Subject pronouns - je, tu, ilWhat is a subject pronoun?

Subject pronouns are used to replace a noun, which is the subject of the verb. Find out more about the pronouns je, tu and il.

Part ofFrenchPronouns

What is a subject pronoun?

Subject pronouns are used to replace a noun which is the subject of the verb - usually the person doing the action. For example:

  • Laurent joue au foot (Laurent is playing football) → il joue au foot (he is playing football)

We select which part of the verb we want to use based on who we are talking about.

Here are the subject pronouns:

FrenchEnglishExplanation
jeIWhen speaking about yourself
tuyouWhen speaking to a friend, young person or family member
ilhe/itInstead of a masculine noun
elleshe/itInstead of a feminine noun
onone/we/youWhen speaking about people in general
nousweWhen speaking about a group of people including yourself
vousyouWhen speaking to more than one person, an adult you don't know or a stranger
ilstheyFor more than one male, a mixed group or a masculine noun in the plural form
ellestheyFor more than one female or a feminine noun in the plural form
Frenchje
EnglishI
ExplanationWhen speaking about yourself
Frenchtu
Englishyou
ExplanationWhen speaking to a friend, young person or family member
Frenchil
Englishhe/it
ExplanationInstead of a masculine noun
Frenchelle
Englishshe/it
ExplanationInstead of a feminine noun
Frenchon
Englishone/we/you
ExplanationWhen speaking about people in general
Frenchnous
Englishwe
ExplanationWhen speaking about a group of people including yourself
Frenchvous
Englishyou
ExplanationWhen speaking to more than one person, an adult you don't know or a stranger
Frenchils
Englishthey
ExplanationFor more than one male, a mixed group or a masculine noun in the plural form
Frenchelles
Englishthey
ExplanationFor more than one female or a feminine noun in the plural form
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Further examples with subject pronouns

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