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Questions & Answers about Je suis Paul et tu es Marie.
Why do we use Je suis instead of Je es?
In French, the verb être (to be) is conjugated differently depending on the subject pronoun. With je, the correct form is suis (I am), whereas es is used only with tu (you). So Je suis literally translates to I am.
What is the difference between tu es and vous êtes?
Both tu es and vous êtes mean you are, but tu es is used in informal or singular situations—speaking directly to one friend or family member—while vous êtes is used for more formal or plural contexts, such as addressing someone respectfully or talking to multiple people at once.
Can we omit the subject pronoun in French, like in Spanish or Italian?
No, in modern standard French you must always include the subject pronoun, because the verb ending alone usually doesn't clarify who is performing the action. So you need to say Je suis (I am) rather than omitting je.
Why do we use et between Je suis Paul and tu es Marie?
Et means and in French. It's used to connect clauses, just like in English. Here it’s a simple way to link two statements: Je suis Paul and tu es Marie.
How are Je suis and tu es pronounced, and is the final 's' silent?
• Je suis: pronounced roughly as zhuh swee. The s in suis does make a slight s sound.
• Tu es: pronounced as tyu ay. The s in es is not pronounced because there isn’t one—es ends in a silent -s. The main sound is the ay vowel.
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