Language/French/Grammar/Use-of-soi

Use of soi

soi is a non-specific stressed pronoun which is normally used either when it refers to non-specific persons or things, or indefinite phrases like on, chacun, nul, aucun, personne, tout le monde. It tends to be used after prepositions, with -même, and after ne ... que:

• On pense à soi

People think of themselves

• Pour une fois, personne ne songeait à soi

For once, no-one was thinking of themselves

• On doit prendre la décision soi-même

One must take the decision oneself