Look at these two examples:
J'habite à Londres.
I live in London.
Notice that the pronoun je ('I' in English) becomes j' when used in front of verbs beginning with a vowel (a, e, i, o, or u) or a silent 'h'.
This contraction changes the pronunciation and is called elision.
Learn more about these related French grammar topics
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Q&A
Aurélie
Kwiziq language super star
17/11/17
Bonjour !
"suis" doesn't start with a vowel, so you won't need to contract "je" here : it will always be "je suis".
However, you will use j' with verbs like : avoir, aimer, habiter, entendre, écouter, oublier, inventer, utiliser ...
I hope that's helpful!
À bientôt !
"suis" doesn't start with a vowel, so you won't need to contract "je" here : it will always be "je suis".
However, you will use j' with verbs like : avoir, aimer, habiter, entendre, écouter, oublier, inventer, utiliser ...
I hope that's helpful!
À bientôt !
Lizbety
Kwiziq community member
8/10/18
i understand now,thank you madam
Laura
Kwiziq language super star
22/07/16
I find that hard to believe, but the grammar is perfect. :-)
Ryan
Kwiziq community member
8 April 2019
1 reply
If Je becomes j' with verbs beginning with a vowel..
Then how come an example is ‘J’habite à Londres?’
Cécile
Kwiziq language super star
9 April 2019
9/04/19
Hi Ryan,
Well spotted ...if you re-read the lesson you will see that the elision happens before vowels or a silent -h ( also known as -h aspirate) which means it behaves as if it wasn’t there at all....
This is the case for - J’habite à Londres.