Religious Celebrations: Grammar (AQA GCSE French): Revision Note
Exam code: 8652
To talk about what happens generally (e.g. during religious celebrations) rather than what specific people do, on is a very useful pronoun. Let's look at this grammar point in more detail.
Use of on
Use of on
Use the French word on to mean ‘we’ or ‘you’ in general
It is often used instead of nous, especially in speaking
It can also mean ‘people (in general)’ and ‘they’
Use the same verb endings as the il / elle form
-er verbs | -ir verbs | -re verbs |
danse | choisit | vend- (no ending added) |
On danse dans la rue. | On choisit un cadeau de Noël. | On vend des cartes. |
People dance in the street. | We’re choosing a Christmas present. | They sell cards. |
Some verbs have an irregular on form:
on croit en Dieu
they believe in God
on va a l’église
we go to church
on reçoit des cadeaux
you get presents
Use on in constructions with modal verbs to mean ‘you’ in general:
on doit aller à l'église
you must go to church
on peut visiter le temple
you can visit the temple
Examiner Tips and Tricks
When translating on into English, think about the context. There may be more than one correct possible translation.
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