Pronouns

1. Pronouns noun A pronoun is word which replaces a ………… Examples of pronouns in French are je, tu, ils, elles etc; these are words which replace, for example, Pierre, les chats etc. The French examples above are subject pronouns. This is because they are the subject of the sentence – they complete the action. They usually come before the verb in English and in French. Identify the subject pronouns in the sentences below: • Je regarde le film. • Il a 15 ans. • On va à Paris. • Nous jouons au golf. • Elles sont délicieuses.

2. We have identified that the subject of the sentence completes the action. The object of the sentence has the action done to it. Je regarde le film. This is the subject of the sentence because je is doing the watching. This is the object of the sentence because the film is being watched. Identify the subjects and objects in the sentences below: • Je regarde le film. • 2. Elle prend la chemise. 3. Ils prennent les pulls. 4. Tu achètes les cravates? S O S O O S O S

3. The subject pronouns in these sentences replace the subject of the sentence (eg Elle for Ma sœur). It is also possible to replace the objects of the sentence with an object pronoun. Je regarde le film. Je le regarde.  Elle prend la chemise.  Elle laprend.  Ils les prennent. Ils prennent les pulls.  Tu les achètes? Tu achètes les cravates? How would you translate the sentences on the right? Je le regarde. = I am watching it. Elle laprend. = She takes it. Ils les prennent. = They take them. Tu les achètes? = Are you buying them?

4. Here are the four sentences again: Je le regarde. Elle laprend. Ils les prennent. Tu les achètes? Complete these rules: When it is the direct object in a sentence … le the word for ‘him’ or ‘it’ (when the noun is masculine) is …………. la the word for ‘her’ or ‘it’ (when the noun is feminine) is …………. les the word for ‘them’ is …………. Unlike in English, the direct object pronoun in French always goes …………… the verb. BEFORE

5. Here are all direct object pronouns: me / m’ te / t’ le / l’ la / l’ nous vous les

6. Practice: Complete the sentences with the correct pronoun. m’ • Il …… aide. • Je …… aime. • Je …… adore. • Les chats …… mangent. • Il ……… aime. • Je ……… aide. • Je …… aide. • Je …… aide. • He is helping me. • I like you (tu). • I love her. • The cats are eating it (le fromage). • He likes us. • I am helping you (vous). • I am helping them (les hommes). • I am helping them (les femmes). t’ l’ le nous vous les les

7. Translate the following sentences into French. • She is going to choose me. • My team is going to win it. • I am going to find you (tu). • He is going to make it. • They are going to see us. • I am going to help you (vous). • She is going to learn them. • They are going to watch them. • Elle va me choisir. 2. Mon équipe va la gagner. 3. Je vais te trouver. 4. Il va le faire. 5. Ils vont nous voir. 6. Je vais vous aider. 7. Elle va les apprendre. 8. Ils vont les regarder.

8. Indirect object pronouns Sometimes the object in a sentence is indirect. This is often shown by using the word ‘to’ in English, and with infinitives which are followed by ‘à’ in French. Je lui parle = I am speaking to him to speak to = parler à to phone = téléphoner à Je lui téléphone = I am phoning her to give to = donner à Je leur donne le cadeau = I am giving them the present Note that we sometimes miss out the word ‘to’ in English; this must be translated by the indirect object pronoun in French. Indirect and direct object pronouns are the same, apart from the ‘il/elle’ and ‘ils/elles’ forms.

9. Extension The verb ‘to please’ in French is plaire à. A sophisticated way of saying you like something is by saying that ‘it pleases to you’. For example, ‘Cette musique lui plaît’ literally means ‘This music pleases to him’, but would be translated as … What does the expression ‘S’il vous plaît’ literally mean? It is possible to have more than one pronoun in a sentence. The direct object always comes before the indirect object. How would you translate ‘Il le leur donne’?