Certain(e)s d'entre eux/elles = Some of them (French Indefinite Pronouns)

Written by Qualified French Expert Aurélie Drouard HKH, Licence d'anglais LLCE

Last updated: 2022-10-20

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Indefinite pronouns refer to people or things without saying exactly who or what they are. "Certain(e)s d'entre eux/elles" is part of the indefinite pronouns.

How to use the indefinite pronouns certain(e)s d'entre eux/elles in French

Look at these sentences:

Certaines d'entre elles avaient un pique-niqueSome of them (all female group) had a packed lunch

Certains d'entre eux ont refusé d'y allerSome of them (mixed or male group) refused to go there

As-tu rencontré ces filles?
-Oui, J'ai rencontré certaines d'entre elles.Did you meet these girls?
-Yes, I met some of them.

Tu vois ces mecs?
-Oui, je connais certains d'entre eux.Do you see these guys?
-Yes, I know some of them.

To talk about a portion of a group ('some of them'), we use the indefinite pronouns "certains/certaines" followed by "d'entre eux/d'entre elles"

Note that these pronouns agree with the gender of the group they refer to (if it is a mixed group, it will be "certains d'entre eux"

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