A1 · Iniciante Capítulo 11

Identifying People and Things

6 Regras totais
63 exemplos
6 min
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Chapter in 30 Seconds

Master the art of identifying people and objects with confidence in any French-speaking environment.

  • Identify yourself and others using essential French subject pronouns.
  • Distinguish between formal and informal social interactions.
  • Point out specific items using demonstrative markers like voici and celui-ci.
Identify anyone and anything with total French confidence.

O que você vai aprender

Hey there, future French speaker! Ready to master identifying people and things with total confidence? This awesome chapter is designed for exactly that! First, you'll learn how to talk about yourself and others using French subject pronouns like 'I,' 'you,' 'he/she,' and more. These are the fundamental building blocks of every sentence, helping you express yourself with ease. Then, we tackle a crucial part: knowing when to use 'Tu' (informal you) and when to use 'Vous' (formal or plural you). This way, you'll know exactly how to be friendly with friends and respectful in formal settings. Hold on, there's more! You'll discover how to say 'we,' whether you're hanging out with pals or need to sound more professional in a work environment. Now, imagine you're in a café in Paris and want to point to that delicious croissant. This is where 'this one' and 'that one' (celui-ci) come to your rescue! You'll even learn how to use 'Voici' (here it is) and 'Voilà' (there it is) to announce people or things, making your communication super clear and cool. After this chapter, you won't just speak correctly, you'll sound like a true French native! You'll be able to confidently introduce yourself and others, point out items in shops without hesitation, and even make casual conversations sound more natural with a charming accent. Don't worry, learning it is easier and more exciting than you think! Let's go!

Learning Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

  1. 1
    By the end you will be able to: Correctly use subject pronouns in basic sentences.

Guia do capítulo

Overview

Welcome, future French speaker, to an exciting chapter designed to build your confidence in identifying people and things! This guide is perfect for A1 French grammar learners, laying down the essential linguistic bricks you'll need for everyday conversations. Mastering these concepts is crucial for anyone beginning their journey in French, as they form the backbone of expressing who you are, who others are, and what items you're referring to.
You'll move beyond simple greetings to truly engage with the world around you in French. We'll delve into fundamental concepts like French subject pronouns (Je, Tu, Il, Elle, Nous, Vous, Ils, Elles), ensuring you can correctly say «I,» you, he/she, and more. You'll also learn the vital social cues of Tu vs Vous, helping you navigate informal and formal interactions with ease.
Get ready to sound natural and confident, whether you're introducing a friend or pointing out a delicious pastry! This chapter will transform how you interact in French, making you sound more like a native and less like a textbook.
This chapter is a cornerstone for CEFR A1 learners, focusing on practical, high-frequency structures. We'll cover how to articulate we using both Nous and the more common informal On, and how to effortlessly present things or people with Voici and Voilà. Ever wanted to say this one or that one in French?
We've got you covered with celui-ci and its variations. Plus, you'll discover the clever French emphasis echo (le pronom de rappel) to add clarity and emphasis to your sentences. By the end, you'll be able to confidently introduce yourself and others, point out items in shops, and engage in basic conversations with a genuine French flair.
Let's make your French truly shine!

