Pronouns: Disjunctive Pronouns — French Grammar

Disjunctive pronouns (also called stress pronouns or emphatic pronouns) are strong forms used when a pronoun stands alone, follows a preposition, or needs to be emphasized. Unlike subject pronouns (like or ), which must always be connected to a verb, disjunctive pronouns are independent.

Here are the forms corresponding to the subject pronouns:

becomes (me)
becomes (you)
becomes (him)
remains (her)
remains (us)
remains (you)
becomes (them - masculine)
remains (them - feminine)

After Prepositions

This is the most common grammatical function. Whenever a pronoun follows a preposition (such as , , , , , or ), you must use the disjunctive form. You cannot use subject pronouns here.

Je vais au cinéma avec lui.
I am going to the cinema with him.
Ce cadeau est pour toi.
This gift is for you.
Ils ne peuvent pas partir sans nous.
They cannot leave without us.

For Emphasis and Contrast

Spoken language often uses these pronouns to emphasize the subject. Since vocal stress is not used in the same way as in English (e.g., "I think so"), the disjunctive pronoun is placed before the subject pronoun to create this effect. This is also used to contrast one person with another.

Moi, je préfère le thé.
Me, I prefer tea. (As for me, I prefer tea.)
Lui, il est très grand.
Him, he is very tall.
Toi, tu travailles, mais eux, ils dorment.
You are working, but them, they are sleeping.

Standing Alone or in Short Answers

When a pronoun is used without a verb, such as in a one-word answer to a question, the disjunctive form is required.

Qui veut du gâteau ? Moi !
Who wants cake? Me!
Qui a fait ça ? Lui.
Who did that? Him.
Pas elle.
Not her.

After "C'est" and "Ce sont"

When identifying people using the verb (to be) in the structures (it is) or (they are), use the disjunctive pronoun.

C'est moi.
It's me.
C'est lui qui a gagné.
It is him who won.
Ce sont eux.
It is them.

Compound Subjects and Comparisons

If a sentence has multiple subjects joined by "and" or "or", use the disjunctive pronouns. Similarly, use them after in comparisons.

Toi et moi, nous sommes amis.
You and I are friends.
Marie et lui sont arrivés.
Marie and he arrived.
Tu es plus rapide que moi.
You are faster than me.

In the course

Sentences from Lingora’s French course

16 of the course's 500 sentences use this, the first in lesson 5. A few of them, with the words “Pronouns: Disjunctive Pronouns” is about in bold:

J'ai acheté une douzaine d'œufs et une barre chocolatée pour toi aussi.
I bought a dozen eggs and a candy bar for you too.
Lesson 47
Je veux rentrer chez moi maintenant.
I want to go home now.
Lesson 71

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