Object Pronouns

Affirmative Sentence: Je la regarde. Je le lui dis. Il l'a regardé.

Affirmative Sentence: I watch her/it, I am watching her/it. I say it to him/her, I am saying it to him. He watched him/it.

After the verb laisser and verbs of perception plus an infinitive, the direct object precedes the conjugated verb.

After the verb laisser and verbs of perception plus an infinitive, the direct object precedes the conjugated verb.

Est-ce que vous achetez ce livre? Non. Je le regarde tout simplement.

Are you buying that book? No. I'm just looking at it.

Vous allez téléphoner aux parents ? Je vais leur téléphoner ce soir. S'ils ne sont pas là, vous pouvez leur laisser un message au répondeur.

Are you going to call Mom and Dad? Yes. I'm going to call them this evening. If they're not there, you can leave them a message on the answering machine.

Vous pouvez nous deposer en ville? Je regrette, mais je ne peux pas vous prendre.

Can you drop us off downtown? I'm sorry, but I can't take you.

Compound Tenses. In compound tenses, direct object pronouns precede the auxiliary verb. Also note that the past participle agrees in gender and number with a direct object noun or pronoun that precedes it.

Compound Tenses. In compound tenses, direct object pronouns precede the auxiliary verb. Also note that the past participle agrees in gender and number with a direct object noun or pronoun that precedes it.

Direct Object Pronouns. Direct object pronouns replace things and people that directly follow a verb — i.e., without a preposition (e.g., I see John, I open my book)

Direct Object Pronouns. Direct object pronouns replace things and people that directly follow a verb — i.e., without a preposition (e.g., I see John, I open my book)

Vous aimez ces nouvelles chansons? Pas du tout. Je les déteste.

Do you like these new songs? Not at all. I hate them.

Tu penses qu'il est bon pour elle? Non je ne le pense pas.

Do you think [that] he is good for her? No, I don't think so.

Croyez-vous qu'il arrive ce soir? Oui, je le crois.

Do you think [that] he will arrive tonight? Yes, I think so.

Tu veux venir à la piscine? Oui, je le veux.

Do you want to come to the swimming pool? Yes, I want to / I'd like that.

me / te / nous / vous (DOP/IOP) le / la / l' / les (DOP outliers) lui / leur (IOP outliers) y en

Double Object Pronouns -- Sequence

Donne-la-moi. Achète-le-toi. But: Donnez-m'en. Achète-t'en.

Give it to me. Buy it for yourself. But: Give me some (of it). Buy yourself some (of it).

Donne du pain. Donnes-en.

Give some brad. Give some of it.

Donne de la soupe à l'enfant. Donne-lui-en.

Give some soup to the child. Give him some (of it).

Donne le jouet à l'enfant. Donne-le-lui.

Give the gift to the child. Gift it to him.

Va au cinéma. Vas-y.

Go to the movie theater. Go there/Go ahead.

Va au parc. Vas-y.

Go to the park. Go there/Go ahead.

As-tu vu Daniel ? Je l'ai cherché, mais je ne l'ai pas trouvé.

Have you seen Daniel? I looked for him, but I didn't find him.

Il me demande de ne pas faire le travail. Il me demande de ne pas le faire.

He asks me not to do the work, He is asking me not to do the work. He asks me not to do it, He is asking me not to do it.

Il me le donne.

He gives it to me.

Il m'en donne.

He gives some to me.

Il est moins intelligent que je ne le pensais.

He is less intelligent than I thought (he was).

Il nous y rencontre.

He meets us there.

Il nous les montre.

He shows them to us.

Il te la dit.

He tells it to you.

Il me dit d'acheter le CD. Il me di de l'acheter.

He tells me to buy the CD, He is telling me to buy the CD. He tells me to buy it, He is telling me to buy it.

Je vais parler de cela à Jean. Je vais lui en parler.

I am going to talk about that to Jean. I am going to talk to him about that.

Je suis content et elle l'est aussi.

I am happy and she is (happy) too.

