French grammar
What someone is like vs how they feel right now
Tell what someone is like from how they feel right now.
From the scene Toujours ou en ce moment ? (Always or right now?)
In short
Être covers both what someone is like and how they feel. Add là or en ce moment for right now.
Your turn
Which one goes with how someone feels now?
Options: là, il est nerveux / content · il est sympa, il est jeune · là · en ce moment
Show answer
how someone feels now → là, il est nerveux / content
How it works
French uses être for both: il est sympa (what he's like) and il est nerveux (how he feels).
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
Tomás (blank) très sympa.
Options: est · a
Show answer
Tomás est très sympa.
Tomás is very nice.
Good to know
To make clear it's only for now, add là or en ce moment: là, il est content.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
Aïe. Monsieur Ramón est (blank).
Clue: Nuria doesn't like his face
Options: sympa · fâché
Show answer
Aïe. Monsieur Ramón est fâché.
Ugh. Monsieur Ramón is angry.
Good to know
So Monsieur Ramón can be happy right now and still be an unfriendly person.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
...mais il est (blank).
Clue: what he is like as a person
Options: antipathique · content
Show answer
...mais il est antipathique.
...but he's unfriendly.
what someone is like il est sympa, il est jeune
Elena
Oui, il est sympa... mais là, il est nerveux.
Yes, he's nice... but right now he's nervous.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Oui, (blank)... mais là, il est nerveux.
Options: là · en ce moment · il est fâché ≠ il est antipathique · il est sympa
Show answer
Elena
Oui, il est sympa... mais là, il est nerveux.
Yes, he's nice... but right now he's nervous.
how someone feels now là, il est nerveux / content
Elena
Non, ma chérie. Là, il est content.
No, dear. Right now he's happy.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Non, ma chérie. Là, il est (blank).
Options: il est sympa · là · en ce moment · content
Show answer
Elena
Non, ma chérie. Là, il est content.
No, dear. Right now he's happy.
right now là · en ce moment
angry now ≠ unfriendly always il est fâché ≠ il est antipathique
Your turn
What goes with il est fâché ≠ il est antipathique?
Options: what someone is like · how someone feels now · angry now ≠ unfriendly always
Show answer
il est fâché ≠ il est antipathique → angry now ≠ unfriendly always
Watch out
Don't switch to avoir — il est content, never il a content.
Common mistake
Not toujours here. Only right now.
Oui, il est sympa... mais là, il est nerveux.
Yes, he's nice... but right now he's nervous.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| what someone is like | il est sympa, il est jeune |
|---|---|
| how someone feels now | là, il est nerveux / content |
| right now | là · en ce moment |
| angry now ≠ unfriendly always | il est fâché ≠ il est antipathique |
More lines from the story
- NuriaTomás est très sympa.Tomás is very nice.
- NuriaNerveux ? Ah oui... et il est fatigué.Nervous? Oh, yes... and he's tired.
- NuriaAïe. Monsieur Ramón est fâché.Ugh. Monsieur Ramón is angry.
- Elena...mais il est antipathique....but he's unfriendly.