C'est Paul qui a gagné le concours.
English: It is Paul who won the contest.
- 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 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.
Exceptions and edge cases
- When emphasizing a place or time, use 'où' after 'c'est' (e.g., C'est ici où je travaille).
- Be careful: 'qui' is used for subjects, 'que' for objects.