Eux, ils sont avec un frère et une sœur.

Questions & Answers about Eux, ils sont avec un frère et une sœur.

Why do we need both Eux and ils at the start of the sentence?
Eux is a stressed pronoun (meaning 'them') and ils is the subject pronoun (meaning 'they'). Using both together is a very common French trick to emphasize who you are talking about. It translates to 'Them, they are...' or 'As for them, they are...'
If the group included both men and women, would we still use Eux?
Yes! In French, the masculine plural pronouns (Eux for 'them', ils for 'they') are used for groups of men, and also for mixed groups of men and women. You only use the feminine forms (Elles, elles) for a group that is entirely female.
Is there a linking 'Z' sound between ils and sont?
No, because sont starts with a consonant. You just pronounce it 'eel son'. You only make that buzzing 'Z' connection (called a liaison) when the word after ils starts with a vowel, such as ils ont (they have).
What is going on with the spelling of sœur?
The joined 'o' and 'e' is a special letter called a ligature (œ). It tells you to make a specific combined vowel sound. If you are typing on an English keyboard and cannot find that symbol, typing soeur is usually accepted.

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