Direct Object Pronouns (D.O.P.s)

The direct object is the noun, pronoun, phrase, or clause that is either the target or the result of an
action. We use direct object pronouns (D.O.P.s) to replace the direct object in a sentence to avoid
repetition.
me (m’)
me
nous
us
te (t’)
you
vous
you
le (l’)
him, it
les
them
la (l’)
her, it
Tu vois la ville?
Oui, je la vois.
Do you see the city?
Yes, I see it.
In the question, “la ville” (the city) is the direct object. In the response, “la” takes the place of the
direct object as a D.O.P. meaning “it.”

D.O.P.s are placed:
o Before conjugated verbs

Tu aimes les fleurs?
Oui, je les aime beaucoup.
o Before the auxiliary verb in compound tenses

Tu as écrit la lettre?

See below for agreement rules!
Oui, je l’ai écrite.
o Before the infinitive


Tu veux visiter le musée avec moi?
Oui, je veux le visiter avec toi.
Agreement rule!
o Past participles agree in gender and number with a preceding direct object pronoun, not with a
direct object.

Tu as vu les films?
Oui, je les ai vus.

Il a acheté les fleurs?
Il les a achetées.
o When verbs that are normally intransitive (VanDerTrampp verbs) do take a direct object, the
auxiliary verb avoir is used, and there is no agreement made unless a D.O.P. precedes the
auxiliary verb.


J’ai sorti la clef de ma poche.
Je l’ai sortie de ma poche.
I took the key out of my pocket.
I took it out of my pocket.
Il a descendu les valises.
Il les a descendues.
He took down the suitcases.
He took them down.
Indirect Object Pronouns (I.O.P.s)

Indirect object pronouns (I.O.P.s) take the place of indirect object nouns. They refer to the
person/animal that you (1) communicate with, (2) give something to, or (3) do something for. Indirect
object nouns are usually preceded by the preposition à.

me (m’)
me
nous
us
te (t’)
you
vous
you
lui
him, her
leur
them
Marie envoie une lettre à son amie.
Marie lui envoie une lettre.
Marie sends a letter to her friend.
Marie sends her a letter.
Like D.O.P.s, I.O.P.s are placed:
o Before conjugated verbs

Claire parle à sa mère.
Claire lui parle.
o Before the auxiliary verb in compound tenses

Elle m’a dit bonjour.
She said hello to me.

Je ne lui ai pas répondu.
I didn’t respond to her.

Note: there is no agreement between the past participle and the I.O.P.
o Before the infinitive


Je vais lui écrire.
I’m going to write to her.

Je veux lui envoyer mon adresse.
I want to send her my address.
Commonly used verbs that are followed by an indirect object (à + noun) in French but a direct object in
English include: obéir (to obey), répondre (to respond), and téléphoner (to call).

Some common verbs that use an indirect object are:
o demander de/à
o poser une question à
o dire à
o raconter une histoire à
o écrire à
o parler de/à
o plaire à
o donner à
o envoyer à
o montrer à
o prêter à
o payer à