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Teaching guidelines +/- 15 minutes

Learn French stressed pronouns like moi (me), toi (you), and lui (him) used for emphasis, possession, and quick responses, e.g., "J'habite chez elle."
  1. They are used to respond quickly to a question.
  2. They are used to introduce a person.
  3. They are used to express possession.
Singulier (Singular)Pluriel  (Plural)
Moi (Me)Nous (We)
Toi (You)Vous (You)
Lui (Him)Eux (Them)
Elle (Her)Elles (They)

Exceptions!

  1. With the pronouns "elle, eux, elles" the liaison is made with the preposition. Example: J'habite chez elle.

Exercise 1: Les pronoms toniques: Moi, Toi, Lui...

Instruction: Fill in the correct word.

Show translation Show answers

eux, moi, lui, vous, elle, elles, Moi

1. Elles:
Les manteaux sont à ....
(The coats belong to them.)
2. Je :
..., je ne lui parle plus.
(Me, I don’t speak to him anymore.)
3. Elle:
Je suis beaucoup plus fatigué qu'....
(I am much more tired than her.)
4. Il:
Elle a mal, mais ... va bien.
(She is in pain, but he is fine.)
5. Je :
Tu trembles mais pas ....
(You tremble but not me.)
6. Ils:
Il a la même douleur qu'....
(He has the same pain as them.)
7. Vous:
Je vais à l'hôpital avec ....
(I am going to the hospital with you.)
8. Il:
Tu es aussi faible que ....
(You are as weak as him.)

Exercise 2: Multiple Choice

Instruction: Choose the correct solution

1. C'est ___ qui a froid en hiver.

(It is ___ who is cold in winter.)

2. Quand j'ai faim, ___ mange quelque chose.

(When I'm hungry, ___ eat something.)

3. Tu dois te reposer, prends soin de ___ !

(You have to rest, take care of ___!)

4. Nous souffrons tous, mais ___ sommes forts.

(We all suffer, but ___ are strong.)

5. Elle tremble, car ___ a très froid.

(She is trembling because ___ is very cold.)

6. J'habite chez ___ pendant mes vacances.

(I stay at ___ place during my holidays.)

Understanding French Emphatic Pronouns: Moi, Toi, Lui...

This lesson focuses on the French pronoms toniques, also known as emphatic or stressed pronouns. These pronouns are essential for emphasizing, replacing, or referring clearly to people in conversation and writing.

What Are Pronoms Toniques?

Pronoms toniques are special pronouns used to stress the subject or object more than regular subject pronouns (like je, tu, il). They help express emphasis, clarify possession, or answer questions quickly.

Pronoms Toniques Table

SingularPlural 
MoiNous
ToiVous
LuiEux
ElleElles

Common Uses of Pronoms Toniques

  • Replacing people: They can substitute a person’s name for clarity or emphasis.
  • Quick responses to questions: For example, answering "Who is it?" with "Moi!"
  • Introducing or emphasizing a person: "C'est lui qui vient." (He is the one coming.)
  • Expressing possession or association: Especially following prepositions, as in "J'habite chez elle." (I live at her place.)

Important Notes on Usage

Pronoms toniques are often used after prepositions and in contrastive or emphatic expressions. Note that for the pronouns "elle," "eux," and "elles," a liaison is required when following a preposition. For example: "J'habite chez elle." Notice the smooth connection between "chez" and "elle."

Examples in Context

  • C'est lui qui a froid en hiver. (He is the one who is cold in winter.)
  • Quand j'ai faim, moi je mange quelque chose. (When I'm hungry, I eat something.)
  • Tu dois te reposer, prends soin de toi ! (You must rest, take care of yourself!)
  • Nous souffrons tous, mais nous sommes forts. (We all suffer, but we are strong.)
  • Elle tremble, car elle a très froid. (She is shivering because she is very cold.)
  • J'habite chez elle pendant mes vacances. (I stay at her place during my holidays.)

Differences Between English and French Pronouns

Unlike English, French uses distinct stressed pronouns to emphasize subjects or objects. English speakers usually add emphasis by changing intonation or word order, whereas French employs pronoms toniques for clarity and stress. For example, English "me" is simply a pronoun without special stress, but French distinguishes moi as the stressed form of "je."

Useful phrases to remember:

  • Moi – me (with emphasis)
  • Toi – you (informal, stressed)
  • Lui – him
  • Elle – her
  • Nous – us
  • Vous – you (formal or plural)
  • Eux – them (masculine or mixed)
  • Elles – them (feminine)

Written by

This content has been designed and reviewed by the coLanguage pedagogical team: About coLanguage

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Azéline Perrin

Bachelor Degree in Applied Foreign Languages

Université de Lorraine

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Last Updated:

Thursday, 17/07/2025 11:15