Direct and Indirect Objects This is from LAWLESS FRENCH.com (I did not create the work below.)
When the object is a noun, it’s a question of whether there’s a preposition, and if so, which one?
1) No preposition in front of the noun = noun is direct object …
Je vois tes enfants.
I see your children.
Il fait le gâteau.
He’s making the cake.
… and can be replaced by a direct object pronoun.
Je les vois.
I see them.
Il le fait.
He’s making it.
2) The preposition à precedes an animate noun = noun is indirect object …
Je parle à tes enfants.
I’m talking to your children.
Il téléphone à son grand-père.
He’s calling his grandfather.
… and can be replaced by an indirect object pronoun.
Je leur parle.
I’m talking to them.
Il lui téléphone.
He’s calling him.
Attention : When à is followed by an inanimate noun, it cannot be replaced by an object pronoun. The different types of pronouns it can be replaced by will be addressed in a future lesson.
Indirect object pronouns
Indirect objects (which can be nouns or pronouns) answer the question of to or for whom the subject is doing something. They refer only to people. An indirect object pronoun replaces an indirect object noun, and, unlike in English, is usually placed before the conjugated verb. As a clue, look for the preposition à (to, for), which may be in the form of au (the contraction of à + le) , à l', à la, or aux (the contraction of à + les), followed by the name or reference to a person.
The following verbs require an indirect object because they are followed by à. Note the correct preposition to use before the infinitive of the verb.
3) The preposition pour precedes an animate noun who is the recipient of the action of the verb (thus pour means "for the benefit of, as a gift to") = noun is indirect object …
Il fait le gâteau pour Élise.
He’s making the cake for Élise.
J’achète des vêtements pour les enfants.
I buy clothes for the childrenː
… and can be replaced by an indirect object pronoun.
Il lui fait le gâteau.
He’s making the cake for her.
Je leur achète des vêtements.
I buy clothes for them.
When the object is a noun, it’s a question of whether there’s a preposition, and if so, which one?
1) No preposition in front of the noun = noun is direct object …
Je vois tes enfants.
I see your children.
Il fait le gâteau.
He’s making the cake.
… and can be replaced by a direct object pronoun.
Je les vois.
I see them.
Il le fait.
He’s making it.
- Tu regardes le film. (You watch the movie.): Tu le regardes. (You watch it.)
- Je t'aime. (I love you.)
- Tu m'aimes. (You love me.)
2) The preposition à precedes an animate noun = noun is indirect object …
Je parle à tes enfants.
I’m talking to your children.
Il téléphone à son grand-père.
He’s calling his grandfather.
… and can be replaced by an indirect object pronoun.
Je leur parle.
I’m talking to them.
Il lui téléphone.
He’s calling him.
Attention : When à is followed by an inanimate noun, it cannot be replaced by an object pronoun. The different types of pronouns it can be replaced by will be addressed in a future lesson.
Indirect object pronouns
Indirect objects (which can be nouns or pronouns) answer the question of to or for whom the subject is doing something. They refer only to people. An indirect object pronoun replaces an indirect object noun, and, unlike in English, is usually placed before the conjugated verb. As a clue, look for the preposition à (to, for), which may be in the form of au (the contraction of à + le) , à l', à la, or aux (the contraction of à + les), followed by the name or reference to a person.
- Elle écrit à Jean. (She writes to John.): Elle lui écrit. (She writes to him.)
- Tu m'offres un sac à main. (You offer me a purse.)
- Je t'offre un sac à main. (I offer you a purse.)
- attendre (to wait for)
- chercher (to look for)
- écouter (to listen to)
- espérer (to hope for/to)
- faire venir (to call for)
- payer (to pay)
- convenir à (to suit)
- désobéir à (to disobey)
- faire honte à (to shame)
- faire mal à (to hurt)
- faire peur à (to frighten)
- obéir à (to obey)
- plaire à (to please)
- répondre à (to answer)
- ressembler à (to resemble)
- téléphoner à (to call)
The following verbs require an indirect object because they are followed by à. Note the correct preposition to use before the infinitive of the verb.
- apprendre (teach) à quelqu'un à + infinitive
- enseigner (teach) à quelqu'un à + infinitive
- conseiller (advise) à quelqu'un de + infinitive
- défendre (forbid) à quelqu'un de + infinitive
- demander (ask) à quelqu'un de + infinitive
- ordonner (order) à quelqu'un de + infinitive
- pardonner (forgive) à quelqu'un de + infinitive
- permettre (permit) à quelqu'un de + infinitive
- promettre (promise) à quelqu'un de + infinitive
- rappeler (remind) à quelqu'un de + infinitive
- reprocher (reproach) à quelqu'un de + infinitive
3) The preposition pour precedes an animate noun who is the recipient of the action of the verb (thus pour means "for the benefit of, as a gift to") = noun is indirect object …
Il fait le gâteau pour Élise.
He’s making the cake for Élise.
J’achète des vêtements pour les enfants.
I buy clothes for the childrenː
… and can be replaced by an indirect object pronoun.
Il lui fait le gâteau.
He’s making the cake for her.
Je leur achète des vêtements.
I buy clothes for them.