finray.

[midnight cedar]

Please be patient

Our volunteers look into many questions every day; sometimes it takes them a little while to answer.

Pro tip: you can rename the thread title with `.tr <thread name>`

Make it descriptive, including relevant context, but also to the point. This way you improve your chances of getting a more relevant and specific answer.

[foggy plinth]

être à + [verb] isnt right

"être en train de travailler avec diligence "is ok
"Il travail avec diligence"
is used more

Ce sont à utiliser avec modération => C'est à utiliser avec modération

[mystic knot]

Oh

[foggy plinth]

be + ing = être en train de faire quelque chose, être en train de faire une action

[mystic knot]

I meant it like "He is to work diligently" as in "Il doit travailler avec diligence"

[foggy plinth]

yes, that seems right to me

He is to = kinda obligated to
so "Il doit" seems apropriate

[mystic knot]

okok, and être à can’t be used that way?

[foggy plinth]

in that way : "être à + [infinitive]" ?

[half garden]

No, because à + infinitive is kinda the passive and affects the object to do an action on.
You're saying you are working the guy diligently. Which doesn't make much sense.

[mystic knot]

yeah

[mystic knot]

I see, so would my second sentence be correct and mean "They/these are to be used with moderation"?

[foggy plinth]

Ils/elles sont à utiliser avec modération

C'est à utiliser avec modération

for example :
L'alcool est à consommer avec modération

Les médicaments sont à utiliser avec modération

so yeah, there is a être à + infinitive there

[mystic knot]

Oh interesting, why do you have to use ils/elles sont instead of ce sont?

[foggy plinth]

l'alcool est dangereux pour la santé. Il est à consommer avec modération

Il refers to l'alcool (masculine)

[half garden]

Ce sont is used before a plural noun:
C'est un livre, ce sont des livres.

[mystic knot]

Yet it's c’est instead of il/elle est, confusing

[lethal lance]

Because in your example, you were referring to an object which would require il/elle since you're referring to something already said.
'These medications are dangerous, they must be used with moderation.'
« Ces médicaments sont dangereux, ils sont à utiliser avec modération. »

Usage of « ce » is if you're not referring to a specific object, you're more like saying it as a sort of general thing

[mystic knot]

Oo I think I get it

[mystic knot]

wait what about this

[lethal lance]

switch « ces médicaments » with something else like « ces boissons » and « ils » changes to « elles »

[lethal lance]

That's if it's a general statement

[foggy plinth]

we already described the subject before this sentence

so we can say "C'est"

[mystic knot]

???? now I'm extra confused

doesn't c'est contain a ce

[lethal lance]

Ces médicaments sont dangereux …
… ils sont à utiliser avec modération
–> This statement specifically relates to the noun « ces médicaments », it's THESE MEDICATIONS that are dangerous, not necessarily other ones
… ce sont à utiliser avec modération
–> This statement doesn't specifically refer to THESE MEDICATIONS; it might just be that medications in general are dangerous and should be used in moderation

[mystic knot]

hmm

And it's the same thing with c’est?

[lethal lance]

yeah

you can even swap out « ce sont » with « c'est » to make it to seem even more general

https://www.lawlessfrench.com/grammar/cest-vs-il-est/

[mystic knot]

Makes sense!