emploi des structures de mise en relief grammar in French

Language: French
Level: B2
Unit: Accord et structures emphatiques
Practice types: 0

What this grammar point covers

In French, 'structures de mise en relief' are special sentence structures used to emphasize or highlight a particular word or idea in a sentence.

When to use it

Use these structures when you want to draw attention to a specific part of your sentence, such as a person, object, or action. They are often used to clarify, insist, or answer a question by emphasizing the subject or object.

Key forms

C'est ... qui/que
Ce sont ... qui/que

Examples

C'est Paul qui a gagné le concours.

English: It is Paul who won the contest.

C'est le livre que j'ai lu hier.

English: It is the book that I read yesterday.

Ce sont mes amis qui arrivent ce soir.

English: It is my friends who are arriving tonight.

C'est toi que j'attendais.

English: It is you whom I was waiting for.

C'est en France que j'ai appris le français.

English: It is in France that I learned French.

Tips

After 'c'est' or 'ce sont', use 'qui' to highlight a subject and 'que' to highlight an object.
'C'est' agrees in number: use 'c'est' for singular and 'ce sont' for plural.
Do not use this structure for general statements; it is for emphasis only.