On : we
Look at these examples:
On est très proches, ma soeur et moi.
We are very close, my sister and I.
On va au cinéma ce soir
We're going to the cinema tonight.
This use of "on" is for a specific group of people of which you're part: e.g. 'My friends and I'.
Here "on" is equivalent in meaning to "nous" (we), though they aren't followed by the same conjugation of the verb:
See also Nous vs on (subject pronouns)
On : one/you/people
You can also use 'on' in a more general sense like this:
Here "on" includes Men/people in general, or can be a theoretical statement such as"one <does that>".
This form is often used when expressing rules such as:
Learn more about these related French grammar topics
Examples and resources
Nous sommes gentils.
We're nice.
On ne doit pas parler la bouche pleine.
People mustn't speak with their mouths full.
on = one/you/people/we
Si on travaille dur, on gagne plus
If you work hard you earn more
on = we
On est très proches, ma soeur et moi.
We are very close, my sister and I.
On va au cinéma ce soir
We're going to the cinema tonight.
on = we/us
Q&A
Chris
Kwiziq community member
3/04/18
"On" can be used as an informal "we" or a more impersonal, general subject like the English "one". Depending on which one it is, one uses either the plural (when used as "we") or the singular (when used as "one").
On est allés au cinéma hier soir. -- We went to the movies yesterday evening.
Olivier et moi, on est mariés. -- Oliver and I, we are married.
Quand on est poli, on accueille les invités. -- If one is polite, one welcomes the guests.
The first two sentences are examples of "on" meaning "we"; the last one features "on" as "one".
-- Chris (not a native speaker).
H
Kwiziq community member
3/04/18
Judy
Kwiziq community member
17/03/18
Chris
Kwiziq community member
17/03/18
Hi Judy,
the lesson is about "on", hence I suspect the answer is looking for a construction using it.
On sort -- Are we going out.
Nous sortons? -- Are we going out (using nous in place of on).
Va-t-on sortir? -- Are we going to go out?
Allons-nous sortir? Are we going to go out (using nous).
"Allons-nous sort" is incorrect because need the infinitive (sortir) after the conjugated verb. "Sortir" means "to go out" it can't be used as an adjective for "out".
-- Chris (not a native speaker).
Judy
Kwiziq community member
19/03/18
Aurélie
Kwiziq language super star
31/10/17
"Va" is indeed the form for "il/elle" but also for "on".
Think of "on" as an equivalent to the general "one" (both are singular words, but refer to more than one person):
We go to the beach.
One goes to the beach.
See also :
https://kwiziq.learnfrenchwithalexa.com/revision/grammar/subject-pronouns-nous-versus-on
I hope that's helpful!
À bientôt !
Ron
Kwiziq community member
22/10/17
Here is another locution that uses «avec» :
Les gens ne devraient pas parler avec leur bouche pleine
In fact, here is another translation to the phrase in your question:
«On ne doit pas parler la bouche pleine» --> You do not have to talk with your mouth full .
As can be seen from the different locutions, they say similar things in a different way, i.e. don't talk with your mouth full.
After I reread the lesson, I better understand the syntax:
«You can also use 'on' in a more general sense like this:
Si on travaille dur, on gagne plus
If you work hard you earn more
Here "on" includes Men/people in general, or can be a theoretical statement such as"one
This form is often used WHEN EXPRESSING RULES such as:
On ne doit pas parler la bouche pleine.
People shouldn't speak with their mouths full.»
What I get from this as a takeaway is this:
«On» is being used in a general sense in a politeness rule; sometimes in stating a rule, the very valid French grammar is not always adhered to and the lesson is on the use of «on» not about the use of «la bouche pleine» nor about «avec la bouche pleine».
If we write this in l'imperatif this is the phrase:
«Ne parle pas la bouche pleine» or «Ne parlez pas avec la bouche pleine».
J'espère que ma réponse vous aiderait.
Bonne chance et bonne continuation dans vos études en français, la langue de Molière et qui a été utilisé par le monde français depuis l’époque d’Hugues Capet
Ron (un locuteur non natif )
Chris
Kwiziq community member
23/10/17
-- Chris (not a native speaker).
Ron
Kwiziq community member
17/10/17
Bien que je comprends votre frustration en essayant à gagner le bouclier d’argent, j'en ai gagné.
Alors, c'est possible, bien sûr !
Bonne chance et bonne continuation dans vos efforts
Chris
Kwiziq community member
19/10/17
Gruff
Kwiziq language super star
14/10/17
dave
Kwiziq community member
23 September 2017
2 replies
I'm seeing "1 of 0" questions on this page, is this right?
Ron
Kwiziq community member
23/09/17
I would suggest to try reloading the page. When I pulled up the lesson it is showing 1 of 2 questions.
Laura
Kwiziq language super star
23/09/17
Thanks so much for letting us know, I'll pass this info on to tech support.
If you run into any other issues, please email us at info@kwiziq.com
Aurélie
Kwiziq language super star
17/07/17
With most expressions regarding body parts - with your eyes shut, with your mouth full... - in French, you will not use avec, and simply the definite article (le/la/les) rather than the possessive:
Je dors les yeux fermés.
I sleep with my eyes shut.
Elle le regarde la bouche ouverte.
She's looking at him with her mouth open.
Have a look at our related lesson:
https://kwiziq.learnfrenchwithalexa.com/revision/grammar/using-le-la-les-with-body-parts-and-clothing-definite-articles
I hope that's helpful!
À bientôt !
Aurélie
Kwiziq language super star
15/05/17
Here, the French sentence literally reads as "You wouldn't give her 90 years.", which echoes the notion of doubt contained in "You *wouldn't* think she is 90.".
Both sentences are in the conditional here, to express uncertainty.
I hope that's helpful!
À bientôt !
Nigel
Kwiziq community member
16/01/18
But I don't understand why the other example used isn't also in the conditional i.e. " people shouldn't speak with their mouths full" : " on ne doit pas parler la bouche pleine". Why isn't the English translation "people mustn't eat with their mouths full"?
Aurélie
Kwiziq language super star
18/01/18
You are absolutely right on this one :)
I've now edited the English to match the French, thanks to you.
Merci et à bientôt !
Maloyendra
Kwiziq community member
4 May 2018
1 reply
Can't find any micro kwiz here - shows a blank space after "1 of 0"
Gruff
Kwiziq language super star
7 May 2018
7/05/18