Impersonal Expressions (it is important to...)
B1Impersonal Expressions (il est important de...)
What is an impersonal expression?
An impersonal expression is a sentence whose subject is not a person but a dummy or "impersonal" it (il) or that (c') in French. These expressions are used to make general statements, give advice, express necessity, judge, or report probability without naming a specific subject.
In French you often see two common shapes:
- il + être + adjective + de + infinitive (general statements)
- il + être + adjective + que + clause (and that clause frequently requires the subjunctive mood)
Examples:
Il est important de boire de l'eau. (It is important to drink water.)
Il est important que tu boives de l'eau. (It is important that you drink water.)
Note: The il in these sentences does not mean "he." It is a grammatical placeholder (a dummy subject) used to express a general idea.
When and why do we use impersonal expressions?
You use impersonal expressions to:
- state general facts or rules (Il est utile de lire le manuel.)
- express necessity or obligation (Il faut partir maintenant.)
- give advice or preference (Il vaut mieux attendre.)
- express emotions or judgments (Il est dommage que tu partes.)
- indicate possibility or probability (Il est possible qu'il vienne.)
Examples by purpose:
- General rule: Il est conseillé de vérifier le câble avant de démarrer. (It is advisable to check the cable before starting.)
- Necessity: Il faut étudier pour réussir. (One must study to succeed.)
- Advice: Il vaut mieux réserver. (It’s better to book.)
- Emotion/judgment: Il est étrange qu'il soit parti si tôt. (It’s odd that he left so early.)
- Possibility: Il est probable qu'il arrivera demain. (It’s likely that he will arrive tomorrow.)
How are impersonal expressions formed?
Basic patterns
Here are the most common patterns and how they translate roughly into English:
- Il + être + adjective + de + infinitive
Example: Il est important de dormir huit heures. (It is important to sleep eight hours.)
- Il + être + adjective + que + [subordinate clause]
Example: Il est important que tu dormes huit heures. (It is important that you sleep eight hours.)
- Il faut + infinitive (general obligation) or Il faut que + subjunctive (specific subject)
Example: Il faut manger. / Il faut que tu manges.
Examples with de + infinitive
Use this when the action is general or when there is no explicit different subject for the verb of the action.
Il est important de manger équilibré. (It is important to eat a balanced diet.)
Il est conseillé de sauvegarder vos fichiers. (It is advisable to back up your files.)
Il est temps de partir. (It is time to leave.)
Examples with que + (subjunctive)
Use this when the sentence introduces a specific subject for the subordinate clause. After que, many impersonal expressions trigger the subjunctive.
Il est important que tu manges équilibré. (It is important that you eat a balanced diet.)
Il est nécessaire que vous sauvegardiez vos fichiers. (It is necessary that you back up your files.)
Il est temps que nous partions. (It is time that we leave.)
De + infinitive or que + subjunctive — how do I choose?
Rule of thumb
- Use de + infinitive when there is no change of subject (the idea is general).
- Use que + subjunctive when the subordinate clause has its own, specific subject.
Examples showing the difference
Same idea, general subject (no named person):
Il est important de lire les instructions. (It is important to read the instructions.)
Same idea, but with a specific subject: the subordinate clause names who must act.
Il est important que tu lises les instructions. (It is important that you read the instructions.) — subjunctive: lises
Specifying the intended person: pour + noun/pronoun
If you want to specify who should do the action but keep de + infinitive, use pour + noun/pronoun before de:
Il est important pour toi de lire ce document. (It is important for you to read this document.)
This form emphasizes the person who benefits or is affected but still uses the infinitive.
When both are possible
Some impersonal expressions allow both constructions with a small difference in emphasis or style:
Il vaut mieux partir maintenant. (Better to leave now. — general suggestion)
Il vaut mieux que tu partes maintenant. (It’s better that you leave now. — specific instruction)
Common impersonal expressions and example sentences
Below are many frequently used impersonal expressions grouped by function. For each, I give typical forms and examples.
Necessity / Obligation
- Il faut + infinitive (general) / Il faut que + subjunctive (specific):
Il faut travailler pour réussir. (You must work to succeed.)
Il faut que tu travailles si tu veux réussir. (You must work if you want to succeed.)
- Il est nécessaire de + infinitive / Il est nécessaire que + subjunctive:
Il est nécessaire de porter un casque. (It’s necessary to wear a helmet.)
Il est nécessaire que vous portiez un casque. (It’s necessary that you wear a helmet.)
- Il est indispensable / essentiel / vital que + subjunctive:
Il est essentiel que nous soyons ponctuels. (It’s essential that we be punctual.)
Advice / Preference
- Il vaut mieux + infinitive / Il vaut mieux que + subjunctive:
Il vaut mieux téléphoner avant. (Better to call ahead.)
Il vaut mieux que tu téléphon es avant. (Better that you call ahead.)
- Il est préférable de + infinitive / Il est préférable que + subjunctive:
Il est préférable de réserver. (It’s preferable to reserve.)
Il est préférable que vous réserviez à l'avance. (It’s preferable that you reserve in advance.)
Judgment / Emotion
- Il est dommage que + subjunctive / C'est dommage de + infinitive:
Il est dommage que tu partes si tôt. (It’s a shame that you are leaving so early.)
C'est dommage de partir si tôt. (It’s a shame to leave so early.)
- Il est normal / étrange / surprenant que + subjunctive:
Il est normal que tu sois nerveux avant un examen. (It’s normal that you be nervous before an exam.)
Il est surprenant qu'il ne réponde pas. (It’s surprising that he doesn’t answer.)
