être censé

ByFast French

The French phrase “être censé” means “to be supposed.” It is usually followed by a verb in the infinitive. There is no need to use the word “de” or “à” between “être” and “censé.”

The “être” part is usually conjugated in either the present or the imperfect tense.

Note also that “censé” must agree in number and gender with the subject.

  • être censé faire (to be supposed to do)
  • il est censé le faire demain (he is supposed to do it tomorrow)
  • elle était censée le demander (she was supposed to ask for it)
  • ils sont censés savoir (they are supposed to know)
  • les tables sont censées être prêtes (the tables are supposed to be ready)
  • les chiffres sont censés représenter la tendance (the figures are supposed to represent the trend)
  • nul n’est censé ignorer la loi (literally: no one is supposed to be ignorant of the law. Figuratively: ignorance of the law is no excuse).

Don’t confuse “censé” (supposed) with “sensé” (sensible).

Both “censé” and “sensé” sound the same, although their spelling is different. But “sensé” means “sensible.”

  • Quel être sensé sauterait de la tour Eiffel ? (What sensible being would jump from the Eiffel Tower?)
  • Ses propos n’étaient pas sensés (His comments weren’t sensible/What he said wasn’t sensible)

Don’t miss new articles!

Get 1 email a week with new articles about French

We don’t spam! Read more in our privacy policy

Similar Posts

  • mine de rien

    ByFast French

    “Mine de rien” is a popular French expression that is used in everyday conversations. Literally translated, it means “appearance of nothing,” “expression of nothing,” or “look of nothing,” but its true meaning goes beyond its literal interpretation. This expression is often used to describe someone’s behavior or attitude when they are doing something in a…

  • humour vs humeur

    ByFast French

    Both “humour” and “humeur” are French nouns. But they mean different things. “L’humour” (masculine) means “the humour” or “the comedy.” It corresponds fairly closely to the English word “humour” (or “humor,” in US English). In French culture, especially cultivated and sophisticated French culture, “wit” was seen as more important. The French idea of “wit” is…

  • il y a

    ByFast French

    The French phrase “il y a” means “there is” or “there are.” It covers both singular and plural. “il y a” versus “c’est” “Il y a” is often used for situations where you can’t see the thing being talked about. Eg “there is a bike in the garden” (when you’re not in the garden), or…

  • je vous en prie

    ByFast French

    The French phrase “je vous en prie” means “you’re welcome,” but it carries several additional meanings depending on the context. Meanings of “Je vous en prie” The phrase “je vous en prie” is a polite expression that can serve several functions in French. Here are the main uses: 1. You’re welcome This is the most…

  • il vaut mieux

    ByFast French

    The phrase “il vaut mieux” can be translated as “it is better” or “it is preferable.” It is employed to express a preference or recommendation, suggesting that one option is superior or more desirable than another. It uses an impersonal construction of the verb “valoir,” which means “to be worth.” An impersonal construction means that…

  • être en train de

    ByFast French

    In French, there is no direct equivalent to the English present continuous (“I am eating”) or past continuous (“I was eating”). Instead, French speakers use the construction “être en train de” + infinitive to emphasize that an action is (or was) in progress. This guide will cover how to use it in both the present…