Je me demande si c'est possible.

I ask myself if it's possible.

Je le lui donne.

I give it to him.

Je la déteste.

I hate her / it.

J'entends chanter la chanson. Je l'entends chanter.

I hear the song being sung. I hear it being sung.

J'ai entendu Hélène chanter la chanson. Je l'ai entendue chanter la chanson. Je l'ai entendue la chanter. But: J'ai entendu chanter la chanson. Je l'ai entendu chanter.

I heard Hélène sing the song. I heard her singing the song. I heard her singing it. But: I heard the song being sung. I heard it being sung.

Je laisse Marie finir le travail. Je la laisse finir le travail.

I let Marie finish the work. I let her finish the work.

Je vois Hélène coudre la robe. Je la vois coudre la robe. Je vois Hélène la coudre. Je la vois la voudre.

I see Hélène sewing the dress. I see her sewing the dress. I see Hélène sewing it. I see her sewing it.

Je me les lave tous les jours.

I wash them every night.

Je vous l'écris.

I write it to you.

Je me brosse les dents. Je me les brosse.

I'm brushing my teeth. I'm brushing them.

Je suis content et elles le sont aussi.

I'm happy and they are too.

Je lui parle. Vous lui demandez quelque chose.

I'm speaking to him. You're asking him / her something.

Je te parle.

I'm speeking to you.

Je vous attends.

I'm waiting for you.

In affirmative commands, object pronouns follow the verb and are joined to it with a hyphen. Me/te become moi/toi following the imperative form.

In affirmative commands, object pronouns follow the verb and are joined to it with a hyphen. Me/te become moi/toi following the imperative form.

In compound tenses, the past participle agrees with the preceding pronoun object only if this pronoun is the subject of the infinitive — i.e., the object performs the action expressed by the infinitive.

In compound tenses, the past participle agrees with the preceding pronoun object only if this pronoun is the subject of the infinitive — i.e., the object performs the action expressed by the infinitive.

Indirect Object Pronouns. An indirect object is the person to whom or for whom an action is done, usually connected to the verb by the preposition à. The indirect object indicates the person the action of the verb is destined to or for — e.g., I write to John, We give gifts to our friends, etc. In French, indirect object pronouns refer only to people (lui — him & her).

Indirect Object Pronouns. An indirect object is the person to whom or for whom an action is done, usually connected to the verb by the preposition à. The indirect object indicates the person the action of the verb is destined to or for — e.g., I write to John, We give gifts to our friends, etc. In French, indirect object pronouns refer only to people (lui — him & her).

J'ai peur de nos professeurs. J'ai peur des avions.

J'ai peur d'eux. J'en ai peur.

Je me fie à ce médecin. Je me fie à ce dictionnaire.

Je me fie à lui. Je m'y fie.

me te lui nous vous leur

List indirect object pronouns: to me to you to him / her to us to you to them

me te le / la nous vous les

List the direct objects: me you him / her / it us you them

Negative Command: Ne le regarde pas! Ne la lui donne pas!

Negative Command: Don't look at him/it! Don't give it to him/her!

Negative Question: Ne l'entendez-vous pas? Est-ce que vous ne l'entendez pas? Ne l'avez-vous pas attendu? Est-ce que vous ne l'avez pas attendu? Ne la lui apportez-vous pas? Est-ce que vous ne la lui apportez pas? Ne la lui avez-vous pas apportée? Est-ce que vous ne la lui avez pas apportée?

Negative Question: Do you not hear him/her/it, Are you not hearing him/her/it? Did you not wait for him/her/it? Are you not bringing it to him/her? Did you not bring it to him/her, Have you not brought it to him/her?

Negative Sentence: Je ne l'écoute pas. Je ne le lui donne pas. Je ne le lui ai pas donné.

Negative Sentence: I don't listen to him/her/it, I am not listening to him/her/it. I don't give it to him/her, I am not giving it to him/her. I didn't give it to him/her.

Note that all commands that end in a vowel add -s when followed by the pronouns y or en.

