The personal stressed pronouns or “toniques” are personal pronouns that are used in order to emphasize a noun or a personal pronoun that refers to a person, an animal or a thing.
For example:
Moi, je m’appelle Julie.
My name is Julie.
Il est toujours là, lui.
He is always here.
Moi, j’ai toujours dit que ce type ne m’inspire pas confiance.
I always said that I don’t trust this guy.
Je ne vois pas où est le problème, moi.
I don’t see where the problem is.
Eux, ils ont toujours été présents.
They have always been there.
La mélancolie, elle, est omniprésente.
The melancholy is always present.
2. As an apposition to the the direct object or the indirect object
Moi, il m’appelle tout le temps.
He calls me all the time.
On le laisse tranquille, lui.
They don’t bother him.
3. After a preposition
C’est mon tour! Non ce n’est pas ton tour. C’est son tour à lui.
It’s my turn! Non, it’s not. It’s his turn.
Les invités sont rentrés chez eux.
The guests went home.
Où est le chat? Il est derrière toi.
Where is the cat? It is behind you.
4. After a comparative
Ton frère est plus grand que moi.
Your brother is taller than me.
Il n’est pas aussi riche que ses amis, mais il a plus de qualités qu’eux.
He is not as wealthy as his friends, but he has more qualities than they(do).
Elle nous a causé moins de problèmes que lui.
She caused us less trouble than he(did).
5. After a positive imperative (but only for the first and second personal singular)
Regarde-moi dans les yeux et dis-moi la vérité.
Look me in the in eyes and tell me the truth.
Ressaisis-toi Sébastien. C’est pas le moment d’abandonner.
Pull yourself together Sébastien. It’s not the time to give up.
Personal Stressed Pronouns | |
| 1st person singular | moi |
| 2nd person singular | toi |
| 3rd person singular masculine | lui |
| 3rd person singular feminine | elle |
| 1st person plural | nous |
| 2nd person plural | vous |
| 3rd person plural masculine | eux |
| 3rd person plural feminine | elles |
The Personal Stressed Pronouns are used for several purposes:
1. As an apposition to the subject and it emphasizes the subject. You can put the personal pronoun stressed at the beginning of the sentence or at the end of the sentence.For example:
Moi, je m’appelle Julie.
My name is Julie.
Il est toujours là, lui.
He is always here.
Moi, j’ai toujours dit que ce type ne m’inspire pas confiance.
I always said that I don’t trust this guy.
Je ne vois pas où est le problème, moi.
I don’t see where the problem is.
Eux, ils ont toujours été présents.
They have always been there.
La mélancolie, elle, est omniprésente.
The melancholy is always present.
2. As an apposition to the the direct object or the indirect object
Moi, il m’appelle tout le temps.
He calls me all the time.
On le laisse tranquille, lui.
They don’t bother him.
3. After a preposition
C’est mon tour! Non ce n’est pas ton tour. C’est son tour à lui.
It’s my turn! Non, it’s not. It’s his turn.
Les invités sont rentrés chez eux.
The guests went home.
Où est le chat? Il est derrière toi.
Where is the cat? It is behind you.
4. After a comparative
Ton frère est plus grand que moi.
Your brother is taller than me.
Il n’est pas aussi riche que ses amis, mais il a plus de qualités qu’eux.
He is not as wealthy as his friends, but he has more qualities than they(do).
Elle nous a causé moins de problèmes que lui.
She caused us less trouble than he(did).
5. After a positive imperative (but only for the first and second personal singular)
Regarde-moi dans les yeux et dis-moi la vérité.
Look me in the in eyes and tell me the truth.
Ressaisis-toi Sébastien. C’est pas le moment d’abandonner.
Pull yourself together Sébastien. It’s not the time to give up.