Understanding the Power of the Pronoun 'On'

Hello dear students and enthusiasts of the French language! Today, we dive into the fascinating world of French grammar with a particular focus on a small word that plays a big role: the pronoun "on". It is often used, but sometimes misunderstood.

The aim of this article is thus to make you comfortable with its use, to understand its nuances and to naturally integrate it into your conversations and writings in French.

Explanations

First use of "on": equivalent of "nous"

Let's start with the most widespread use of the pronoun "on". In many situations, "on" is used as an informal substitute for "we". For example:

This sentence means the same as "Nous sortons ce soir avec Anna". However, an important peculiarity to note is the conjugation of the verb. Even if "on" is equivalent to "nous", the verb is conjugated in the third person singular, just like "il" or "elle". Thus, "On va au cinéma" is correct, while "Nous va au cinéma" would be incorrect.

Even though "on" replaces "nous", the following verb is always conjugated in the third person singular.

Oral use of "on"

The pronoun "on" mainly finds its place in spoken language. It is frequently used in daily conversations to lighten the speech. For example, it is more common to say "On continue avec notre leçon" instead of "Nous continuons avec notre leçon", especially in an informal setting. This preference for "on" in spoken language does not eliminate the use of "nous", which remains more appropriate in writing or in more formal contexts.

"On" is preferable in spoken language for its simplicity and informal aspect, while "nous" is better suited to written and formal situations.

Other uses of the pronoun "on"

"On" to designate "les gens" or "quelqu'un"

Beyond its role as a substitute for "nous", the pronoun "on" is versatile and can be used to speak generally. In some cases, "on" replaces "les gens", thus designating people in general.

Here, we refer to the typical habits or actions of people. Similarly, "on" can mean "quelqu'un", used when we do not specify the person's identity. As in the sentence, "On m'a dit que ce film était excellent", where "on" represents an unspecified person.

"On" has the ability to designate "les gens" in general or "quelqu'un" unspecified, thus offering great flexibility in its use. General example: "On dit souvent que Paris est la ville de l'amour." Specific example : "On m'a recommandé ce restaurant."

Exercises

Conclusion

There we have it, we have together explored the subtleties and various uses of the pronoun "on". Whether as a substitute for "nous", for general speaking or to designate "quelqu'un", "on" is a powerful and versatile linguistic tool in the French language. We hope this article has enlightened you and that you now feel more comfortable using it.

To deepen your understanding, we have prepared a summary PDF that you can download. This document summarizes the key points of this article and proposes additional exercises.

Download the summary

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