Just like in English we have 'I' and 'me' (but note, only 'you'), French uses these so-called singular Stress Pronouns.
Learn how to use stress pronouns in French
Subject Pronoun | Stress Pronoun |
je I |
moi me |
tu you |
toi you |
il he |
lui him |
elle she |
elle her |
Note : elle is the same in both.
Simple uses of Stress pronouns
- extra emphasis
Note that in English, you would usually use intonation to mark emphasis.
- single word responses
- very simple sentences
See also the plural stress pronouns: Nous/vous/eux/elles = Us/you/them - simple cases (French Stress Pronouns)
and the more advanced lesson Moi/toi/lui/elle/soi/nous/vous/eux/elles - advanced usages (French Stress Pronouns)
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Learn more about these related French grammar topics
Examples and resources
literally: Yes, it's you the liar!
Moi/toi/lui/elle = Me/you/him/her - simple cases (French Stress Pronouns)
Stressed pronouns for "us/they"
Are there stressed pronouns for "us/they"?
Yes, click on the link just under "Very simple sentences" where it says "See also the plural stress pronouns:"
Nous/vous/eux/elles = Us/you/them - simple cases (French Stress Pronouns)
Stressed pronouns for "us/they"
Are there stressed pronouns for "us/they"?
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use of lui in regards to a body part
She seized his wrist is translated.."Elle lui saisait le poignet." Why is the "lui" there?
Hi Jan,
I couldn't find your sentence in the lesson you quoted and I think you got the tens e used wrong.
However, this construction is particular to verbs like saisir ( to grab) or prendre ( to take) and body parts.
Elle lui saisit le poignet = She grabbed his/her wrist
Il lui prit la main = He took his/her hand
Without more context, you cannot know whether the part of the body it belongs to is male or female.
Hope this helps!
Salut Jan,
"Elle lui saisait le poignet" --> She grasped / took the hand of him.
Lui is the stressed pronoun (third-person singular) for "him"
Bonne continuation.
Jim
Hi Jan,
this is a very French way to say that she grabbed his wrist. It isn't using the possessive pronoun (his) as in English but the indirect object pronoun lui. You can think of it as meaning something ilke "She grabbed him the wrist." This doesn't make much sense in English but it works great in French. It is used to indicate possession or ownership.
Here are some more examples:
Le soleil leur brûle la peau. -- The sun burns their skin.
Le vent lui bat la joue. -- The wind beats his/her cheek.
Stylistically, this way emphasizes the owner over the object, the person over the body part, in these examples.
Deleted - no longer required
use of lui in regards to a body part
She seized his wrist is translated.."Elle lui saisait le poignet." Why is the "lui" there?
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Lui/Elle
I have been taught that lui refers to both male and female but in the exercise they are conceptualized differently.
One of the difficulties of learning French (although definitely not unique to the language) is that the same word can have multiple uses and meanings. This is not limited to ‘lui’, or even just to pronouns.
As an indirect object pronoun, lui refers to either a male or a female, and context is necessary to know whether ‘him’ or ‘her’ is the English translation.
When used as stress pronouns, lui only refers to a male, and elle only to a female.
Attached lesson is relevant :
Using lui/leur = him or her/them (French Indirect Object Pronouns)
Lui/Elle
I have been taught that lui refers to both male and female but in the exercise they are conceptualized differently.
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I've just been told by a French speaker you can say "je vais lui montrer" to mean "I will show her". Help! I'm confused!
I suspect the confusion is that when it's a stress pronoun, "lui" always means "him", but as an indirect object pronoun, it's also used for "her".
Using lui/leur = him or her/them (French Indirect Object Pronouns)
Indeed, that's a perfectly fine sentence. Let's take a look at it:
Montrer qqc à qqn. -- To show something to someone.
The object you're showing is the direct object and the person you're showing it to is the indirect object.
Without the direct object, the meaning -- similar to English -- can also be to convince someone as in "I'll show her!"
OK. Thanks, I understand now!
