B2 Sentence Structure 14 min read Easy

French Emphasis: 'It's me who...' (C'est... qui/que)

Shift focus and add drama by wrapping the most important part of your sentence in 'C'est... qui/que'.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

Use 'C'est... qui/que' to highlight a specific part of your sentence for emphasis.

  • Use 'C'est... qui' when the emphasized element is the subject: 'C'est moi qui chante.'
  • Use 'C'est... que' when the emphasized element is the object: 'C'est ce livre que je veux.'
  • The verb following 'qui' must agree with the emphasized pronoun: 'C'est nous qui avons fini.'
C'est + [Element] + qui/que + [Rest of sentence]

Overview

In French, emphasis is not typically achieved by raising your voice as in English. Shouting JE l'ai fait sounds unnatural. Instead, French relies on syntax to spotlight a specific piece of information.

The primary tool for this is a cleft sentence structure known as la mise en relief (literally, 'placing in relief'). The most common form is C'est... qui and **`C'est...

que`**.

This structure takes a standard sentence and 'cleaves' it in two to isolate and emphasize one component—the subject, the object, a place, a time, or a concept. It answers the implicit question of 'who?', 'what?', or 'which one?' with undeniable clarity. Think of it as a grammatical laser pointer.

A simple sentence like Paul a écrit la lettre (Paul wrote the letter) states a fact. The emphasized version, C'est Paul qui a écrit la lettre (It's Paul who wrote the letter), insists on the agent, clarifying that it was him and nobody else.

Mastering this structure is essential for moving beyond flat, textbook French. It allows you to control the flow of information, to correct, to contradict, and to persuade. It is the difference between simply stating that something happened and controlling how your listener understands that event.

For a B2 learner, this is a cornerstone of sophisticated, nuanced communication.

How This Grammar Works

This pattern is a type of cleft sentence (phrase clivée), a device found in many languages to focus on a particular part of a sentence. It works by breaking a single clause into two separate parts, connected by a relative pronoun.
  1. 1The Focus Slot: C'est (or C'était, Ce sont, etc.) + [The Emphasized Element].
  2. 2The Relative Clause: A clause beginning with a relative pronoun (qui, que, dont, où, auquel, etc.) that contains the rest of the original sentence's information.
The choice of relative pronoun is not arbitrary; it depends entirely on the grammatical function of the emphasized element in the original thought. This is the logical core of the structure.
  • qui (who/which/that) is used when you emphasize the subject of the verb that follows. Since qui itself functions as the subject of the relative clause, it is immediately followed by a verb.
  • Base sentence: Mon frère arrive demain. (My brother arrives tomorrow.)
  • Emphasis on subject: C'est mon frère qui arrive demain.
  • que (who/whom/which/that) is used when you emphasize the direct object (COD) of the verb. Since the subject of the verb is now something else, que is followed by a subject + verb.
  • Base sentence: J'attends mon frère. (I am waiting for my brother.)
  • Emphasis on object: C'est mon frère que j'attends.
  • où (where/when) is used to emphasize a place or time.
  • Base sentence: Nous nous sommes rencontrés à Lyon. (We met in Lyon.)
  • Emphasis on place: C'est à Lyon où nous nous sommes rencontrés. (Note: In this specific case, many speakers prefer que. See the Common Mistakes section.)
  • dont (of which/of whom) is used to emphasize an element that was originally connected to the verb with the preposition de.
  • Base sentence: J'ai besoin de ce livre. (I need this book.)
  • Emphasis on object of de: C'est de ce livre dont j'ai besoin. (Again, que is a very common alternative here: C'est ce livre que j'ai besoin is technically incorrect but widespread).
  • Preposition + lequel/laquelle/etc. is used for objects of other prepositions, like à, pour, or avec.
  • Base sentence: Je pense à cette solution. (I'm thinking about this solution.)
  • Emphasis on object of à: C'est à cette solution que je pense. The pronoun auquel is often simplified to que in this structure.
Understanding these roles is key. The structure isn't just C'est + word + qui/que; it's a logical system for dissecting and reassembling a sentence around a new focal point.

