Skip to content
VirtusAcademy

Impersonal Phrases: il est difficile de

HigherHigher tier onlyAQA

Practise Impersonal Phrases: il est difficile de for GCSE French with this free worksheet and full mark scheme — Higher tier exam-style practice with worked answers for AQA GCSE French (8652). At Higher tier, impersonal expressions with an adjective plus de are followed by an infinitive.

Free downloads

These worksheets and mark schemes are original, written for Virtus Academy and checked against the current AQA specification. Every worksheet comes with a full mark scheme.

This is a Higher tier only topic, so there's no Foundation paper — only the Higher worksheet and mark scheme below.

Higher

WorksheetHigher · PDFMark SchemeHigher · PDF

Topic overview

Impersonal phrases beginning with il est describe a general situation, and they are followed by de plus an infinitive. This is a Higher-only topic.

Il est difficile de comprendre means it is difficult to understand. Il est important de travailler means it is important to work. The de is compulsory and is the detail most often omitted.

These phrases are useful in writing because they express opinion without naming a person. Il est nécessaire de, il est possible de, il est intéressant de and il est utile de all follow the identical pattern. Note that c'est difficile de is the spoken equivalent and is equally acceptable in most contexts.

Revision notes

The structure

Il est plus an adjective, then de, then an infinitive.

Il est difficile de comprendre. Il est important de travailler. Il est nécessaire de partir. The de is compulsory and links the adjective to the infinitive.

Why they are useful

They express an opinion without naming a person.

This suits general statements in essays and opinion pieces, where naming a subject would be less natural. They also raise the register of a piece of writing.

The spoken equivalent

C'est difficile de comprendre is the spoken form.

It means the same thing and is acceptable in most contexts. Il est is slightly more formal and appears more often in written French.

Key points

  • Impersonal phrases describe general situations.
  • The structure is il est plus adjective plus de.
  • An infinitive follows the de.
  • The de is compulsory.
  • They express opinion without a subject.
  • C'est is the spoken equivalent.

Worked examples

Example 1

Translate: it is difficult to understand. [2 marks]

Working

Il est difficile de comprendreuse il est with the adjective and de
The de is required before the infinitiveexplain the structure

Example 2

Translate: it is important to work. [2 marks]

Working

Il est important de travailleruse il est with the adjective and de
Travailler follows de in the infinitiveexplain the infinitive

Example 3

Explain why these phrases are useful in written work. [2 marks]

Working

They express an opinion without naming a specific personstate the benefit
which suits general statements and raises the register of the writingexplain why that helps

Common mistakes

  • Omitting the de.

    Il est difficile comprendre is wrong.

  • Using à instead of de.

    These phrases take de.

  • Putting the infinitive in a tense.

    It stays in the infinitive after de.

  • Agreeing the adjective.

    It stays masculine singular in this structure.

Exam tips

  • Always include the de.
  • Keep the adjective masculine singular.
  • Follow de with an infinitive.
  • Remember this is a Higher-only topic.

Key terms

Impersonal phrase
A structure with il as an empty subject.
De
The compulsory link before the infinitive.
Register
The formality level of a piece of writing.
C'est
The spoken alternative to il est.

Related topics

Written and reviewed against the current AQA specification. Spotted an error? Let us know.