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• Indirect object pronouns are used in place of the indirect object of a verb.

• Indirect object pronouns in French use the same words as direct object pronouns, except for lui (him/her) and leur (them – Higher only).

• Indirect object pronouns are used with verbs such as demander à (to ask), donner à (to give) and parler à (to speak to).

• The position of indirect object pronouns is the same as direct object pronouns

Watch the video to find out how to use indirect object pronouns in French.

Indirect object pronouns replace nouns, to avoid repeating the noun two sentences in a row.

An indirect object pronoun is used in the place of the indirect object of a verb.

For example, in the sentence ‘I give the apple to the man’, the apple is the direct object of the verb, and the man is the indirect object.

The French indirect object pronouns are as follows:

For example, if you are giving an apple to a man and want to say ‘I give him an apple’, use lui to mean ‘hi��’.

• Je lui donne une pomme. – I give him an apple.

Indirect object pronouns are used with some verbs that are followed by à, including these:

The rules for the position of indirect object pronouns are the same as for direct object pronouns.

The indirect object pronoun comes between the subject and the verb:

For example:

• Il me donne une pomme. – He gives me an apple.
• Je lui téléphonais chaque soir. I used to phone him/her every evening.)

In the immediate future (using aller + infinitive) or after a modal verb + infinitive, the indirect object pronoun comes just before the infinitive:

For example:

• Elle va te parler. - She is going to speak to you (singular).
• Vous devez lui répondre. – You need to answer him/her.

When using the perfect tense, the indirect object pronoun goes before the auxiliary verb:

For example:

• Tu ��’as écrit une lettre ? – Did you write me a letter?

In negative sentences, the indirect object pronoun usually goes between the ne and the conjugated verb, or before the infinitive (in the immediate future and with modal verbs).

When using a negative sentence in the present tense, the indirect object pronoun comes after the ne:

For example:

• Il ne me donne pas de pommes. – He isn’t giving me any apples.
• Je ne lui téléphonais pas chaque soir. – I didn’t use to phone him/her every evening.

When using a negative sentence in the immediate future (using aller + infinitive) or after a modal verb + infinitive, the indirect object pronoun comes just before the infinitive:

For example:

• Elle ne va pas te parler. – She isn’t going to speak to you.
• Vous ne devez pas lui répondre. – You don’t need to answer him/her.

When using the perfect tense, the indirect object pronoun goes after the ne and before the auxiliary verb:

For example:

• Je ne lui ai pas demandé. – I didn’t ask him.

Practise what you've learned about indirect object pronouns with this quiz.

The plural indirect object pronouns are as follows:

For example, if you are giving an apple to a group of people and want to say ‘I give them an apple’, use leur to mean ‘the��’.

• Je leur donne une pomme. – I give them an apple.

Remember

For the Higher Tier, you also need to know the verb offrir à, meaning ‘to offer (to)/to give (a present to)’.

For example:

Je leur offre un cadeau. - I give them a present.

The rules for the position of plural indirect object pronouns are the same as for the other indirect object pronouns.

In the present, imperfect and future tenses, they go between the subject and the verb.

• Il nous donnera une pomme. – He will give us an apple.

In the immediate future (aller + infinitive) and for modal verbs with infinitives, they go before the infinitive.

• Elle va leur parler. – She is going to speak to them.

In the perfect tense, the indirect object pronouns go before the auxiliary verb.

• Je vous ai demandé. – I asked you (plural).

The position of plural indirect object pronouns in negative sentences is the same as for all indirect object pronouns.

The indirect object pronoun usually goes between the ne and the conjugated verb, or before the infinitive (in the immediate future and with modal verbs).

For example:

• Il ne nous donne pas de pomme. – He isn’t giving us any apples.

• Elle ne va pas leur parler. – She isn’t going to speak to them.

Practise what you've learned about indirect object pronouns with this quiz for Higher Tier.

Now you’ve learned about indirect pronouns, why not explore adverbs in French?