Which form of the conjugated verb to pick between nous/vous/ils/elles in cases with multiple subjects (French Subject Pronouns)

Written by Qualified French Expert Aurélie Drouard HKH, Licence d'anglais LLCE
Last updated: 2022-11-01
33 questions

In French, you have to be careful how to conjugate a verb when it has several subjects. 

Learn how to conjugate verbs with multiple subjects in French

Look at these sentences:

Jean et moi sommes allés au cinéma.Jean and I went to the cinema.

Sarah et ma soeur sont allées à la plage.Sarah and my sister went to the beach.

M. Dupont et Mme Vichy vont au bureau.Mr Dupont and Mrs Vichy are going to the office.

Louise et toi êtes allés au cinémaLouise and you went to the cinema.

Lucie et moi allons au cinéma tous les mercredis.Lucie and I go to the cinema every Wednesday.

Notice that when more than one person is the subject of a verb (does the action), that verb conjugates in one of the three plural forms in French (nous, vous, ils / elles).

person(s) + person(s) = ils or elles

person(s) + toi = vous

person(s) + moi  =  nous

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Examples and resources

Jean et moi sommes allés au cinéma.Jean and I went to the cinema.
Lucie et moi allons au cinéma tous les mercredis.Lucie and I go to the cinema every Wednesday.
Louise et toi êtes allés au cinémaLouise and you went to the cinema.
M. Dupont et Mme Vichy vont au bureau.Mr Dupont and Mrs Vichy are going to the office.
Sarah et ma soeur sont allées à la plage.Sarah and my sister went to the beach.
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