Bonjour Janice,
The French pronoun soi is for impersonal constructions, so you use it with another impersonal word such as on.
For example,
On doit le faire soi-même = One has to do it oneself
Compare that to
Tu dois le faire toi-même = You have to do it yourself.
Then how is soi used? I’m very confused because it seems the lessons using on or il faut use soi one time and soi-même the next. What’s the difference. Many thanks for clearing this up.
Then how is soi used? I’m very confused because it seems the lessons using on or il faut use soi one time and soi-même the next. What’s the difference. Many thanks for clearing this up.
Will someone address our confusion using soi or soi-même? The rules in the lessons seem identical for using either one: the universal, on, il faut. I have to keep guessing. Thanks.
Hi Liz,
You will use 'soi' when it refers to a general statement applying to everyone:
Chacun pour soi = Everyman for himself
Avoir confiance en soi = To have self-confidence
Rester chez soi = To stay home
Regarder devant soi = To look in front of oneself
Hope these help!
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