Personal pronouns (1)

1 Definition

Personal pronouns are words such as il, lui, eux, y and en that stand in the place of a noun (or occasionally an adjective , adverbial or clause ) and which always function like nouns. They alter according to their grammatical person (first, second or third person), number (singular or plural), gender (masculine, feminine or neuter), or case (subject, object or other form of complement).

2 Subject pronouns

2.1 Referring to people or things

The subject personal pronouns are je, tu, il / elle / on, nous / on, vous, ils / elles, and they are used to replace people or things that are the subject of a verb.

Je ne me suis pas rendu compte de l’heure

I didn’t realize the time

It is particularly important to remember that when replacing a noun referring to things, subject pronouns must have the same gender as the noun replaced:

La conjoncture économique paraît bonne mais je crains qu’elle ne s’aggrave vers la fin de l’année

[i.e. La conjoncture économique is replaced by elle]

This contrasts with English which generally uses the impersonal pronoun it.

The economic situation seems good, but I fear it will get worse towards the end of the year

[i.e. The economic situation is replaced by it]

2.2 Tu v Vous

French has 2 ways of expressing the English singular pronoun you. Vous is used between people who are unfamiliar with one another, or between people in a formal social or professional context. In situations such as school or the workplace where there is a clear hierarchy, a "superior" might use tu as an indication of authority, an "inferior" responding with vous. In smaller companies or organisations people will often use tu whatever their hierarchical position. In all cases, older people are more likely to use vous rather than tu. Non-native French speakers should always use vous unless sure that tu is acceptable.

2.3 Impersonal use

The pronoun il is sometimes used with an impersonal verb , in which case it is neutral:

Il s’agit dans le roman d’une histoire d’amour conventionelle

[and never *Le roman s’agit de ...]

The novel is a conventional love story

The pronoun on is generally used indefinitely, the equivalent of one or you in English:

Lorsqu'on arrive à un entretien pour un emploi, il y a souvent un sentiment d'inquiétude

When one arrives / you arrive for a job interview, there's often a feeling of apprehension

However, in informal contexts on is used as a substitute for nous. In this case French people tend to use the same type of agreement as for nous:

Hier on est tous allés à la plage

Yesterday we all went to the beach

French generally uses l'on after et, si, que, où or ou:

Les tickets sont moins chers si l'on est déjà abonné

The tickets are cheaper if you're already a subscriber

but not before words beginning with l:

Les tickets sont moins chers si on les paie d'avance

The tickets are cheaper if you pay for them in advance

3 Object pronouns

A direct object pronoun is one which takes the place of a direct object noun, that is to say a noun which experiences the direct action of a verb. The direct object pronouns in French are : me, te, le / la, nous, vous, les. (For en used as an object pronoun, see section 4 below.) For example:

J'ai donné l'argent à ma mère

[argent is the direct object of the verb donner]

I gave the money to my mother

Je l'ai donné à ma mère

[the pronoun le has taken the place of the direct object noun argent]

I gave it to my mother

An indirect object pronoun is one which takes the place of an indirect object noun, that is to say that is the recipient or beneficiary of the action of a verb and its direct object. In French indirect object nouns are usually introduced by the preposition à. In French the indirect object pronouns are : me, te, lui, nous, vous, leur. For example:

J'ai donné l'argent à ma mère

[ma mère is the indirect object of the verb donner]

Je lui ai donné l'argent

[the indirect object pronoun lui has taken the place of the phrase à ma mère]

4 Y, en

The pronoun complements y and en act as object pronouns referring to places or things:

J’ai renoncé aux cigarettes → J’y ai renoncé

I’ve given up cigarettes - I’ve given them up

Elle s'est occupée de l'affaire → Elle s'en est occupée

She dealt with the matter - She dealt with it

En can refer to people when used with an expression of quantity:

Il voulait inviter douze personnes → Il voulait en inviter douze

He wanted to invite twelve people - He wanted to invite twelve (of them)

Y and en are used to replace words, phrases or clauses introduced by à and de respectively:

4.1 Replacing nouns / noun phrases

Y and en can replace a noun or a noun phrase introduced by à and de respectively:

Elle a consacré toute sa vie à la médecine → Elle y a consacré toute sa vie

She devoted her whole life to medicine - She devoted her whole life to it

Je vais à Paris demain → J’y vais demain

I’m going to Paris - I’m going there tomorrow

Il se souvient bien de cette journée → Il s’en souvient bien

He remembers that day well - He remembers it well

Je reviens de Paris demain → J’en reviens demain

I’m coming back from Paris tomorrow - I’m coming back from there tomorrow

4.1.1 En replacing de as article

The same rule applies where the de is not a preposition (as in de mon bureau) but an article (as in du chocolat, des cigarettes). In this case it is a direct object pronoun:

Je voudrais du chocolat / de la confiture → J’en voudrais

(en = direct object)

I’d like some chocolate / jam - I’d like some

Je voudrais des cigarettes → J’en voudrais

(en = direct object)

I’d like some cigarettes - I’d like some

4.1.2 Replacing un, une

En can also replace nouns introduced by the un, une, even though these are not de, because the idea of "of" is implied. Note that in affirmative sentences un and une are retained, but not in negative sentences:

Est-ce que tu veux un chocolat? → Oui, j’en veux un

Do you want a chocolate? - Yes, I do want one [i.e. of them]

Est-ce que tu veux un chocolat? → Non, je n’en veux pas

Do you want a chocolate? - No, I don't want one [i.e. of them]

4.1.3 Expressions of quantity

A similar structure is used for the following expressions of quantity: plusieurs, quelques (which becomes quelques-un(e)s), aucun, autre, beaucoup, plein, trop, assez, peu, plus, moins, autant, un kilo, une bouteille etc. and all numerals:

Tu en veux un autre? J’en ai plusieurs

Do you want another one [i.e. of them]? I have several [i.e. of them]

4.2 Replacing infinitive clauses

Y and en can also replace an infinitive clause introduced by à and de respectively:

Etes-vous parvenu à le faire? - Oui, j'y suis parvenu

Did you manage to do it? Yes I did (manage it)

Je n’ai pas le droit de le faire - Si, tu en as le droit

I don’t have the right to do it - Yes you do (have the right)

Note, however, that with verbs such as permettre, défendre and interdire, which have a construction à quelqu’un de faire quelque chose, the phrase introduced by de is treated as a direct object and is replaced by the neutral le:

J’ai promis à ma mère de faire le repassage → J’ai promis à ma mère de le faire

I promised my mother I’d do the ironing - I promised my mother (I’d do it)

4.3 Replacing completive (que) clauses

Y and en can also replace a clause introduced by à ce que or de ce que respectively:

Il s'attendait à ce qu'on le lui dise → Il s'y attendait

He expected to be told about it - He expected it

J'ai profité de ce qu'il était en retard pour finir mon devoir → J'en ai profité pour finir mon devoir

Since he was late, I took the opportunity to finish my homework - I took advantage of it to finish my homework

4.4 Y as adverbial

Y can also replace an adverbial of place in the way that there does in English:

Je les ai laissés dans la cuisine, mais ils n’y sont plus

I put them in the kitchen, but they’re no longer there

4.5 Y and en in idiomatic expressions

Note also that there are many types of idiom involving y and en. Here is a selection: