French Direct Object Pronouns

Overview

Direct objects are the people or things in a sentence that receive the action of the verb. To find the direct object in a sentence, ask the question "Who?" or "What?" Like most pronouns, direct object pronouns replace nouns or nominal groups (group of words that acts as a noun), in order avoid repetition of the same word or same nominal group within a same sentence or a same paragraph. When using a pronoun, it should be clear from the context what or who you are referring to.

July 19, 2023

Stephen Sovenyhazy

The concept of direct object pronouns in French is the same as it is in English. A direct object pronoun replaces the direct object in a sentence. It directly receives the action of the verb. Read the following two example sentences:

I am buying the TV. → I am buying it.

Thomas sees Ashley across the street. → Thomas sees her across the street.

In the first example, the direct object pronoun “it” replaces the direct object “the TV.” In the second example, the direct object pronoun “her” replaces the direct object “Ashley.”

A direct object is usually identified by asking the questions “What?” or “Who” in regards to the verb found in the sentence. For the first sentence example, the question you could ask is, “I am buying what?” and the response (or the direct object) would be “the TV.” For the second example sentence, the question you could ask is, “Thomas sees who?” and the response (or the direct object) would be “Ashely.”

In French, direct object pronouns function the same. The major difference is where they’re placed in the sentence. Direct object pronouns are placed before the conjugated verb in a sentence. Also, the direct object pronoun that is used depends on the gender and number of the direct object it’s replacing.

Person	Singular	English
First	me / m’	me
Second	te / t’	you
Third, masculine	le / l’	him / it
Third, feminine	la / l’	her / it
Person	Plural	English
First	nous	us
Second	vous	you
Third	les	them

Steps to Using a Direct Object Pronoun:

Identify the direct object in the original sentence by asking “What?” or “Who” in relation to the verb.
Identify whether that direct object is masucline or feminine, and plural or singular.
Choose the appropriate direct object pronoun from the chart above.
Rewrite the French sentence placing the direct object pronoun before the conjugated verb unless there are two verbs in the sentence (like le futur proche). In that case, put the direct object pronoun between the two verbs.

Example:

Béatrice voit la fleur dans le jardin.

Direct object: la fleur (Béatrice sees what? A flower…)
la fleur = feminine, singular
Direct object pronoun: la
Béatrice la voit dans le jardin.

*Don’t forget to take out the direct object from the sentence when you replace it with a pronoun!

If you wanted to make this sentence negative, you would place the “ne” and the “pas” around both the direct object pronoun and the verb: Béatrice ne la voit pas dans le jardin.

Example Sentences:

Tu n’attends pas le bus. → Tu ne l’attends pas.

Allez-vous regarder les films ce soir? → Nous allons les regarder ce soir.

Élise prend le biscuit du panier. → Élise le prend du panier.

Le prof enseigne sa classe à 11h50 du matin. → Le prof l’enseigne à 11h50.

Highlighted Author:

Stephen Sovenyhazy

Stephen is the President of CORE Languages having founded the company in 2007. His focus is on empowering those with a need for community, culture and communication. For over a decade, CORE has helped businesses achieve their strategic international goals by empowering employees to learn and find joy in communicating in a new language and cultural context. With our online instructor-led courses, we now bring this to community members across the globe. A quote from Stephen. "When I started teaching, I sought to bring that same energy, dedication, and sense of purpose into my own classrooms. I founded CORE Languages to expand that vision, seeing the growing need for language training options designed to meet the unique needs of business environments. For over a decade, CORE has helped businesses achieve their strategic international goals by empowering employees to learn and find joy in communicating in a new language and cultural context. With our online instructor-led courses, we now bring this to community members across the globe. It’s a privilege to do what we do and share what we love with you.”

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Additional Topics

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The French Pronoun Y

Y replaces or refers back to an adverb phrase of place or of location. In its simplest form, it means just there (in the meaning of in that place) It can also mean in something, on something, under something, beside something, etc.

French Relative Pronouns Qui vs Que

In French, direct object pronouns are used for verbs which aren’t followed by prepositions: Me (me), te (you), nous (us), vous (you), le (him or it), la (her or it), les (them). For example, Je vois le garçon. Je le vois. (I see the boy. I see him).

Common European Framework of Reference for Languages

The CEFR is an international standard used to describe language ability. Here are specific details of the CEFR for this topic.

General Explanation:

Can understand sentences and frequently used expressions related to areas of most immediate relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local geography, employment). Can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar and routine matters. Can describe in simple terms aspects of his/her background, immediate environment and matters in areas of immediate need.

Specific Capabilities at this Level

Writing:

I can write short, simple notes and messages relating to matters in areas of immediate needs. I can write a very simple personal letter, for example thanking someone for something.

Spoken Production:

I can use a series of phrases and sentences to describe in simple terms my family and other people, living conditions, my educational background and my present or most recent job.

Spoken Interaction:

I can communicate in simple and routine tasks requiring a simple and direct exchange of information on familiar topics and activities. I can handle very short social exchanges, even though I can’t usually understand enough to keep the conversation going myself.

Reading:

I can read very short, simple texts. I can find specific, predictable information in simple everyday material such as advertisements, prospectuses, menus and timetables and I can understand short simple personal letters.

Listening:

I can understand phrases and the highest frequency vocabulary related to areas of most immediate personal relevance (e.g. very basic personal and family information, shopping, local area, employment). I can catch the main point in short, clear, simple messages and announcements.