Lesson-Subject Pronouns

A pronoun takes the place of and functions as a noun. This means that a pronoun replaces who or what is being talked about in a sentence. A personal subject pronoun specifically replaces the subject of the sentence. The pronoun will agree in gender and number with the person or the group of people that it replaces.

Alexa plays the violin.

She plays the violin.

Eddie and Blake go for a walk.

They go for a walk.

She and They are the two subject pronouns. Alexa is replaced with “she” because the sentence is referring to one singular female. Eddie and Blake are replaced with “they” because the sentence is referring to more than one person.

In French, there are nine different personal subject pronouns.

Le pronom sujet	The Subject Pronoun	Label
Je	I	first person singular
Tu	You	second person singular  (informal)
Il	He, It	third person singular  (masculine)
Elle	She, It	third person singular  (feminine)
On	One	third person singular   (neutral)
Nous	We	first person plural
Vous	You	second person plural (or formal singular)
Ils	They	third person plural (masculine)
Elles	They	third person plural (feminine)

Tu vs. Vous

Both of these subject pronouns mean “You.” Vous is most commonly used because it is what one uses to be polite. This would include talking to a stranger or a superior (i.e. a person of higher status or older age). You use Tu when you are talking to a close friend or someone in your family.

On

The personal subject pronoun On has several different meanings . On can translate to the singular and gender neutral pronoun “One” or can mean “We” and refer to a group of people (but still being classified as a singular pronoun).

On aime la plage en ete.

One likes the beach in the summer.

On aime la plage en ete.

We like the beach in the summer.

Ils/Elles

Just like the singular versions (Il/Elle) Ils and Elles correspond in gender and number with who or what they’re referring to. Ils can refer to a group of all males or a mix between males and females as well as a group of masculine/gender mix of nouns. Elles can only refer to a group of females or a group of female nouns.