Pronouns Flashcards
List the subject pronouns in French and their English translations.
-je/j’ = I
-tu = you
-il/elle/on = he, it/she, it/you (sing. formal)
-nous = we
-vous = you (pl. informal)
-ils/elles = they (m., f.)/you (pl. f.)
What are the direct object pronouns in French and their English translations?
-me/m’ = me
-te/t’ = you (sing. informal)
-le/l’, la/l’ = him, it/her, it
-nous = us
-vous = you (pl.)
-les = them (m., f.)
The indirect object pronouns in French and their English translations are…
-me = me
-te = you (sing., inf.)
-lui = him, it/her
-nous = us
-vous = you (pl. informal)
-leur = them
List the prepositional pronouns in French.
-moi = me
-toi = you (sing. informal)
-lui/elle = him, it/her/you (sing., formal)
-nous = us
-vous = you (pl. informal)
-eux/elles = them (m., f.)/you (pl. formal)
What are the reflexive pronouns in French?
-me/m’ = myself
-te/t’ = yourself
-se/s’ = himself/herself/itself/themselves
-nous = ourselves
-vous = yourselves
Translate “I am a student.”
Je suis un étudiant.
What’s “I love,” in French? Explain.
J’aime.
“Je” becomes “J’” before words beginning in a vowel, h, or y.
State “I live in Paris,” in French. Defend your answer.
J’habite à Paris.
“Je” becomes “J’” before words beginning in a vowel, h, or y.
Fill in the blank: __ vais bientôt. (I am going there soon.) Justify your response.
J’y
“Je” becomes “J’” before words beginning in a vowel, h, or y.
Translate the following: “You [familiar, singular] are very kind.”
Tu es très gentil.
tu = you (familiar, singular)
What is “you” (familiar, plural) in French?
-vous
Translate the following: “You [formal, singular] are very kind.”
Vous êtes très gentil.
vous = you (formal, singular and plural)
Si on aime, on est heureux.
What does the above sentence mean? Explain your translation.
If people (one, they, you) love(s), people (one, they, you) are (is) happy.
The pronoun “on” is used in the third person form of the verb and means one, people, they, you.
Nous allons au cinéma ce soir. (We’re going to the cinema tonight.)
Another way of expressing the above sentence is…
On va au cinéma ce soir.
In informal everyday French, “on” can mean “we,” replacing “nous.”
State “I was given a gift,” without using the passive voice.
On m’a donné un cadeau.
Avoid the passive voice by using the pronoun “on.”
Translate: “Today we are going to the city center.”
Ajourd’hui nous allons au centre ville.
Subject pronouns are usually omitted, because the verb conjugation indicates the subject.
True or false: “It is raining” in French is “Il pleut.”
True. When talking about time and the weather in French, the pronoun “il” is used (like ‘it.’)
Fill in the blank: ___, tu m’as dit que tu étais chez toi. (You, you told me that you were at home.)
Toi
The disjunctive pronoun is used to emphasize something or show contrast.
Translate “Who bought it? Me.”
Qui a acheté ça? Moi.
The disjunctive pronoun is used on its own without the verb.
Direct object pronouns replace…
the direct object noun in a sentence.
“Nous lisons des livres” (We read books).
The direct object noun in this sentence is…
“livres,” because it receives the action of “lisons.”
“Nous lisons de livres” (We read books).
Replace the direct object noun in this sentence with a direct object pronoun.
Nous les lisons.
“Livres” is plural, and since it represents inanimate objects, the third person direct object pronoun “les” is used.
Translate “They [masculine] love me.”
Ils m’aiment.
The direct object of a sentence can be a person.
(The direct object pronouns ‘me,’ ‘le,’ and ‘la,’ become ‘m’’ and ‘l’’ before verbs beginning in a vowel or mute ‘h.’)
True or false: “She buys it,” is “Elle le achète.”
False. The correct answer is “Elle l’achète.” The direct object pronouns “me,” “le,” and “la,” become “m’” and “l’” before verbs beginning in a vowel or mute “h.”
What are the two cases in which direct object pronouns are used?
-to substitute nouns when the thing/person being discussed is clear, and to avoid repetition
-to replace the entire information or idea that’s already been presented
Translate “Mark reads a book. He reads it.”
Mark lit le livre. Il le lit.
Direct object pronouns are used to substitute nouns when the thing/person being discussed is clear, and to avoid repetition.
“J’ai acheté une nouvelle robe. Je le sais,” (‘I bought a new robe. I know (it)’).
In these sentences, how is the direct object pronoun being used?
to replace the entire information or idea that’s already been presented
Order the following words to form the sentence “She has seen me”:
-elle
-vu
-m’a
Elle m’a vu.
In the perfect tense, the direct object pronoun precedes have/be in the verb conjugation.
Translate “Read it.”
Lis le.
The direct object pronoun follows affirmative commands.
What’s “Do not read it” in French?
Ne le lis pas.
In negative sentences, the direct object pronoun is placed between the negative and the verb.
In French, “He would like to see her,” is…
Il voudrait la voir.
When a verb is followed by another verb in the infinitive, the direct object pronoun is put before the infinitive.
Il a écrit une lettre à Sandra. (He wrote a letter to Sandra.)
Rewrite the above sentence using indirect object pronouns.
Il lui a écrit. (He wrote to her.)
“Sandra” is the indirect object and so can be replaced with the indirect object pronoun “lui.”
Il a acheté un cadeau pour moi. (He bought a gift for me.)
What’s “He bought me a gift” in French?
Il m’a acheté un cadeau.
Indirect object pronouns follow the same word order rules as…
direct object pronouns.
What are 10 common verbs used with indirect object pronouns and their English translations?
-acheter quelque chose à (lui) = to buy something for somebody
-ranconter quelque chose à (lui) = to tell something to somebody
-donner quelque chose à (lui) = to give something to somebody
-dire de quelque chose à (lui) = to say something to somebody
-écrire quelque chose à (lui) = to write something to somebody
-envoyer quelque chose à (lui) = to send something to somebody
-montrer quelque chose à (lui) = to show something to somebody
-demander de quelque chose à (lui) = to ask something of somebody
-servir quelque chose à (lui) = to serve something to somebody
-apporter quelque chose à (lui) = to bring something to somebody
When there are both direct and indirect object pronouns in the same sentence, which goes first?
The direct object pronoun precedes the indirect object pronoun.
List four prepositions of place.
à, dans, en, chez, sur, sous
Je vais à Madrid. (I go to Madrid.)
What’s “I go there” in French? Defend your answer.
J’y vais.
The pronoun “y” means “there” and usually replaces a noun or phrase that represents a place and is introduced by a preposition of place.
If “You go to France,” is “Tu vas en France,” then what is “You go there”? Justify your answer.
Tu y vas.
The pronoun “y” means “there” and usually replaces a noun or phrase that represents a place and is introduced by a preposition of place.
Je pense souvent à mon travail. (I often think about my job.)
Rewrite the above sentence in French to “I often think about it,” and explain.
J’y pense souvent.
“Y” usually replaces a thing that is preceded by “à” (‘au,’ ‘aux,’ ‘à l’,’ ‘à la’).
Tu as parlé à Daniela? Oui, je __ ai parlé. (Have you talked to Daniela? Yes, I have talked to her.)
Pick the option that best completes the above sentence and explain your choice.
a) y
b) lui
b) lui
“Y” replaces things and never people.
True or false? “I think of him,” in French is “Y pense.” Justify your response.
False. It’s “Je pense à lui,” because “y” replaces things and never people.
Translate “There is a book on the table,” and explain your answer.
Word Bank:
-table = table
-livre = book
Il y a un livre sur la table.
“Y” is used in the expression “il y a”, which means “there is.”
What’s “There are letters on the table,” in French? Explain your answer. (Hint: ‘lettres’ means ‘letters.’)
Il y a des lettres sur la table.
“Y” is used in the expression “il y a,” meaning “there are.”
J’ai deux frère. (I have two brothers.)
Turn the above sentence into “I have two of them,” in French. Defend your answer.
J’en ai deux.
“En” can replace a quantity, which can be introduced by a partitive article, number, fraction, adverb of quantity, or expression of quantity.
Complete the conversation below and explain your answer.
Combien des livres as-tu acheté? (How many books did you buy?)
___________________. (I bought a lot.)
J’en ai acheté beaucoup.
“En” can replace a quantity, which can be introduced by a partitive article, number, fraction, adverb of quantity, or expression of quantity.
J’achète une bouteille du lait. (I buy one bottle of milk.)
Change the above sentence into “I buy one bottle of it,” in Italian and explain your response.
J’en achète une bouteille.
The quantity and the adverb of quantity is always repeated.
- Je pense en. (I think about it.)
- J’habite y. (I live there.)
Which sentence(s) are grammatical? Justify your choice.
A) neither
B) 1
C) 2
D) 1 and 2
A) neither
“Y” and “en” precede the conjugated verb.
