Mastering French Subject Pronouns!

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash

 

In French, subject pronouns are essential for indicating the subject of a sentence, similar to "I," "you," "we," etc., in English. French has various subject pronouns, and understanding their proper usage is crucial for effective communication.

 

1. Je (pronounced "zhuh")

 

The most basic subject pronoun, "Je," means "I" in English. It's used when talking about oneself or expressing one's opinions.

 

• Examples:
  • Je suis coréen(ne). (zhuh swee koh-ray-ahn/koh-ray-en) (I am Korean.)
  • Je vais à l'école. (zhuh vay ah lay-kohl) (I go to school.)
  • J'aime le chocolat. (zhem luh shoh-koh-lah) (I like chocolate.)

 

2. Tu (pronounced "tew")

 

"Tu" means "you" in English and is used informally with close friends or family.

 

• Examples:
  • Tu es mon ami(e). (tew ay mohn nah-mee/mohn nah-mee) (You are my friend.)
  • Tu habites où ? (tew ah-beet oo) (Where do you live?)
  • Tu veux manger quoi ? (tew vuh mahn-zhay kwah) (What do you want to eat?)

 

3. Il (pronounced "eel") / Elle (pronounced "el")

 

"Il" means "he" and replaces masculine singular nouns, while "Elle" means "she" and replaces feminine singular nouns.

 

• Examples (Il):
  • Il est médecin. (eel ay med-sahn) (He is a doctor.)
  • Il aime le football. (eel em luh foot-bohl) (He likes soccer.)
  • Il travaille à Paris. (eel trah-vai ah pa-ree) (He works in Paris.)

 

• Examples (Elle):
  • Elle est étudiante. (el ay ay-tew-dee-ahnt) (She is a student.)
  • Elle aime la musique. (el em lah mew-zeek) (She likes music.)
  • Elle habite à Séoul. (el ah-beet ah seh-ool) (She lives in Seoul.)

 

4. Nous (pronounced "noo")

 

"Nous" means "we" in English and is used when referring to oneself and others.

 

• Examples:
  • Nous sommes amis. (noo sohmz ah-mee) (We are friends.)
  • Nous allons au cinéma. (noo za-lohn oh see-nay-mah) (We are going to the cinema.)
  • Nous aimons voyager. (noo zeh-mohn vwa-ya-zhay) (We like to travel.)

 

5. Vous (pronounced "voo")

 

"Vous" can mean either "you" (plural) or "you" (formal). It can be used as the plural form of "Tu" or as a polite form of address.

 

• Examples (Plural):
  • Vous êtes étudiants. (voo zet ay-tew-dee-ahn) (You are students.)
  • Vous habitez où ? (voo za-bee-tay oo) (Where do you live?)
  • Vous voulez manger quoi ? (voo voo-lay mahn-zhay kwah) (What do you want to eat?)

 

• Examples (Formal):
  • Vous êtes professeur ? (voo zet proh-feh-suhr) (Are you a teacher?)
  • Vous désirez quelque chose ? (voo day-zee-ray kel-kuh shohz) (Do you want something?)
  • Vous pouvez m'aider ? (voo poo-vay meh-day) (Can you help me?)

 

6. Ils (pronounced "eel") / Elles (pronounced "el")

 

"Ils" means "they" (masculine) and replaces masculine plural nouns, while "Elles" means "they" (feminine) and replaces feminine plural nouns.

 

• Examples (Ils):
  • Ils sont médecins. (eel sohn med-sahn) (They are doctors.)
  • Ils aiment le football. (eel zem luh foot-bohl) (They like soccer.)
  • Ils travaillent à Paris. (eel trah-vai ah pa-ree) (They work in Paris.)

 

• Examples (Elles):
  • Elles sont étudiantes. (el sohn ay-tew-dee-ahnt) (They are students.)
  • Elles aiment la musique. (el zem lah mew-zeek) (They like music.)
  • Elles habitent à Séoul. (el za-beet ah seh-ool) (They live in Seoul.)

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Dialogue Explaining Subject Pronouns

 

Emily: Benoît, I'm so confused about French subject pronouns. Especially "Tu" and "Vous," I'm not sure when to use which.

 

Benoît: Ah, I see, Emily! "Tu" means "you," but it's used when you're speaking informally, like with close friends or family. On the other hand, "Vous" means "you" (plural) or "you" (formal), and it's used when you're speaking to multiple people or when you need to be polite.

 

Emily: So, I can think of "Vous" as a formal way of saying "you"?

 

Benoît: Exactly! "Tu" is informal, and "Vous" is formal. For example, you would ask your teacher, "Vous êtes professeur? (Are you a teacher?)"

 

Emily: Now I get it! How do you distinguish between "Il" and "Elle"?

 

Benoît: "Il" replaces masculine nouns, and "Elle" replaces feminine nouns. For example, a male teacher would be "Il est professeur," and a female teacher would be "Elle est professeur."

 

Emily: Ah, that makes sense! You said "Ils" and "Elles" are the plural forms of "Il" and "Elle," right?

 

Benoît: That's right! "Ils" is the masculine plural form, and "Elles" is the feminine plural form. For example, if there are multiple male teachers, you would say "Ils sont professeurs," and if there are multiple female teachers, you would say "Elles sont professeurs."

 

Emily: Wow, thanks to you, Benoît, I finally understand French subject pronouns! Thank you so much!

 

Benoît: You're welcome, Emily! Keep up the good work with your French studies!