The French expressions c'est and il est are extremely important impersonal phrases. They can mean 'this is,' 'that is,' 'it is,' 'they are,' and even 'he / she is.' Both c'est and il est are well-used French sayings that date back centuries. C'est la vieis a very old, very common French idiomatic saying, which means 'That's life,' and 'Such is life.' It has been around the world and back as a mainstay in dozens of cultures.
In France, it's still used in the same sense as always, as a sort of restrained, slightly fatalistic lamentation that this is how life is and there's not much you can do about it.
By contrast, il est is a bit more straightforward—it means exactly what it says—as in the phrase il est possible, which means 'it is possible.'
'C'est' vs. 'Il Est' Background
The time difference between Greenwich Mean Time (GMT) and Eastern Standard Time (EST) is 5 hours, according to the WWP's Eastern Standard Time website. During Daylight Savings Time, when the clocks are turned ahead an hour in EST, the time difference drops to 4 hours between the two time zones.
Determining when to use c'estversus il est requires understanding the background behind each phrase as well as studying the use of the terms in context. Despite their similar meanings, the expressions c'estand il est are not interchangeable, as these examples show:
- Paris? C'est magnifique! > Paris? It's magnificent!
- Il est facile d'apprendre le français. > It's easy to learn French.
- C'est une fille sympa, Lise. > Lise? She's a nice girl.
- Où est Paul? Il est en retard. > Where's Paul? He's late.
C'est has an undefined, exaggerated meaning, such as 'Paris?It's magnificent!' By contrast, il est is very literal, as in Il est en retard.
(He is late.)
When to Use 'C'est' vs. 'Il Est'
There are rules that determine when to usec'est and when to say Il est. The table summarizes words or phrases you can use after each of saying.
Il Est | C'est | |
Adjective describing a person Il est fort, cet homme. (That man is strong.) Elle est intelligente. (She is smart.) | vs. | Adjective describing a situation J'entends sa voix, c'est bizarre. (I hear his voice, it's weird.) C'est normal! (That's normal!) |
Unmodified adverb Il est tard. (It's late.) Elles sont ici. (They are here) | vs. | Modified adverb C'est trop tard. (It's too late.) C'est très loin d'ici. (It's very far from here.) |
Unmodified noun Il est avocat. (He's a lawyer.) Elle est actrice. (She's an actress.) | vs. | Modified noun C'est un avocat. (He's a lawyer.) C'est une bonne actrice. (She's a good actress.) |
Prepositional phrase (people) Il est à la banque. (He's at the bank.) Elle est en France. (She's in France.) | Proper name C'est Luc. (That's Luc.) | |
Stressed pronoun C'est moi. (That's me.) |
'C'est' and 'Il Est' Swapouts
C'est and il est are the root forms, used for impersonal expressions and general comments, as in: It's interesting, It's nice, It's fortunate, and It's too bad.
When talking about specific people, things, or ideas, c'est and il est may change.
- C'est becomes cesont (those are) when followed by a plural noun. In spoken French, though, c'estis often used anyway.
- Il est becomes elle est, ilssont, or elles sont (she is, they are, or they are) as appropriate depending on the gender and number of the noun that it is replacing or modifying, as in:
- Ce sont des Français? Non, des Italiens. > Are they French? No, Italian.
- Voici Alice--elle est professeur. > This is Alice—she's a teacher.
EDT is Eastern Daylight Time
EST is Eastern Standard Time.
The difference between EDT and EST is that EDT is used in thesummer in many states, provinces and territories in the US andCanada, including: Quebec, Nunavut, Ontario, Conneticut, Florida,Michigan, New Jersey and many more.
EST is used in winter in these places.
Hope this is helpful!
If you need anymore information about this, you can go to thiswebsite which I recommend. It is contained in the additionalresources below.
What is the time difference between EDT and EST?
Is there any time difference between EDT and EST?
EDT is Eastern Dailight Time and EST is Eastern Standard Time one EDT for spring and one EST for fall Read More
What is the time difference between Ontario Canada and EST?
There is no time difference. Ontario is on EST, except during daylight savings hours when it is on EDT. Read More
What will the time difference be between EST and GMT on 26th October?
4 hours. This is for EDT (Eastern Daylight Savings time). For EST (Eastern Standard time), it is 5 hours. In most states, EDT is used on October 26. EDT to EST change happens in November. Read More
What is the time difference between Toronto and Ohio?
