Pronouns — AQA GCSE French
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Pronouns explained
Personal subject pronouns replace nouns as the subject of a verb, including 'je', 'tu', 'il', 'elle', 'on' (we/one), 'nous', 'vous', 'ils', and 'elles'.
Read the full explanation
Reflexive pronouns ('me', 'te', 'se', 'nous', 'vous', 'se') are used when the subject and object are the same, such as in 'je me lave' (I wash myself). Relative pronouns connect clauses. 'Qui' acts as the subject of the relative clause (e.g., 'le chien qui aboie' - the dog which barks). 'Que' acts as the direct object (e.g., 'le livre que je lis' - the book that I read) and is assessed receptively (R), meaning students must understand it in reading and listening but are not required to produce it.
Your focus
- Select the correct subject pronoun for a given verb form.
- Match reflexive pronouns to their corresponding subject pronouns.
- Distinguish between the relative pronouns 'qui' and 'que' in reading texts.
Pronouns exam tips
Marking Points
- Identify and translate all personal subject pronouns, including the indefinite pronoun 'on'.
- Recognise and apply reflexive pronouns matching the subject in reflexive verbs.
- Understand 'qui' as a relative pronoun functioning as the subject of a clause.
- Comprehend 'que' as a relative pronoun functioning as the direct object of a clause (receptive skill).
Examiner Tips
- 💡When reading, look at the word immediately following the relative pronoun to determine if 'qui' or 'que' is used.
- 💡Remember that 'que' elides to 'qu'' before a vowel or silent h, whereas 'qui' never elides.
- 💡Pay attention to the pronoun 'on' in listening tasks, as it often replaces 'nous' but sounds very different.
Common Mistakes
- Confusing 'qui' and 'que' based on English translations. Correction: Use 'qui' when it is followed by a verb (subject) and 'que' when followed by a noun or pronoun (object).
- Forgetting to change the reflexive pronoun when conjugating a verb. Correction: Always ensure the reflexive pronoun matches the subject (e.g., 'nous nous lavons', not 'nous se lavons').
- Translating 'on' exclusively as 'one'. Correction: Recognise that 'on' is most frequently used in spoken French to mean 'we', taking a third-person singular verb.