comment est
The English phrase "how is" is translated into French as comment est.
comment est is used when you want to ask about the quality or characteristics of a thing. It is not used to ask about someone's well-being.
Which one should you use?
Use comment est when asking for a description of a thing. In contrast, comment ça va is the standard way to ask how a person or a situation is going (how is it going / how are you).
How does it change in a sentence?
In formal questions, the subject and verb can be inverted, such as in comment est-elle.
Did you know?
- Using comment est to ask about a person's health would sound to a native speaker as if you are asking for a physical description of their appearance rather than their well-being.
- The word comment is actually a combination of the word comme and the suffix -ment, following a pattern common in French to turn adjectives or prepositions into adverbs.
- If you want to ask 'how is the weather' in a casual setting, using comment est le temps can sound slightly formal or poetic compared to more common idiomatic expressions.
Examples in context
- Comment est la vie ?How is life?This sentence is useful for asking how life is using comment est.Tatoeba #402746 by qdii, translation #2205973 by freddy1
- Comment est le thé ?How is the tea?This sentence is useful for asking about the quality of the tea using comment est.Tatoeba #6710250 by felix63, translation #6710587 by Eccles17
- Comment est ta vue ?How is your vision?This sentence is useful for asking about the state of someone's vision using comment est.Tatoeba #9869877 by Micsmithel, translation #9850983 by NurseMeeks
- 32 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Gabriel and Manon are talking about Manon's new apartment.
- GabrielComment est ton nouvel appartement, Manon ?How is your new apartment, Manon?
- ManonIl est très calme et lumineux.It is very quiet and bright.
- GabrielC'est super, je suis content pour toi.That's great, I am happy for you.
- ManonMerci, Gabriel, c'est très gentil.Thanks, Gabriel, that's very kind.
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries comment, est, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
