5.3 (Order of Pronouns) Flashcards
French Sentences may contain more than one object
Le politicien explique (The politician explains)
ses principes (his principles) Direct Object
au reporter (to the reporter) Indirect Object
- you can replace multiple objects with multiple object pronouns. Use the same pronouns you would use if there was only one object
- Examples:*
Il les explique au reporter
Il lui explique ses principles
= Il les lui explique (He explains them to him)
When there is more than one pronoun, they are placed in this order
me, te, se, nous, vous
BEFORE
le, la, les, l’
BEFORE
lui, leur
BEFORE
y
BEFORE
en
When there is more than one pronoun (examples)
- Le guide montre la sculpture aux touristes (The guide shows the sculpture to the tourists)
= Il la leur montre (He shows it to them)
- Qui s‘occupe des réservations (Who is taking care of the reservations)
= Hubert s’en occupe
Double Object Pronouns
Double object pronouns are placed in the same position relative to verbs as single object pronouns
Pronouns in Simple Tenses (the present, the imparfait, and the future)
In simple tenses, such as the present, the imparfait, and the future, pronouns are placed in front of the verb.
Examples:
- Il apporte le courrier à Mme Delorme (he brings the male to Mme Delorme)
=
Il le lui apporte (he brings it to her)
- J’attendrai Jules à la gare (I will wait for Jules at the station)
=
Je l’y attendrai (I will wait for him there)
Pronouns in compound tenses (such as the passé compossé and the plus-que-parfait)
In compound tenses, such as the passé compossé and the plus-que-parfait, pronouns are placed in front of the helping verb
- Examples:*
1. On nous a parlé du patrimoine culturel (they spoke to us about the cultural heritage) =
On nous en a parlé (They spoke to us about it)
- Vous aviez rendu les passeports aux voyageurs (You had returned the passports to the travelers) =
Vous les leur aviez rendus (You had returned them to them)
Pronouns when there is more than one verb
When there is more than one verb, the pronouns are usually placed in front of the second verb, typically an infinitive
Examples:
1. Tu vas offrir un biscuit aux enfants? (are you going to buy the children a cookie?) =
Tu vas leur en offrir un? (are you going to buy them one)
2. Je voudrais poser cette question au prof (I would like to ask the professor this question) =
Je voudrais la lui poser
When negating sentences with pronouns in simple tenses
Place ne in front of the pronouns and pas after the verb
Il ne le lui apporte pas
When negating sentences with pronouns in compound tenses
Place ne … pas around the pronouns and the helping verb.
On ne nous en a pas parlé
Negation: when there is more than one verb
ne…pas is usually placed around the first verb
Je ne voudrais pas la lui poser
Object Pronouns in Affirmative Commands:
The order of object pronouns is different in affirmative commands.
Notice that hyphens are placed between the verb and the pronouns
le, la, les **BEFORE **moi, toi, lui, nous, vous, leur
**BEFORE **y **BEFORE **en
Examples:
Apportez le courrier à Mme Delorme! = Bring the mail to Mrs. Delorme!
Apportez-le-lui! = Bring it to her
Order of Object pronouns
le, la, les BEFORE moi, toi, lui, nous, vous, leur
BEFORE y **BEFORE ** en
Examples:
Apportez le courrier à Mme Delorme! = Bring the mail to Mrs. Delorme!
Apportez-le-lui! = Bring it to her
Racontez l’histoire aux gamins = Tell the story to the kids
Racontez-la-leur = Tell it to them
Object Pronouns in negative commands:
me and te
Notice that me and te become moi and toi. They revert to m’ and t’ before y or en
Example:
Parle-moi de ta vie = Talk to me about your life
Parle-m’en = Talk to me about it
The order of pronouns in negative commands
The order of pronouns in negative commands i**s the same as in affirmative statements. **
Compare these sentences:
Dis-le-lui = tell it to him!
Ne le lui dis pas! = Don’t tell it to him!
