Answers>French>IB>Article

When should the pronouns "tu" or "vous be used?

The pronoun "tu" is used in informal contexts. Situations where it should be used include:

  • when you are speaking to someone in an age group close to yours

  • when you are speaking to someone you know well (friends, family)

The pronoun "vous" is more formal. It is used when:

  • you are speaking to someone who is significantly older than you

  • you are speaking ot someone who is "superior" to you hierarchically (a colleague/boss, teacher)

  • someone you don't know at all or just met 

When in doubt, use "vous" until the person you are addressing allows you to use "tu".

LC

Related French IB answers

All answers ▸

French A HL Language and Literature: How do you structure Paper 1


Write about your holidays in French using past tenses such as "passé simple", "passé composé" and "imparfait de l'indicatif" (10 lines).


What does the expression 'Il pleut comme une vache qui pisse' translate to in English?


Les journalistes peuvent-ils être tout à fait objectifs ?