👤 Section 1
Subject Pronouns
Replace the subject of the verb. Always required in French (unlike Spanish or Italian).
| Person | Singular | Plural |
|---|---|---|
| 1st | je (j') — I | nous — we |
| 2nd | tu — you (informal) | vous — you (plural/formal) |
| 3rd m. | il — he/it | ils — they (m.) |
| 3rd f. | elle — she/it | elles — they (f.) |
| Impersonal | on — one/we (informal) | — |
on vs nous: In spoken French, on almost always replaces nous: On va au cinéma = We're going to the cinema. But on takes a 3rd person singular verb.
Tu parles très bien français !You speak French very well!tu = informal singular you
On mange à quelle heure ?What time are we eating?on used informally for "we"
Ils arrivent demain matin.They arrive tomorrow morning.ils for mixed or all-male groups
🔵 Section 2
Direct Object Pronouns (COD)
Replace a direct object noun (the thing receiving the action directly, with no preposition).
| Person | COD pronoun | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1st sg. | me (m') | me |
| 2nd sg. | te (t') | you |
| 3rd m. sg. | le (l') | him / it |
| 3rd f. sg. | la (l') | her / it |
| 1st pl. | nous | us |
| 2nd pl. | vous | you |
| 3rd pl. | les | them |
Position: COD pronouns go directly before the verb (before the auxiliary in compound tenses).
Je mange la pizza → Je la mange.
J'ai mangé la pizza → Je l'ai mangée. (note agreement in PC with avoir!)
Je mange la pizza → Je la mange.
J'ai mangé la pizza → Je l'ai mangée. (note agreement in PC with avoir!)
Tu connais Marie ? Oui, je la connais bien.Do you know Marie? Yes, I know her well.
Ce film ? Je l'ai vu trois fois.That film? I've seen it three times.COD before auxiliary in passé composé
Il nous invite à dîner.He's inviting us to dinner.
🟢 Section 3
Indirect Object Pronouns (COI)
Replace an indirect object introduced by the preposition à (person only).
| Person | COI pronoun | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 1st sg. | me (m') | to me |
| 2nd sg. | te (t') | to you |
| 3rd sg. | lui | to him / to her |
| 1st pl. | nous | to us |
| 2nd pl. | vous | to you |
| 3rd pl. | leur | to them |
Key difference from COD: 3rd person COI uses lui (sg.) and leur (pl.) — not le/la/les.
Je parle à Marie → Je lui parle.
J'écris à mes amis → Je leur écris.
Je parle à Marie → Je lui parle.
J'écris à mes amis → Je leur écris.
Je lui ai téléphoné hier soir.I called him/her last night.lui = to him or to her (gender neutral)
Elle leur a expliqué la situation.She explained the situation to them.
Il me donne les clés.He's giving me the keys.
🟡 Section 4
Disjunctive (Stress) Pronouns
Used after prepositions, for emphasis, in comparisons, and after c'est.
| Person | Disjunctive |
|---|---|
| 1st sg. | moi |
| 2nd sg. | toi |
| 3rd m. sg. | lui |
| 3rd f. sg. | elle |
| 1st pl. | nous |
| 2nd pl. | vous |
| 3rd m. pl. | eux |
| 3rd f. pl. | elles |
C'est moi qui ai fait ça.It was me who did that.After c'est → disjunctive
Il est plus grand que moi.He's taller than me.After comparatives → disjunctive
Ce cadeau est pour toi.This gift is for you.After prepositions → disjunctive
Moi, je n'aime pas les épinards.Me, I don't like spinach.Emphasis at start of sentence
📋 Section 5
Pronoun Order
When multiple object pronouns appear, they follow a strict order before the verb.
Order (before the verb):
me/te/se/nous/vous → le/la/les → lui/leur → y → en
Il me le donne. (He gives it to me.)
Elle le lui a expliqué. (She explained it to him.)
me/te/se/nous/vous → le/la/les → lui/leur → y → en
Il me le donne. (He gives it to me.)
Elle le lui a expliqué. (She explained it to him.)
Je te les envoie ce soir.I'll send them to you tonight.te (COI) → les (COD)
Il le leur a dit.He told it to them.le (COD) → leur (COI)
Elle m'en a parlé.She spoke to me about it.me → en
✏️ Practice
Quiz — Les Pronoms
Pronouns Quiz0 / 6
Replace the object: Je vois Marie. → Je ___ vois.
Replace: Je parle à mes parents. → Je ___ parle.
Which pronoun is used after a preposition? Ce livre est pour ___.
Correct order: Il donne le livre à Marie. → Il ___ donne.
Replace: Je téléphone à Paul. → Je ___ téléphone.
What informal pronoun replaces nous in spoken French?