Presenting people and things with c'est, ce sont and voici

Kurz erklärt

Use c’est and ce sont to identify or introduce people and things. C’est is used before a singular name or noun phrase, while ce sont is the standard plural form. Voici points out or presents someone or something that is here or being shown.

Bildung

c’est + singular name/noun phrase; ce sont + plural noun phrase; voici + noun phrase

Verwendung

• Use c’est to introduce one person or thing.
• Use ce sont to introduce several people or things.
• Use voici when showing or handing someone a person or thing; the form does not change in the plural.

Beispiele

• C’est Léa. — This is Léa.
• C’est un bon restaurant. — It’s a good restaurant.
• Ce sont mes amis. — These are my friends.
• Voici votre café. — Here is your coffee.

Typischer Fehler

❌ Voici est mon passeport.

✅ Voici mon passeport.

Unlike English “here is,” voici does not need a separate form of être. Put the noun phrase directly after voici.

Merke

Use c’est for one and ce sont for more than one. Voici stays the same with singular and plural nouns.