il s'agit de
The English phrase 'it is about' is translated into French as il s'agit de.
This phrase is used to describe the subject or main topic of something.
Which one should you use?
While il s'agit de is used to describe subject matter, the phrase c'est à propos de is generally incorrect in this context. Use il s'agit de when you mean 'the matter is' or 'it is a question of'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase il s'agit de is an impersonal construction. This means the subject il does not refer to a specific person or thing, but functions similarly to the English 'it' in 'it is raining'.
What mistakes should you avoid?
English speakers often mistakenly use il est à propos de to mean 'it is about'. However, il s'agit de is the correct idiomatic way to describe a subject or topic.
Did you know?
- While il s'agit de describes a topic, the verb agir actually means 'to act'. In this specific impersonal phrase, the meaning shifts from taking action to the 'action' or 'matter' at hand.
- In high-pressure situations, il s'agit de can change meaning from 'it is about' to 'it is a matter of' or 'it is crucial to'. For example, il s'agit de survivre means 'it is a matter of survival'.
- Because il s'agit de is impersonal, you can never replace il with elle or ce, even if you are referring to a feminine noun like 'a story' or 'a book'.
Examples in context
- La réunion d'aujourd'hui concerne principalement le budget de l'entreprise.Today's meeting is mainly about the company's budget.
- Dans cet article, il est question de l'impact des réseaux sociaux sur la société moderne.In this article, it is about the impact of social networks on modern society.
- Ce film dont tout le monde parle, c'est à propos de la vie d'un artiste.That movie everyone is talking about, it is about an artist's life.
- Le livre que j'ai lu récemment, ça parle de la conquête spatiale.The book I recently read, it is about space exploration.
- Il s'agit d'un nouveau projet.It is about a new project.
- Il s'agit de mon travail.It is about my work.
Example conversation
Lucas and Chloé are discussing a new movie.
- LucasTu as vu le nouveau film ?Did you see the new movie?
- ChloéNon, il s'agit de quoi ?No, what is it about?
- LucasIl s'agit de deux amis à Paris.It is about two friends in Paris.
- ChloéÇa a l'air intéressant !That sounds interesting!
