What Are Subject Pronouns
Subject pronouns in French are words used to replace the subject of a sentence, typically a person or animal performing the action. They are essential for sentence structure because they show who is doing the verb's action without repeating the noun.
Common French Subject Pronouns
French subject pronouns correspond closely to English pronouns, but with specific forms. They include:
- je – I
- tu – you (singular informal)
- il – he or it (masculine)
- elle – she or it (feminine)
- nous – we
- vous – you (plural or formal)
- ils – they (masculine or mixed group)
- elles – they (feminine)
Usage Tips
Subject pronouns always come before the verb and agree in number and gender with the subject. In spoken French, je can contract before a vowel or mute 'h' into j' (e.g., j'aime for je aime), but other subject pronouns do not contract.
English vs French Subject Pronouns
In English, subject pronouns include I, you, he, she, it, we, you, they. French subject pronouns function similarly but are gendered and have formal/informal distinctions, especially for "you." Understanding the nuances helps learners communicate appropriately in different social contexts.
You can explore more on pronouns and parts of speech in French using the provided parent pages links.
