Complément D’objet Direct
Direct Object Pronouns
Whom or what receives the action of the verb!
Basic Review:
What They Are
Direct objects receive the action of the verb.
How to Find Them
Ask "What?" or "Whom?" after the verb to identify the direct object.
Examples:
• Rufus bought contact lenses. (What did he buy?)
• Zippy and Maurice played soccer yesterday. (What did they play?)
Subject + Verb + What?/Who? = COD(direct object)
Direct Objects
Direct objects work the same way in French as in English. Simply ask
yourself: Quoi? (What?) or Qui? (Whom?)
Example 1
Tout le monde aime Robert Pattinson.
Everyone loves Robert Pattinson.
Example 2
Nous voyons le film.
We see the movie.
What Are Direct Object
Pronouns?
Instead of repeating the noun, we use pronouns to replace direct objects.
Before After
Tout le monde aime Robert Tout le monde l'aime.
Pattinson.
Nous le voyons.
Nous voyons le film.
Note: Use "l'" before vowels, like "aime" starting with "a".
The Four Direct Object Pronouns
LE LA
Masculine singular noun Feminine singular noun
Je donne le cahier → Je le donne Je regarde la télé → Je la regarde
L' LES
Before vowels (any gender) Plural (any gender)
J'aime ce chien → Je l'aime J'aime les chiens → Je les aime
Rule One: Position Before
the Verb
The direct object pronoun precedes the verb in both present and past
tenses.
Présent
Il mange le raisin rouge.
Il le mange.
Passé Composé
Il a mangé le raisin rouge.
Il l'a mangé.
Rules Two & Three:
Rule Two: Futur Proche
The pronoun precedes the infinitive in futur proche constructions.
Elle va faire les devoirs → Elle va les faire.
Rule Three: Impératif
The pronoun attaches to the end with a hyphen in imperatives.
Lisez le tableau → Lisez-le.
Rules Four & Five:
Rule Four: Negative Commands Rule Five: Partitive Articles
The pronoun precedes the verb in negative commands. COD never replace objects preceded by du, de la, des, de l'/
indefinite articles, numbers, adverbes of quantity
Je ne vois pas le film → Je ne le vois pas.
Je mange des pommes (cannot be replaced)
Ne lisez pas le tableau → Ne le lisez pas.
Practice Examples: Part 1
01
J'aime les fraises et les pommes
COD: Je les aime
02
L'enfant caresse ce chat
COD: L'enfant le caresse
03
Il rend la monnaie aux clients
COD: Il la rend aux clients
04
Il envoie la lettre à sa mère
COD: Il l'envoie à sa mère
Practice Examples: Part 2
1 Le vent secoue les fleurs 2 Marie achète les billets
COD: Le vent les secoue COD: Marie les achète
3 Jean aperçoit la femme et son mari 4 Michel regarde moi
COD: Jean les aperçoit COD: Michel me regarde
Master these patterns and you'll use direct object pronouns naturally!