Subject Pronouns
tu* = you
il = he
elle = she
nous = we
vous* = you
ils = they
elles** = they
*tu is used to mean ‘you’ as a singular, familiar form whilst vous is used to mark politeness or when speaking to more than one person.
**The feminine form elles is used when referring to a group of females only.
Use of on
– On is used to mean ‘one’, ‘you’ or ‘someone’
On ne sait jamais = You never know
On m’a dit ça = Someone told me that
– On is used as an alternative to nous, provided people are involved in the action
On a décidé d’aller voir un match de cricket = We decided to go watch a cricket match
– On is used as an alternative to the passive:
Je crois qu’on nous cherche = I think they’re looking for us
Direct Object Pronouns
| me | = | me |
| te | = | you |
| le (l’) | = | him; it |
| la (l’) | = | her; it |
| nous | = | us |
| vous | = | you* |
| les | = | them |
*used in the plural or polite singular
| me | = | to me |
| te | = | to you |
| lui | = | to him; to her |
| nous | = | to us |
| vous | = | to you* |
| leur | = | to them |
*used in the plural or polite singular
| me | = | myself |
| te | = | yourself |
| se | = | himself; herself; oneself |
| nous | = | ourselves |
| vous | = | yourself/yourselves* |
| se | = | themselves |
*used in the plural or polite singular
– Replacing a noun (not a person) or a verb introduced by à:
-J’en suis ravie
-pourquoi n’a-t-il pas protesté ?
-Parce que les pouvoirs publics l’en ont empêché
-Tu n’as pas de l’argent à me prêter ?
-Attends… je regarde si j’en ai. En voila.