Using the Subject Pronoun il

In French, il functions as "he" or "it". It is used for masculine nouns, as well as in several impersonal expressions.

You use il when referring to a masculine noun: * Il parle. (He speaks.) * Il est professeur. (He is a teacher.) * Il arrive. (He arrives.)

Il is also used in impersonal expressions where "it" is the subject, often with:

• il faut (it is necessary/one must)
• il y a (there is/there are)
• il semble (it seems)

Il faut

This means "it is necessary" or "one must". It is always followed by an infinitive or a noun. * Il faut étudier. (One must study.) * Il faut du temps. (It takes time.)

Il semble

This means "it seems". * Il semble que tu as raison. (It seems that you are right.) * Il semble fatigué. (He seems tired.)

Il y a

This means "there is" or "there are" and is used to talk about the existence of something. * Il y a un livre sur la table. (There is a book on the table.) * Il y a beaucoup de gens. (There are many people.)

Table of present tense conjugations for être (to be) with il:

Table of present tense conjugations for avoir (to have) with il: