Language/French/Grammar/Direct-object-and-indirect-object-pronouns-differences-between-English-and-French

Direct object and indirect object pronouns: differences between English and French

The following common French verbs take indirect object pronouns; learners often treat them as if they required direct object pronouns, perhaps because their English equivalents take direct objects:

• Sa soeur lui a appris à parler espagnol

His sister taught him to speak Spanish (apprendre à qn à faire qc)

• Luc leur a conseillé de se taire

Luc advised them to be quiet (conseiller à qn de faire qc)

• Sa mère lui défendait de fumer à la maison

Her mother used to forbid her to smoke at home (défendre à qn de faire qc)

• Le film lui a (dé)plu

He (dis)liked the film ((dé)plaire à qn)

• Elle lui manque

He misses her (manquer à qn)

There are several verb constructions which tend to give rise to this problem, each slightly different.

Verbs followed by: . . . à quelqu'un:

French	English
... lui a téléphoné	phoned him
... lui a survécu	outlived her
... lui a (dés)obéi	(dis)obeyed her
... lui a nui	disadvantaged him
... lui ressemble	looks like him

Verbs followed by: . . . quelque chose à quelqu'un:

French	English
... lui a passé le sel	passed her the salt
... lui a permis du repos	allowed him some rest
... lui a promis une lettre	promised her a letter
... lui a reproché son attitude	criticized her attitude
... lui a enseigné le chant	taught him to sing
... lui a donné un cadeau	gave her a present
... lui a envoyé un colis	sent her a package
... lui a offert un whisky	offered her a whisky

Verbs followed by: ... à quelqu'un de faire quelque chose:

French	English
lui a ordonné de signer	ordered him to sign
lui a dit de se taire	told him to shut up
lui a demandé de partir	. asked him to leave
lui a permis de l'acheter	allowed her to buy it

The following common French verbs take direct objects; learners often treat them as if they required indirect objects, perhaps because of a confusion over the status of à (or sometimes de) which these verbs require when they are followed by an infinitive:

• Je l'ai aidé à changer la roue

I helped him to change the wheel

• Le professeur l'avait encouragé à participer

The teacher had encouraged him to take part

• Je les ai persuadés de venir

I persuaded them to come

Others:

l'a contraint à rester	. forced him to stay
l'a dissuadée	. dissuaded her
l'a empêché de courir	. stopped him from running
l'a forcée à rester	. forced her to stay

l'a invité à dîner	. invited him to dinner
l'a menacée	. threatened her
l'a obligé à parler	. forced him to talk
l'a remerciée	. thanked her