et vs est
"et" is a coordinating conjunction that links two elements. "est" is the verb être conjugated in the present tense. To tell them apart, replace the word with "était": if the sentence still works, it is "est". If it does not, it is "et".
Examples
Il est grand et mince.
Key word(s): est, et
"Il était grand" works (the verb). "Grand était mince" does not work (the conjunction).
Elle est contente.
Key word(s): est
"Elle était contente" works.
Un chat et un chien.
Key word(s): et
"Un chat était un chien" does not work, so this is the conjunction.
Le ciel est bleu et dégagé.
Key word(s): est, et
"Le ciel était bleu" (verb) + "bleu et dégagé" (conjunction).
Pierre et Marie sont amis.
Key word(s): et
"Pierre était Marie" does not work.
Common mistakes
- Mixing up the two when they appear one after the other ("il est grand et fort").
- Writing "il et grand" (using the conjunction instead of the verb).
- Writing "Pierre est Marie" (using the verb instead of the conjunction).
Test yourself
Le soleil ___ chaud.
Pommes ___ poires.
Il ___ fatigué ___ il dort.
Tips to remember
- "et" can always be replaced by "et puis" or "ainsi que".
- "est" can always be replaced by "était" or "sera".
- In a list, it is always "et": "rouge, bleu et vert".
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