Direct and Indirect pronouns VHL slides

1B.1

Indirect object pronouns

Structures
Leçon 1B

Les fêtes

Point de départ An indirect object expresses to whom or for
whom an action is done. It is always a person or an animal and
preceded by the preposition à in French. In the example below,
the indirect object answers this question: À qui parle Gisèle?
(To whom does Gisèle speak?)

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SUBJECT

VERB

INDIRECT

OBJECT NOUN

Gisèle parle à sa mère.
Gisèle speaks to her mother.

Indirect object pronouns

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Indirect object pronouns

Structures
Leçon 1B

Les fêtes

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Indirect object pronouns replace indirect object nouns

and the prepositions that precede them.

me

te
lui

to/for me
to/for you
to/for him/her

nous
vous
leur

to/for us
to/for you
to/for them

Indirect object pronouns

Gisèle parle à sa mère.
Gisèle speaks to her mother.

J’envoie des cadeaux à mes nièces.
I send gifts to my nieces.

Gisèle lui parle.
Gisèle speaks to her.

Je leur envoie des cadeaux.
I send them gifts.

Indirect object pronouns

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Indirect object pronouns

Structures
Leçon 1B

Les fêtes

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The indirect object pronoun usually precedes the

conjugated verb.

Antoine, je te parle.
Antoine, I’m talking to you.

Notre père nous a envoyé un e-mail.
Our father sent us an e-mail.

Indirect object pronouns

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Indirect object pronouns

Structures
Leçon 1B

Les fêtes

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In a negative statement, place the indirect object

pronoun between ne and the conjugated verb.

Antoine, je ne te parle
pas de ça.
Antoine, I’m not talking
to you about that.

Notre père ne nous a
pas envoyé d’e-mail.
Our father didn’t send us
an e-mail.

Indirect object pronouns

1B.1

Indirect object pronouns

Structures
Leçon 1B

Les fêtes

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When an infinitive follows a conjugated verb, place the

indirect object pronoun before the infinitive.

Nous allons lui donner une cravate.
We’re going to give him a tie.

Il ne va pas vous prêter le costume.
He’s not going to lend you the suit.

In the passé composé, the indirect object pronoun

goes before the auxiliary verb avoir.

Tu lui as parlé?
Did you speak to her?

Non, je ne lui ai pas parlé.
No, I didn’t speak to her.

Indirect object pronouns

1B.1

Indirect object pronouns

Structures
Leçon 1B

Les fêtes

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The indirect object pronouns me and te become m’

and t’ before a verb beginning with a vowel sound.

Ton petit ami t’envoie des e-mails.
Your boyfriend sends you e-mails.

Isabelle m’a prêté son sac à main.
Isabelle lent me her handbag.

demander à

donner à
envoyer à
montrer à

to ask,
to request
to give to
to send to
to show to

parler à

poser une
question à

prêter à

téléphoner à

to speak/talk to
to pose/ask a
question (to)
to lend to
to phone, to call

Verbs used with indirect object pronouns

Indirect object pronouns

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Indirect object pronouns

Structures
Leçon 1B

Les fêtes

1B.1-7

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Disjunctive pronouns

Disjunctive pronouns can be used alone or after

a preposition:

moi

toi
lui

elle

me
you
him
her

nous
vous

eux

elles

us
you
them
them

Disjunctive pronouns

Qui prend du chocolat chaud?
Who’s having hot chocolate?

Moi!
Me!

Eux aussi?
Them, too?

Indirect object pronouns

1B.1

Indirect object pronouns

Structures
Leçon 1B

Les fêtes

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Disjunctive pronouns (continued)

Disjunctive pronouns emphasize the person to

whom they refer.

Moi, je porte souvent une casquette.
Me, I often wear a cap.

Mon frère, lui, il déteste les
casquettes.
My brother, he hates caps.

To say myself, ourselves, etc., add -même(s)

after the disjunctive pronoun.

Tu fais ça toi-même?
Are you doing that yourself?

Ils organisent la fête eux-mêmes.
They’re planning the party themselves.

Indirect object pronouns

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Indirect object pronouns

Structures
Leçon 1B

Les fêtes

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Disjunctive pronouns (continued)

Some French verbs use a disjunctive pronoun

instead of an indirect object pronoun.

Il pense souvent à ses parents?
Does he often think about his parents?

Oui, il pense souvent à eux.
Yes, he often thinks about them.

DISJUNCTIVE
PRONOUN

Indirect object pronouns

1B.1

Indirect object pronouns

Structures
Leçon 1B

Les fêtes

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Essayez!

Complétez les phrases avec le pronom d’objet
indirect approprié.

1. Tu ________ montres tes photos? (us)

2. Luc, je ________ donne ma nouvelle

adresse. (you, fam.)

3. Vous ________ posez de bonnes

questions. (me)

4. Nous ________ avons demandé. (them)

5. Je vais ________ téléphoner à dix

heures. (him)

6. Je ________ envoie des vêtements.

(you, plural)

7. Est-ce que tu ________ as apporté ces

chaussures? (them)

8. Nous ne ________ parlons pas! (them)

nous

Indirect object pronouns