Look at these two examples:

Je suis grand.
I am tall.

J'ai vingt ans.
I am twenty.

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

Élision

Examples and resources

J'ai vingt ans.
I am twenty.

Je suis grand.
I am tall.

J'habite à Londres.

I live in London.

J'aime les bonbons.
I like sweets.

Q&A Forum 3 questions, 5 answers

RyanA0Kwiziq community member

If Je becomes j' with verbs beginning with a vowel..

Then how come an example is ‘J’habite à Londres?’

Asked 6 months ago

Like0Answer2

CécileKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

Hi Ryan,

Well spotted ...if you re-read the lesson you will see that the elision happens before vowels or a silent -h which means it behaves as if it wasn’t there at all....

This is the case for - J’habite à Londres.

Like06 months ago

AngelaA0Kwiziq community member

silent h

Like03 months ago

Ryan asked:View original

If Je becomes j' with verbs beginning with a vowel..

Then how come an example is ‘J’habite à Londres?’

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Marathuduwa gamageA0Kwiziq community member

How to change je suis to j

Asked 1 year ago

Like0Answer2

AurélieKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

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 !

Like21 year ago

LizbetyA0Kwiziq community member

i understand now,thank you madam

Like01 year ago

Marathuduwa gamage asked:View original