Unit 22: Impersonal pronouns (2)
1 Constructions with être + adjective
These can be used on their own, or be followed by an infinitive or que.
1.1 Anticipating an idea
When anticipating an idea, il is used. The word de comes before an infinitive:
De nos jours il est difficile de trouver un emploi permanent
These days it is difficult to get a permanent job
Il est surprenant que ses notes aient été si mauvaises
It is surprising that his marks were so poor
1.2 Referring back to an idea
When referring back to an idea, ce is used. The word à comes before an infinitive :
De nos jours un emploi permanent, c'est difficile à trouver
These days getting a permanent job is difficult
Ses notes ont été très mauvaises, c'est surprenant
His marks were very poor, it's surprising
2 Constructions with être + other words 
Where être is followed by something other an adjective , ce is used:
C'est le professeur
It's the teacher
C'est ainsi que je l'ai trouvé
That's how I found him
Il a pris une décision courageuse: c'était de continuer
He took a brave decision: to continue
- Qui est là? - C'est moi
"Who's there?" "It's me"
Note that ce is generally followed by a verb verb in the third person singular :
C'est moi, c'est nous, c'est mes parents
It's me, it's us, it's my parents
3 Ce v il / elle as personal pronouns
When ce and il are used as impersonal pronouns, this means they are equivalent to the English impersonal pronoun it as in It is Peter on the telephone, i.e. they do not refer to a specific noun .
This is not to be confused with their use as personal pronouns which do refer to a specific noun, equivalent to it in Your new house? I think it is very nice. The following rules apply with the verb être:
3.1 Il / elle
Il and elle can only be used if they are followed by an adjective or a noun behaving like an adjective:
Voilà ma maison. Elle est très belle
That's my house. It's very beautiful
Voilà Pierre. Il est très sympathique
There's Pierre. He's very nice
Voilà M. Dupont. Il est professeur
There's Mr Dupont. He's a teacher
3.2 Ce
Ce is used when followed by a conventional noun :
Voilà où j'habite. C'est une belle maison
That's where I live. It's a beautiful house
Voilà Pierre. C'est une personne sympathique
There's Pierre. He's a nice person
Voilà M. Dupont. C'est un professeur
There's Mr Dupont. He's a teacher
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