Tonic Pronouns
Pronoms disjoints also called pronoms accentués (Tonic pronouns) are generally used for emphasis and always refer to a person.
They are used :
- when you have a double subject
☞ Paul et moi restons à la maison. Paul and I are staying home.
- after the preposition “à” in many expressions
☞ Ce stylo est à moi. This pen is mine,
☞ C’est très gentil de penser à nous. That’s very nice to think about us.
- after prepositions
☞ Je ne pars pas sans elle. I do not leave without her.
- alone in answer to a question or for emphasis
☞ Qui est là ? Moi ! Who’s there ? Me !
☞ Lui, il est vraiment bête ! He is really dumb.
- together with “-même”
☞ moi-même, lui-même.. myself, himself
- after c’est and ce sont
☞ Ce sont eux qui sont venus ici . They are the ones who came here.
- with the negative adverb ne… que and conjunction ne… ni… ni
☞ Je ne prends qu’elle dans mon équipe ! I’m only taking her in my team!
The tonic pronouns are as follows:
Note that with the tonic pronouns, you must distinguish between masculine and feminine in the third person singular and plural
☞ – Tu viens chez moi ? You’re coming to my place?
…….- Non, je vais chez elle ! No, I’m going to her place!
Practice