Transcript Introduction to French Subject Pronouns Lesson

INTRODUCTION TO FRENCH
SUBJECT PRONOUNS
Lesson
THE SUBJECT OF A VERB IS THE
PERSON OR THING WHICH PERFORMS
THE ACTION OF THAT VERB:
Tom travaille.
Tom is working.
Mes parents habitent en Espagne.
My parents live in Spain.
La voiture ne veut pas démarrer.
The car won't start.
SUBJECT PRONOUNS REPLACE THIS PERSON
OR THING:
Il travaille.
He is working.
Ils habitent en Espagne.
They live in Spain.
Elle ne veut pas démarrer.
It won't start.
When studying French, you must understand
subject pronouns before you can begin learning
how to conjugate verbs, because the forms of
verbs change for each subject pronoun.
FRENCH SUBJECT PRONOUNS
Singular
1st person je I
2nd person tu you
3rd person il he, it
elle she, it
Plural
1st person nous we
2nd person vous you
3rd person ils they (m)
on one
elles they (f)
THE FIRST PERSON SINGULAR FRENCH SUBJECT
PRONOUN JE IS USED A LOT LIKE ITS ENGLISH
EQUIVALENT I
Je travaille tous les jours.
I work every day.
Je veux voir ce film.
I want to see this movie.
Je sais ce qui s'est passé.
I know what happened.
1. UNLIKE I, JE IS ONLY CAPITALIZED AT
THE BEGINNING OF A SENTENCE.
Hier, je suis allé à la plage.
Yesterday, I went to the beach.
Non, je ne veux pas voir ce film.
No, I don't want to see this movie.
Dois-je commencer maintenant ?
Do I have to start now?
JE CONTRACTS TO J' WHEN FOLLOWED BY
A VOWEL OR MUTE H.
J'aime danser.
I like to dance.
Tu sais, j'ai le même problème.
You know, I have the same problem.
Oui, j'habite en France.
Yes, I live in France.
FRENCH SUBJECT PRONOUNS: TU, VOUS
= YOU

French has two different words for you: tu and
vous. In English, the second person subject
pronoun is always you, no matter how many
people you're talking to, and whether you know
them or not. In French, these distinctions are
very important - you must understand when and
why to use each of them. Otherwise, you may
inadvertantly insult someone by using the wrong
you.
TU IS THE FAMILIAR YOU, WHICH
DEMONSTRATES A CERTAIN CLOSENESS
AND INFORMALITY.
SPEAKING TO ONE
friend
 peer / colleague
 relative
 child
 pet

USE TU WHEN
VOUS IS THE FORMAL AND PLURAL YOU. IT
IS USED TO SHOW RESPECT OR MAINTAIN A
CERTAIN DISTANCE OR FORMALITY WITH
SOMEONE.
USE VOUS WHEN SPEAKING TO
someone you don't know well
 an older person
 an authority figure
 anyone to whom you wish to show respect

Vous
is also the plural you - you
have to use it when talking to
more than one person, no matter
how close you are.
FRENCH SUBJECT PRONOUNS: IL, ELLE
= HE, SHE, IT

The French third person singular subject
pronouns il and elle are used just like their
English equivalents he and she when talking
about people.
Il aime skier.
He likes to ski.
Elle veut être médecin.
She wants to be a doctor.
HOWEVER, THEY CAN ALSO BOTH MEAN IT. IN
FRENCH, ALL NOUNS ARE EITHER
MASCULINE OR FEMININE, SO TO REPLACE
THEM, YOU USE THE SUBJECT PRONOUNS
CORRESPONDING TO THAT GENDER.

Je vais au musée - il est ouvert jusqu'à 20h00.
I'm going to the museum - it's open until 8pm.
Où est la voiture ? Elle est chez Jean.
Where's the car? It's at Jean's place.
So
just remember that il can
refer to a male, he, as well a
masculine noun, it. Elle can
refer to a female, she, or a
feminine noun, it.
ON IS THE INDEFINITE PRONOUN AND
LITERALLY MEANS ONE. IT'S OFTEN
EQUIVALENT TO THE PASSIVE VOICE IN
ENGLISH.

On ne devrait pas poser cette question.
One shouldn't ask that question.
On demande : caissier.
Cashier wanted.
On ne dit pas ça.
That isn't said.
Ici on parle français.
French is spoken.
IN ADDITION, ON IS AN INFORMAL
REPLACEMENT FOR WE, YOU, THEY,
SOMEONE, OR PEOPLE IN GENERAL.

On va sortir ce soir.
We're going out tonight.
Alors les enfants, que veut-on faire ?
OK kids, what do you want to do?
On dit que ce resto est bon.
They say that this restaurant is good.
On a trouvé mon portefeuille.
Someone found my wallet.
On est fou !
People are crazy!
THE FIRST PERSON PLURAL FRENCH
SUBJECT PRONOUN NOUS IS USED
EXACTLY LIKE WE IN ENGLISH.

Nous allons en Égypte.
We're going to Egypt.
J'espère que nous arriverons à temps.
I hope we arrive in time.
Devons-nous travailler ensemble ?
Do we have to work together?
FRENCH HAS TWO THIRD PERSON
PLURAL SUBJECT PRONOUNS, ILS AND
ELLES, AND THEY BOTH MEAN THEY.
ILS IS USED FOR GROUPS OF MEN AS
WELL AS MIXED-GENDER GROUPS.

Je ne vois pas mes frères. Sont-ils déjà partis ?
I don't see my brothers. Did they already leave?
Paul et Anne viennent, mais ils sont en retard.
Paul and Anne are coming, but they're running late.
ILS IS ALSO USED FOR GROUPS OF ALL
MASCULINE NOUNS AND GROUPS OF
MIXED MASCULINE-FEMININE NOUNS.

J'ai trouvé tes livres - ils sont sur la table.
I found your books - they're on the table.
Le stylo et la plume ? Ils sont tombés par terre.
The pen and pencil? They fell on the floor.
ELLES CAN BE USED ONLY WHEN
EVERY SINGLE PERSON OR THING
YOU'RE REFERRING TO IS FEMALE
OR FEMININE.

Où sont Annette et Marie ? Elles arrivent.
Where are Annette and Marie? They're on their way.
J'ai acheté des pommes - elles sont dans la cuisine.
I bought some apples - they're in the kitchen.
NOTES:


Even when talking about a room full of hundred
women and one man, you have to use ils.
Ils and elles are pronounced exactly like il and
elle, respectively, except when they need to
liaison.