Grammar / Presentative constructions, definite and indefinite articles

Definite and indefinite articles
 

The definite article refers to a specific thing or person.

Examples:  le Musée Guggenheim (le + masculine noun),  la tour Eiffel (la + feminine noun), l’oasis de Talifalet (l’ + vowel),  les jardins de Versailles (les + plural noun)

There is only one Musée Guggenheim.
La tour Eiffel, l’Atomium et les jardins de Versailles are unique.
 

The indefinite article refers to unspecified persons or things.

Examples:  Un restaurant chinois (un + masculine noun),  une grande école (une + feminine noun), des monuments célèbres (des + plural).
 
There are several Chinese restaurants, there are several grandes écoles and many famous monuments.
 
 
Identify and present using c’est/ce sont
 
To identify or present a thing or a person, we use  c’est + singular noun and ce sont + plural noun.
 

play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.	C’est Paul.  (Il est Paul)
play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.	C’est le monsieur en gris. (Il est le monsieur en gris)	play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.	C’est un musée. (Il est un musée)
play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.	C’est la maison de Dali.   (Elle est la maison…)	Audio file play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.	C'est une fille. (Elle est une fille.)
Audio file play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.	C’est l’université d'Oxford.	play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.	C’est une école. (Elle est une école)

 

play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.	Ce sont les livres de Sophie. (Ils sont les livres de Sophie)
Audio file play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version.	Ce sont des oasis. (Elles sont des oasis)

The question is always in singular:

For objects and things:	play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version. Qu’est-ce que c’est ? When speaking, we can also say: Audio file play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version. C'est quoi ?	Audio file play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version. C’est la Grand-Place, à Bruxelles ; ce sont des restaurants.
For people:	play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version. Qui est-ce ? When speaking, we can also say: Audio file play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version. C'est qui ?	play stop mute max volume     repeat   Update Required To play the media you will need to either update your browser to a recent version. C’est mon frère ; ce sont mes parents.