There is never a time difference between Toronto and Ohio; both switch between EST and EDT at the same times. Read More
Please answer 'yes' or 'no' to Is there a difference in time between EST and EDT?
Yes. EST means Eastern Standard Time, which is usually observed in the winter. When the clocks change to Daylight Saving Time, they move forward an hour to Eastern Daylight Time, which is EDT. Therefore, EDT is one hour ahead of EST. Read More
Time difference between EST and GMT?
There is a 5 hour time difference between the two time zones. Basically, EST = GMT -5, although this can vary depending on the time of the year (When it changes to EDT, for example, when the difference would swap to -4.) Read More
What is time difference between Virginia and England?
GMT is 5 hours ahead of EST (and BST is 5 hours ahead of EDT). Read More
What is the time difference between GMT and Toronto Canada?
Toronto is on eastern part of Canada and falls under Eastern Standard Time (EST) zone. The time difference between GMT and EST is 5 hours. That means when it's 12.00 noon in Greenwich, the time in Toronto is 7.00AM Toronto also observes Daylight Saving Time known as Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) and during that period, the time difference between GMT and EDT is 4 hours. EST = GMT - 5 hrs EDT = GMT… Read More
What time is it atlanta when noon in New York?
There is never a time difference between Atlanta and New York. When it's noon EDT in New York, it's noon EDT in Atlanta, and when it's noon EST in New York, it's noon EST in Atlanta. Read More
What is the time difference between Washington D.C. and Rome?
Washington, DC is Eastern time (EST/EDT); Rome is Central European time (CET). There is a 6 hour difference between the two. Read More
How many hours difference is there between NYC and Amsterdam?
Amsterdam (CET/CEST) is six hours ahead of New York (EST/EDT) most of the year. Read More
What is the time difference between ny and the Bahamas?
What time is 5pm EDT in EST?
What is the time difference between cuba and new york city?
There is almost never a time difference between Cuba and New York. Cuba changed its daylight saving time schedule in 2012 to the same dates as the United States, Canada, the Bahamas, etc. The only time difference now is that Cuba starts daylight saving time at midnight EST and ends it at 1 AM EDT, while New York begins it at 2 AM EST and ends it at 2 AM EDT. Read More
10 am EDT what time is it EST?
It is 9 am. EST is Eastern standard time and EDT is its summer counter part, thus it is always one hour more in EDT than in EST. Read More
What is difference between edt and cdt if it is 12 pm edt what time is it cdt?
What time is 11am EDT in EST?
11 AM EDT = 10 AM EST Example: During the summer, when it's 11 AM EDT in New York, it's 10 AM EST in Jamaica. Read More
When do you use EDT or EST?
EDT is for day light savings time and EST starts around November when we roll the clocks back. Read More
What is 2358 gmt in est?
What is the difference between est and edt?
Eastern Standard Time (EST) is the time zone used in North America and is equivalent to UTC-5 (Coordinated Universal Time) meaning 5 hours earlier than UTC. Eastern Daylight Time (EDT) is used in areas that observe daylight saving time during the time it is observed and is equivalent to UTC-4. This results in a 1 hour time difference. Read More
What is the time difference between Ohio and Ghana Africa?
Depends on the time of year. In the winter Ohio is on Eastern Standard Time {EST} and Ghana is on West Africa time, so the difference is 5 hours. Example: 8 AM in Ohio = 1 PM in Ghana. In the spring Ohio switches to Eastern Daylight Time {EDT} but Ghana does not observe Daylight Saving Time. The time difference then would be only 4 hours. In the autum Ohio switches back from EDT to… Read More
What is the time difference between Toronto and Jamaica?
65% of the time, from the 2nd Sunday of March to the 1st Sunday of November, Toronto is one hour ahead of Jamaica. 7 AM EST in Jamaica = 8 AM EDT in Toronto From the 1st Sunday of November to the 2nd Sunday of March, there is no time difference between Toronto and Jamaica; both are on EST. Read More
Time difference between edt and mdt?
EDT is -5 UTC and MDT is -7 UTC. So MDT is 2 hours behind EDT. Read More
What is the time difference between EDT time and Denver Colorado?
It is two hours, when it is noon EDT, it is 10 AM in Denver. Read More
What is the time difference between virgina and Minnesota?
Virginia is almost always one hour ahead of Minnesota. 6 AM CST = 7 AM EST 7 AM CDT = 8 AM EDT Read More
What is the Time difference between Manitoba and Toronto?
