What are Impersonal Constructions?
Impersonal constructions in French use the pronoun 'il' (it) with a verb or expression to make statements about situations, necessity, possibility, or appearance without naming a specific subject. Common forms include il faut (one must), il semble (it seems), and il est possible que (it is possible that), each triggering different grammatical structures.
Impersonal constructions use 'il' (formal it) + verb/expression to state necessity, possibility, or appearance. They trigger infinitive (il faut + inf.) or subjunctive (il est possible que + subj.), and can be transformed into personal forms (Il me faut = J'ai besoin).
- •il faut que + subj.
- •il faut partir (you must leave)
- •il faut que tu partes (it's required that you leave)
- •il semble que + subj./indicative
- •Il semble qu'il pleut (it seems to rain)
- •il semble que tu aies tort (it seems that you are wrong)
Step-by-step worked examples
Il faut étudier pour réussir l'examen.
Impersonal: Il VerbExpression: faut (must/is necessary) Clause: étudier (infinitive) Meaning: One must study to pass the exam. Transform: J'ai besoin d'étudier. (I need to study.)
Il est possible qu'il pleuve demain.
Impersonal: Il Expression: est possible que (is possible that) Subordinate: il pleuve (subjunctive) Meaning: It is possible (that) it may rain tomorrow. Alternate: Il se peut qu'il pleuve.
Il semble que tu as raison. / Il te semble que tu as raison.
Impersonal (formal): Il semble que + (indicative or subjunctive, depending on certainty) Personal (direct): Il te semble que (It seems to you that) Meaning: It seems (to you) that you are right.
Flashcards
Quick quiz
Q1.il faut takes which structure?
Q2.il est possible que is followed by…?
Q3.il semble que + ___? (he is coming)
Q4.Transform: Il faut que tu partes → ___.
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Common mistakes
Thinking 'il' refers to a specific person. — Correct: 'il' in impersonal constructions is a formal dummy pronoun—it has no referent.
Always using subjunctive after 'il semble que'. — Correct: il semble que can take indicative (certainty) or subjunctive (doubt), depending on meaning.
Forgetting 'il' in il faut: 'Faut partir.' — Correct: Always include the impersonal 'il': Il faut partir. (not 'Faut partir.')
Using 'que + noun' instead of infinitive after il faut. — Correct: il faut + infinitive: Il faut étudier. (not 'Il faut que tu étudies' unless making it obligatory.)
FAQ
What is the difference between 'il faut' and 'il faut que'?
'il faut + infinitive' is general necessity (one must). 'il faut que + subj.' is specific obligation (it is required that…).
Is 'il semble' impersonal?
Yes—'il' is impersonal. You can make it personal: 'Il me semble' (it seems to me) or 'Te semble-t-il?' (does it seem to you?).
What other impersonal expressions exist?
il est + adjective + que (il est clair que, il est vrai que), il se peut que, il importe que, il arrive que (it happens that).
Can you use impersonal + infinitive + 'à' + noun?
Yes: 'Il est difficile à comprendre' (It is difficult to understand) or 'Il me faut du temps' (I need time).