Subject Pronouns in French

This section explains subject pronouns in French and includes tips for students studying foundation and higher tiers.

Introduction to Subject Pronouns

Subject pronouns are words that replace the subject of a sentence (the person or thing performing the action). They are important for forming sentences correctly in French.

List of Subject Pronouns in French

Usage of Subject Pronouns

• Je (I):
  Used when referring to oneself.
  Example: Je parle français (I speak French).
• Tu (you, informal):
  Used for talking to someone you are familiar with or a peer.
  Example: Tu as un livre (You have a book).
• Il (he, it - masculine):
  Used when referring to a masculine singular noun or male person.
  Example: Il est étudiant (He is a student).
• Elle (she, it - feminine):
  Used when referring to a feminine singular noun or female person.
  Example: Elle aime les films (She likes films).
• On (we, one):
  Informal, used for general statements or when speaking about a group. Often used in spoken French instead of nous.
  Example: On va au cinéma (We are going to the cinema/One goes to the cinema).
• Nous (we):
  Used when referring to oneself and others in a formal or plural context.
  Example: Nous avons une voiture (We have a car).
• Vous (you, formal/plural):
  Used for addressing someone formally or more than one person.
  Example: Vous êtes enseignants (You are teachers).
• Ils (they - masculine/mixed group):
  Used when referring to a group of males or a mixed group of males and females.
  Example: Ils jouent au foot (They are playing football).
• Elles (they - feminine):
  Used when referring to a group of females only.
  Example: Elles chantent bien (They sing well).

Important Notes:

• Tu vs Vous:
  In French, there is a distinction between tu (informal you) and vous (formal you or plural you).
  Tu is used with friends, family, or people of the same age. Vous is used to show respect, with strangers, in formal situations, or when addressing multiple people.
• On vs Nous:
  On is often used in everyday spoken French instead of nous. It is more informal and used in conversational language. Nous is more formal and used in written language or formal speech.

Higher Tier Examples:

For the higher tier, it’s important to practice using subject pronouns in more complex sentences and understanding the agreement with verbs.

• Example 1:
  Nous avons visité Paris l'année dernière. (We visited Paris last year.)
  Notice how the subject pronoun nous agrees with the verb avons (have, plural).
• Example 2:
  Elle a étudié toute la journée. (She studied all day.)
  The verb a étudié is conjugated to match the subject pronoun elle (she).
• Example 3:
  Ils sont allés au concert hier soir. (They went to the concert last night.)
  Ils (they, masculine or mixed group) is used with the plural form of the verb sont allés (went).

Key Tips for GCSE:

• Practice matching subject pronouns with the correct conjugation of verbs.
• Remember that French verbs change according to the subject pronoun, and this is essential for creating correct sentences.
• Use tu only in informal contexts and vous when addressing a teacher, elder, or multiple people.