Bonjour! I’m Shota, living in Canada.
Today, let’s dive into one of the most essential building blocks of French grammar — Subject Pronouns (Les pronoms sujets).
This article is perfect for beginners, with simple explanations, examples, and a short quiz at the end!
📑 Table of Contents
- 👀 What are Subject Pronouns?
- 📋 List of Subject Pronouns
- 📝 Example Sentences
- 💡 Common Mistakes & Tips
- 🧠 Mini Quiz
- ✅ Quiz Answers
👀 What are Subject Pronouns?
Subject pronouns are words like “I”, “you”, “he”, “she”, “we”, etc. They replace nouns and act as the subject of a sentence.
Example: Je parle français. (I speak French)
📋 List of Subject Pronouns
| Pronoun | Meaning |
|---|---|
| je | I |
| tu | you (informal) |
| il | he |
| elle | she |
| on | we / one / people |
| nous | we |
| vous | you (formal or plural) |
| ils | they (masculine or mixed) |
| elles | they (feminine) |
📝 Example Sentences
Je (I)
- Je suis étudiant. (I am a student.)
- Je travaille à la maison. (I work at home.)
- Je mange une pomme. (I am eating an apple.)
Tu (You – informal)
- Tu parles anglais. (You speak English.)
- Tu aimes le chocolat. (You like chocolate.)
- Tu habites à Paris ? (Do you live in Paris?)
Il (He)
- Il est professeur. (He is a teacher.)
- Il joue au football. (He plays soccer.)
- Il lit un livre. (He is reading a book.)
Elle (She)
- Elle est gentille. (She is kind.)
- Elle regarde un film. (She is watching a movie.)
- Elle travaille à la boulangerie. (She works at the bakery.)
On (We / One / People)
- On va au marché. (We’re going to the market.)
- On mange bien ici. (People eat well here.)
- On commence à neuf heures. (We start at 9 o’clock.)
Nous (We)
- Nous aimons la musique. (We like music.)
- Nous habitons au Canada. (We live in Canada.)
- Nous étudions le français. (We are studying French.)
Vous (You – formal/plural)
- Vous êtes en retard. (You are late.)
- Vous parlez très bien. (You speak very well.)
- Vous avez une question ? (Do you have a question?)
Ils (They – masculine/mixed)
- Ils jouent au basket. (They play basketball.)
- Ils sont contents. (They are happy.)
- Ils travaillent dans un bureau. (They work in an office.)
Elles (They – feminine)
- Elles chantent une chanson. (They are singing a song.)
- Elles sont étudiantes. (They are students.)
- Elles aiment le café. (They like coffee.)
💡 Common Mistakes & Tips
❗ “on” = “we”, but use third person verbs
Even when “on” means “we”, it uses third person singular verbs.
Example: On va à l’école. (We go to school) → “va” not “allons”
👀 “ils” and “elles” sound the same
Both are pronounced the same, so context and spelling help you know the gender.
🧠 Mini Quiz
Choose the correct subject pronoun for each sentence.
- _____ parle japonais. (I speak Japanese)
- _____ habitez à Toronto ? (Do you live in Toronto?)
- _____ aiment le fromage. (They like cheese — masculine/mixed)
- _____ est française. (She is French)
- Moi et mes amis allons au parc. → _____ allons au parc.
✅ Quiz Answers
- Je
- Vous
- Ils
- Elle
- Nous
Great job! Understanding French subject pronouns helps you build basic sentences and express yourself more clearly.
That’s all for now. À bientôt! (See you soon!)