Subject Pronouns
A1
French subject pronouns and the special usage of on/vous
Subject Pronouns at a Glance
| Person | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| 1st person | je (I) | nous (we) |
| 2nd person | tu (you, informal) | vous (you, formal/plural) |
| 3rd person masc. | il (he / it) | ils (they, masc.) |
| 3rd person fem. | elle (she / it) | elles (they, fem.) |
| Indefinite | on (one / we / people) | — |
The Pronoun "on"
On is one of the most versatile pronouns in French:
| Meaning | Example | English |
|---|---|---|
| People in general | On parle français ici. | People speak French here. |
| "We" (informal) | On va au cinéma ? | Shall we go to the cinema? |
| Someone (unspecified) | On a volé mon sac ! | Someone stole my bag! |
TCF exam note: In the listening section, on almost always means nous (we). This is the most common usage in spoken French.
Grammar note: Although on can mean "we," the verb is always conjugated in the 3rd person singular (like il/elle): On mange (not
On mangeons).
The Pronoun "vous" — Two Meanings
| Usage | Context |
|---|---|
| You (plural) | Talking to more than one person |
| You (polite singular) | Formal situations, strangers, elders, professional settings |
TCF listening tip: When you hear vous, determine from context whether it means "you (plural)" or "you (polite, one person)."
Cultural note: When in doubt, use vous. Switching from vous to tu (called tutoiement) usually requires an invitation from the other person.
Key Points to Remember
- je becomes j' before a vowel or silent h: j'aime, j'habite
- ils is used for any mixed-gender group (even if there is only one male in the group)
- French has no equivalent of "it" as a subject — every noun has a gender, so use il (masculine) or elle (feminine) to refer to things
- ce/c' is used with être for "it is": C'est bon. (It's good.)