Personal pronouns
A Personal pronouns replaces a noun (the noun performing the action described by the verb). A personal pronoun replaces a noun (the noun performing the action described by the verb).
Personal pronouns have different forms to match the different grammatical persons they replace. There are five different kinds of French personal pronouns, some of which are identical, which can make it tricky to grasp which is which.
- Subject pronouns (Level 1)
- Reflexive pronouns (refer to Level 2)
- Direct object pronouns (refer to Level 3)
- Indirect object pronouns (refer to Level 3)
- Stressed pronouns (refer to Level 4)
Subject Pronouns:
A subject pronoun is a personal pronoun that is used as the subject of a verb. In French , the subject pronouns are I (je), you (tu), he (il), she (elle), we (nous), you (vous), they (ils and elles).
| French | English | |
|---|---|---|
| Singular | je tu * il elle on ** |
I you he she we/on |
| Plural | nous vous * ils elles |
we you they (masc.)they (fem.) |
*Tu or Vous: When referring to more than one person vous must be used. When referring to a single person, vous or tu may be used depending on the situation.
Tu is informal and used only with well-known acquaintances.
Vous is the polite form used when addressing unknown persons or older persons.
** It: “It” is used for inanimate objects. In French, there is no neuter pronoun “it”. Things are either masculine or feminine: il is used for masculine nouns and elle is used for feminine nouns.Examples:
| Il (le livre m.) est dans mon sac à dos.
It (the book) is in my school bag.
Elle (la pomme f.) est sur la table. It (the apple) is on the table. |
* On : One / Someone: The French pronoun “on” has several meanings. It is used in the same ways as the personal pronouns “one”, “someone”, “some people” or “they” in a nonspecific sense or as a less formal substitute (colloquial) for the subject pronoun nous (we).
Examples:
| On doit toujours laver ses pommes avant de les manger
One must always wash one’s apples before eating them.
Avec maman, on mange des crêpes. With mom, we eat pancakes. |
Reflexive pronouns:
Direct object pronouns:
Indirect object pronouns:
Stressed pronouns:
Basic Grammar for level 1 – List
1. The alphabet: L’alphabet
2. French Silent Letters: Lettres muettes françaises
3. French Letter Combinations: Combinaisons de lettres (Practice)
4. Articles: Articles
5. Masculine or feminine nouns: Noms masculins ou féminins
6. The interrogative form: la forme interrogative
a) Question words : Les mots interrogatifs
7. Prepositions(go, come – present) (Practice)
a) The preposition “à”
b) The preposition “de”
c) “Pour” Explained: For vs. To
8. French expressions:
a) Two words
b) Three words
9. Accents: Accents
10. Liaison: Liaison
11. Possessive adjectives: Adjectifs possessifs (Practice)
12. The negative form: La forme négative
a) Negative words in French: Les mots négatifs en français
13. C’est – Il est – elle est: It is – He is – she is
14. Quiz Game Level 1: Quiz
Basic Conjugation for L1
1. Personal Pronouns: Personal Pronouns
a) Subject pronouns: Pronoms sujets
b) You or you: Tu or vous
c) (Practice)
2.Infinitive and conjugated verbs
3. The verb to be: Le verbe être
4. The verb to have: Le verbe avoir
5. The verb to go: Le verbe aller
6. The verb to do: Le verbe faire
7. To be, To have, To go, To do
8. ER Verbs : (Phonetic pronunciation)
9. IR Verbs: (Phonetic pronunciation)
10. RE Verbs: (Phonetic pronunciation)
11. Sentences with ER verbs
12. Sentences with IR verbs
13. Sentences with RE verbs
14. Most Common French Verbs
15. REGULAR Verbs:
a) (Verbes)
b) (Sentences)
c) (Practice)
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