c'est...que

Emphasizing an Object or Detail with C'est...que

Level 4

The c'est...que construction acts like a spotlight, highlighting a specific part of a sentence (except the subject) to show it is the most important information.

How It Works

The c'est...que construction is used to focus on objects or circumstantial details (when, where, how).

1. The Structure:
Place the element you want to emphasize after c'est, followed by que and the rest of the sentence.
Example: Je t'ai donné le livre (I gave you the book) becomes C'est le livre que je t'ai donné (It is the book that I gave you).

2. Emphasizing Pronouns:
When emphasizing a person, you must use disjunctive pronouns (moi, toi, lui, etc.).
Example: C'est lui que je cherche (It's him I'm looking for).

3. Time and Place:
Unlike English which might use 'when' or 'where', modern French overwhelmingly prefers que for these clefts.
Example: C'est demain que nous partons (It's tomorrow that we leave).

4. Formal vs. Casual:
In formal writing, if the focused element is plural, use ce sont. In casual speech, c'est is commonly used for both singular and plural.
Formal: Ce sont mes clés que j'ai perdues.
Casual: C'est mes clés que j'ai perdues.

5. Elision:
Remember that que becomes qu' before a vowel or silent 'h' due to elision.

Examples (5)

  1. C'est à Paris que nous nous sommes rencontrés.

    It was in Paris that we met.

    Word by Word: It is at Paris that we ourselves are met.

    Here, the location 'à Paris' is emphasized. Notice that the preposition 'à' stays with the location inside the 'c'est...que' frame.

  2. C'est ce film-là que je veux voir.

    It's that movie [specifically] that I want to see.

    Word by Word: It is this movie-there that I want to see.

    This emphasizes the direct object 'ce film-là', distinguishing it from other possible movies.

  3. C'est demain qu'il arrive.

    It's tomorrow that he arrives.

    Word by Word: It is tomorrow that he arrives.

    Even though 'demain' is a time, French uses 'que' (elided to qu') rather than 'quand' in this construction.

  4. C'est moi que tu as appelé ?

    Was it me that you called?

    Word by Word: It is me that you have called?

    When emphasizing a person, the disjunctive pronoun 'moi' is used instead of the subject pronoun 'je'.

  5. C'est avec elle que je travaille.

    It is with her that I work.

    Word by Word: It is with her that I work.

    The entire prepositional phrase 'avec elle' is moved into the focus position.

Common Mistakes

  • Using a subject pronoun instead of a disjunctive pronoun.

    C'est je que tu vois.
    C'est moi que tu vois.

    After 'c'est', you must use stressed pronouns like 'moi', 'toi', 'lui', etc., never 'je', 'tu', or 'il'.

  • Stranding a preposition at the end of the sentence (English influence).

    C'est lui que je travaille avec.
    C'est avec lui que je travaille.

    In French, the preposition must stay with the noun or pronoun it modifies and move to the front of the 'que' clause.

  • Using 'que' when the emphasized element is the subject.

    C'est Pierre que a mangé le gâteau.
    C'est Pierre qui a mangé le gâteau.

    If the highlighted word is the subject of the following verb, you must use 'qui'. Use 'que' for objects and other details.

How It Connects

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c'est...queLevel 4Emphasizing an Object or Detail with C'est...que

Learn This First

To use the 'c'est...que' cleft construction, you first need to be comfortable with the basic 'c'est' structure for identification. You also need to understand how 'que' functions as a relative pronoun to link clauses. Finally, familiarity with the subject-focused 'c'est...qui' pattern makes it easier to grasp how 'c'est...que' is used to shift emphasis to objects, times, or locations.

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Words in This Pattern

c'est