French Grammar: Direct Object Pronouns
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French Grammar: Direct Object Pronouns
la grammaire française: les compléments d’objets directs
Direct Object Pronouns replace nouns in sentences. They indicate the direct recipient of an action (verb). Don’t get them confused with Indirect Object Pronouns or Double Object Pronouns.
Study:
Direct Object Pronouns replace nouns in sentences. They indicate the direct recipient of an action (verb). Don’t get them confused with Indirect Object Pronouns or Double Object Pronouns.
Direct Object Pronouns can replace a person, animal, or thing in order to keep sentences from becoming redundant, repetitive, or boring (in some cases)! They reflect the number and gender of the noun they’re replacing.
The Direct Object Pronoun answers the question Who? or What?
I love you. -> You love who? -> I love YOU!
He is buying it. -> He is buying what? -> He is buying IT!
DIRECT OBJECT PRONOUNS :
ME / M’ : me
TE / T’ : you (informal)
LE / L’ : him, it (masculine)
LA / L’ : her, it (feminine)
NOUS : us
VOUS : you (formal or plural)
LES : them (masculine, feminine, OR mixed group)
Note that ME becomes M’, TE becomes T’, and LE or LA become L’ in front of a verb that begins with a vowel or silent ‘h’.
The Direct Object Pronoun is generally placed IN FRONT of the conjugated verb in the sentence, even when the sentence is negative.
Ils me cherchent?
Are they looking for me?
Oui, ils te cherchent.
Yes, they are looking for you (informal).
Tu regardes le film?
Are you (informal) watching the film?
Oui, je le regarde.
Yes, I am watching it.
Est-ce qu’il lave la voiture?
Is he washing the car?
Oui, il la lave.
Yes, he is washing it.
Elle aime le chemisier bleu?
Does she like the blue shirt?
Oui, elle l’aime.
Yes, she likes it.
Vous nous appelez?
Are you (plural) calling us?
Oui, nous vous appelons.
Yes, we are calling you (plural).
Ils achètent les fleurs?
Are they (masculine or mixed group) buying the flowers?
Oui, ils les achètent.
Yes, they are buying them.
In negative sentences, ne precedes the direct object pronoun and pas (or jamais, or plus, etc.) follows the verb.
Ils me cherchent?
Are they looking for me?
Non, ils ne te cherchent pas.
No, they are not looking for you (informal).
Tu regardes le film?
Are you (informal) watching the film?
Non, je ne le regarde pas.
No, I am not watching it.
Est-ce qu’il lave toujours la voiture?
Is he still washing the car?
Non, il ne la lave plus.
No, he is not washing it any longer.
Elle aime le chemisier bleu?
Does she like the blue shirt?
Non, elle ne l’aime pas.
No, she does not like it.
Vous nous appelez?
Are you (plural) calling us?
Non, nous ne vous appelons pas.
No, we are not calling you (plural).
Ils achètent les fleurs?
Are they (masculine or mixed group) buying the flowers?
Non, ils ne les achètent jamais.
No, they never buy them.
In compound tenses (like Passé Composé), direct object pronouns come before the auxiliary (“helper”) verb. The past participle must always agree in number (singular or plural) and gender (masculine or feminine) with the direct object pronoun that comes before it.
As-tu vu Georges?
Have you seen George?
Je l’ai cherché, mais je ne l’ai pas trouvé.
I looked for him, but I did not find him.
As-tu vu Marie-France?
Have you seen Marie-France?
Je l’ai cherchée, mais je ne l’ai pas trouvée.
I looked for her, but I did not find her.
Et les enfants? Tu les a cherchés aussi?
And the children? Did you look for them, too?
Note that in negative sentences in compound tenses (like Passé Composé), ne precedes the direct object pronoun and pas (or jamais, or plus, etc.) follows the past participle.
When a verb is followed by an infinitive, the direct object pronoun precedes the verb of which it is the direct object – usually, that verb will be the infinitive.
Le sandwich? Je vais le manger.
The sandwich? I am going to eat it.
Ces chaussures-là? Ma soeur veut les acheter.
Those shoes? My sister wants to buy them.
La musique? Nous pouvons l’entendre.
The music? We can hear it.
Several verbs that take an indirect object in English take a direct object in French. This is because their definition includes the word ‘for’, ‘to’, or ‘at’, which are usually markers for an indirect object. Since, ‘for’, ‘to’, or ‘at’ are considered part of the meaning of – and not separate from – these verbs, we use a direct object with them instead. The most common of these verbs are :
attendre quelqu’un/quelque chose : to wait for someone/something
chercher quelqu’un/quelque chose : to look for someone/something
demander quelque chose : to ask for something
écouter quelqu’un/quelque chose : to listen to someone/something
payer quelque chose : to pay for something
regarder quelqu’un/quelque chose : to look at someone/something
Adapt:
Tu as le stylo de Marie?
Do you have Marie’s pen?
Oui, je l’ai.
Yes, I have it.
Où est le livre d’art?
Where is the art book?
Je l’ai mis juste là.
I put it right there.
Comment le faire?
How do you do it?
On le fait comme ça.
You do it like this.
Je peux vous aider?
Can I help you (formal)?
Oui, vous pouvez m’aider.
Yes, you (formal) can help me.
Tu paies le repas?
Are you (informal) paying for the meal?
Oui, je le paie.
Yes, I am paying for it.
