Direct Object Pronouns
* What they do: Replace direct objects (the thing being acted upon).
* Placement: They usually go before the conjugated verb (except in negative sentences).
* Pronoun list:
| Pronoun | English |
|---|---|
| me | me |
| te | you (informal) |
| le | him, it (masculine singular) |
| la | her, it (feminine singular) |
| l' | him, her, it (used before a vowel sound) |
| nous | us |
| vous | you (formal or plural) |
| les | them (plural) |
Examples:
* Je vois le chien. (I see the dog.) → Je le vois. (I see him.)
* Tu aimes la musique? (Do you like the music?) → Tu l'aimes? (Do you like it?)
* Elle mange des pommes. (She eats apples.) → Elle les mange. (She eats them.)
Indirect Object Pronouns
* What they do: Replace indirect objects (the person or thing receiving the action).
* Placement: They usually go before the conjugated verb (except in negative sentences).
* Pronoun list:
| Pronoun | English |
|---|---|
| me | to/for me |
| te | to/for you (informal) |
| lui | to/for him, to/for her |
| nous | to/for us |
| vous | to/for you (formal or plural) |
| leur | to/for them |
Examples:
* J'offre un cadeau à mon frère. (I give a present to my brother.) → Je lui offre un cadeau. (I give him a present.)
* Tu parles souvent à tes amis. (You talk to your friends often.) → Tu leur parles souvent. (You talk to them often.)
* Elle écrit une lettre à son père. (She writes a letter to her father.) → Elle lui écrit une lettre. (She writes him a letter.)
Important Points:
* Negative Sentences: Pronouns go *after* the "ne" in negative sentences. Example: Je ne le vois pas. (I don't see him.)
* "Y" and "en": These are also object pronouns, used with *location* ("y") and *quantity* ("en"). Example: J'y vais. (I'm going there.) J'en ai. (I have some.)
* Double Object Pronouns: In sentences with both direct and indirect objects, the indirect pronoun usually goes *before* the direct pronoun. Example: Je lui donne le livre. (I give him the book.)
Let me know if you'd like more examples or have specific questions about direct and indirect object pronouns in French!