I've just been told by a French speaker you can say "je vais lui montrer" to mean "I will show her". Help! I'm confused!
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Honestly, I did not really understand exactly you meant by '' stress pronouns''? Please throw more light on the meaning and use of stress pronouns.
Hi Faithandrews,
They are just another set of pronouns, sometimes called emphatic pronouns.
You might remember them more easily as the ones used after chez ...
Hope this helps !
Honestly, I did not really understand exactly you meant by '' stress pronouns''? Please throw more light on the meaning and use of stress pronouns.
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So there are different sets of object pronouns with different role and each have their gender roles or object roles? WOW...FRENCH JUST GOT EASIER.....
So there are different sets of object pronouns with different role and each have their gender roles or object roles? WOW...FRENCH JUST GOT EASIER.....
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Why?
Why "mais elle,elle veut ..." not" mais elle veut ..."
Just to reinforce. It's purely stylistic not grammatical.
Why?
Why "mais elle,elle veut ..." not" mais elle veut ..."
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Can I say ''Et tu, comment tu vas?'' why or why not?
Hi Malik,
These stress pronouns are also used after prepositions like 'et'.
So also after words like
sur, à, avec, pour, après, contre, and of course chez .
Après moi le déluge = When I'm gone let happen what may
Je n'ai rien contre eux = I have nothing against them
On vient avec toi = We are coming with you
C'est à toi de jouer = It's your turn to play
Je n'ai pas mon agenda sur moi = I don't have my diary on me
lui, il a de la chance! = He is so, so lucky !
I find a good way to learn them is after chez, which students seem to grasp easily:
Chez moi, chez toi, chez elle, chez lui, chez nous, chez vous, chez eux, chez elles
P.S. "Et toi, comment tu vas? " or "comment vas-tu ?" are both correct.
Hope this helps!
Hi Malik,
First off it would be "Et toi..." and then I must say that I've only ever heard "Comment vas-tu?" or "Tu vas comment?".
-- Chris (not a native speaker)
Can I say ''Et tu, comment tu vas?'' why or why not?
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Aren't these pronouns just object pronouns?
Hi Rachel,
There are different sets of pronouns in French . Fortunately the 'nous' and 'vous' pronouns tend to remain the same in all of them!
These stress pronouns are the ones which come after prepositions too , so I find that a good way to learn them is after the 'chez' ( at the home of) .
Chez moi, chez toi, chez elle, chez lui, chez nous, chez vous, chez eux, chez elles.
Hope this helps!
Bonjour Rachel,
While most stress pronouns are similar to object pronouns, there's one big difference: the indirect object pronoun lui is both masculine and feminine, while for stress pronouns, there is a separate feminine form: elle.
Hi Laura, yes, I see that these are a separate set of pronouns from the Direct Object and Indirect Object sets. My question was more based on the usage; basically, when I would use these vs using the object pronouns. I think I've gotten them straight now, to some extent. :)
Thanks!
Hi Celcile,
Thanks! I see that they are a different set from the object pronouns - I was curious more so about the usage; in other words, when to use these vs when to use object pronouns. But your explanation about the prepositions in very helpful in explaining the difference.
Aren't these pronouns just object pronouns?
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Please explain "Il lui (verbe)"
"Lui" is the indirect object of "il"
That said, let's look at the two sentences you cite (and I am taking the liberty of abbreviating them a bit):
1) Il lui manque une oreille -- He is missing an ear. Literally this would be translated as: "It is an ear missing from him". The "from him" is the indirect object, hence "lui".
2) Il lui arrive de nous faire un cadeau. -- He happens to make us a present. Literally: It happened to him to make us a gift. Again the "to him" is the indirect object, i.e., "lui" in French.
Yes, "lui" could also be the stress pronoun but not in these cases. Stress pronouns usually are at the end of sentences or following prepositions. Neither is the case here.
I suggest you check out the lessons on indirect objects.
Greetings,
-- Chris.
Please explain "Il lui (verbe)"
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Why would I use a stress pronoun?
Why would I use a stress pronoun?
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