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Questions & Answers about Ce moment est parfait.
What does the bolded word ce mean in Ce moment est parfait?
Ce is a demonstrative adjective meaning this or that. It agrees with the noun:
- ce
- masculine singular before a consonant (ce moment)
- cet
- masculine singular before a vowel or mute h (cet instant, cet homme)
- cette
- feminine singular (cette minute)
- ces
- plural (ces moments)
Why is it parfait and not parfaite?
Because adjectives agree with the noun they describe. Moment is masculine singular, so the adjective is masculine singular: parfait. If the noun were feminine, you’d use parfaite (e.g., Cette soirée est parfaite).
Can I just say C’est parfait instead?
Yes. C’est parfait means That’s perfect or It’s perfect and is more general. Ce moment est parfait explicitly names the subject (this moment), making it a bit more specific or emphatic about the moment itself.
Why not Le moment est parfait?
Le means the and refers to a known or generic moment. Ce points to a specific moment you’re experiencing or indicating. So Ce moment est parfait = This/That moment is perfect; Le moment est parfait = The moment is perfect (more generic or previously defined).
How do you pronounce Ce moment est parfait?
Roughly: suh mo-mahn eh par-fay.
- ce: like suh
- moment: the final -ent is a nasal sound (like ahn without fully pronouncing the n)
- est: like eh
- parfait: final t is silent; r is the French guttural r; ai sounds like eh
Is there any liaison in Ce moment est parfait?
No. There’s no liaison before parfait because it starts with a consonant. If est were followed by a vowel sound (e.g., est incroyable), a liaison with a t sound is commonly made: [ɛ t‿…].
How do I make it plural?
Ces moments sont parfaits.
- ces for plural
- sont for they are
- parfaits agrees in plural (final s is silent)
How would I say it in the past or future?
- Past (imperfect, descriptive): Ce moment était parfait.
- Past (completed, at some point): Ce moment a été parfait.
- Future: Ce moment sera parfait.
How do I negate it?
Ce moment n’est pas parfait. In speech, the ne is often dropped: Ce moment est pas parfait (informal).
Can I use ceci or ça here?
Not directly before a noun. Ceci and ça are pronouns, not determiners. You can say Ce moment est parfait or use the pronoun structure C’est parfait, but not Ceci moment or Ça moment.
What’s the difference between ce moment, en ce moment, and à ce moment(-là)?
- ce moment: this/that specific moment.
- en ce moment: right now, these days.
- à ce moment(-là): at that moment (in the past narrative or in a sequence).
Can I add -ci or -là for precision?
Yes:
- ce moment-ci = this very moment (near in space/time)
- ce moment-là = that moment (more distant or already mentioned)
Can I strengthen or soften parfait?
Yes:
- Stronger: absolument parfait, vraiment parfait, tout à fait parfait.
- Softer: presque parfait, quasi parfait. Using très parfait is uncommon because parfait is already absolute.
Are there casual or colloquial alternatives to parfait?
Yes: Ce moment est top, Ce moment est génial, Ce moment est super. These are informal but very common.
Can I replace Ce moment with a pronoun later?
Yes. After Ce moment is established, you can say Il est parfait (he/it is perfect), where il refers back to moment.
How do I turn it into a question?
- Neutral: Est-ce que ce moment est parfait ?
- Inversion (formal): Ce moment est-il parfait ?
- Rising intonation (informal speech): Ce moment est parfait ?
Is moment always masculine? Do many -ment nouns share this gender?
Yes, moment is masculine. Most nouns ending in -ment are masculine (e.g., mouvement, sentiment).
Is parfait also a dessert?
Yes. Un parfait is a frozen dessert in French. In this sentence, parfait is an adjective meaning perfect.
Any spelling pitfalls?
- parfait has no accent and ends with silent t.
- moment has no accent and ends with nasal -ent.