Lesson 1 - Grammar 2 - Subject Pronouns
Examples: |
---|
Comment allez-vous? |
Je suis heureux de faire votre connaissance, Mademoiselle. |
Il est à lyon maintenant. |
Où allons-nous déjeuner? |
A French verb is usually preceded by a noun or by one of a set of short, unstressed forms which we will define as subject pronouns. These pronouns often refer back to some person or thing previously mentioned or indicated. The subject pronouns must be followed by or preceded by a verb. This provides a handy way, incidentally, of identifying verbs.
The forms are:
Type | French / Français | English / Anglais |
---|---|---|
Singular |
je | I |
tu | you | |
vous | you | |
il (masculine) | he | |
elle (feminine) | she | |
on | one, we, people | |
Plural |
nous | we |
vous | you | |
ils (masculine) | they | |
elles (feminine) | they |
Remember: Before a verb beginning with a vowel, the first person pronoun je is spelled j’ and it is pronounced with the first syllable of the verb.
French / Français | English / Anglais |
---|---|
j'espère | I hope |
The choice of the appropriate pronoun for the third person plural may cause difficulty.
The concept is:
- elles marks plural when all the people or things referred to are feminine.
- ils marks plural in all other cases.
French / Français | English / Anglais |
---|---|
Vos soeurs sont près d’ici. | Your sisters are nearby. |
Elles sont près d'ici. | They are nearby. |
Les parents sont en vacances. | The parents are on vacation. |
Ils sont en vacances. | They are on vacation. |
Marie, Anne et Janine sont au restaurant. | Marie, Anne and Janine are at the restaurant. |
Elles sont au restaurant. | They are at the restaurant. |
Marie, Anne, Janine et Pierre sont à Paris. | Marie, Anne, Janine and Pierre are in Paris. |
Ils sont à Paris. | They are in Paris. |