The pronoun 'on' can be tricky in French because it doesn't have an exact equivalent in English, and it is highly flexible. It looks a little like the pronoun 'one' in English, and it can be used in this way.
After all, it does take a third person singular verb in just the same way. However, this is perhaps the least common use of 'on', which in the right context can be used in place of any of the subject pronouns (although it will always take a third-person singular verb). In place of 'nous' Most commonly, it replaces 'nous' ('we'):
is the same as saying
('On' is used a huge amount to mean 'nous' in spoken French. The pronoun 'nous' is in fact becoming less and less common in spoken French.) The following conversation was once heard coming out of a soccer match in which the referee made a disputed decision:
and so on, all the way to the nearest café. This doesn't make any sense if you're still thinking that 'on' is used like 'one' in English, as a polite, modest way of referring to oneself. Remember, soccer fans are rarely polite, and never modest (especially to the opposing team).
not,
Other examples of 'on' replacing 'nous': Quand j'avais ton âge, on n'avait pas d'ordinateurs, on n'avait pas de télé, on n'avait même pas de chauffage central, mais on vivait heureux. (When I was your age, we didn't have computers, we didn't have TV, we didn't even have central heating, but we were happy.) In place of 'ils' 'On' is also fairly commonly used to mean 'ils', especially in those vague statements that convey rumours and popular wisdom.
Although 'on' can be used in place of the other subject pronouns as well, it is only commonly used to replace 'nous' and 'ils' On in place of other subject pronouns 'On' can replace 'je', especially in more polite language, especially by royalty:
'On' can replace 'tu', especially trying to be warm and fuzzy and inclusive (especially to kids):
'On' can replace 'il' or 'elle', especially in a more elevated style of French:
'On' can replace 'vous', especially in polite, written language:
But remember that these are all very rare. 'On' most commonly replaces 'nous'.
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