Paul est prêt.

to be

Breakdown of Paul est prêt.

• Paul: Paul
• prêt: ready

Questions & Answers about Paul est prêt.

What part of speech is prêt in the sentence Paul est prêt, and why is it placed after the verb est?

Prêt functions as a predicate adjective that describes the subject Paul. In French, adjectives used in a predicate (that is, when they follow the linking verb être) come after the verb, much like “is ready” in English.

How does adjective agreement work in this sentence, especially if the subject’s gender or number changes?

In French, adjectives must agree in gender and number with the noun they describe. Since Paul is masculine singular, prêt stays unchanged. If the subject were feminine (for example, Paula), the adjective would become prête; if the subject were plural, you’d add an s (e.g., Les Pauls sont prêts for a group of males or Les Paules sont prêtes for a group of females).

What role does the verb être play in Paul est prêt, and why is est used here?

The verb être serves as a linking (copular) verb in this sentence, connecting the subject Paul with the predicate adjective prêt that describes his state. Est is the third-person singular present form of être, which correctly corresponds to the subject Paul—just as “is” functions in the English sentence “Paul is ready.”

How can the statement Paul est prêt be transformed into a question in French?

There are a couple of ways to form a question from Paul est prêt. One common method is to use the phrase Est-ce que Paul est prêt ?, which is similar to adding “Is it that…” in English. Alternatively, you can invert the subject and the verb: Paul est-il prêt ? Both methods clearly ask, “Is Paul ready?”

Why is the adjective prêt placed after être rather than before Paul in this sentence?

In French, when an adjective serves as a predicate complement following the linking verb être, it naturally comes after the verb. Although some adjectives can appear before the noun when used attributively, the standard structure for a state or condition—as in “Paul is ready”—places the adjective after être.

Does the circumflex in prêt affect its pronunciation or meaning in any way?

The circumflex in prêt is a remnant of historical spelling and sometimes indicates that an old letter was once present. In modern pronunciation, it doesn’t significantly change how the word is said (approximately [prɛ]), nor does it affect the meaning of the adjective “ready.”