Note that all commands that end in a vowel add -s when followed by the pronouns y or en.

Note: Because the above is always the order, some sentences may be indistinguishable from one another. Both: "Je le lui donne."

Note: Because the above is always the order, some sentences may be indistinguishable from one another. I give it to him. I give him to it.

Note: In the sentence je l'ai entendu la chanter a woman is singing, and therefore the past participle agrees. In the expression je l'ai entendu chanter, the past participle does not agree since chanson is the object of chanter.

Note: In the sentence je l'ai entendu la chanter a woman is singing, and therefore the past participle agrees. In the expression je l'ai entendu chanter, the past participle does not agree since chanson is the object of chanter.

Nous nous approchons de notre père. Nous nous approchons de la ville.

Nous nous approchons de lui. Nous nous en approchons.

Object pronouns in affirmative commands.

Object pronouns in affirmative commands.

Placement — Infinitives. When a verb is followed by an infinitive, the direct object pronoun comes before the conjugated verb of which it is the direct object — usually the infinitive.

Placement — Infinitives. When a verb is followed by an infinitive, the direct object pronoun comes before the conjugated verb of which it is the direct object — usually the infinitive.

Position. Indirect object pronouns follow the same rules for position as direct object pronouns — i.e., indirect object pronouns precede the conjugated verb (including the auxiliary verb in compound tenses).

Position. Indirect object pronouns follow the same rules for position as direct object pronouns — i.e., indirect object pronouns precede the conjugated verb (including the auxiliary verb in compound tenses).

Prepositional Verbs. Several verbs that take indirect objects in English take direct objects in French.

Prepositional Verbs. Several verbs that take indirect objects in English take direct objects in French.

Reflexive Pronoun + Direct Object Pronoun. Reflexive pronouns precede direct object pronouns. Both go before the conjugated verb. me/te/se/nous/vous/se precede le/la/l'/les

Reflexive Pronoun + Direct Object Pronoun. Reflexive pronouns precede direct object pronouns. Both go before the conjugated verb. me/te/se/nous/vous/se precede le/la/l'/les

Replacing Adjectives. When you don't want to repeat an adjective, use the object pronoun le to replace it. Cannot omit le; le never agrees in gender or number.

Replacing Adjectives. When you don't want to repeat an adjective, use the object pronoun le to replace it. Cannot omit le; le never agrees in gender or number.

Replacing Nouns. When the same idea is talked about more than once, it's usually replaced with a pronoun the second time. Use le to replace m. nouns or a whole idea (even if idea contains a f. noun). Note: This pronoun replaces ideas introduced mostly by que.

Replacing Nouns. When the same idea is talked about more than once, it's usually replaced with a pronoun the second time. Use le to replace m. nouns or a whole idea (even if idea contains a f. noun). Note: This pronoun replaces ideas introduced mostly by que.

Restrictions on the use of object pronouns. The object pronouns me/te/nous/vous/lui/leur (which all refer solely to animate nouns) cannot follow a reflexive pronoun. The reflexive pronoun à followed by a disjunctive pronoun must be used instead. If the noun is inanimate, use y. In addition, en cannot replace de + animate noun when de is a preposition that is part of a verbal expression (e.g., avoir peur de / s'approcher de).Instead, disjunctive pronouns must be used after de.

Restrictions on the use of object pronouns. The object pronouns me/te/nous/vous/lui/leur (which all refer solely to animate nouns) cannot follow a reflexive pronoun. The reflexive pronoun à followed by a disjunctive pronoun must be used instead. If the noun is inanimate, use y. In addition, en cannot replace de + animate noun when de is a preposition that is part of a verbal expression (e.g., avoir peur de / s'approcher de).Instead, disjunctive pronouns must be used after de.

Elle la leur apporte.

She brings it to them.

Elle lui en donne.

She givers some to him.

Elle se le fait faire.

She has it made.

Elle l'a fait construire par Monsieur Dupont. Elle la lui fait construire.