Word Order Rules

The syntax of C'est... qui/que is rigid and predictable, which is good for learners. The primary rule to memorize is what follows the relative pronoun:
  • qui is always followed directly by a verb.
  • que is always followed by a subject.
Let's visualize the patterns. The emphasized element is the focus.
| Emphasis Type | Pattern | Example |
| -------------------- | ------------------------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------- |
| Subject | C'est + [Focus] + qui + [Verb + Remainder] | C'est toi qui as raison. (It's you who is right.) |
| Direct Object | C'est + [Focus] + que + [Subject + Verb + Remainder] | C'est ce livre que je lis. (It's this book that I'm reading.) |
| Place / Time | C'est + [Focus] + que + [Subject + Verb + Remainder] | C'est demain que nous partons. (It's tomorrow that we leave.) |
| Prepositional Phrase | C'est + [Preposition + Focus] + que + [Subject + Verb] | C'est à Marie que je parle. (It's to Marie that I am speaking.) |
The structure forces the emphasized element to the front, right after C'est, making it impossible to miss. The rest of the sentence reframes itself around that highlighted element. For example, in C'est la voiture que Paul a achetée, the object la voiture is introduced first, and the clause que Paul a achetée modifies it.
This fixed word order is precisely why the structure exists: it provides the emphasis that in English is often conveyed simply through vocal intonation.

Formation Pattern

1
Constructing an emphasized sentence is a methodical process. Let's break it down into four steps with a base sentence: Le chat a mangé la souris dans la cuisine.
2
1. Identify the Element to Emphasize (the Focus)
3
Decide which part carries the most important information. You could emphasize:
4
The subject: le chat
5
The direct object: la souris
6
The location: dans la cuisine
7
2. Position the Focus in the C'est Frame
8
Place your chosen element immediately after C'est. For plural or formal contexts, use Ce sont.
9
C'est le chat...
10
C'est la souris...
11
C'est dans la cuisine...
12
This construction also works in other tenses and in the negative:
13
Past: C'était le chat...
14
Plural: Ce sont les chats... (but C'est les chats is common in speech)
15
Negative: Ce n'est pas le chat...
16
3. Select the Correct Relative Pronoun
17
This choice is based on the focus's original grammatical role:
18
le chat was the subject. Use qui.
19
la souris was the direct object. Use que.
20
dans la cuisine was a prepositional phrase of place. Use que (preferred over où in this construction).
21
4. Assemble the Full Sentence
22
Combine the parts, ensuring the word order of the relative clause is correct.
23
Emphasis on subject: C'est le chat qui a mangé la souris dans la cuisine. (qui + verb)
24
Emphasis on object: C'est la souris que le chat a mangée dans la cuisine. (que + subject + verb). Note the past participle agreement mangée!
25
Emphasis on place: C'est dans la cuisine que le chat a mangé la souris. (que + subject + verb).
26
A crucial sub-rule: Disjunctive (Stressed) Pronouns
27
When you emphasize a personal pronoun subject (je, tu, il, etc.), you must use its corresponding disjunctive pronoun: moi, toi, lui, elle, nous, vous, eux, elles.
28
| Subject Pronoun | Disjunctive Pronoun | Correct Emphasis Pattern |
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| --------------- | ------------------- | ---------------------------- |
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| je | moi | C'est moi qui... |
31
| tu | toi | C'est toi qui... |
32
| il | lui | C'est lui qui... |
33
| nous | nous | C'est nous qui... |
34
| vous | vous | C'est vous qui... |
35
| elles | elles | C'est elles qui... |
36
Example: Je suis responsable. -> C'est moi qui suis responsable. Saying *C'est je qui... is a fundamental error.

