Understanding the French Pronoun "On" and Its Agreements
The French pronoun "on" is unique and can be tricky for English speakers because we don't have a direct equivalent. Think of it as a chameleon that can mean "we," "people," "someone," or "they" depending on the context.
1. Different Meanings of "On"
In French, "on" is incredibly versatile. Understanding its different meanings will help you use it correctly.
😊 "On" = we
"On va au cinéma ce soir?"
= "Are we going to the movies tonight?"
👥 "On" = specific people
"On est parties faire les courses."
= "Marie and Julie went shopping."
🌍 "On" = people in general
"On parle français à Paris."
= "People speak French in Paris."
👤 "On" = everyone
"On a tous besoin de dormir."
= "Everyone needs to sleep."
2. Verb Conjugation with "On"
Here's a simple but crucial rule: Even when "on" refers to multiple people, the verb is always conjugated in the third person singular. This is the golden rule!
Here are some examples:
| Tense | Correct | Incorrect |
|---|---|---|
| Present | On mange | ❌ On mangeons |
| Past Composite | On a mangé | ❌ On avons mangé |
| Future | On fera | ❌ On ferons |
| Imperfect | On était | ❌ On étions |
This rule is really easy to remember: with "on," always use the same form as with "il" or "elle." No matter who "on" refers to, the verb never changes!
3. Adjective Agreement with "On"
This is where things get more interesting! Even though the verb is always singular, adjectives can change depending on the meaning of "on." There are two main situations to distinguish.
3.1 First Case: "on" = specific people
When "on" = nous
On est contents de vous voir !
= nous sommes contents
On s'est perdus dans la forêt.
= nous nous sommes perdus
When "on" = specific people
On est parties tôt ce matin.
= Marie and Julie left
On est surprise du résultat.
= Emma is surprised
How to make the agreement?
| Who is speaking? | Agreement | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Women | Feminine plural | On est contentes |
| Men | Masculine plural | On est contents |
| Mixed group | Masculine plural | On est contents |
3.2 Second Case: "on" = people in general
Good news: it's much simpler! When "on" represents people in general, we always use the masculine singular.
General Situations
- En hiver, on est fatigué.
- À Paris, on est toujours pressé.
Universal Truths
- Quand on est malade, on reste au lit.
- On est content quand on réussit.
💡 Tip to avoid mistakes:
Ask yourself: "Am I talking about specific people or people in general?"
- Specific people → agreement possible
- People in general → always masculine singular
4. Past Participles with "On"
Past participles follow similar rules to adjectives, but be careful: everything depends on the auxiliary verb used (être or avoir).
4.1 With the Auxiliary "être"
Group of women
On est parties tôt
= The girls left
Mixed group
On est partis en vacances
= Our group left
People in general
On est parti à l'heure
= People in general
4.2 With the Auxiliary "avoir"
With "avoir," it's simpler! There are only two rules to know.
📌 General Rule
No agreement: the past participle remains invariable
On a mangé une pizza
On a fini nos devoirs
On a lu ce livre
⭐ Exception
Agreement with the direct object if placed before the verb
Les films qu'on a vus
La lettre qu'on a écrite
Les pizzas qu'on a mangées
5. Tips for English Speakers
🎯 Key Points for English Speakers:
- 1. Think of "on" as having multiple English translations: - "we" (informal) - "people" - "they" - "one" (formal) - "everyone"
- 2. The verb is ALWAYS conjugated like "he/she/it"
- 3. When in doubt about adjective agreement, ask yourself: "Who am I really talking about?"
- 4. In informal spoken French, "on" often replaces "nous"
Common English-French Translation Patterns
How to translate common English phrases using "on":
- "People say..." → "On dit que..."
- "You can see..." → "On peut voir..."
- "We're going..." (informal) → "On va..."
- "Everyone knows..." → "On sait..."
- "They speak French here" → "On parle français ici"
6. Exercises - The French Pronoun "On" and Its Agreements
Practice with these exercises! Start with the easier ones and progress to more difficult ones.
A. Who is "On"?
Identify whether "on" represents specific people or people in general.
1.In the sentence: 'On va au restaurant ce soir?' (Are we going to the restaurant tonight?), 'on' represents:
2.In the sentence: 'En France, on mange du fromage.' (In France, people eat cheese), 'on' represents:
3.In the sentence: 'On est revenues fatiguées du shopping.' (We came back tired from shopping), 'on' represents:
4.In the sentence: 'Quand on est malade, on va chez le médecin.' (When one is sick, one goes to the doctor), 'on' represents:
5.In the sentence: 'À Paris, on s'est perdues trois fois!' (In Paris, we got lost three times!), 'on' represents:
B. Choose the Correct Form
Select the correct form of the verb or adjective.
1.En été, on ___ souvent à la plage.
2.Marie et moi, on ___ hier.
3.Quand on est ___, on reste au lit.
4.Sophie, Julie et moi, on ___ au cinéma.
5.En hiver, on ___ plus tôt.
C. Agreements with "être"
Complete with the correct form of the past participle.
1. Les filles, on est tôt ce matin. (partir)
2. Marc et moi, on est par le parc. (passer)
3. On est en retard au travail aujourd'hui. (arriver)
4. Anne et sa sœur, on s'est au cours de danse. (inscrire)
5. En France, on est à manger tard le soir. (habituer)
D. Past Participles with "avoir"
Pay attention to direct objects placed before the verb!
1.Les films qu'on a ___ étaient excellents.
2.On a ___ beaucoup de temps à ce projet.
3.La lettre qu'on a ___ est arrivée hier.
4.Les erreurs qu'on a ___ étaient évitables.
5.On a ___ trois heures dans les embouteillages.
E. Complex Cases (Advanced Level)
Choose the correct form considering all aspects.
1.Cette chanson, on l'a ___ et ___ toute la soirée.
2.Les filles, on s'est ___ qu'on était ___.
3.Quand on est ___, on fait les courses qu'on a ___ sur la liste.
4.Marie et moi, on s'est ___ les livres qu'on avait ___.
5.On s'est ___ ___ après qu'on a ___ la nouvelle.