How This Grammar Works

This chapter introduces several core French grammar A1 elements crucial for identifying people and things. First, French Subject Pronouns are your basic building blocks: Je (I), Tu (you, informal singular), Il (he/it, masculine singular), Elle (she/it, feminine singular), On (one/we, informal singular), Nous (we, plural), Vous (you, formal singular or plural), Ils (they/them, masculine plural), and Elles (they/them, feminine plural).
A key distinction is Tu vs Vous. Use Tu when speaking to friends, family, children, or people you know well. Use Vous for formal situations, strangers, elders, or when addressing multiple people.
For example: Comment vas-tu ? (How are you? - informal) vs. Comment allez-vous ? (How are you?
- formal or plural).
When saying we, you have two options: Nous and On. Nous is the standard, more formal we: Nous parlons français. (We speak French.) On is very commonly used in spoken French for we, one, or people in general, and it always takes a singular verb: On parle français. (We speak French - informal/common).
To announce people or things, use Voici (here is/are) and Voilà (there is/are). You can attach pronouns to them: Me voici ! (Here I am!), Le voilà ! (There he/it is!). For example, Voici Marie. (Here is Marie.) or Voilà mon livre. (There is my book.)
To specify this one or that one, you'll use Demonstrative Pronouns like celui-ci (this one, masculine singular), celle-ci (this one, feminine singular), ceux-ci (these ones, masculine plural), celles-ci (these ones, feminine plural). Replace '-ci' with '-là' for
that one/those ones
: celui-là, celle-là, ceux-là, celles-là. For example: **Quel livre veux-tu ?
Celui-ci ou celui-là ?** (Which book do you want? This one or that one?).
Finally, the French Emphasis Echo (le pronom de rappel) uses a disjunctive pronoun (like Moi, Toi, Lui, Elle, Nous, Vous, Eux, Elles) before the subject pronoun for emphasis or clarification. For instance: Moi, je suis français. (Me, I am French.) or Lui, il est étudiant. (Him, he is a student.) This adds a natural, conversational flow to your A1 French.

Common Mistakes

  1. 1✗ Wrong:
    Tu parlez français.
✓ Correct:
Tu parles français.
*Explanation:* The subject pronoun Tu (informal you) always pairs with a verb ending in -es (for -er verbs) or -s. Parlez is for Vous.
  1. 1✗ Wrong:
    Je veux la livre, celui-ci.
✓ Correct:
Je veux le livre, celui-ci.
or
Je veux la pomme, celle-ci.
*Explanation:* The demonstrative pronoun celui-ci (this one) must agree in gender with the noun it replaces or refers to. Livre (book) is masculine, so it should be celui-ci. If it were pomme (apple, feminine), you'd use celle-ci.
  1. 1✗ Wrong:
    On allons au marché.
✓ Correct:
On va au marché.
*Explanation:* While On means we (informally), it always takes a third-person singular verb conjugation, like Il/Elle. The verb aller (to go) conjugates as On va, not On allons.

Real Conversations

A

A

Bonjour, je m'appelle Sophie. Et vous, comment vous appelez-vous ? (Hello, my name is Sophie. And you, what is your name? - formal)
B

B

Bonjour Sophie, moi, je m'appelle Marc. Enchanté ! (Hello Sophie, I, my name is Marc. Nice to meet you!)
A

A

Regarde ! Voici mon ami, Paul. Lui, il est de Paris. (Look! Here is my friend, Paul. He, he is from Paris.)
B

B

Salut Paul ! Oh, et cette baguette, c'est celle-ci que tu préfères ? (Hi Paul! Oh, and this baguette, is this the one you prefer?)

Quick FAQ

Q

What's the main difference between Nous and On for we in A1 French grammar?

Nous is the standard, more formal we that takes a plural verb. On is widely used in spoken French for we (and one or people in general) but always takes a singular verb, making it sound more casual.

Q

How do I correctly use celui-ci and celle-ci when identifying things in French A1?

These are demonstrative pronouns meaning this one. You choose based on the gender of the noun they refer to: celui-ci for masculine singular nouns and celle-ci for feminine singular nouns.

Q

When is it appropriate to use the French emphasis echo (e.g., Moi, je...) at the A1 CEFR level?

You use it to emphasize or clarify the subject, often to contrast or highlight who is performing the action. For example,

Moi, je préfère le café
(Me, I prefer coffee), implying others might not.

Q

Can I always use Vous to be polite in French A1?

Yes, using Vous is always the safe and polite choice when you're unsure, speaking to strangers, elders, or in formal settings. It's better to be too polite than too informal.

