French Pronouns
French Pronouns / Les Pronoms Français
Before we start learning French pronouns we need to take an example to understand the concept of using pronouns.
Julia is my friend. – When we talk about something or someone that is called a subject. Therefore in this phrase, Julia is the subject.
She is playing Football. – Who is playing Football? Julia is playing Football. Therefore in this phrase instead of repeating her name, we have used a pronoun ‘She’.
The word which replaces a subject is called subject pronoun. In French, subject pronouns are divided into singular and plural forms.
Subject Pronouns Singular Forms
French Pronouns Singular | English Pronouns Singular |
| je | I |
| tu (informal) | you |
| il | he |
| elle | she |
| on | one/we |
Subject Pronouns Plural Forms
French Pronouns Plural | English Pronouns Plural |
| nous | we |
| vous (formal) | you |
| ils | they (men’s/mixed group) |
| elles | they (female group) |
** ‘s’ is not pronounced in ‘ils’ and ‘elles’. Their pronunciation is exactly like that of the singular form of il and elle.
** vous can also be used as a singular form when being formal with someone.
Stress/Object Pronoun
Another type of French pronoun is stress pronoun or object pronoun. These pronouns are used before and after preposition to stress a ‘subject pronoun’. It is also used after: c’est, that is: it’s.
Let’s take examples:
Me, i am coming with you!- Moi, je vien avec toi !
Its me! – C’est moi !
Even these pronouns are divided in singular and plural forms.
Stress /Object Pronouns Singular Form
French Pronouns Singular | English Pronouns Singular |
| moi | me |
| toi (informal) | you |
| lui | him |
| elle | her |
| soi | onself |
Stress/Object Pronouns Plural Form
French Pronouns Plural | English Pronouns Plural |
| nous | we, us |
| vous (formal) | you |
| eux | them (men’s/mixed group) |
| elles | them (female group) |
