Ce sac est cher.

This bag is expensive.

Breakdown of Ce sac est cher.

• être: to be
• ce: this
• le sac: the bag
• cher: expensive

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?

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.”