In: Level A0, Verbs Tenses & Conjugation, Élision

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 11 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.

Like011 months ago

AngelaA0Kwiziq community member

silent h

Like08 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 2 years 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 !

Like22 years ago

LizbetyA0Kwiziq community member

i understand now,thank you madam

Like01 year ago

Marathuduwa gamage asked:View original