When To Use It

While its general function is 'emphasis', this structure serves several specific communicative goals. Using it appropriately is a sign of fluency.
  1. 1To Correct or Contradict: This is one of its most powerful uses. You negate one piece of information and assert the correct one.
  • — Alors, c'est ton frère qui t'a aidé ?
  • — Non, ce n'est pas mon frère, c'est mon père qui m'a aidé.
  1. 1To Answer a 'Wh-' Question: It provides a direct and focused answer to a question asking for specific information (qui, quoi, où, quand).
  • — Qui a cassé le vase ? (Who broke the vase?)
  • — C'est le chien qui a cassé le vase. (It was the dog who broke the vase.)
  1. 1To Add Dramatic or Rhetorical Effect: In writing and formal speech, it creates a sense of gravity or importance. It signals to the audience that a piece of information is key.
  • C'est notre détermination qui, au final, nous mènera à la victoire. (It is our determination that, in the end, will lead us to victory.)
  1. 1To Clarify Ambiguity: When a sentence could have multiple interpretations, this structure removes all doubt about which element is the focus.
  • J'ai parlé au client de son problème. (Ambiguous: did I talk about his problem, or my problem?)
  • C'est de son problème que j'ai parlé au client. (It was about his problem that I spoke to the client.)
  1. 1To Isolate a Detail for Discussion: It's useful for highlighting a single aspect—time, place, manner—as the most relevant detail.
  • C'est seulement en 2020 que cette loi a été adoptée. (It was only in 2020 that this law was passed.)
  • C'est en travaillant ensemble que nous trouverons une solution. (It's by working together that we will find a solution.)
Avoid using it for every piece of information. Its power comes from its selective application. If everything is emphasized, nothing is.

Common Mistakes

Learners frequently make several predictable errors with this structure. Mastering them is key to using it correctly and confidently.
  1. 1Incorrect Verb Agreement After qui
This is the most common mistake. The verb in the relative clause must agree with the emphasized antecedent (the focus), not with c'est. Your brain might see C'est... and think 3rd person singular, but you must ignore that.
  • Incorrect: *C'est moi qui a raison.
  • Correct: C'est moi qui ai raison. (The verb ai agrees with moi, i.e., 1st person singular).
  • Incorrect: *C'est nous qui est en retard.
  • Correct: C'est nous qui sommes en retard. (The verb sommes agrees with nous, 1st person plural).
  1. 1Forgetting Past Participle Agreement with que
This is a classic B2-level challenge. In a passé composé sentence where you emphasize the direct object (COD), that object is placed before the verb avoir. This triggers past participle agreement.
  • Base Sentence: J'ai acheté les fleurs.
  • Incorrect: *C'est les fleurs que j'ai acheté.
  • Correct: C'est les fleurs que j'ai achetées. (The participle acheté agrees in gender and number with fleurs.)
  1. 1Confusing qui and que
Remember the golden rule: qui + verb, que + subject. If you see a subject pronoun like je, tu, or il after the relative pronoun, you must use que.
  • Incorrect: *C'est le film qui j'ai vu.
  • Correct: C'est le film que j'ai vu.
  1. 1Using Subject Pronouns Instead of Disjunctive Pronouns
You cannot use je, tu, il, etc., in the focus slot. You must use moi, toi, lui.
  • Incorrect: *C'est il qui parle.
  • Correct: C'est lui qui parle.
  1. 1Mishandling Prepositions
When emphasizing an object of a preposition, the preposition must move with the object into the focus slot.
  • Base: J'ai parlé à Paul.
  • Incorrect: *C'est Paul que j'ai parlé à.
  • Correct: C'est à Paul que j'ai parlé.
  1. 1Using où or dont where que is more natural
While grammatically logical to use où for place and dont for objects of de, modern usage in this specific cleft structure often simplifies to que.
  • C'est à Paris que j'habite. (More common than C'est à Paris où j'habite.)
  • C'est ce livre que j'ai besoin. (Grammatically incorrect but extremely common in speech, instead of the correct C'est de ce livre que j'ai besoin or C'est ce livre dont j'ai besoin.)

