I was taking a test and I still don't understand when to use on vs. nous. They seem to be interchangeable. Can you give more examples?
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I was taking a test and I still don't understand when to use on vs. nous. They seem to be interchangeable. Can you give more examples?
Hi Jonathon,
As stated in the lesson 'nous' is more formal and in conversation the French will use 'on' to mean the same . It is preferred as it is easier to say and you need at the very least to be able to recognise it.
As for examples, I remember the night Miterrand won his first Presidential election in 1981, bringing the Socialists into power, people in the street chanting: 'On a gagné' repeatedly which is much easier to chant than 'Nous avons gagné' for 'We have won' !
Allez , on y va! (Come on, let's go !)
Hope this helps!
The explanation is given in the two green boxes in the lesson. Can you tell me what specifically is unclear?
-- Chris.
In everyday French, one hears more on than nous. The latter is more formal. But if you want an impersonal "we", your only option is on.
-- Chris (not a native speaker).
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