Les Pronoms Sujets (Subject Pronouns)
Video
Notes
- In French, as well as in English, we use subject pronouns
- Subject: the person/thing (noun) doing the action of a verb in a sentence.
Ex: Mme Probst eats the cake.
Subject = Mme Probst - Pronoun: a word which replaces a noun in order to avoid repetition.
Ex: Mme Probst eats the cake and she likes it.
Pronoun = it, replacing cake - Subject pronoun: a word that replaces the subject of a sentence to avoid repetition.
Ex: Mme Probst eats the cake and she likes it.
Subject pronoun = she, replacing Mme Probst
- In French, we have three different "persons" with 9 different subject pronouns. They are broken down in the picture below.
- Singulier (singular): the subject pronouns replacing a single person.
- Pluriel (plural): the subject pronouns replacing multiple people.
- 1ère personne (1st person): the speaker is involved in the conversation
Ex- singular: I am a teacher.
Ex- plural: We are teachers. - 2ème personne (2nd person): the speaker is talking to another person, both are involved
Ex: You are a student.
Ex: Y'all are students. - 3ème personne (3rd person): the speaker is talking about somebody not involved in the conversation.
Ex: She is crazy!
Ex: They are crazy! - Note that the subject pronoun "je" will contract and change to " j' " if the verb begins with a vowel.
I have = je ai = j'ai - Also note, there are two ways to say "you" in French: vous and tu.
> The subject pronoun "vous" is used to either say you plural (y'all) or it is used to address a singular "you" that you are showing respect. Vous will be used with teachers, adults that are older than you, and people you do not know well.
> The subject pronoun "tu" is only used to address a singular "you," and is used with people who are your friends, your familiars, or your same age group.
Activities
Introducing Subject Pronouns with Reine by Dadju
Students will learn the meaning of the different subject pronouns through exploring the song "Reine" by Dadju.
Materials: song lyrics in French and English
Directions:
Students will learn the meaning of the different subject pronouns through exploring the song "Reine" by Dadju.
Materials: song lyrics in French and English
Directions:
- First, allow the students to watch the video without the song lyrics and see if they can predict what the song is about. What is he singing about? Who is he talking to? Then allow students to discuss with their group. The students can share out to the class and give their reasoning for why they think this.
- Next, give the students the song lyrics in French and English (link in materials above). Give the students the opportunity to watch the video again and follow along with the lyrics. As they follow, have them identify any words they already know in French.
- After watching the video a second time, direct the students to focus on subject pronouns, the words in bold. By comparing the French to the English, have students identify the following subject pronouns: je, tu , il, elle, on, ils.
- Then, after identifying the subject pronouns, have the students focus on the verbs that are italicized and work to figure out their meanings.
- Review this information as a class. Don't be afraid to show the students more than just the present-tense verbs, point out the future and past as well. This will help them to identify those tenses in the future.
Create your own Subject Pronoun poster
Students practice identifying the persons as well as the French subject pronouns.
Directions:
Materials: none
Students practice identifying the persons as well as the French subject pronouns.
Directions:
- Pull out a sheet of paper.
- Split your paper into six parts by folding it it half hotdog style, and then folding it in thirds hamburger style.
- Title your left column "singular," and your right column "plural."
- Title your first row "1st," your second "2nd," and your third "3rd."
- Write your French subject pronouns in the appropriate boxes according to the example Mme Probst gives you.
- Now, in each box, develop how you would represent each of the different subject pronouns using a human-like representation (ex: dog, robot, unicorn).
An example of how you would draw this: For Je: a potato pointing at himself, Tu: a potato pointing at one person and looking at him, Il: A potato pointing at another person that he is not looking at.
Materials: none
Additional Sites
French.About
Information about subject pronouns as well as their uses.
Language Guide
Information about subject pronouns as well as some additional information about the use of vous vs. tu.
Information about subject pronouns as well as their uses.
Language Guide
Information about subject pronouns as well as some additional information about the use of vous vs. tu.