She i shaving Mr. Dupont build it. She is having him build it.

Elle fait construire une maison. Elle la fait construire.

She is having a house built. She is having it built.

Elle se le rappelled.

She remembers it.

Les parents de cet enfant ont de la chance. Il leur obéit toujours. C'est vrai. Il ne leur désobéit jamais.

That child's parents are lucky. He always obeys them. That's true. He never disobeys them.

Ce chapeau vous va très bien. Il vous plaît ?

That hat looks very good on you. Do you like it?

Il y en a beaucoup.

There are a lot of them.

Ce canapé est confortable mais ces fauteuils ne le sont pas.

This couch is comfortable but these armchairs aren't.

Cette fille est gentille mais ce garçon ne l'est pas.

This girl is nice, but this boy is not.

Pour calmer mes enfants, je leur lis une histoire.

To sooth my children, I read them a story.

Nous t'attendons au café.

We will meet you at the cafe.

Et Sophie ? Elle avait faim ? Oui. Je lui ai préparé un sandwich.

What about Sophie? Was she hungry? Yes. I made a sandwich for her.

Et les lettres ? Où est-ce que vous les avez mises? Je les ai jetées à la poubelle. Je croyais que vous les aviez déjà lues.

What about the letters? Where did you put them? I threw them into the garbage. I thought that you had already read them.

When there are two direct noun objects, the person doing the action follows the conjugated verb and the noun object follows the infinitive. When there are two pronoun objects, one pronoun object precedes the conjugated verb and the pronoun object of the infinitive precedes the infinitive.

When there are two direct noun objects, the person doing the action follows the conjugated verb and the noun object follows the infinitive. When there are two pronoun objects, one pronoun object precedes the conjugated verb and the pronoun object of the infinitive precedes the infinitive.

Tu nous appelles ce soir? Non, je ne vous appelle pas ce soir.

Will you call us tonight? No, I will not call you tonight.

Me retrouvez-vous en ville?

Will you meet me in town?

With Affirmative Commands. In affirmative commands, the pronouns follow the verb and are attached to it and to each other with a hyphen. Le/la/les — precede — me/te/nous/vous/lui/leur — precede — y — precedes — en

With Affirmative Commands. In affirmative commands, the pronouns follow the verb and are attached to it and to each other with a hyphen. Le/la/les — precede — me/te/nous/vous/lui/leur — precede — y — precedes — en

With Conjugated Verbs. Object pronouns always precede the conjugated form of the verb. If the sentence is negative, ne precedes the object pronoun and pas follows the verb or auxiliary. In compound tenses, the pronoun precedes the auxiliary verb.

With Conjugated Verbs. Object pronouns always precede the conjugated form of the verb. If the sentence is negative, ne precedes the object pronoun and pas follows the verb or auxiliary. In compound tenses, the pronoun precedes the auxiliary verb.

With Infinitive Constructions: Causative faire (faire faire), laisser, and Verbs of Perception. In the causative, all pronouns precede the conjugated form of the verb faire except in the affirmative command.

With Infinitive Constructions: Causative faire (faire faire), laisser, and Verbs of Perception. In the causative, all pronouns precede the conjugated form of the verb faire except in the affirmative command.

With an Infinitive. When a pronoun is the direct or indirect object of the infinitive, it always precedes the infinitive.

With an Infinitive. When a pronoun is the direct or indirect object of the infinitive, it always precedes the infinitive.

Vous nous parlez.

You're speaking to us.

pronom d'objet direct

direct object pronouns

me — becomes moi te — becomes toi

me — becomes [_____] te — becomes [_____]

demander quelque chose

to ask for something

escalader quelque chose

to climb over something

espérer

to hope for

écouter quelqu'un / quelque chose

to listen to someone / something

regarder quelqu'un / quelque chose

to look at someone / something

chercher quelqu'un / quelque chose

to look for someone / something

payer quelque chose

to pay for something

envoyer chercher

to send for

attendre quelqu'un / quelque chose

to wait for someone / something