Un 7.3
Indirect Object Pronouns (COI)
French sentences can include several types of object pronoun. Here, we will look at how indirect object pronouns work. In French, there are 6 direct object pronouns: me, te, lui, nous, vous, leur.
Indirect Object Pronouns – Les pronoms compléments d’objet indirect (COI)
Indirect object pronouns are used to replace nouns that do not directly receive the action of a verb, but instead, typically receive the noun that is undergoing this action (i.e. they receive the direct object). In English, this is often shown with the preposition ‘to’.
e.g.
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She’s going to give chocolate to her friends. -> She’s going to give them chocolate. |
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The students are giving an apple to the teacher. -> The students are giving him an apple. |
In French, this relationship is often shown in full sentences with the preposition ‘à’, which is then replaced along with its noun by an indirect object pronoun. Indirect objects are traditionally referred to as ‘compléments d’objet indirect’ (COI) in French grammar.
Indirect object pronouns are only used with human (or human-like) grammatical objects. Contraction may initially make it difficult to see an indirect relationship. In French-language dictionaries, verbs taking indirect objects are usually referred to as ‘verbes transitifs indirects’.
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Elle va donner du chocolat à ses amis. -> Elle va leur donner du chocolat. |
She’s going to give chocolate to her friends. -> She’s going to give them chocolate. |
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Indirect Object Pronouns (COI) |
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Corresponding Subject Pronoun |
Pronom COI |
Corresponding Subject Pronoun |
Pronom COI |
|
je |
me |
nous |
nous |
|
tu |
te |
vous |
vous |
|
il elle |
lui |
ils elles |
leur |
Indirect object pronouns are placed in front of their corresponding verb. This is also true for negative sentences and for questions.
e.g.
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L’enseignant va vous donner des devoirs. |
The teacher’s going to give you homework. |
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Vous ne me donnez pas de bonbons ? |
You’re not giving me any candy? |
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Leur donne-t-il de la glace ? |
Is he giving them ice cream? |
The 3rd person COIs only have one form, regardless of the grammatical gender of the noun that is being replaced. From context, it can be understood if the meaning is ‘to him’, ‘to her’, or ‘to it’.
e.g.
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Les élèves donnent une pomme au professeur. -> Les élèves lui donnent une pomme. |
The students are giving an apple to the teacher. -> The students are giving him/her an apple. |
Although the indirect object pronouns are often used similarly in French and English, there are times when one language has verbs that need indirect objects, while the other does not and uses direct objects. This has an impact on which object pronoun we choose.
e.g.
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Nous demandons à nos voisins. -> Nous leur demandons. |
We’re asking our neighbours. -> We’re asking them. |
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Tu vas téléphoner à ta cousine ? -> Tu vas lui téléphoner ? |
You’re going to phone your cousin? -> You’re going to phone her? |
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Pardonnez-vous à vos camarades de classe ? -> Leur pardonnez-vous ? |
Do you forgive your classmates? -> Do you forgive them? |
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Tu manques à tes parents. -> Tu leur manques. |
Your parents miss you. -> They miss you. |
