French Subject Pronouns: A Complete Guide with Pronunciation, Examples & Exercises

French subject pronouns are words that refer to the subjects of a sentence, they are the words I, you, he, she, we, you, they and in French they’re je, tu, il, elle, nous, vous, ils, elles. They are one of many types of pronouns, these words are fundamental for constructing sentences, and are typically among the first concepts a Spanish learner must know.
This is a complete and comprehensive guide where you will learn everything about French subject pronouns.
What is a pronoun in general sense
In grammar, a pronoun is a word that replaces a noun, (person, animal, or thing) to avoid their repetition. There are several types of pronouns but here we’re studying subject personal pronouns.
Example
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Table of Contents
Chart of the French Subject pronouns
Here below is a list of french subject pronouns in French and English.
Pronoun | Meaning |
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Je | I |
Tu | You (singular, informal) |
Il | He |
Elle | She |
Nous | We |
Vous | You (plural, or formal singular) |
Ils | They (masculine or mixed group) |
Elles | They (feminine group) |
Examples and sentences
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Tu vs. Vous
In French, there are two ways of saying you (for 2nd person singular) while in English, there is only one. These two forms depends on formality and types of relationships between subjects.
Determining Factors
- The kind of relationship you have with the person with whom you’re talking: Casual or formal.
- The age differences between the subjects.
Use Tu when the person with whom you’re talking is someone you know well, such as a friend or a relative, and when you speak with a young person or someone your age if you’re still young.
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Use vous when you’re talking to someone you don’t know well, an elderly or when it’s a formal relationship such as your boss.
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Key Rules for Using French Subject Pronouns
French pronouns have some key rules that differ from other languages.
They Go Before the Verb: In most French sentences, the subject pronoun is placed before the verb. This is a consistent rule to remember.
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Almost Always Obligatory: Unlike in languages where you can drop the pronoun (like Spanish or Italian), using the subject pronoun in French is almost always required.
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The “Je” Contraction (J’): To make pronunciation smoother, the pronoun “Je” contracts to “J’” when it comes before a word starting with a vowel or a silent ‘h’.
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Impersonal Il
“Il” is also used in impersonal expressions where it doesn’t refer to a specific person or thing, much like “it” in “It’s raining.”
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The Pronoun “On” (One, We, People)
The French pronoun “on” is incredibly flexible. While grammatically treated as a singular pronoun (like “he/she”), its meaning can shift based on context. It is often used for “we” in casual conversation, making it less formal than “nous.”
“On” as “We” (Casual):
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“On” as “They” or “Someone” (General/Unspecified People):
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“On” as “You” (General Truth/People in general):
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Exercises
Now practice what you learned with the following exercises.
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blank
Fill in the blank with the correct French subject pronoun.
- My father is tall. ____ is very tall.
- My friend and I are here. ____ are here.
- My mother is nice. ____ is very nice.
- The children are playing. ____ are playing.
- The dog is sleeping. ____ is sleeping.
- My friends and I are going to the movies. ____ are going to the movies.
Exercise 2: Translate
Translate the following sentences from English to French.
- He is happy.
- They are in Paris.
- We love pizza.
- You (formal) are a doctor.
- She is my sister.
Answers
Exercise 1: Fill in the Blank
- Il est très grand.
- Nous sommes ici.
- Elle est très gentille.
- Ils jouent.
- Il dort.
- Nous allons au cinéma.
Exercise 2: Translate
- Il est content.
- Ils sont à Paris.
- Nous aimons la pizza.
- Vous êtes médecin.
- Elle est ma sœur.
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