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Ordering French direct and indirect object pronouns
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Place the object pronoun before the verb if you are using one pronoun only.
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If you use two different pronouns — usually you only use a maximum of two within a sentence — here is the order to follow:
Check out this fun horsey song (aka, the finale to Rossini’s “William Tell Overture”) to memorize the pronoun order!
⤷TIP: Keep in mind that the object pronouns follow the same order as the object in the sentence:
direct object → indirect object.
La maman chante la chanson à son bébé. → La maman la lui chante.
direct object ↵ ⤷ indirect object
The mother sings the song to her baby. → She sings it to her.
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Look at the table below…Can you work out the exception by yourself? When should you not put the pronoun before the verb?
Well done! You’re a superstar! 🤩It’s the imperative affirmative. When you feel bossy and you want to give an order or a command, remember this sentence structure:
*These are stressed pronouns. For more information on stressed pronouns, see “Unpacking the grammar.” When I remind my students about their homework assignments, I say: |
Exception!
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⤷TIP: In writing, remember to add hyphens between the verbs and the pronouns! |
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In the perfect tense (passé composé), if the pronoun is in front of the auxiliary, the past participle must agree with the direct object. (Refresh your memory of the passé composé in “Unpacking the grammar.”) J’ai pris les photos. → Je les ai prises. I took the pictures. → I took them. |
IMPORTANT Ordering pronouns in negative sentences
In a negative sentence, always place the pronoun after ne [not]. C’est facile, non ? [It’s easy, isn’t it?]. And you’re going to love this, it works in all tenses, and in the imperative!
👓This article has some examples of negative sentences with object pronouns.
Ordering pronouns in sentences made of two verbs
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Certain verbs, like vouloir [to want], pouvoir [to be able to, can] or aimer [to love], are followed by an infinitive verb. We call them semi-auxiliary verbs. In this situation, the object pronoun goes between the conjugated semi-auxiliary verb and the infinitive verb.
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It is the same when you use:
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the near future: je vais + verbe à l’infinitif [I’m going to + infinitive verb]
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the recent past: je viens de + verbe à l’infinitif [I’ve just + infinitive verb]
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Here is a list of common semi-auxiliary verbs.
Recap of the French object pronoun orders
Are you feeling confident about using double object pronouns ? Try this quiz and our exercises!
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Unpacking the grammar
Donnez-moi la recette, s’il vous plaît.
Hier, j’ai mangé un biscuit. Yesterday, I ate a cookie. |
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