Paul est occupé.

Paul is busy.

Breakdown of Paul est occupé.

• être: to be
• Paul: Paul
• occupé: busy

Questions & Answers about Paul est occupé.

What is the role of est in Paul est occupé?

Est is the third-person singular present form of the verb être (to be). In this sentence, it functions as the linking verb that connects the subject Paul with the predicate adjective occupé, which describes his state of being busy.

How does adjective agreement work with occupé in this sentence?

In French, adjectives must agree in gender and number with the noun they describe. Since Paul is a masculine singular noun, occupé remains in its unaltered form. If the subject were feminine, the adjective would change to occupée, and if plural, adjustments would be needed accordingly.

What is the purpose of the accent on the é in occupé?

The acute accent on é signals that the vowel should be pronounced as /e/ (similar to the "ay" sound in English). This accent not only guides proper pronunciation but also confirms that the adjective is in its correct masculine singular form.

Why is there no article used before Paul in this sentence?

When a proper name is used as the subject in French, no article is necessary. Just as in English, Paul stands alone as the subject, so adding an article would be both unnecessary and ungrammatical.