Grammar: Pronouns - Object

Grammar: Pronouns - Object

Section: Direct Object Pronouns

• Direct object pronouns replace the direct object, i.e. the person or thing that “receives the action.” They agree in number and gender with the nouns they replace.

• There are eight direct object pronouns to revise: me (me), te (you), le (him, it), la (her, it), nous (us), vous (you), les (them).

• Direct object pronouns come before the verb in a sentence. For example, Je le vois translates to I see him/it where le is the direct object pronoun replacing him/it.

Section: Indirect Object Pronouns

• Indirect object pronouns replace indirect objects, i.e. the person or thing to whom/which an action is done. They agree in number and gender with the nouns they replace.

• There are seven common indirect object pronouns to revise: me (to me), te (to you), lui (to him, to her), nous (to us), vous (to you), leur (to them).

• Indirect object pronouns also come before the verb. For example, Je lui parle translates to I speak to him/her where lui is the indirect object pronoun replacing to him/her.

Section: Pronouns y and en

• The pronoun y generally means there and replaces a previously mentioned or implied place. For example, Je vais à l’école. J’y vais translates as I go to school. I go there.

• The pronoun en replaces a phrase beginning with de, an indefinite article, or a partitive article. For example, J’ai du pain. J’en ai translates as I have some bread. I have some.

Section: Order of Pronouns in a Sentence

• When using more than one pronoun in a sentence, they usually follow this order: me, te, nous, vous -> le, la, les -> lui, leur -> y -> en.

• Note the exception in the imperative, where the pronouns follow the verb. For example, Donne-le-moi translates as Give it to me.