French interrogative pronouns- qui vs. que

In the French language, we have noticed the interogative pronouns concerning qui and que! The both of them mean different things in the French language!


The pronoun (qui) is always used to link to a verb in a sentence!
Qui- (who)

Example: Qui est cette personne!?

Note- qui is the pronoun, which (est) is the congutated verb of etre.


Example two: The pronoun (qui) is also used to go after an indefinite or definite article, or the name of a person, but always links with a verb!

1.C'est marcelle qui parle en anglais.

That's marcelle who speaks in english.

marcelle is the name of a person, parle ( is the conguated verb of parler).

2. C'est la directeur qui eseigne le musique.

That's the director who teaches music.

Note: La- is a definite article; among with the noun ( director). Qui is linked to the conguated verb of eseigner.



The pronoun (Que) can be used with articles such as definite or indefinite articles, but is rarely used with verbs! Too, it can link to 1,2,3rd persons such as je, vous, il, elle, nous, elles, ils!

Example 1

Je sais que vous allez au magsin.

I know that you are going to the store!

Note: que: is the pronoun, it's linked to the 2 person plural (Vous)!


Example 2

Nous croyons que les livres sont sur la table!

We believe that the books are on the table!


Note: que- is linking to a definite article! Next, (les) is the definite article, which ( livres) is the plural noun!

On vs. Nous in the french

In the french language, the pronouns On and Nous means (we). Even though they both mean (We) in the french langauge! They are not used in the same category of persons in the language! To understand where this is coming from, we will look at the first, second, and third persons in french.

First person singular (Je)

Second person singular (tu)

Third person singular (Il)

Third person singular (Elle)

Third person singular (On)

First person plural ( Nous)

Second person plural (Vous)

Third person plural (Ils)


I. The pronoun (On)!

The French pronoun (On) does mean (we) in the english langauge! However, it is not used as first person plural as (Nous),but it is used as third person singular! Let's look at in example

On voit les joujou au magsin.
meaning in english
We see the toys at the store.

Note: (On) is the pronoun, and (voit) is the conguated verb for (voir)! If one is confused, let's conjuate the verb voir among with the pronouns so that one can understand!

Voir- To see

Je vois

Tu vois

Il voit

Elle voit

On voit- note: this is third person singular with the conguated verb voir

Nous voyons

Vous voyez

Ils voient/Elles voient


II. The pronoun ( NOUS)

The pronoun ( Nous) means (We) also! It falls in the catagory of first person plural! It's not like the pronoun(on) falling under the third person plural! Let's look at an example!


Nous avons la voiture!

Meaning in english

We have the car!

Note: (Nous) is the pronoun! (avons) is the conguated verb of avoir! In order to see the catagory of first person plural! Let's look at the conguated verb of avoir!

Avoir- to have


J'ai

Tu as

Il a

Elle a

On a

Nous avons- Note: First person plural, along with the conguated verb avoir

Vous avez

Ils ont

Elles ont

Understanding the pronoun (On)

The pronoun ( On) is used in the french language. However, it could be as a subsitution of the other pronoun nous! We can understand that ( nous) means We in the english language. Most likely, the prounoun (On) also means (We) in the english language.

Example of the sentence using (On)

On peut acheter les bonbons au supermarché.

Meaning in English

We can buy candy at the supermarket.



The other thing that (On) has another meaning besides( We) in the English language. The other meaning for (On) in the English language means (One). Not saying that it means the number one in the English language, but it speaks about one person, rather it was he or she!

Example:

On doit obéir aux règles du pays


Meaning in english

One must obey the laws of the land


Those who don't know where (on) is supposed to be conguated. It is conguated among with the pronouns( il/elle).Those who don't understand this part. We will use the verb avoir meaning( to have)


j'ai - 1st person singular

tu as - 2nd person singular

Il a - 3rd person singular

Elle a - 3rd person singular

On a - 3rd person singular


Nous avons - lst person plural

Vous avez - 2nd person plural

Ils ont - 3rd person plural

Elles ont- - 3rd person plural


Always remember that (on) is always conguated with the 3 person singular in the verb. It is never congutated for any other forms in the french language.

The difference between " Tu" and "Vous"

" Tu" and " Vous" both means- You- in the english langauge. There is a difference when to use both of these pronouns. Before explaining the difference between "Tu" and Vous", there might be some who are not familiar with first, second, and third person dealing with singular and plural pronouns.


Je- FIRST PERSON SINGULAR means-(I)

Tu- SECOND PERSON SINGULAR means- (YOU)


Il/Elle - THIRD PERSON SINGULAR means- (HE)/(SHE)

Nous- FIRST PERSON PLURAL means- (WE)

Vous- SECOND PERSON PLURAL- (YOU)

Ils/Elles- THIRD PERSON PLURAL-THEY

The pronoun "Tu"


The pronoun " Tu" is the singular second person in the French langauge.


" Tu" is used when one is familiar with that person! This is also used in the form of knowning that person.

Let's use this sentence for example:


Tu habites au Senegal - You live in Senegal

The pronoun "Tu" in the sentence above is always spoken towards a person that one knows or is familiar with.





The pronoun- "Vous"

The pronoun " Vous" is the plural second person in the French language.


"Vous" is used when one doesn't know a person! It is used as a form of respect towards a person.


Let's use this sentence as the one above,but different pronoun for example:


Vous habitez au Senegal- You live in Senegal

In this case, " Vous" in the sentence above is being spoken to respect that one doesn't know! This is also used for someone in authority!