of il/elle est. You would use il/elle est only if there is no article at all, as in Il est médecin.

Question 2

Does the descriptive phrase de bord play a role in choosing C'est?

Accepted Answer

Yes, it is the reason we need the article le in the first place. When you add details to a profession using an adjective or a descriptive phrase like de bord, the noun becomes a modified noun. Modified nouns require an article, and as soon as you have that article, you must switch from il est to c'est.

Question 3

What does de bord literally mean in this context?

Accepted Answer

Bord translates to board, as in being on board a vehicle. A commandant de bord is literally the commander of the board. It is the standard French term for a pilot in command of an aircraft or the captain of a ship.

Question 4

If the captain were a woman, would the sentence change?

Accepted Answer

C'est can mean he is, she is, or it is, so the beginning stays the same. As for the title, traditionally le commandant is used for both men and women as a neutral occupational title. However, the feminized form la commandante de bord is becoming much more common today.

C'est le commandant de bord.

Breakdown of C'est le commandant de bord.

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