Pronouns
Concept – Pronouns
(French A1 · Pronouns overview)
What is a pronoun?
A pronoun replaces a noun or refers to a person or thing, so we don’t repeat the same noun again and again.
In French A1, you mainly learn:
- Subject pronouns
- Stressed (tonic) pronouns
- Object pronouns
- Reflexive pronouns
- En and y
This page gives you the full map.
1. Subject pronouns (who does the action)
👉 Used before the verb.
👉 Show who is doing the action.
| Person | French | English |
|---|---|---|
| 1st sg | je | I |
| 2nd sg | tu | you |
| 3rd sg | il / elle | he / she |
| 1st pl | nous | we |
| 2nd pl | vous | you |
| 3rd pl | ils / elles | they |
Examples:
Je parle français.
Il travaille ici.
2. Stressed / tonic pronouns
(used alone, after prepositions, for emphasis, comparisons)
👉 Used after prepositions,
👉 Used alone,
👉 Used for emphasis or comparisons.
| Person | French | English |
|---|---|---|
| 1st sg | moi | me |
| 2nd sg | toi | you |
| 3rd sg | lui / elle | him / her |
| 1st pl | nous | us |
| 2nd pl | vous | you |
| 3rd pl | eux | them (masc/mixed) |
| 3rd pl | elles | them (fem) |
Examples:
Avec moi.
Pour elle.
Lui et moi.
Il est plus grand que moi.
3. Reflexive pronouns
(myself, yourself, himself…)
👉 Used with reflexive verbs.
👉 The subject and object are the same person.
| Subject | French | English |
|---|---|---|
| je | me (m’) | myself |
| tu | te (t’) | yourself |
| il/elle | se (s’) | himself / herself |
| nous | nous | ourselves |
| vous | vous | yourselves |
| ils/elles | se (s’) | themselves |
Examples:
Je me lève.
Elle se présente.
4. Direct object pronouns (COD)
(who / what receives the action)
👉 Replace the direct object.
👉 Usually answer: who? what?
| Meaning | French |
|---|---|
| me | me |
| te | you |
| him / it (masc) | le |
| her / it (fem) | la |
| us | nous |
| you | vous |
| them | les |
Examples:
Je vois le film → Je le vois.
Elle appelle Marie → Elle l’appelle.
5. Indirect object pronouns (COI)
(to whom / for whom)
👉 Replace the indirect object.
👉 Usually with à + person.
| Meaning | French |
|---|---|
| to me | me |
| to you | te |
| to him / her | lui |
| to us | nous |
| to you | vous |
| to them | leur |
Examples:
Je parle à Marie → Je lui parle.
Il écrit à ses parents → Il leur écrit.
6. En and y (special pronouns)
👉 En replaces de + thing / quantity
👉 Y replaces à + place / thing
J’ai du pain → J’en ai.
Je vais à Paris → J’y vais.
(They have their own concept pages.)
Summary
| Type | Main use |
|---|---|
| Subject | who does the action |
| Stressed | after prepositions, emphasis |
| Reflexive | action on oneself |
| Direct object | who/what receives the action |
| Indirect object | to whom / for whom |
| En / y | replace prepositional phrases |