French Phrase
C'est qui l'auteur invité ce soir ?
Meaning
This informal question asks for the identity of the author who has been invited to an event that takes place tonight. It is a spoken‑style way of saying “Who is the invited author tonight?”
When to use
Use it in casual conversation at literary gatherings, book fairs, or any event where a guest author will appear. It’s perfect when you’re chatting with friends, colleagues, or event staff and want a quick answer.
✦Grammar Breakdown
C'estquil'auteurinvitécesoir?
C'est
C'est = "it is" or "this is"; used before a noun or pronoun to identify something.
qui (interrogative)
Qui is the interrogative pronoun meaning "who"; after C'est it forms a colloquial question.
l' + noun (elision)
The article le/la elides before a vowel or mute h, giving l'auteur.
invité (past participle as adjective)
Invité agrees in gender and number with the noun it modifies; here masculine singular.
ce soir
A fixed time expression meaning "this evening / tonight".
🗨In Conversation
C'est qui l'auteur invité ce soir ?
Who is the invited author tonight?
C'est Marie Dupont, elle a écrit *Le Silence des Arbres*.
It’s Marie Dupont, she wrote *The Silence of the Trees*.
✕Common Mistakes
C'est qui l'auteur invite ce soir ?
Use the past participle "invité" as an adjective, not the infinitive verb "inviter".
C'est qui auteur invité ce soir ?
The article is required; dropping it makes the sentence ungrammatical.
C'est qui l'auteur invitée ce soir ?
If the author is female, the adjective must agree: "l'auteure invitée" (or "l'auteur invitée" only in very informal speech).
↔Alternatives
Qui est l'auteur invité ce soir ?
Who is the invited author tonight?
Quel est l'auteur qui vient ce soir ?
Which author is coming tonight?
Quel auteur est invité ce soir ?
Which author is invited tonight?
Cultural Tip
The construction "C'est qui…" is very common in spoken French but is considered informal. In written or formal contexts you should use "Qui est…". Also remember that the past participle "invité" must agree with the gender of the author (e.g., l'auteure invitée).