Direct object pronouns
What is a direct object pronoun?
An explanation of direct object pronouns and how they can replace the object of a sentence
The direct object of a sentence is the person or thing that the action (A word used to describe an action or state of being. ) is done to. For example:
- Je mange une pomme - I’m eating an apple.
Je is the subject, the person who is doing the action. Une pomme is the object because it is on the receiving end of the action.
Direct object pronouns replace that The name of a thing such as an object, a place or a person. Nouns are often described as naming words. and are used to talk about something without repeating the whole phrase. For example, ‘I like them’ instead of ‘I like the dogs’.
| me / m’ (before a vowel or ‘h’) | me |
| te / t’ (before a vowel or ‘h’) | you (singular informal) |
| le / l’ (before a vowel or ‘h’) | him / it (masculine nouns) |
| la / l’ (before a vowel or ‘h’) | her / it (feminine nouns) |
| nous | us |
| vous | you (singular formal and plural) |
| les | them |
| me / m’ (before a vowel or ‘h’) |
| me |
| te / t’ (before a vowel or ‘h’) |
| you (singular informal) |
| le / l’ (before a vowel or ‘h’) |
| him / it (masculine nouns) |
| la / l’ (before a vowel or ‘h’) |
| her / it (feminine nouns) |
| nous |
| us |
| vous |
| you (singular formal and plural) |
| les |
| them |
Positioning direct object pronouns
Generally, the direct object pronoun comes between the subject and the verb:
Examples:
- Je mange ton sandwich. Je le mange. - I’m eating your sandwich. I’m eating it.
- J’adore les lapins. Je les adore. - I love rabbits. I love them.
In a negative sentence, the direct object pronoun comes after thene:
Examples:
- Je n’aime pas les champignons. Je ne les aime pas. - I don’t like mushrooms. I don’t like them.
- Je n’étudie pas l’allemand. Je ne l’étudie pas. - I don’t study German. I don’t study it.
If a verb is followed by anThe form of the verb that has not been conjugated and is usually translated with 'to' in English, for example 'to play'. , the direct object pronoun comes just before the infinitive:
Examples:
- Je voudrais manger les carottes. Je voudrais les manger. - I would like to eat the carrots. I would like to eat them.
- Tu dois terminer ton travail ? Tu dois le terminer ? - Do you have to finish your work? Do you have to finish it?
In the Used to talk about something you have done. It is formed with an auxiliary verb (avoir or être) and a past participle. , the pronoun goes before theAuxiliary verbs support the main verb you want to write in a past tense.verb:
Examples:
- Elle a bu le coca et elle a aimé le coca. Elle l’a bu et elle l’a aimé. - She drank the cola and she liked the cola. She drank it and she liked it.
- Mes parents ont acheté les billets. Mes parents les ont achetés. - My parents bought the tickets. My parents bought them.
Rearrange the parts of the sentences so that they make sense.
Question
mets / J’aime mes baskets / les / Je / tous les jours / bleues /
J’aime mes baskets bleues. Je les mets tous les jours. - I like my blue trainers. I wear them every day.
Les means ‘them’ and needs to come between the subject je and the verb mets.
Question
ne / vois pas. / Où es-tu ? / Je / te
Où es-tu ? Je ne te vois pas. - Where are you? I can’t see you.
Te means ‘you’ when used as direct object pronoun and needs to come after the ne in a negative sentence.)
Question
bu. / mais / il ne / pas / Il a acheté un café, / l’a
Il a acheté un café, mais il ne l’a pas bu. - He bought a coffee, but he didn’t drink it.
Le means ‘it’ with a masculine noun, such as café, and needs to come after the ne in a negative sentence. As le comes before a vowel in this sentence, it changes to l’.
Question
Notre chien / chez nous. / nous / nous sommes rentrés / attendait quand
Notre chien nous attendait quand nous sommes rentrés chez nous. - Our dog was waiting for us when we got home.
Nous means ‘us’ and needs to go between the subject notre chien and the verb attendait.
