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Personal Pronouns

CONTENT
  1. Direct Object Pronouns
  2. Position of the Direct Object Pronouns
  3. Indirect Object Pronouns
  4. Position of the Indirect Object Pronouns
  5. Stressed Pronouns
  6. Reflexive Pronouns
  7. Position of the Reflexive Pronouns

Rule 1: French personal pronouns refer to "who" or "what" in the sentence. They always agree in number and gender with the noun they represent. There are five of them: subject pronouns, direct object pronouns, indirect object pronouns, stressed pronouns, and reflexive pronouns.

You are already familiar with the - so let's focus on the rest of the personal pronouns today.

Native

Translation

Je lui téléphonerai demain.

I will call him tomorrow.

Direct Object Pronouns

Rule 2: The direct object pronoun replaces a noun (person or thing) that comes directly after the verb (without prepositions).

Native

Translation

Je mange une pomme -> je la mange.

I eat an apple -> I eat it.

Here's the list of the French direct object pronouns:

1. Person Singular me
2. Person Singular te
3. Person Singular la, le
1. Person Plural nous
2. Person Plural vous
3. Person Plural les

Note: Before a vowel or a mute h, me, te, le, la become m‘, t‘, l‘.

Position of the Direct Object Pronouns

Rule 3: The direct object pronouns come:

- before the conjugated verb

Native

Translation

Je la prends, je ne la prends pas.

I take it, I don't take it.

- before the conjugated auxiliary verb in the passé composé or plus que parfait

Native

Translation

Je les ai achetés, je ne les ai pas achetés.

I bought them, I didn't buy them.

- before the infinitive

Native

Translation

Je vais le manger, je ne vais pas le manger.

I'll eat it, I won't eat it.

Indirect Object Pronouns

Rule 4: The indirect object pronoun replaces a noun and the preposition à.

Native

Translation

Je parle à Sophie -> je lui parle.

I talk to Sophie -> I talk to her.

Here's the list of the French indirect object pronouns:

1. Person Singular me
2. Person Singular te
3. Person Singular lui
1. Person Plural nous
2. Person Plural vous
3. Person Plural leur

As you can see, these are pretty similar to the direct object pronouns.

Note: Before a vowel or a mute h, me, te become m‘, t‘. Also, lui and leur replace both feminine and masculine nouns.

Position of the Indirect Object Pronouns

Rule 5: The indirect object pronouns come:

- before the conjugated verb

Native

Translation

Je lui téléphone, je ne lui téléphone pas.

I call her, I don't call her.

- before the conjugated auxiliary verb in the passé composé or plus que parfait

Native

Translation

Je leur ai rendu, je ne leur ai pas rendu.

I gave them back, I did not give them back.

- before the infinitive

Native

Translation

Je veux vous parler, je ne veux pas vous parler.

I want to talk to you, I don't want to talk to you.

Stressed Pronouns

Rule 6: The stressed pronouns are used for emphasis. Here's the list of them:

1. Person Singular moi
2. Person Singular toi
3. Person Singular lui, elle, soi
1. Person Plural nous
2. Person Plural vous
3. Person Plural eux, elles

They are mainly used in the following cases:

- After c’est and ce sont:

Native

Translation

C’est lui qui vient.

He is coming (It is him who comes / He is the one who comes).

- Before the subject pronoun

Native

Translation

Moi, je suis professeur.

Me, I’m a teacher.

- After a preposition

Native

Translation

Je pars sans toi.

I'm leaving without you.

- When comparing, after que

Native

Translation

Nous sommes plus qu'eux.

We are more than them.

Rule 7: Soi is used when the subject is indefinite or neutral:

Native

Translation

Il est recommandé de prendre du temps pour soi.

It's recommended to take time for yourself.

Chacun reste chez soi.

Everyone stays at home.

Reflexive Pronouns

Rule 8: Reflexive pronouns are the pronouns are used with reflexive verbs to say "oneself." They always relate to the subject of the sentence.

Native

Translation

Je m’endors.

I'm falling asleep.

Here's the list of the French reflexive pronouns:

1. Person Singular me
2. Person Singular te
3. Person Singular se
1. Person Plural nous
2. Person Plural vous
3. Person Plural se

Note: Before a vowel and a mute h, me, te, se become m‘, t‘, s‘.

Position of the Reflexive Pronouns

Rule 9: The reflexive pronouns come:

- before the conjugated verb

Native

Translation

Je me promène, je ne me promène pas.

I go for a walk, I don't go for a walk.

- before the conjugated auxiliary verb in the passé composé or plus que parfait

Native

Translation

Vous vous êtes lavés, vous ne vous êtes pas lavés.

You washed (yourself), you didn't wash (yourself).

- before the infinitive

Native

Translation

Elle veut se doucher, elle ne veut pas se doucher.

She wants to shower, she doesn't want to shower.

Quiz

1/4

Martha et Marc ont mangé la tarte. Marta et _ ont mangé la tarte.

0

correct answers.