Using nous/vous/ils/elles to replace compound subjects (French Subject Pronouns)

In French, when you have several subjects for one verb, you can replace them with a subject pronoun.

Learn how to replace several subjects with a plural subject pronoun in French

Look at these sentences:

Jean et moi jouons aux cartes. 
Nous jouons aux cartes.
Jean and I play cards.
We play cards.

Sarah et ma soeur sont sympas.
Elles sont sympas. 
Sarah and my sister are nice.
They are nice.

M. Dupont et Mme Vichy se connaissent. 
Ils se connaissent.
Mr Dupont and Mrs Vichy know each other.
They know each other.

Sarah et toi êtes amis.
Vous êtes amis. 
Sarah and you are friends.
You are friends.

When you have more than one person in a sentence doing the action (verb), then you can replace them with a plural subject pronoun: nous, vous, ils ou elles.

Here are the different combinations:

person(s) + moi     =  nous 

person(s) + toi      =  vous

person(s) + person(s)   = ils (all male or mixed group) or  elles (all female group)

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Examples and resources

M. Dupont et Mme Vichy se connaissent. 
Ils se connaissent.
Mr Dupont and Mrs Vichy know each other.
They know each other.
Sarah et toi êtes amis.
Vous êtes amis. 
Sarah and you are friends.
You are friends.
Sarah et ma soeur sont sympas.
Elles sont sympas. 
Sarah and my sister are nice.
They are nice.
Jean et moi jouons aux cartes. 
Nous jouons aux cartes.
Jean and I play cards.
We play cards.
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