Subject Pronouns in French
Les pronoms sujets
Subject pronouns are used to indicate who or what performs the action of a verb. In French, they are almost always required.
The Pronoun "On"
On is a versatile subject pronoun commonly used in spoken French.
- Often means "we" in informal speech
- Can mean "one" or "people in general"
- Always takes a singular verb form
Example: Je parle français. (I speak French.)
Forms of Subject Pronouns
French subject pronouns vary according to person, number, and gender.
| Singular | Plural | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| je | nous | 1st person |
| tu | vous | 2nd person |
| il / elle / on | ils / elles | 3rd person |
On va au cinéma.We are going to the cinema.
On dit que…People say that…
What Are Subject Pronouns?
Subject pronouns replace nouns and show who is doing the action in a sentence.
| Person | Pronoun | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1st person singular | je | I |
| 2nd person singular | tu | you (informal) |
| 3rd person singular | il / elle / on | he / she / one |
| 1st person plural | nous | we |
| 2nd person plural | vous | you (plural or formal) |
| 3rd person plural | ils / elles | they |
Gender in Subject Pronouns
Gender only affects third-person pronouns.
| Pronoun | Gender | Example |
|---|---|---|
| il | Masculine | Il est ici. |
| elle | Feminine | Elle travaille. |
| ils | Masculine or mixed | Ils arrivent. |
| elles | Feminine only | Elles partent. |
Elision with Je
Je becomes j’ before a vowel or silent h.
Subject Pronouns Are Mandatory
Unlike some languages, French does not allow dropping the subject pronoun.
Common Learner Questions
Helpful questions when choosing a subject pronoun:
- Who is doing the action?
- Is the subject singular or plural?
- Is the subject masculine or feminine?
- Is the situation formal or informal?
j’aimeI likebefore: je aime
j’habiteI livebefore: je habite
Example Sentences
Je travaille aujourd’hui.I am working today.
Tu comprends la question ?Do you understand the question?
On mange ensemble.We are eating together.
Ils arrivent à huit heures.They arrive at eight o’clock.
Je mange.Subject pronoun is required · incorrect: Mange.
Verb Agreement
The verb must agree with the subject pronoun.
| Pronoun | Verb: parler (to speak) |
|---|---|
| je | parle |
| tu | parles |
| il / elle / on | parle |
| nous | parlons |
| vous | parlez |
| ils / elles | parlent |