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What is the difference between "sont" and "sommes" in French?
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Answer

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Step 1:
I'll explain the difference between "sont" and "sommes" in French:

Step 2:
: Understanding the Verb "Être" (To Be)

Both "sont" and "sommes" are forms of the French verb "être" (to be), but they are used in different contexts based on the subject of the sentence.

Step 3:
: "Sommes" Explanation

- Example: $$\text{Nous sommes français}$$ (We are French)
- "Sommes" is the first-person plural form of "être" - It means "we are" - Used when speaking about "we" (nous)

Step 4:
: "Sont" Explanation

- Example: $$\text{Ils sont intelligents}$$ (They are intelligent)
- "Sont" is the third-person plural form of "être" - It means "they are" - Used when talking about "they" (ils/elles)

Step 5:
: Key Differences

- Subject changes the verb form - "Sommes" = we are - "Sont" = they are - Different grammatical persons (first vs. third person)

Final Answer

They are different conjugations of the verb "être" used with different subjects.