📘 French Grammar Lesson: Disjunctive Pronouns (Les pronoms disjoints)

In French, disjunctive pronouns (or stressed pronouns) are used to emphasize, contrast, or stand alone in certain situations. They are often used after prepositions, in short answers, or for emphasis.

Let’s explore how and when to use them, with clear examples.

---

✅ What Are Disjunctive Pronouns?

Disjunctive pronouns are used to replace a person or a thing after a preposition or in isolation.

Here is the list:

---

🧠 When to Use Disjunctive Pronouns?

1. After prepositions

Disjunctive pronouns are used after prepositions like avec, pour, chez, sans, de, à, etc.

Examples:

• Je viens avec toi. → I’m coming with you.

• Ce cadeau est pour elle. → This gift is for her.

• On va chez moi. → We’re going to my place.

---

2. For emphasis (especially in contrast)

To emphasize or contrast a subject.

Examples:

• Moi, j’adore le fromage. → Me, I love cheese.

• Lui, il ne comprend rien. → Him, he understands nothing.

• Eux, ils partent demain. → Them, they leave tomorrow.

---

3. As a one-word answer

Disjunctive pronouns are often used in short answers, especially in spoken French.

Examples:

• Qui veut du café ? — Moi ! → Who wants coffee? — Me!

• Tu viens avec nous ? — Lui, il ne peut pas. → Are you coming with us? — Him, he can’t.

---

4. After “c’est” or “ce sont”

Use a disjunctive pronoun after c’est / ce sont to identify or describe someone.

Examples:

• C’est moi. → It’s me.

• Ce sont eux. → They are the ones.

---

5. With “et” or “ou” (and/or)

Examples:

• Lui et moi, on est amis. → He and I are friends.

• Tu préfères eux ou nous ? → Do you prefer them or us?

---

6. After “que” for comparisons

Examples:

• Il est plus gentil que moi. → He is nicer than me.

• Elle est plus rapide que lui. → She is faster than him.

---

7. With -même for emphasis

Use disjunctive pronouns before -même(s) to say “myself”, “himself”, etc.

Examples:

• Il l’a fait lui-même. → He did it himself.

• Moi-même, je ne sais pas. → I myself don’t know.

---

🧪 Quick Quiz – Choose the correct disjunctive pronoun:

1. Tu vas chez ___ ce soir ?
   a) il
   b) lui ✅
   c) le

2. C’est ___ qui décide.
   a) moi ✅
   b) je
   c) me

3. Paul est plus fort que ___ !
   a) moi ✅
   b) je
   c) me

---

📝 Summary

---

🧠 Final Tips

• Don’t confuse disjunctive pronouns with direct/indirect object pronouns like le, lui, me, etc.

• In speech, disjunctive pronouns are often used to clarify or insist on who you’re talking about.

• Practice using them in everyday phrases like “C’est pour moi” or “Avec toi”.

©Frenchlanguagebasics.com