ELONIO
Log inSign up

Ce message est utile.

Ce message est utile.
This message is useful.
FromLesson 27inHardcore French

Breakdown of Ce message est utile.

être
to be
ce
this
le message
the message
utile
useful

Questions & Answers about Ce message est utile.

What does Ce mean here—this or that?
Ce is the demonstrative determiner for a masculine singular noun. It can mean either this or that depending on context. To be explicit, use ce message-ci (near) or ce message-là (far/that one).
Why is it Ce and not Cet, Cette, or Ces?
Is message masculine or feminine?
Masculine: un/le message, ce message. A handy pattern: most nouns in -age are masculine, with common feminine exceptions such as l’image, la page, la plage, la rage.
Can I say C’est utile or C’est un message utile instead?
  • Ce message est utile points to this specific message as subject.
  • C’est utile is a general judgment or refers to something already known from context.
  • C’est un message utile classifies it as a useful message (indefinite). Note: Don’t say Il est un message utile; before a noun, French uses c’est, not il/elle est. After the noun is known, you can say Il est utile.
Why is the verb est used here?
Est is the 3rd‑person singular of être (to be), agreeing with the singular subject message. For the plural, use sont: Ces messages sont utiles.
How do you pronounce the sentence?

Roughly: sə meh-sahzh ɛt‿y-teel. More precisely (IPA): [sə mɛsaʒ ɛt‿ytil].

  • The -ge in message sounds like the zh in English vision.
  • The u in utile is the French fronted u [y] (not the English oo or yoo).
  • Make the t liaison between est and utile: est‿utile.
Do I need a liaison between est and utile?
Yes. In careful speech the liaison is expected (often taught as obligatory) after forms of être before a vowel: est‿utile with a [t] sound. There is no liaison between message and est.
How does adjective agreement work with utile?

Utile is the same for masculine and feminine in the singular, and adds -s in the plural.

  • Masculine singular: Ce message est utile.
  • Feminine singular: Cette note est utile.
  • Plural: Ces messages sont utiles. / Ces notes sont utiles.
How do I make the whole sentence plural?

Ces messages sont utiles. Changes:

  • Ce → Ces
  • est → sont
  • utile → utiles Note: final -s is silent unless there’s a liaison.
How do I negate it?

Ce message n’est pas utile.

  • ne contracts to n’ before est.
  • In casual speech, ne is often dropped: Ce message est pas utile (informal). Keep ne…pas in writing/formal contexts.
How can I intensify or soften utile?

Common options:

  • très utile (very)
  • vraiment utile (really)
  • assez / plutôt utile (quite / rather)
  • peu utile (not very)
  • bien utile (handy, quite useful; idiomatic) Example: Ce message est très utile.
How do I say who it’s useful to, or what it’s useful for?
Is pratique a good synonym for utile?
Often, but with a nuance. Utile stresses helpfulness/benefit. Pratique stresses convenience or ease of use. Both can apply in some cases: Ce tutoriel est utile et pratique.
Can I combine ce with an article, like ce le message?
No. Ce already functions as a determiner. Use either Ce message (this/that message) or Le message (the message), depending on meaning.
Can I say Ça est utile?
Standard French uses C’est utile, not Ça est utile. Ça does not normally pair with être this way; use c’ + est. You can use ça with other verbs: Ça a l’air utile.
What changes if the noun starts with a vowel or mute h?

Use cet for masculine nouns and keep the liaison where appropriate:

  • Cet e-mail est utile.
  • Cet homme est utile à l’équipe. Feminine nouns still take cette: Cette idée est utile.
AI Language TutorTry it ↗
“How does grammatical gender work in French?”
Every French noun is either masculine or feminine, and this affects the articles and adjectives used with it. "Le" is used with masculine nouns and "la" with feminine ones. Adjectives also change form to match — for example, "petit" (masc.) becomes "petite" (fem.).

Sign up free — start using our AI language tutor

Start learning French

Master French — from Ce message est utile to fluency

All course content and exercises are completely free — no paywalls, no trial periods, no signup needed.

  • ✓Infinitely deep — unlimited vocabulary and grammar
  • ✓Fast-paced — build complex sentences from the start
  • ✓Unforgettable — efficient spaced repetition system
  • ✓ AI tutor to answer your grammar questions
Start learning French→