c'est v. il/elle est

To describe and introduce things or people in French, two common phrases are used: c'est and il /elle est. The plural forms are ce sont and ils/elles sont.

The choice between c'est and il / elle est is not always easy, but there are basic principles which can guide you in the choice. A rule of thumb is that c'est or ce sont are followed by a determined NOUN ('le frigo’, 'une Américaine', 'mes livres'). 

Remember that nouns in French are preceded by a determiner:  definite.

Il /elle est and ils/elles sont are followed by an adjective ('content', 'sympathique'). 

c'est/ ce sont

C'est and ce sont are followed by the following: 

il/ elle est/ ils/ elles sont

Use il/ elle est or ils/ elles sont to introduce the following: 

Remember that il(s) and elle(s) refer to a specific person or thing. Ce does not refer to a specific person or thing; it is usually translated as that.

Il est ambitieux. (He's ambitious)

C'est ambitieux (That's ambitious.)