Toronto is almost always one hour ahead of Manitoba. 6 AM CST = 7 AM EST 7 AM CDT = 8 AM EDT Read More
What is the time difference between Wisconsin and Toronto?
Toronto is almost always one hour ahead of Wisconsin. 6 AM CST = 7 AM EST 7 AM CDT = 8 AM EDT Read More
Time difference between Houston and Indianapolis?
Indianapolis is almost always one hour ahead of Houston. 6 AM CST = 7 AM EST 7 AM CDT = 8 AM EDT Read More
What is the time difference between Wisconsin and Maryland?
1 hr. 6 AM CST in Wisconsin = 7 AM EST in Maryland 7 AM CDT in Wisconsin = 8 AM EDT in Maryland Read More
What time is 6 pm EST in Japan?
6PM + 14hrs. = 20 So, 8am there is 14 hours difference between EST and JST. Japan has no summer/daylight savings time. During EDT, the difference will be 13 hours. Read More
What is the difference between Eastern Prevailing time and Easter Standard time?
路 (EPT) Eastern Prevailing Time indicates that the time is adjusted according to the time of year (EST between November and April and EDT between April and November). It is the current 'prevailing' time. Read More
What is the time difference between EST and CDT?
There is no time difference between CDT and EST. Both are UTC-5. Read More
Eastern standard time and AZ time?
Arizona does not use 'summer time' or 'daylight saving's time'. There are two hours difference between AZ time and Eastern Standard Time (EST); there are three hours difference between AZ time ad Eastern Daylight Time (EDT). Read More
What is the time difference between PDT and CST?
Time difference between EDT and IST timezones?
What is the time difference from Boston to France?
During most of the year, France (CET/CEST) is six hours ahead of Boston (EST/EDT). Read More
During summer is EDT the same as EST?
What is the time difference between panama and Miami?
From the 2nd Sunday of March to the 1st Sunday of November, Miami is one hour ahead of Panama. 7 AM EST in Panama = 8 AM EDT in Miami From the 1st Sunday of November to the 2nd Sunday of March, there is no time difference between Miami and Panama. Both places use EST during that time. Read More
What is the time difference between Ottawa ON and Minneapolis?
Ottawa is almost always one hour ahead of Minnesota. 6 AM CST = 7 AM EST 7 AM CDT = 8 AM EDT Read More
What is the time difference between Pittsburgh and Losangeles?
Pennsylvania is almost always three hours ahead of California. 4 AM PST = 7 AM EST 5 AM PDT = 8 AM EDT Read More
What is the time difference between NY and Germany?
Germany (CET/CEST; UTC+1/UTC+2) is 6 hours ahead of New York (EST/EDT; UTC-5/UTC-4) most of the time. Read More
What Is the Difference between EST And ET?
What is the difference between EDT and MDT?
One has an E at the start and one has an M Read More
How many hours difference between ny and israel?
Israel (IST/IDT; UTC+2/UTC+3) is 7 hours ahead of New York (EST/EDT; UTC-5/UTC-4) most of the year. Read More
What is the time difference between Raleigh nc and Nashville TN?
Raleigh (EST/EDT; UTC-5/UTC-4) is one hour ahead of Nashville (CST/CDT; UTC-6/UTC-5) 99.98% of the year. Read More
How many hours time difference between Orlando and denver?
two hours When it's 8 AM MST in Denver, it's 10 AM EST in Orlando, and when it's 8 AM MDT in Denver, it's 10 AM EDT in Orlando. Read More
What is the time difference between Orlando FL and Denver CO?
two hours When it's 6 AM MDT in Denver, it's 8 AM EDT in Orlando, and when it's 6 AM MST in Denver, it's 8 AM EST in Orlando. Read More
How may hours difference is there between WA State and Ohio?
Ohio is almost always three hours ahead of Washington. 4 AM PST = 7 AM EST 5 AM PDT = 8 AM EDT Read More
What is the difference between eastern standard time and ET?
In North America, Eastern Standard Time (EST) is equal to UTC - 5 hours. It is the time zone used all year in Panama, the Cayman Islands, Jamaica, Haiti, and parts of Canada. The Bahamas, the Turks & Caicos Islands, and parts of the United States and Canada use Eastern Standard Time from early November until mid-March and Eastern Daylight Saving Time (EDT; UTC - 4 hours) during the other two thirds of the year… Read More