Language/French/Grammar/Position-of-direct-and-indirect-object-pronouns

Position of direct and indirect object pronouns

Direct and indirect object pronouns are closely linked with the verb to which they are most closely related in declarative, negative and interrogative sentences.

When the verb is a main verb they appear immediately before it:

French	English
L'Etat me paie	The state pays me
Les gens ne me remarquent pas	People don't notice me
Elle le croit	She believes it
A son âge, vous ne la referez pas	You won't change her, at her age
Il lui a soufflé quelques mots	He whispered a few words to her
Tu me donnes une idée	You've given me an idea
Ça leur apprendra à mentir	That will teach them to lie

When the verb is accompanied by the auxiliary verbs avoir or être, direct and indirect object pronouns appear immediately before the auxiliary:

French	English
Il m'a vu	He saiv me
M'a-t-il vu?	Did he see me?
Vous ne les avez pas goûtés?	Didn't you taste them?
Il lui avait proposé un voyage	He had suggested a trip to her
Je vous suis très reconnaissant	I am very grateful to you

• Il leur a raconté beaucoup d'histoires passionnantes

He told them a lot of fascinating stories

• Nous l'avons déjà traduite, cette lettre

We have already translated this letter

NB: The past participle agrees with a preceding direct object in these cases, but not with the indirect object.

Note also that pronouns ending in -e (me, te, se, le) and -a (la) are shortened to the consonant alone before verbs beginning with a vowel: elle m'aide, je t'ai déjà remercié, je te l'ai dit, etc.