3.2. C’est quand ?

Asking When Events Occur

3.2.1. The Main Idea

To ask when something happens in French, use quand, meaning when.

C’est quand ?	When is it?
Le cours est quand ?	When is the class?
La leçon est quand ?	When is the lesson?
L’examen est quand ?	When is the exam?

In everyday French, C’est quand ? is very common and useful.

3.2.2. Main Questions

C’est quand ?	When is it?
C’est à quelle heure ?	What time is it?
Le cours est à quelle heure ?	What time is the class?
La réunion est à quelle heure ?	What time is the meeting?
L’examen est quel jour ?	What day is the exam?
Le cours est quel jour ?	What day is the class?

3.2.3. Answering with a Time

C’est à une heure.	It is at one o’clock.
C’est à deux heures.	It is at two o’clock.
C’est à trois heures trente.	It is at 3:30.
C’est à midi.	It is at noon.
C’est à minuit.	It is at midnight.

Use à + time to say at + time.

3.2.4. Answering with a Day

C’est lundi.	It is on Monday.
C’est mardi.	It is on Tuesday.
C’est mercredi.	It is on Wednesday.
C’est jeudi.	It is on Thursday.
C’est vendredi.	It is on Friday.
C’est samedi.	It is on Saturday.
C’est dimanche.	It is on Sunday.

In French, you do not need on before the day in this structure.

3.2.5. Answering with a Date

C’est le premier mai.	It is on May 1st.
C’est le deux mai.	It is on May 2nd.
C’est le quinze juin.	It is on June 15th.
C’est le vingt septembre.	It is on September 20th.
C’est le trente et un décembre.	It is on December 31st.

For dates, French uses le + number + month.

3.2.6. Combining Day and Time

C’est lundi à deux heures.	It is on Monday at two o’clock.
C’est mardi à trois heures trente.	It is on Tuesday at 3:30.
C’est vendredi à midi.	It is on Friday at noon.
C’est dimanche à neuf heures du matin.	It is on Sunday at nine in the morning.

3.2.7. Common Events

le cours	the class / course
la leçon	the lesson
l’examen	the exam
le devoir	the homework / assignment
la réunion	the meeting
la pause	the break
le rendez-vous	the appointment
la fête	the party

3.2.8. More Examples

Le cours est quand ?	When is the class?
Le cours est lundi.	The class is on Monday.
La réunion est à quelle heure ?	What time is the meeting?
La réunion est à trois heures.	The meeting is at three o’clock.
L’examen est quel jour ?	What day is the exam?
L’examen est vendredi.	The exam is on Friday.
Le rendez-vous est quand ?	When is the appointment?
Le rendez-vous est mardi à dix heures.	The appointment is on Tuesday at ten o’clock.

3.2.9. Core Patterns

C’est quand ?	When is it?
C’est à quelle heure ?	What time is it?
C’est quel jour ?	What day is it?
C’est à ___ .	It is at ___ .
C’est lundi.	It is on Monday.
C’est le ___ .	It is on the ___ .
C’est lundi à deux heures.	It is on Monday at two o’clock.

3.2.10. Practice

When is it? |

What time is it? |

When is the class? |

What time is the meeting? |

It is at two o’clock. |

It is on Monday. |

It is on Friday at noon. |

The exam is on Wednesday. |

3.2.11. Answers

When is it?	C’est quand ?
What time is it?	C’est à quelle heure ?
When is the class?	Le cours est quand ?
What time is the meeting?	La réunion est à quelle heure ?
It is at two o’clock.	C’est à deux heures.
It is on Monday.	C’est lundi.
It is on Friday at noon.	C’est vendredi à midi.
The exam is on Wednesday.	L’examen est mercredi.

3.2.12. Short Dialogue

A : Le cours est quand ?	A: When is the class?
B : Le cours est lundi à deux heures.	B: The class is on Monday at two o’clock.
A : Et l’examen ?	A: And the exam?
B : L’examen est vendredi à midi.	B: The exam is on Friday at noon.

3.2.13. Checkpoint

By the end of this lesson, you should be able to ask when an event happens, ask what time an event happens, and answer with a day, date, time, or a combination such as lundi à deux heures.