"On est"
* Impersonal: It emphasizes the action or state being general, without focusing on specific individuals. Think of it as "one is" or "people are."
* Informal: It's more casual and commonly used in spoken French.
* Often used with verbs: "On est heureux" (We are happy), "On est fatigué" (We are tired)
"Nous sommes"
* Personal: It specifically refers to the speaker and their group.
* Formal/Neutral: It's appropriate in both formal and informal settings.
* Used with adjectives and participles: "Nous sommes étudiants" (We are students), "Nous sommes arrivés" (We arrived)
Here's a breakdown:
| Phrase | Meaning | Usage |
|-----------------|---------------------------|---------------------------------------|
| On est heureux | We are happy (generally) | Informal, general statement |
| Nous sommes heureux | We are happy (specifically) | Formal or informal, personal statement |
| On est parti | We left (generally) | Informal, general statement |
| Nous sommes partis | We left (specifically) | Formal or informal, personal statement |
In summary:
* Use "on est" when you want to talk about something in a general way, without specifying who is involved.
* Use "nous sommes" when you want to refer to a specific group, including yourself.
The choice depends on the context and the level of formality you want to achieve.