Cultural Context

The choice between Tu and Vous is a cornerstone of French social etiquette and A1 French cultural understanding. It reflects respect, social distance, and familiarity. While Tu signals intimacy or equality, Vous is the default for politeness and formality.
Using On instead of Nous for we is extremely common in everyday spoken French, making conversations sound more natural and less stiff. Mastering these nuances helps learners navigate social situations smoothly, showing an appreciation for French communication norms beyond just grammar rules.

Exemplos-chave (8)

1

Je regarde Netflix.

Eu assisto Netflix.

Pronomes Sujeito em Francês (Je, Tu, Il, Elle...)
2

Tu viens à la fête ?

Você vem à festa?

Pronomes Sujeito em Francês (Je, Tu, Il, Elle...)
3

`Tu` es là ?

Você está aí?

Tu vs Vous: Você formal e informal
4

`Vous` avez une table pour deux ?

Vocês têm uma mesa?

Tu vs Vous: Você formal e informal
5

Nous sommes ravis de vous rencontrer.

Estamos encantados em conhecê-lo.

Usando Nous vs On: Como soar profissional em francês (`nous` / `on`)
6

On va au ciné ce soir ?

Vamos ao cinema hoje à noite?

Usando Nous vs On: Como soar profissional em francês (`nous` / `on`)
7

Me voici ! Je suis enfin arrivé à la fête.

Aqui estou eu! Finalmente cheguei à festa.

Pronomes com Voici e Voilà: Aqui estou eu (Me voici)
8

Tu cherches tes clés ? Les voilà sur la table.

Você está procurando suas chaves? Lá estão elas na mesa.

Pronomes com Voici e Voilà: Aqui estou eu (Me voici)

Dicas e truques (4)

🎯

O Atalho 'On'

Sempre use 'on' em vez de 'nous' na conversa. Você vai soar mais nativo e a conjugação do verbo é mais fácil (igual a 'il/elle').
On va au cinéma.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Pronomes Sujeito em Francês (Je, Tu, Il, Elle...)
⚠️

A 'patada francesa'

Usar tu com um estranho pode parecer agressivo ou rude. Use vous até que te convidem para mudar. Tipo:
Vous parlez français ?
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Tu vs Vous: Você formal e informal
🎯

A Regra do LinkedIn

Sempre use nous em postagens ou no seu perfil profissional. Isso faz sua experiência soar muito mais séria:
Nous avons fini le projet.
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Usando Nous vs On: Como soar profissional em francês (`nous` / `on`)
🎯

Use Voilà para Tudo

Na fala do dia a dia, muita gente usa só voilà para tudo, tanto para perto quanto para longe. Se estiver na dúvida, use voilà: Me voilà !
frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Pronomes com Voici e Voilà: Aqui estou eu (Me voici)

Vocabulário-chave (6)

je I tu you (informal) nous we (formal) on we (casual) voici here is/are celui-ci this one

Real-World Preview

coffee

At the Café

Review Summary

  • Subject + Verb
  • Tu (informal) vs Vous (formal)
  • On (casual) = We
  • Voici/Voilà + noun
  • Celui-ci (this one)
  • Moi, je...

Erros comuns

Do not combine 'suis' (am) with other verbs. Use the conjugated verb directly.

Wrong: Je suis va au marché.
Correto: Je vais au marché.

The verb 'être' for 'tu' is 'es', not 'est'.

Wrong: Tu est mon ami.
Correto: Tu es mon ami.

Voici is for things close to you; Voilà is for things further away.

Wrong: Voici celui-là.
Correto: Voilà celui-là.

Next Steps

You've done an incredible job today! Keep practicing, and those pronouns will become second nature in no time.

Write a short paragraph about your friends using all pronouns.

Continue to: Connecting Sentences with Who, That, and Where

Prática rápida (10)

Encontre e corrija o erro nesta frase referindo-se a {o|m} 't-shirt'.