Contrast With Similar Patterns

C'est... qui/que is not the only way to emphasize something in French. Understanding its alternatives helps you choose the right tool for the right nuance.
1. Cleft Sentences vs. Dislocation (La dislocation)
Dislocation is another common emphasis strategy, but it works differently. It involves mentioning a pronoun or noun at the beginning or end of a sentence, which is then referred to by a pronoun in the main clause.
  • Dislocation: Moi, je ne suis pas d'accord. (Me, I don't agree.)
  • Cleft Sentence: C'est moi qui ne suis pas d'accord. (It is I who do not agree.)
Nuance: Dislocation sets the topic and gives a personal perspective. It feels like, 'As for me...'. The cleft sentence is more forceful and exclusive; it singles out moi as the unique person who disagrees. Dislocation is conversational; the cleft is more declarative.
2. C'est... qui/que vs. Pseudo-Cleft Sentences (Les phrases pseudo-clivées)
Pseudo-clefts use ce qui (what, as a subject) or ce que (what, as an object) to create a similar focus, but with a different structure. They present the information first and the focus second.
  • Pseudo-Cleft: Ce qui m'intéresse, c'est l'histoire. (What interests me is history.)
  • Cleft: C'est l'histoire qui m'intéresse. (It's history that interests me.)
Nuance: The pseudo-cleft feels more explanatory, as if defining what the 'thing' is (ce qui m'intéresse). The cleft sentence is more direct, as if answering the question 'What interests you?'. They often achieve a similar result but follow a different conversational or narrative logic.
3. Emphasizing Verbs
C'est... qui/que is not effective for emphasizing a verb or action directly. To do this, you typically use a pseudo-cleft structure with an infinitive.
  • To emphasize the action of reading in Je lis un livre:
  • Incorrect: *C'est lis que je fais.
  • Correct (Pseudo-Cleft): Ce que je fais, c'est lire un livre. (What I am doing is reading a book.)
  • Alternative: C'est lire un livre que je fais. (Possible, but less common than the pseudo-cleft.)

Real Conversations

This structure is not just for formal writing. It's ubiquitous in daily, modern French across different levels of formality.

S

Scenario 1

Texting a friend to coordinate

— On se retrouve où ? (Where are we meeting?)

— C'est devant le ciné que je t'attends, pas à l'intérieur. (It's in front of the cinema that I'm waiting for you, not inside.)

S

Scenario 2

A work meeting (via chat or email)

Pour clarifier, ce n'est pas le budget qui pose problème, c'est l'échéance. C'est donc sur ce point que nous devons nous concentrer. (To clarify, it isn't the budget that's the problem, it's the deadline. It is therefore on this point that we must concentrate.)

S

Scenario 3

A casual debate about a series

— J'ai trouvé la fin décevante. (I found the ending disappointing.)

— Ah non, pas du tout ! C'est justement la fin qui rend toute la saison géniale ! (Oh no, not at all! It's precisely the ending that makes the whole season great!)

S

Scenario 4

Social Media Post

C'est de ces petits moments de calme que la vie est faite. (It's of these little moments of calm that life is made.) This shows a slightly more literary and reflective use.

Quick FAQ

Q: Do I really have to use Ce sont for plurals? It feels unnatural.

In formal writing (essays, professional reports), yes, you should use Ce sont for plural subjects: Ce sont les résultats qui comptent. However, in spoken French and most informal writing, C'est is overwhelmingly dominant for both singular and plural: C'est les résultats qui comptent. For your B2 exams, stick to Ce sont.

Q: What's the difference between C'est à Paris que j'habite and Je vis à Paris?

Je vis à Paris is a neutral statement of fact. C'est à Paris que j'habite emphasizes the location, Paris, in contrast to other possible places. You would use it to answer 'Where do you live?' or to correct someone who thought you lived in Lyon.

Q: Can I put the emphasized part at the end?

Yes, this is a variation called a 'reversed cleft' or 'post-focalized cleft'. It's less common but used for effect. Example: Celui qui a tout mangé, c'est Paul. (The one who ate everything, it's Paul.)

Q: You said the past participle agrees with que. Is that always true in this structure?

Yes. Because que represents a direct object that is placed before the passé composé (e.g., C'est la décision que j'ai prise), the agreement rule is always triggered. It's a reliable rule to follow within this specific construction.

Q: Can I use this structure in any tense?

Absolutely. The être verb in c'est can be conjugated into any tense or mood needed to fit the context of your main sentence.

  • Imperfect: C'était lui qui avait les clés.
  • Future: Ce sera toi qui choisiras.
  • Subjunctive: ...bien que ce soit moi qui doive le faire.

