me / te / lui / nous / vous / leur

Indirect Object Pronouns Me/te/lui/nous/vous/leur

Level 2

Indirect object pronouns (COI) replace people introduced by 'à' (to/for). They are: me, te, lui (him/her), nous, vous, leur (them).

How It Works

Indirect object pronouns (COI) help you become proficient in French by avoiding repetition. They primarily replace nouns introduced by à.

1. The Pronouns:

  • Me / M': to/for me (use m' before a vowel or mute h)
  • Te / T': to/for you (singular/informal) (use t' before a vowel or mute h)
  • Lui: to/for him OR to/for her (gender-neutral!)
  • Nous: to/for us
  • Vous: to/for you (plural/formal)
  • Leur: to/for them

2. Common Trigger Verbs:
Many verbs take à in French and trigger these pronouns, such as: téléphoner à (to call), demander à (to ask), répondre à (to answer), dire à (to tell), and donner à (to give).

3. Placement:

  • Standard: Immediately before the conjugated verb (Je lui parle - I speak to him/her).
  • Compound Tenses: Before the auxiliary (Je lui ai parlé - I spoke to him/her).
  • Infinitives: Before the infinitive (Je vais lui parler - I am going to speak to him/her).
  • Affirmative Imperative: After the verb with a hyphen. Note: 'Me' and 'te' become moi and toi (Parle-moi ! - Speak to me!).
  • Negative Imperative: Before the verb (Ne me parle pas ! - Don't speak to me!).

4. Double Pronoun Order:
When using multiple pronouns, follow this order before the verb: me/te/se/nous/vous + le/la/les + lui/leur + y + en. For example: Je te le donne (I give it to you).
Note for Affirmative Imperative: The order changes after the verb to le/la/les + moi/toi/lui/nous/vous/leur + y + en (e.g., Donne-le-moi ! - Give it to me!). However, before y and en, moi and toi contract to m' and t' (e.g., Donne-m'en ! - Give me some!).

5. Key Nuances:

  • People vs. Things: 'Lui' and 'leur' are typically used for people and animals. However, they can be used for inanimate objects with verbs of giving, adding, or attributing (e.g., Je lui trouve beaucoup de charme - I find it very charming). For verbs of communication or thought, replace 'à + thing' with the pronoun y.
  • Blocked Verbs: Some verbs cannot use COI pronouns. This includes verbs like penser à, faire attention à, rêver à, as well as all pronominal/reflexive verbs followed by 'à' + person (e.g., s'intéresser à, s'adresser à, s'habituer à). They require stressed pronouns after the preposition (Je pense à elle - I am thinking of her).
  • No Agreement: Indirect objects never cause the past participle to change in the passé composé.

Examples (6)

  1. Je lui donne un cadeau.

    I am giving him/her a gift.

    Word by Word: I to-him/her give a gift.

    Here, 'lui' replaces 'à Marie' or 'à Pierre'. Note that 'lui' works for both genders.

  2. Il nous a téléphoné hier soir.

    He called us last night.

    Word by Word: He to-us has telephoned yesterday evening.

    In the passé composé, the pronoun 'nous' is placed before the auxiliary verb 'a'.

  3. Parle-moi maintenant !

    Talk to me now!

    Word by Word: Talk to-me now!

    In the affirmative imperative, 'me' and 'te' change to the stressed pronouns 'moi' and 'toi'.

  4. Est-ce que tu peux leur écrire ?

    Can you write to them?

    Word by Word: Is it that you can to-them write?

    When an infinitive (écrire) follows a conjugated verb (peux), the pronoun 'leur' sits right before the infinitive.

  5. Elle m'envoie un message.

    She is sending me a message.

    Word by Word: She to-me sends a message.

    'Me' becomes 'm'' before a vowel sound, following the rules of elision.

  6. Je ne vous ai pas répondu.

    I didn't answer you.

    Word by Word: I not to-you have not responded.

    In a negative sentence, the pronoun stays attached to the verb inside the ne...pas structure.

Common Mistakes

  • Using 'lui' for objects or concepts with verbs of communication or thought.

    Je lui pense.
    J'y pense.

    With verbs of communication or thought (like 'penser à'), use the pronoun y for things or ideas. 'Lui' and 'leur' are generally for people and animals, though they can be used for things with verbs of giving or attributing (like 'donner à').

  • Using 'lui' with verbs that block indirect pronouns.

    Je lui fais attention.
    Je fais attention à lui.

    Certain verbs like 'penser à', 'faire attention à', and 's'habituer à' do not allow COI pronouns. You must use a preposition followed by a stressed pronoun.

  • Adding an 's' to the pronoun 'leur'.

    Je leurs donne le livre.
    Je leur donne le livre.

    The indirect object pronoun 'leur' is invariable. Only the possessive adjective 'leurs' (their) takes an 's' before plural nouns.

How It Connects

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me / te / lui / nous / vous / leurLevel 2Indirect Object Pronouns Me/te/lui/nous/vous/leur

Learn This First

To learn indirect object pronouns, you first need to understand how French sentences are typically structured (SVO) and how pronouns move before the verb. You must also be familiar with the preposition 'à', as these pronouns specifically replace people preceded by 'à'. Finally, having knowledge of direct object pronouns provides a helpful foundation for the placement and shared forms of these pronouns.

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Words in This Pattern

teluileur