The Subject Pronouns in French
1. Je : I
There is no capital letter: je (only when it is the first word of the sentence)
Je before a verb starting with a consonant: je mange
But J’ before a h or vowel: J’habite, j’aime
Sometimes the sound “je” becomes “sh” by contractions: je sais shey
Je ne sais pas shey pa
2. Tu : You
Singular and familiar with people you know or informal way.
Tu manges
Tu habites
Tu aimes
However when we speak tu t’
T’habites, t’aimes
3. il : he, it
For people, animals, things
Il mange
Liaison:
Il aime i laime
Il habite i labite
Il est i ley
Even when we speak il becomes i:
i vient ou i vient pas: Is he coming or not?
4. Elle : she, it
For people, animals, things
Liaison:
Elle aime ey laime
Elle habite ey labite
Elle est ey ley
Even when we speak elle becomes ey
ey vient ou quoi? is she coming or what?
5. On: one, we
Very common subject to use instead of We:
On means One: One says… On dit…
But more common for We
On est fatigués: we are tired
The subject and the verb are singular, but the following word is plural!
Liaison:
On habite on nabite
On aime on naime
On est on ney
6. Nous: we
Liaison:
Nous venons: we come
Nous aimons nou zaimons
Nous habitons nou zabitons
7. Vous: you
This subject has 6 meanings:
Vous plural of Tu, so informal, with people you know: masculine, mixed or just feminine
Vous singular formal: masculine or feminine
Vous plural formal: masculine, mixed, or just feminine
Liaison:
Vous venez: you come
Vous aimez vou zaimez
Vous habitez vou zabitez
8. Ils: they (masculine, masculine + feminine)
For people, animals, things
Liaison:
Ils viennent: they come
Ils aiment il zaim
Ils habitent il zabit
Sometimes you will just hear the sound “i”: i viennent, i zaim…
9. Elles: they (feminine)
For people, animals, things
Liaison:
Elles viennent: they come
Elles aiment Elle zaim
Elles habitent Elle zabit
Sometimes you will just hear the sound “ey”: ey viennent, ey zaim…
Test your knowledge with the verbs to be and to have in French:
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