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Learn Hardcore French: Ce sac est cher. - This bag is expensive.

Hardcore French
/Lesson 22
/Ce sac est cher.

Ce sac est cher.

Word

Ce sac est cher.

Meaning

This bag is expensive.

Part of speech

sentence

Pronunciation

Course

Hardcore French

Lesson

Breakdown of Ce sac est cher.

Questions & Answers about Ce sac est cher.

Why is it ce and not cet, cette, or ces?

Because sac is masculine singular and starts with a consonant. Use:

ce
- masculine singular before a consonant: ce sac
cet
- masculine singular before a vowel or mute h: cet avion, cet hôtel
cette
- feminine singular: cette robe
ces
- any plural: ces sacs, ces robes

How do you pronounce the whole sentence?

Roughly: [sə sak ɛ ʃɛʁ]

ce = [sə]
sac = [sak] (final c = [k])
est = [ɛ] (like “eh”, not “ay”)
cher = [ʃɛʁ] (ch = “sh”; French r) Linking: you’ll naturally carry the [k] of sac onto est: [sa.kɛ]. The t in est stays silent here.

Why is cher after est? Where do adjectives go?

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With the verb être (to be), the adjective comes after the verb: Ce sac est cher.

Attributive position is also possible: un sac cher = “an expensive bag”.
Beware: placing cher before some nouns changes the meaning to “dear/precious,” e.g., un cher ami = “a dear friend.”

Does cher agree with sac? What are the other forms?

Yes. Cher agrees in gender and number:

Masculine singular: cher — Ce sac est cher.
Feminine singular: chère — Cette robe est chère.
Masculine plural: chers — Ces sacs sont chers.
Feminine plural: chères — Ces robes sont chères.

What’s the difference between Ce sac est cher, Il est cher, and C’est cher?

Ce sac est cher: explicitly names the item.
Il est cher: “He/it is expensive,” referring back to a previously mentioned masculine noun like le sac.
C’est cher: “That’s expensive,” a general comment about a price or situation (very common when reacting on the spot).

How can I add intensity (very, too, quite, really)?

Common modifiers:

très (very): Ce sac est très cher.
trop (too): Ce sac est trop cher.
assez (quite/fairly): Il est assez cher.
vraiment (really): C’est vraiment cher.
plutôt (rather): C’est plutôt cher.

How do I ask “Is this bag expensive?”

Neutral: Est-ce que ce sac est cher ?
Formal/inversion: Ce sac est-il cher ?
Casual: Ce sac, il est cher ? or C’est cher, ce sac ?

How do I say it’s not expensive?

Ce sac n’est pas cher (du tout).
Idiomatic: Ce n’est pas donné. (= it’s not cheap)
Also common: C’est bon marché. Note: bon marché is invariable.

Can I use coûteux instead of cher? And what about coûter cher?

coûteux / coûteuse is more formal/literary: un sac coûteux.
The idiom coûter cher is extremely common and cher stays invariable there:
- Ce sac coûte cher.
- Ces sacs coûtent cher. (not “chers”)

How do I clearly say “this bag” vs “that bag”?

Add -ci (this) or -là (that):

Ce sac-ci est cher. (this)
Ce sac-là est cher. (that) For pronouns: celui-ci / celui-là (masculine), e.g., Celui-là est cher.

Why est and not et or es?

est = “is” (3rd person singular of être): Ce sac est cher.
et = “and”: le sac et la robe
es = “are” (2nd person singular): Tu es…

Can cher mean “dear” (as in “dear friend”)?

Yes, but that’s a different use. Before certain nouns it means “dear/cherished”:

Cher Pierre, (Dear Pierre,)
un cher ami (a dear friend) In Ce sac est cher, it means “expensive,” not “dear.”

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