Cleft Sentence Structure

Part 1 Emphasized Element Relative Pronoun Rest of Sentence
C'est
moi
qui
chante
C'est
ce livre
que
je lis
C'est
à Paris
que
je vais
Ce n'est pas
lui
qui
a parlé
C'est
ce que
je veux
dire
C'est
nous
qui
avons fini

Contractions

Full Contracted
C'est + il
C'est lui
C'est + que + il
C'est qu'il

Meanings

This structure is used to isolate and highlight a specific piece of information in a sentence, similar to saying 'It is X that...' in English.

1

Subject Emphasis

Highlighting the person or thing performing the action.

“C'est lui qui a téléphoné.”

“C'est Marie qui viendra.”

2

Object Emphasis

Highlighting the person or thing receiving the action.

“C'est ce film que je préfère.”

“C'est à Paris que nous habitons.”

Reference Table

Reference table for French Emphasis: 'It's me who...' (C'est... qui/que)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
C'est + X + qui/que + Y
C'est Marie qui chante.
Negative
Ce n'est pas + X + qui/que + Y
Ce n'est pas moi qui ai dit ça.
Question
Est-ce que c'est + X + qui/que + Y ?
Est-ce que c'est toi qui as fait ça ?
Object Focus
C'est + X + que + Y
C'est ce livre que je veux.
Subject Focus
C'est + X + qui + Y
C'est lui qui est parti.
Plural (Formal)
Ce sont + X + qui + Y
Ce sont eux qui ont gagné.

Formality Spectrum

Formal
C'est celui-ci que je désire.

C'est celui-ci que je désire. (Shopping)

Neutral
C'est celui-ci que je veux.

C'est celui-ci que je veux. (Shopping)

Informal
C'est ça que je veux.

C'est ça que je veux. (Shopping)

Slang
C'est ça que j'veux.

C'est ça que j'veux. (Shopping)

Cleft Sentence Logic

C'est

Subject Focus

  • qui who/that

Object Focus

  • que that
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Examples by Level

1

C'est moi qui chante.

It's me who is singing.

2

C'est lui qui mange.

It's him who is eating.

3

C'est le livre que je veux.

It's the book that I want.

4

C'est elle qui danse.

It's her who is dancing.

1

Ce n'est pas moi qui ai fait ça.

It's not me who did that.

2

C'est à Paris que j'habite.

It's in Paris that I live.

3

C'est ce film que j'ai vu.

It's this film that I saw.

4

C'est nous qui partons.

It's us who are leaving.

1

C'est avec lui que je veux travailler.

It's with him that I want to work.

2

C'est demain que nous partons.

It's tomorrow that we leave.

3

C'est ce projet qui m'intéresse.

It's this project that interests me.

4

Ce sont eux qui ont raison.

It's them who are right.

1

C'est en étudiant qu'on apprend.

It's by studying that one learns.

2

C'est ce que je voulais dire.

That's what I meant.

3

C'est à cause de toi que je suis en retard.

It's because of you that I'm late.

4

C'est là que tout a commencé.

It's there that everything started.

1

C'est pour cette raison que je refuse.

It's for this reason that I refuse.

2

C'est ce dont j'ai besoin.

That's what I need.

3

C'est à ce moment-là que j'ai compris.

It's at that moment that I understood.

4

C'est ce à quoi je m'attendais.

That's what I was expecting.

1

C'est par le biais de cette méthode que nous avons réussi.

It's through this method that we succeeded.

2

C'est ce que l'on pourrait appeler un succès.

That is what one might call a success.

3

C'est en vain que j'ai cherché.

It's in vain that I searched.

4

C'est ce que je tiens à souligner.

That is what I wish to emphasize.

Easily Confused

French Emphasis: 'It's me who...' (C'est... qui/que) vs C'est vs Il est

Learners often use 'C'est' for everything.

French Emphasis: 'It's me who...' (C'est... qui/que) vs Qui vs Que

Mixing up subject and object focus.

French Emphasis: 'It's me who...' (C'est... qui/que) vs C'est vs Ce sont

Thinking 'Ce sont' is always required for plural.

