Even if you’ve been speaking French for years, it can still cause headaches: when do you use ‘il est’ and when ‘c’est’? Therefore, for now and always: the solution.
C’est
Along with a subject and a verb
C’est un petit garçon. (It’s a boy.)
C’est le vin que j’ai bu hier soir. (It’s the wine I drank last night.)
With an adverb – to describe a situation, a feeling, a whole.
C’est beau ici (It’s beautiful here.)
C’est agréable de vous parler. (It’s nice talking to you.)
With a name
C’est Juliette. (It’s Juliette.)
C’est Benoît qui m’appele comme ça. (That’s Benoît calling me that.)
Il est
With a verb without the subject (usually when it comes to a job)
Il est journalist. (He’s a journalist.)
Il est musicien (He is a musician.)
With an adverb
to describe a person or a subject in a certain way
Il est russe. (He is Russian.)
Il est vraiment grand. (It’s big.- For example, if you’re talking about an airplane)
