LEÇON 1 / Beginner
SUBJECT PRONOUNS
Pronouns are words that take the place of nouns. Nouns designate people, animals, places, ideas or things. A subject pronoun will serve as the main actor of a sentence. In general, subject pronouns in French and English are used in a similar way.
French expresses “you” in two different ways: tu and vous.
- Tu is used when a person addresses a relative, a friend, or a peer. It is an informal, friendly pronoun.
- Vous is used when addressing a stranger, an acquaintance, or someone older than you. It is formal and respectful.
- Vous is the form used in the plural when a person addresses two or more people.
- When in doubt, it is wise to use vous.
EXAMPLES
Je parle avec Nicolas, mais tu danses avec Christine.
I talk with Nicolas, but you dance with Christine.
Philippe et Rose sont amis; il vient de Corse et elle vient du Québec.
Philippe and Rose are friends; he is from Corsica, and she is from Quebec.
Michel! Isabelle! –Nous sommes ici!
Michel! Isabelle! –We’re here!
Elles vendent beaucoup de baguettes.
They sell a lot of baguettes.
Madame, vous choisissez une belle robe.
Madame, you choose a beautiful dress.
Anne, est-ce que tu aimes le cinéma?
Anne, do you like movies?
En France on parle français.
In France, one (you) speaks French.
