Indefinite pronouns and adjectives (chacun, certains)

The Pronoun "Chacun" (Each One)

When organizing a group, you often need to refer to individuals without naming them. The pronoun chacun means "each one" or "everyone". It stands alone to replace a person, and it always takes a singular verb.

The Adjective "Certains" (Some / Certain)

To talk about a specific but unnamed part of a group, use certains ("some" or "certain"). When used as an adjective, it is placed right before a plural noun.

Adjective vs. Pronoun: Chaque vs. Chacun

While chacun is a pronoun that replaces a noun, chaque ("each" or "every") is an adjective that must be followed directly by a singular noun.

Notice in the examples above how chaque is followed by the noun participant, but chacun stands completely alone as the subject of the sentence.

Gender Agreement with "Certains"

Like most French adjectives, certains must agree in gender with the noun it modifies. For masculine or mixed groups, use certains. For strictly feminine nouns, use certaines.

Delegating Tasks

These indefinite words are perfect for dividing up tasks. Just like chacun, the word certains can also act as a standalone pronoun meaning "some" or "some people". When used as a subject, it takes a plural verb.

Here is how a host (l'animateur) might assign who is taking charge of (se charger de) the workshop details. Notice how these pronouns can be used as both the object receiving an action, or the subject performing it.