Common Mistakes

✗

C'est moi que mange.

✓

C'est moi qui mange.

Moi is the subject, use qui.
✗

C'est le livre qui je veux.

✓

C'est le livre que je veux.

Le livre is the object, use que.
✗

C'est eux qui mange.

✓

C'est eux qui mangent.

Verb must agree with the emphasized subject.
✗

C'est que je veux.

✓

C'est ce que je veux.

Need 'ce' before 'que' when referring to a concept.
✗

Ce sont moi qui...

✓

C'est moi qui...

C'est is standard for all pronouns.
✗

C'est à Paris que j'habite à.

✓

C'est à Paris que j'habite.

Don't repeat the preposition.
✗

C'est que j'ai vu.

✓

C'est ce que j'ai vu.

Need 'ce' for object.
✗

C'est avec qui je travaille.

✓

C'est avec lui que je travaille.

Need the pronoun.
✗

C'est le projet qui je travaille.

✓

C'est le projet sur lequel je travaille.

Need correct preposition for 'travailler sur'.
✗

C'est ce dont je veux.

✓

C'est ce dont j'ai besoin.

Need correct verb 'avoir besoin de'.
✗

C'est par là que je suis passé par.

✓

C'est par là que je suis passé.

Redundant preposition.
✗

C'est ce que je m'attends.

✓

C'est ce à quoi je m'attends.

Need correct preposition for 's'attendre à'.
✗

C'est ce que je suis fier.

✓

C'est ce dont je suis fier.

Need 'dont' for 'être fier de'.
✗

C'est ce que je me souviens.

✓

C'est ce dont je me souviens.

Need 'dont' for 'se souvenir de'.

Sentence Patterns

C'est ___ qui ___.

C'est ___ que je ___.

Ce n'est pas ___ qui ___.

C'est à ___ que je ___.

Real World Usage

Social Media very common

C'est ce que je disais !

Job Interview common

C'est cette expérience que je souhaite souligner.

Texting constant

C'est toi qui viens ?

Travel common

C'est ce train-là que je dois prendre.

Food Delivery occasional

C'est cette pizza que j'ai commandée.

Academic Writing common

C'est par cette analyse que nous concluons.

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💡

Focus on the verb

If the verb follows the pronoun, use 'qui'.
⚠️

Don't over-formalize

You don't need 'Ce sont' in daily speech.
🎯

Use for clarity

Use it when you feel misunderstood.
💬

Sound natural

French people use this constantly to be precise.

Smart Tips

Use 'C'est [person] qui...'.

Jean a fait ça. → C'est Jean qui a fait ça.

Use 'C'est [object] que...'.

Je veux ce livre. → C'est ce livre que je veux.

Use 'Ce n'est pas moi qui...'.

Je n'ai pas fait ça. → Ce n'est pas moi qui ai fait ça.

Use 'C'est à [place] que...'.

J'habite à Paris. → C'est à Paris que j'habite.

Pronunciation

C'est-t-un...

Liaison

Always link 'C'est' to the next word if it starts with a vowel.

C'est [MOI] qui...

Intonation

Raise pitch on the emphasized element.

Emphatic Rise

C'est ↑MOI qui...

Strong focus on the person.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Qui is for the doer (Subject), Que is for the receiver (Object).

Visual Association

Imagine a spotlight. If the person is holding the microphone, they are the 'Qui'. If they are being interviewed, they are the 'Que'.

Rhyme

Qui est le sujet, Que est l'objet.

Story

I was at a party. I saw a man. I said 'C'est lui qui a volé mon sac!' (Subject). Then I saw my bag. I said 'C'est mon sac que je veux!' (Object).

Word Web

C'estquiquemoiluice que

Challenge

Write 5 sentences about your day using 'C'est... qui' and 'C'est... que'.

Cultural Notes

Used heavily in political debates to emphasize responsibility.

Often used with 'que' even when 'qui' might be expected in formal French.

Used to add rhythm to storytelling.

Derived from the Latin 'ecce est' (behold it is).

Conversation Starters

“

C'est quoi ton plat préféré ?

“

C'est qui ton acteur favori ?

