Impersonal Constructions in French

In French, impersonal constructions are expressions that convey general truths or abstract concepts without referring to a specific subject. They often start with the pronoun 'il' (meaning 'it' or 'there') followed by a verb. Understanding and using impersonal constructions correctly will enable you to express ideas in a more abstract and general way. In this guide, we will focus on three commonly used impersonal constructions: 'il faut', 'il se peut', and 'il suffit'.

1. 'Il faut' (It is necessary / One must / We need)

The construction 'il faut' is used to express the idea of necessity or obligation. It can be translated as "it is necessary," "one must," or "we need" in English. Here's how it is used:

Il faut + infinitive verb

Examples:

• Il faut manger pour vivre. (It is necessary to eat to live.)
• Il faut étudier tous les jours. (One must study every day.)
• Il faut que nous arrivions à l'heure. (We need to arrive on time.)

2. 'Il se peut' (It is possible)

The construction 'il se peut' is used to express the idea of possibility. It can be translated as "it is possible" in English. Here's how it is used:

Il se peut + que + subject + verb

Examples:

• Il se peut qu'il pleuve demain. (It is possible that it will rain tomorrow.)
• Il se peut que tu aies raison. (It is possible that you are right.)
• Il se peut qu'ils ne puissent pas venir. (It is possible that they can't come.)

3. 'Il suffit' (It is enough / It suffices)

The construction 'il suffit' is used to express the idea of sufficiency or adequacy. It can be translated as "it is enough" or "it suffices" in English. Here's how it is used:

Il suffit + de + verb

Examples:

• Il suffit de tourner à gauche. (It is enough to turn left.)
• Il suffit de demander pour obtenir de l'aide. (It suffices to ask to get help.)
• Il suffit d'appuyer sur ce bouton. (It is enough to press this button.)

Usage Tips:

• These impersonal constructions are commonly used in French to express general truths or abstract concepts.
• When using impersonal constructions, pay attention to the verb forms that follow. They may differ depending on the construction and context.
• Be mindful of the prepositions or conjunctions that come after the impersonal constructions ('de', 'que', etc.). They often introduce additional information in the sentence.

Congratulations! You now have a solid understanding of impersonal constructions in French. Use them to discuss abstract concepts and general truths with confidence. Keep practicing them in various contexts to solidify your knowledge and fluency.