Subject Pronouns
| je, j´ | → | I |
| tu, t´ | → | you (familiar, singular) |
| vous | → | you (formal, singular) |
| il | → | he, it |
| elle | → | she, it |
| on | → | one (not specific) |
| nous | → | we |
| vous | → | you (familiar , plural, formal ) |
| ils | → | they (masculine) |
| elles | → | they (feminine) |
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Key Grammar Concepts
Subject Pronouns
Pronouns are words that take the place of nouns. Nouns designate people, animals, places, ideas or things. A subject pronoun will serve as the main actor of a sentence. In general, subject pronouns in French and English are used in a similar way.
Examples
Je parle avec Nicolas, mais tu danses avec Christine.
I talk with Nicolas, but you dance with Christine.
Philippe et Rose sont amis; il vient de Corse et elle vient du Québec.
Philippe and Rose are friends; he is from Corsica, and she is from Quebec.
Michel! Isabelle! –Nous sommes ici!
Michel! Isabelle! –We’re here!
Elles vendent beaucoup de baguettes.
They sell a lot of baguettes.
Madame, vous choisissez une belle robe.
Madame, you choose a beautiful dress.
Anne, est-ce que tu aimes le cinéma ?
Anne, do you like movies ?
En France on parle français.
In France, one (you) speaks French.
Helpful tip
French expresses “you” in two different ways: tu
and vous.
Tu is used when a person addresses a relative, a friend, or a peer. It is an informal, friendly pronoun.
Vous is used when addressing a stranger, an acquaintance, or someone older than you. It is formal and respectful.
Vous is the form used in the plural when a person addresses two or more people.
When in doubt, it is wise to use vous
EXERCICES
