Direct object pronouns in French replace nouns that receive the action of the verb directly, helping avoid repetition. The main direct object pronouns are:

me (me)
te (you – singular, informal)
le (him/it – masculine singular)
la (her/it – feminine singular)
nous (us)
vous (you – plural or formal)
les (them – plural)

Usage Rules

Pronoun Placement

Before a conjugated verb:

Je le vois. (I see him/it.)

Before an infinitive:

Je vais le voir. (I’m going to see him/it.)

In compound tenses (with passé composé), the past participle agrees in gender and number with the direct object pronoun:

La lettre que j’ai écrite (The letter that I wrote)
Les fleurs que j’ai prises (The flowers I took)

Negative Sentences

Direct object pronouns stay between ne... pas (or other negation words):

Je ne le vois pas. (I do not see him/it.)

When to Use

Use direct object pronouns when a person or thing directly receives the verb’s action, and you want to avoid repeating the noun.

Example Replacements

Original	With Direct Object Pronoun
Je vois le chien.	Je le vois.
Tu manges la pomme.	Tu la manges.
Nous regardons les films.	Nous les regardons.

When should you use a direct object pronoun in French?

Whenever there is an indirect object pronoun.

When you want to replace a direct object noun to avoid repetition.

Only when the direct object is a person.

Only in affirmative sentences.

When you want to replace a direct object noun to avoid repetition.

Direct object pronouns replace nouns that directly receive the action of the verb, making sentences clearer and less repetitive.

Example Sentences

French Example	English Example
Je te cherche au café.	I’m looking for you at the café.
Elle les invite à la fête.	She’s inviting them to the party.
Nous vous attendons à la gare.	We’re waiting for you at the station.

Summary

Direct object pronouns in French replace direct objects to avoid repetition. They come before the verb (or infinitive) and cause past participle agreement in compound tenses. Use them whenever you want to substitute a direct object noun.

What do direct object pronouns do in French?

They only appear in negative sentences.

They replace direct objects to avoid repetition and come before the verb.

They replace subjects in a sentence.

They are always placed at the end of the sentence.

They replace direct objects to avoid repetition and come before the verb.

Direct object pronouns in French substitute for direct objects to make sentences clearer and more concise. They always appear before the verb or infinitive.

Flashcards (1 of 3)

English Example: I’m looking for you at the café.

Last updated: Wed Jun 18, 2025

French

Direct Object Pronouns