Language/French/Grammar/Use-of-il-ils-and-elle-elles

Use of il ils and elle elles

The third person pronouns il/ils and elle/elles normally refer to people and things (both concrete and abstract) and the choice of which one to use is usually determined by the grammatical person, gender and number of the noun referred to:

• Qu'est-ce qu'il fait, le facteur? Il est en retard

What's the postman up to? He's late

• Il est intéressant, ce livre

That book's interesting

• Où est la directrice? Elle est en réunion

Where's the headmistress? She's in a meeting

• Elle est intéressante, cette émission

That programme's interesting

• Il n'y a plus d'abricots. Ils sont finis

There are no more apricots. They're finished

• Elles sont dangereuses, ces falaises

These cliffs are dangerous

Don't miss the chance to check out these pages as you wrap up this lesson: Possessive determiners, Omission of the article, Introductions and Greetings & Stressed pronouns with ne — que and ni — ni — ne.

Other Lessons

• ils with arbitrary reference
• Object pronouns in coordinated clauses
• Plural of words in Al
• Use of the definite article with parts of the body
• Auxiliary
• Differences in the use of numbers in French and English once twice
• Questions
• Vous and Tu Complete Guide
• Form and uses of tout
• Use of the definite article with names of languages
• Reflexive and reciprocal verbs
• Choosing between il est and c'est
• Masculine and feminine forms of adjectives — A change in written and spoken French
• Use of stressed pronouns for emphasis
• Difference between meilleur and mieux