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• Direct object pronouns replace the noun that is the object of a sentence (the thing that the verb, or action, is done to).

• French direct object pronouns include me (me), te (you, informal singular), le/la (it) and vous (you, formal singular and plural).

• The position of direct object pronouns depends on which tense the sentence is in and whether it is a positive or negative sentence.

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

The direct object of a sentence is the person or thing that the action (verb) is done to.

In the sentence Je mange une pomme. (I’m eating an apple.), Je is the subject, the person who is doing the action. Une pomme is the object because it is on the receiving end of the action.

Direct object pronouns replace the object of the sentence and are used to talk about something without repeating the whole phrase. For example, ‘I’m eating it’ instead of ‘I’m eating an apple’.

The French direct object pronouns are as follows:

If you’re eating an apple and want to say ‘I’m eating i��’, use la to mean ‘i��’, because une pomme (apple) is feminine in French.

Je la mange. – I’m eating it.

The position of the direct object pronouns depends on which tense the sentence is in.

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

For example:

Je mange un sandwich. Je le mange. – I’m eating a sandwich. I’m eating it.

Un sandwich is masculine, so you need to use le to mean 'it'.

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

For example:

• Je vais manger la carotte. Je vais la manger. - I am going to eat the carrot. I am going to eat it.

La carotte is feminine, so you need to use la to mean “it” here.

• Tu dois terminer ton travail ? Tu dois le terminer ? - Do you have to finish your work? Do you have to finish it?

Travail is masculine, so you need to use le here to mean “it”.

In the perfect tense (passé composé), the pronoun goes before the auxiliary verb:

For example:

• Elle a acheté un stylo. Elle ��’a acheté. - She bought a pen. She bought it.

When the direct object pronouns le and la come before a vowel or ‘h’, you always use ��’, regardless of whether it is feminine or masculine.

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

In a negative sentence in the present tense, the direct object pronoun comes after the ne:

For example:

• Je n’étudie pas ��’histoire. Je ne ��’étudie pas. - I don’t study history. I don’t study it.

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

For example:

• Je ne voudrais pas manger la carotte. Je ne voudrais pas la manger. - I wouldn’t like to eat the carrot. I wouldn’t like to eat it.

La carotte is feminine, so you need to use la to mean 'it' here.

In the perfect tense (passé composé), the direct object pronoun goes after the ne and before the auxiliary verb:

For example:

• Elle n’a pas bu le thé. Elle ne ��’a pas bu. - She didn’t drink the tea. She didn’t drink it.

When the direct object pronouns le and la come before a vowel or ‘h’, you always use ��’, regardless of whether it is feminine or masculine.

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

The plural direct object pronouns in French are as follows:

For example:

• J’adore les lapins. Je les adore. - I love rabbits. I love them.

• Je vous vois. I can see you (ie a group of people).

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

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

• Je les mangerai demain. – I will eat them tomorrow.

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

• Nous allons vous voir ce weekend. – We are going to see you this weekend.

In the the perfect tense (passé composé), the direct object pronouns go before the auxiliary verb.

• Elle nous a attendu. – She waited for us.

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

The direct 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:

• Je ne vous vois pas. – I can’t see you.

• Tu ne voudrais pas les manger ? – Don’t you want to eat them?

• Elle ne nous a pas attendu. – She didn’t wait for us.

Practise what you've learned about plural direct object pronouns with this Higher Tier quiz.

Now you’ve learned about direct object pronouns, why not explore demonstrative adjectives?