TranslatePersonal Pronouns
Personal Pronouns | Les pronoms personnels
A personal pronoun replaces a noun (the noun performing the action described by the verb) and is given a person (first, second, third) and a number (singular or plural).
je | I
(Première personne au singulier | First person singular)
Je mange une pomme.
I am eating an apple.
J’aime écouter la musique.
I like to listen to music.
tu | you
(Deuxième personne au singulier | Second person singular)
Tu manges une pomme.
You are eating an apple.
Aimes-tu écouter la musique?
Do you like to listen to music?
il | he
(Troisième personne au singulier | Third person singular)
Il mange une pomme.
He is eating an apple.
Après son match de hockey, il aime écouter la musique rock.
After his hockey game, he likes to listen to rock music.
elle | she
(Troisième personne au singulier | Third person singular)
Elle mange une pomme.
She is eating an apple.
Avant l’école, elle aime écouter la musique classique.
Before school, she likes to listen to classical music.
nous | we
(Première personne au pluriel | First person plural)
Nous mangeons des pommes.
We are eating apples.
Pendant le week-end, nous aimons écouter la musique jazz.
During the weekend, we like to listen to jazz music.
vous | you
(Deuxième personne au pluriel | Second person plural)
Vous mangez des pommes.
You are eating apples.
À l’opéra, vous aimez écouter la musique.
At the opera, you like to listen to the music.
ils | they
(Troisième personne au pluriel | Third person plural)
Ils mangent des pommes.
They are eating apples.
Durant le festival, ils aiment écouter la musique rhythm and blues.
During the festival, they like to listen to rhythm and blues music.
elles | they
(Troisième personne au pluriel | Third person plural)
Elles mangent des pommes.
They are eating apples.
Au jamboree, elles aiment écouter la musique country.
At the jamboree, they like to listen to country music.
* It:
“It” is used for inanimate objects. In French, there is no neuter pronoun “it”. Things are either masculine or feminine: il is used for masculine nouns and elle is used for feminine nouns.
il ou elle | it
(Troisième personne au singulier- masculin ou féminin | Third Person Singular- masculine or feminine)
Il (le livre m.) est dans mon sac à dos.
It (the book) is in my school bag.
Elle (la pomme f.) est sur la table.
It (the apple) is on the table.
* One / Someone:
The French pronoun “on” has several meanings. It is used in the same ways as the personal pronouns “one”, “someone”, “some people” or “they” in a nonspecific sense or as a less formal substitute (colloquial) for the subject pronoun nous (we).
on | one/someone/some people/we
(Troisième personne au singulier | Third Person Singular)
On doit toujours laver ses pommes avant de les manger.
One must always wash one’s apples before eating them.
On dit que la musique punk est populaire en Irlande.
Some people say that punk music is popular in Ireland.
Avec maman, on mange des crêpes.
With mom, we eat pancakes.
*Tu or Vous:
When referring to more than one person vous must be used. When referring to a single person, vous or tu may be used depending on the situation. Tu is informal and used only with well-known acquaintances. Vous is the polite form used when addressing unknown persons or older persons.
tu ou vous | you
(Deuxième personne au singulier ou pluriel | Second Person Singular or Plural)
Papa, tu as mes livres.
Dad, you have my book.
Monsieur le directeur, vous avez mes livres.
Mr. Director, you have my books.