An impersonal verb is one that does not refer to a real person or thing and where the subject is represented by it, for example, It’s going to rain; It’s ten o’clock.
- Impersonal verbs are only used with il (meaning it) and in the infinitive. They are called impersonal verbs because il does not really refer to a real person, animal or thing, just like it and there in English in the examples below.
| Il pleut. | It’s raining. |
| Il va pleuvoir. | It’s going to rain. |
| Il y a un problème. | There’s a problem. |
| Il pourrait y avoir un problème. | There could be a problem. |
- There are also some very common verbs that can be used in this way in addition to their normal meanings, for example, avoir, être and faire.
| Infinitive | Expression | Meaning |
| avoir + noun | il y a | there is (singular) there are (plural) |
| être + time | il est | it is |
| faire + noun | il fait jour il fait nuit | it’s daylight it’s dark |
| falloir + noun | il faut | we/you etc. need it takes |
| falloir + infinitive | il faut | we/you etc. have to |
| manquer | il manque | there is … missing (singular) there are … missing (plural) |
| paraître | il paraît que | it appears that it seems that |
| rester + noun | il reste | there is … left (singular) there are … left (plural) |
| sembler | il semble que | it appears that it seems that |
| valoir mieux + infinitive | il vaut mieux | it would be better to |
| Il y a quelqu’un à la porte. | There’s somebody at the door. |
| Il est deux heures. | It’s two o’clock. |
| Il faut partir. | I’ve/We’ve etc. got to go. |
| Il manque cent euros. | 100 euros are missing. |
| Il reste du pain. | There’s some bread left. |
| Il vaut mieux ne rien dire. | It would be better to say nothing. |
- Several impersonal verbs relate to the weather.
| Infinitive | Expression | Meaning |
| faire + adjective | il fait beau il fait mauvais | the weather’s lovely the weather’s bad |
| faire + noun | il fait du vent il fait du soleil | it’s windy it’s sunny |
| geler | il gèle | it’s freezing |
| neiger | il neige | it’s snowing |
| pleuvoir | il pleut | it’s raining |
Grammar Extra!There is another group of useful expressions that start with an impersonal il. These are followed by a form of the verb called the subjunctive.
| il faut que | |
| Il faut que je parte. | I’ve got to go. |
| il est nécessaire que | |
| Il est nécessaire que le comité prenne une décision rapidement. | The committee has to take a decision quickly. |
| il est possible que | |
| Il est possible qu’il vienne. | He might come. |
| il est dommage que | |
| Il est dommage que tu ne l’aies pas vu. | It’s a shame you didn’t see him. |
Key points
- Impersonal verbs can only be used in the infinitive and the il form.
- il faut, il y a, il est and il fait with expressions relating to the weather are very common.