Find and fix the mistake:

Ce t-shirt est beau, mais j'aime celle-ci.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Ce t-shirt est beau, mais j'aime celui-ci.
'T-shirt' é masculino, então 'celle-ci' (feminino) está errado. Use 'celui-ci'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Este / Aquele (celui-ci)

Qual frase aponta corretamente para 'as chaves' (les clés) que estão lá?

Você vê as chaves do outro lado da sala. O que você diz?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Les voilà.
O pronome de objeto 'les' deve vir antes de 'voilà'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Pronomes com Voici e Voilà: Aqui estou eu (Me voici)

Preencha a lacuna com o pronome e a palavra correta para 'Aqui estou eu'.

___ ! Je suis devant ta porte.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Me voici
Usamos o pronome de objeto 'me' antes de 'voici' para dizer 'Aqui estou eu'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Pronomes com Voici e Voilà: Aqui estou eu (Me voici)

Preencha a lacuna com o pronome demonstrativo correto (substituindo 'la pizza').

Je n'aime pas cette pizza, je préfère ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: celle-ci
Como 'pizza' é um substantivo feminino singular, você deve usar 'celle-ci'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Este / Aquele (celui-ci)

Corrija o erro na frase.

Find and fix the mistake:

Tu parlez avec moi ?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Tu parles avec moi ?
Com 'tu', o verbo geralmente termina em '-s', não '-ez'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Tu vs Vous: Você formal e informal

Encontre e corrija o erro nesta frase.

Find and fix the mistake:

Où est le livre ? Voici le sur la table.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Le voici sur la table.
O pronome 'le' (para 'le livre') deve ir para a frente de 'voici'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Pronomes com Voici e Voilà: Aqui estou eu (Me voici)

Encontre e corrija o erro nesta frase formal

Find and fix the mistake:

Nous avons reçu votre message, nous est d'accord.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Nous avons reçu votre message, nous sommes d'accord.
O erro era 'nous est'. Deve ser 'nous sommes' para manter a formalidade da frase.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Usando Nous vs On: Como soar profissional em francês (`nous` / `on`)

Preencha a lacuna com o pronome sujeito correto.

Moi, ___ ne sais pas.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: je
O pronome tônico 'Moi' sempre se combina com o pronome sujeito 'je'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: O eco de ênfase francês (Le pronom de rappel)

Escolha o pronome correto para seu chefe.

___ travaillez beaucoup, Monsieur.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Vous
Você usa 'vous' para mostrar respeito ao seu chefe.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Tu vs Vous: Você formal e informal

Qual frase está gramaticalmente correta para substituir 'les livres' (masculino plural)?

Escolha a forma correta de dizer 'Eu quero estes aqui' referindo-se a livros:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Je veux ceux-ci.
'Livres' é masculino plural, então o pronome correspondente é 'ceux-ci'.

frontend.learn_grammar.from_rule: Este / Aquele (celui-ci)

Score: /10

Perguntas comuns (6)

'Tu' é singular e informal (para amigos), enquanto 'vous' é formal ou plural (para estranhos, grupos ou chefes). Usar 'tu' com um estranho pode ser rude. Por exemplo: Tu vas bien? (para um amigo) vs. Vous allez bien? (para um estranho).
'On' é usado em 90% do francês falado para significar 'nós' ou 'a gente'. É mais fácil de conjugar e menos formal que 'nous'. Por exemplo: On mange ensemble?
Depende da cultura da empresa. Em startups modernas, todos usam tu. Em escritórios tradicionais, use vous até que eles te convidem para o tu primeiro.
Use tu! Falar com um animal de estimação com vous parece que você está convidando-o para uma gala formal. Tipo:
Tu es un bon chien !
Pode, mas soa muito formal, quase como chamar seu amigo de 'Senhor'. Exemplo:
Nous allons au café.
Geralmente sim, mas pode significar 'alguém' ou 'as pessoas'. Exemplo:
On frappe à la porte
(Alguém bate à porta).
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