“

C'est à quel moment que tu es le plus productif ?

“

C'est ce que tu penses vraiment ?

Journal Prompts

Describe your best friend using emphasis.
Explain a mistake you made recently.
Argue for a change in your workplace.
Reflect on a life-changing event.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in qui or que.

C'est moi ___ chante.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: qui
Moi is the subject.
Select the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: C'est le livre que je veux.
Le livre is the object.
Fix the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

C'est lui que a fait ça.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: C'est lui qui a fait ça.
Lui is the subject.
Emphasize the object. Sentence Transformation

Je veux ce gâteau. -> C'est...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: C'est ce gâteau que je veux.
Object focus.
Match the sentence to the focus. Match Pairs

Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Subject
Marie is the subject.
Order the words. Sentence Building

que / c'est / veux / je / ce

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: C'est ce que je veux.
Correct order.
Conjugate the verb. Conjugation Drill

C'est nous qui (finir) le travail.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: avons fini
Agreement with nous.
Is this rule true? True False Rule

C'est is always used for singular.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
C'est is used for both.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in qui or que.

C'est moi ___ chante.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: qui
Moi is the subject.
Select the correct sentence. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: C'est le livre que je veux.
Le livre is the object.
Fix the error. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

C'est lui que a fait ça.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: C'est lui qui a fait ça.
Lui is the subject.
Emphasize the object. Sentence Transformation

Je veux ce gâteau. -> C'est...

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: C'est ce gâteau que je veux.
Object focus.
Match the sentence to the focus. Match Pairs

C'est Marie qui danse.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Subject
Marie is the subject.
Order the words. Sentence Building

que / c'est / veux / je / ce

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: C'est ce que je veux.
Correct order.
Conjugate the verb. Conjugation Drill

C'est nous qui (finir) le travail.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: avons fini
Agreement with nous.
Is this rule true? True False Rule

C'est is always used for singular.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
C'est is used for both.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Fill in the correct pronoun. Fill in the Blank

C'est ___ qui ai fait tout le travail.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: moi
Translate to French using emphasis. Translation

It is them (masc.) who forgot the keys.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ce sont eux qui ont oublié les clés.
Correct the relative pronoun. Error Correction

C'est le café qui j'aime le plus.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: C'est le café que j'aime le plus.
Emphasize the place. Sentence Reorder

Arrange: qu' / à / on / C'est / se / Bordeaux / voit

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: C'est à Bordeaux qu'on se voit
Select the correct formal plural form. Multiple Choice

Which one is grammatically perfect for an essay?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ce sont mes amis qui viennent.
Match the sentence parts. Match Pairs

Match the focus to the structure:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: C'est moi:qui suis là, C'est le livre:que je lis, C'est là:qu'il habite
Choose the right relative pronoun. Fill in the Blank

C'est l'année ___ nous sommes allés au Japon.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: où
Translate using emphasis. Translation

It's you (singular) that I love.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: C'est toi que j'aime.
Check the agreement of the past participle. Error Correction

C'est la pizza que j'ai mangé.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: C'est la pizza que j'ai mangée.
Select the correct past tense focus. Multiple Choice

How do you say 'It was her who decided'?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: C'était elle qui a décidé.

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

Yes, but it's formal. 'C'est' is fine.

When the emphasized part is the subject.

When the emphasized part is the object.

Yes, very often.

Use 'que'.

Because it splits the sentence.

Yes, 'Ce n'est pas...'.

It's very similar to 'It is... that'.

Scaffolded Practice

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2

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4

Mastery Progress

Needs Practice

Improving

Strong

Mastered

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In Other Languages

Spanish high

Es... que...

Spanish doesn't distinguish qui/que as strictly in this structure.

German moderate

Es ist... das/der...

German requires case agreement.

Japanese low

...wa...desu

Japanese doesn't use a cleft structure.

Arabic partial

هو الذي...

Arabic structure is different.

Chinese partial

是...的

Chinese structure is entirely different.

English high

It is... that...

English uses 'that' for both subject and object.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Next
The 'Fancy Ghost' Ne: Formal Expletive Ne (Ne explétif)

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