French Grammar Explained /
We - How to use "on"
Avec Éric on va au Mexique cet été.
We're going to Mexico with Eric this summer.
Hier, on m'a offert des fleurs.
Yesterday, someone offered me flowers.
Au Canada on mange de la poutine.
In Canada, people eat poutine.
Do you notice anything special about these examples?
Well, it seems that you focussed on on!
In French, using the subject pronoun on can be very convenient, as it is used to replace three types of people:
Nous (we).
Quelqu'un (someone).
Les gens (people).
How weird!
I'll admit, it can sound strange for other people, but it's actually good news for you.
I doubt it, but go on.
See, when you'd like to talk about people in general, on is very useful since it prevents you from needing more details about the subject:
Les Belges mangent des frites en Belgique.
⇒ On mange des frites en Belgique.
Belgians eat fries in Belgium.
⇒ People eat fries in Belgium.
Sandra, Marc, Lucie et moi partons à Bali demain.
⇒ On part à Bali demain.
Sandra, Marc, Lucie and I leave for Bali tomorrow.
⇒ We leave for Bali tomorrow.
Quelqu'un dans le bus m'a volé mon sac.
⇒ On m'a volé mon sac.
Someone on the bus stole my bag.
⇒ Someone stole my bag.
So...? Isn't that easy?
It looks like French is lazy, but it doesn't seem easier at all.
You'll see that with a little practice it'll become obvious! Just know that francophone people use on a lot.
Watch out when using the on!
Unlike nous, it is conjugated with the third person singular (il, elle):
On partons en France à Noël. ⇒ On part en France à Noël.