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    • French homonyms: C'est, s'est, ces, ses, sais, sait

    French homonyms: C'est, s'est, ces, ses, sais, sait

    Jan. 29, 2019
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    C'est

    It is a contraction of the demonstrative article « cela » and the verb « être » conjugated in singular form of the third person « est ». It is used when you can replace « ce sont » with the plural forms of the subject following its use.

    Example: C’est une belle journée. Ce sont de belles journées.

    S'est

    It acts as a reflexive verb in the past. It is accompanied by a past participle. It is used when it can be replaced by « me suis », changing the subject to agree.

    Example: Il s’est mordu la langue. Je me suis mordue la langue.

    Ces

    It is a demonstrative article used to refer to a group of specific objects. It is used when it can be replaced by its singular form of « ce ».

    Example: Ces stylos sont rouges. Ce stylo est rouge.

    Ses

    It is a possessive article used to refer to someone’s plural objects or affiliation to something plural in accordance with the singular form of the third person (i.e. « elle » or « il »). It can be replaced by its form in the first or second person, « mes » or « tes ».

    Example: Elle a fait tous ses devoirs. Tu as fait tous tes devoirs.

    Sais

    It is the conjugation of the verb « savoir » in the present, according to the singular form of the second person. It can be replaced with « savais », the imperfect conjugation of the « savoir ».

    Example: Tu sais parler en français. Tu savais parler en français.

    Sait

    It is the conjugation of the verb « savoir » in the present, according to the singular form of the third person. It can be replaced with « savait », the imperfect conjugation of the « savoir ».

    Example: Il sait comment bien danser. Il savait comment bien danser.

    Practice

    « Ces » or « Ses »?

    • Il a perdu (ces / ses) clefs de maison.
    • Pourquoi as-tu bougé (ces / ses) chaises.
    • Elle cherche à la porte pour (ces / ses) souliers.

    « C'est » or « S'est »?

    • (C'est / s'est) le temps for célébrer.
    • Elle (c'est / s'est) cassé la jambe.
    • (C'est / s'est) le moment le plus triste du film entier.

    « Sais » or « Sait »?

    • Tu (sais / sait) chanter.
    • Il (sais / sait) lire le braille.
    • Elle (sais / sait) compter jusqu'à 100.

    Thanks to Brynn M. for developing this resource.

     

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