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

  • soulager

    ByFast French

    In French, the noun “un soulagement” and the verb “soulager” are important words that convey the concept of relief. These words are used in everyday language to express the alleviation of pain, stress, or discomfort. Un Soulagement “Un soulagement” is a masculine noun that means “a relief” or “an alleviation.” It is used to describe…

  • faire la moue

    ByFast French

    Faire la moue is a French expression meaning to pout or make a sulky face. It describes the physical act of pushing out the lips in displeasure, disappointment, or mock annoyance. The phrase appears in both literal contexts, describing an actual facial expression, and figuratively, suggesting someone is expressing dissatisfaction without necessarily making the face….

  • where

    ByFast French

    Most French learners are familiar with the word for “where,” which is “où.” But how do you say “somewhere,” “nowhere,” “anywhere,” “everywhere,” “elsewhere,” and similar words?

  • faire savoir

    ByFast French

    The French phrase faire savoir means “to let someone know,” “to inform,” or “to make known.” It is a versatile expression used in both formal and informal contexts. Its structure is formed by the verb faire (to do/make) followed by the infinitive savoir (to know), and it often requires an indirect object to indicate the…

  • 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…

  • être

    ByFast French

    The French verb “être” is the equivalent of the English verb “to be.” It’s the most frequently used verb in the whole French language. It’s an irregular verb, which means that is doesn’t follow regular conjugation patterns. This is the present tense of être: The verb être is used to express identity, nationality, and describing…