Finish the sentence:
C’est pour __ (This is for you).
toi
Prepositional (disjunctive) pronouns are used after prepositions.
State the prepositions and their English equivalents that precede prepositional (disjunctive) pronouns.
-à = to/at
-de = from
-en = in
-pour = for
-sur = on/about
-avec = with
-sans = without
Fill in the blank: “Son père parle de ___” (His father is talking about me).
moi
Prepositional (disjunctive) pronouns are used after prepositions.
Complete the sentence and explain the principle it demonstrates: “___, tu m’as dit que tu était chez toi” (you, you told me that you were at home).
Toi
Disjunctive pronouns are also called emphatic pronouns. Here, “toi” is used for emphasis.
True or false: “Me, I speak now,” is “Je, je parle maintenant.” Explain your answer.
False. It’s “Moi, je parle maintenant.”
Disjunctive pronouns are also called emphatic pronouns. Here, “moi” should be used for contrast.
Fill in the blank and justify your answer: “Qui a acheté? ___.” (‘Who bought it? Me.’)
Moi
Disjunctive pronouns are also called emphatic pronouns. They can be used on their own without a verb.
Translate “It’s me, Daniela.” Defend your answer.
C’est moi, Daniela.
Disjunctive pronouns are also called emphatic pronouns. They are used after c’est and ce sont (it is/they are).
Fill in the blank and explain: “Elle est plus jeune que ___” (‘She is younger than him’).
lui
Disjunctive pronouns are also called emphatic pronouns. They are used in comparisons.
How do you say “I did it myself” in French?
Je l’ai fait moi même.
“Même” can be added to the subject pronoun for emphasis.
In French, “I get dressed” is…
-habiller = to dress
Je m’habille.
(Here, the reflexive is used.)
- Je me lave. (I wash myself.)
- Je lave mon chien. (I wash my dog.)
Which sentence is reflexive?
1.
Make “parler” (to talk) reflexive.
se parler (to talk to oneself/each other)
In the case of compound verbs (perfect tenses, verb + infinitive, present progressive, etc.), where should the reflexive pronoun be placed?
Either before the infinitive or before the first conjugated verb (perfect tenses, present progressive).
In French, “my house” is…
-maison = house
ma maison
All possessive adjectives agree in gender and number with the noun they modify.
What are the three versions of “my” in French?
-mon
-mes
-ma
List the three versions of “your [singular]” in French?
-ton
-tes
-ta
The three versions of “his/her/its” in French are…
-son
-ses
-sa
State the two versions of “your [plural]” in French.
-votre
-vos
What are the two forms of “we” in French?
-notre
-nous
List the two forms of “their” in French.
-leur
-leurs
*Complete the sentence “Ele colocou ____ mãos nos bolsos” (He put his hands in his pockets).
as
The definite article is used instead of the possessive adjective when relating body parts, clothing, or personal possessions when the possessor is clear.
Translate “Your house is bigger than mine” in Portuguese.
-casa = house
A tua casa é maior que a minha.
Possessive pronouns are used to replace a noun accompanied by a possessive adjective. The possessive pronouns must agree with the noun they replace in gender and number and be used with the appropriate definite article.
Fill in the blank: “Meu computador está quebrado. Posso usar ______?” (‘My computer is broken. Can I use yours?’).
o teu
Possessive pronouns are used to replace a noun accompanied by a possessive adjective. The possessive pronouns must agree with the noun they replace in gender and number and be used with the appropriate definite article.
Fill in the blank: “Enviei a carta para o meu amigo. Enviaste ______?” (I sent a letter to my friend. Did you send one to yours?).
ao (para o) teu (Euro.)/seu (Braz.)
Possessive pronouns can be used with contracted forms of the definite article.
Complete the dialogue.
“É este o celular de Maria?” (Is this Maria’s cellphone?).
“Sim, este é _____” (Yes, it is hers).
o seu
What’s “this man” in Portuguese?
este homem
Demonstrative adjectives agree with nouns in gender and number.
True or False: “this woman” in Portuguese is “esta a mulher.”
False; it’s “esta mulher.” The definite article is not used with demonstrative adjectives.
“This” (masculine and feminine) in Portuguese is…
este/esta
What’s “these” (masculine and feminine) in Portuguese?
estes/estas
State “that” (masculine and feminine) in Portuguese.
esse/essa
Translate “those” (masculine and feminine).
esses/essas
“That over there” (masculine and feminine) in Portuguese is…
aquel/aquela
What’s “those over there” in Portuguese?
aqueles/aquelas
