To introduce someone or name them with a noun, French uses c'est + a determiner: c'est mon ami, c'est une voisine. To describe them with an adjective alone, use il est or elle est: il est sympa. In the plural these become ce sont and ils sont or elles sont.
Examples
- C'est mon ami Paul.
- This is my friend Paul.
- Il est très drôle.
- He is very funny.
- Ce sont mes voisins.
- These are my neighbours.
The mistake to avoid
To introduce someone, say c'est mon ami, not "il est mon ami": with a noun after mon, un or le, c'est is the normal choice.
Where this fits in
Family & people, French A1: Talk about your family, say what people are like and how old they are, and introduce your friends.