Possibility / Probability / Doubt
- Il est possible que + subjunctive:
Il est possible qu'il pleuve demain. (It’s possible that it will rain tomorrow.)
- Il est probable que + indicative (commonly) — sometimes subjunctive in formal/wary usage:
Il est probable qu'il arrivera demain. (It’s probable that he will arrive tomorrow.)
Il est possible qu'il arrive demain. (It’s possible that he may arrive tomorrow.)
- Il semble que / Il paraît que:
Il semble qu'elle soit malade. (It seems that she is ill. — subjunctive often used: soit)
Il paraît qu'elle est malade. (It appears / it’s said that she is ill. — indicative often used)
Other useful impersonal forms
- Il est utile de + infinitive: Il est utile de lire la fiche technique. (It’s useful to read the spec sheet.)
- Il est bon de + infinitive / Il est bon que + subjunctive: Il est bon de faire de l'exercice. / Il est bon que tu fasses de l'exercice.
- Il est temps de + infinitive / Il est temps que + subjunctive: Il est temps de partir. / Il est temps que tu partes.
Special cases and important differences
C'est vs Il est
- C'est + noun: Use c'est when you introduce or identify something with a noun.
C'est une bonne idée de partir tôt. (That’s a good idea to leave early.)
- Il est + adjective: More common with adjectives describing situations and with que + subjunctive.
Il est important que tu viennes. (It is important that you come.)
Note: In speech, many people use "C'est important que..." but in formal written French, "Il est important que..." is preferred.
à vs de after adjectives (easy/difficult pattern)
- When the thing that is easy/difficult is a noun (an object), use adjective + à + infinitive.
Ce livre est difficile à lire. (This book is difficult to read.)
- When the action is general, use il est + adjective + de + infinitive.
Il est difficile de lire ce livre si l'on n'aime pas le genre. (It’s difficult to read this book if you don’t like the genre.)
Past actions: past infinitive and past subjunctive
- For actions completed before the main idea, you can use the past infinitive after de:
Il est important d'avoir lu le chapitre avant le cours. (It’s important to have read the chapter before class.)
- In que-clauses, use the past subjunctive when needed:
Il est important que tu aies lu le chapitre avant le cours. (It’s important that you have read the chapter before class.)
Common mistakes and how to avoid them
Mistake 1: Using the indicative instead of the subjunctive after que
Wrong: Il est important que tu vas à l'école. (incorrect)
Right: Il est important que tu ailles à l'école. (subjunctive: ailles)
Why: After many impersonal expressions plus que, French requires the subjunctive to express obligation, emotion, doubt, etc.
Mistake 2: Mixing de + infinitive with a named subject
Wrong: Il est important de tu fasses tes devoirs. (incorrect)
Right: Il est important que tu fasses tes devoirs. (If you name the subject, use que + subjunctive.)
Right (alternative): Il est important pour toi de faire tes devoirs. (If you keep de + infinitive, use pour to identify the person.)
Mistake 3: Confusing c'est and il est in formal writing
While both can appear in speech, prefer "Il est + adjective" in formal documents for impersonal judgments (Il est nécessaire que...). Use c'est + noun when you need a noun phrase.
Mistake 4: Wrong mood after certainty verbs
Some learners use the subjunctive after "il est certain que" or "il est sûr que." This is usually incorrect because these express certainty and take the indicative.
Correct: Il est certain qu'il viendra. (indicative)
Subjunctive required when negated: Il n'est pas certain qu'il vienne.
Practical alternatives and rephrasing
If you struggle with the subjunctive after que, you can often rephrase the idea to avoid it:
- Use il faut + infinitive or devoir + infinitive:
Il est important que tu étudies → Il faut que tu étudies / Tu dois étudier.
Il est important de finir le travail → Il faut finir le travail.
- Use an active subject instead of an impersonal construction:
Il est nécessaire que les étudiants participent → Les étudiants doivent participer.
Glossary (simple definitions)
Impersonal pronoun (il impersonnel): the dummy subject il that doesn’t refer to a person.
Infinitive: the basic, unconjugated verb form (manger, partir, lire).
Subjunctive (subjonctif): a verb mood used after certain expressions to show necessity, doubt, emotion, desire, or possibility (e.g., que tu fasses).
Indicative: the normal verb mood used to state facts or certainty.
Past infinitive: infinitive of a past action: avoir + past participle or être + past participle (d'avoir lu, d'être parti).
Quick reference summary
- If the idea is general and no specific subject is given: use il est + adjective + de + infinitive. (Il est important de manger.)
- If the subordinate clause has a specific subject: use il est + adjective + que + subjunctive. (Il est important que tu manges.)
- Use pour + noun/pronoun to indicate who should act while keeping de + infinitive. (Il est utile pour moi de savoir cela.)
- After impersonal expressions that express necessity, emotion, doubt, or possibility, expect the subjunctive after que. After expressions of certainty (certain, sûr, évident), use the indicative.
- In writing, prefer il est + adjective for formal impersonal statements; c'est is common in speech and with noun phrases.
If you keep these patterns and practice the subjunctive forms for common verbs (être, avoir, faire, aller, pouvoir, devoir, venir, etc.), impersonal expressions will become natural.
Examples: correct / incorrect pairs
Incorrect: Il est important que tu vas au médecin. → Correct: Il est important que tu ailles au médecin.
Incorrect: Il est utile de tu comprends la règle. → Correct: Il est utile que tu comprennes la règle. Or: Il est utile pour toi de comprendre la règle.