French direct and indirect object pronouns
Sign up for free to get all information about private lessons and our available group courses (A1, A2, B2, B2, C1, C2)
Sign up for free Course informationsWe offer both private lessons and organized group courses
Sign up for free to get all available courses or contact one of our teachers yourself!
Manuela C.
45.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Audrey W.
14.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Valérie F.
40.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Our offer
Indirect or Direct pronouns (French: les pronoms indirects et directs) are used to replace the complement it can either be a COD or a COI. Even for the COS, we can also use pronouns to replace the complement in this case also it can either be the direct object or the indirect object pronouns.
Here you wil get an overview about all the complements pronouns in the French grammar
Lesson outline
Hide- 1.French direct object pronouns
- 1.1.Chart of the French direct object pronouns
- 2.Formation of the French direct object pronouns
- 2.1.Examples
- 3.The French Indirect object pronouns
- 3.1.Chart of the French indirecti object pronouns
- 3.2.Examples
- 4.Exercises
- 4.1.Reflexive vs object pronouns in French
- 4.2.Fill in the blank exercise about the direct object pronouns in French
- 4.3.Fill in the blank exercise about the indirect object pronouns in French
1) French direct object pronouns
The French direct object pronoun replaces a direct object complement (COD) and makes it possible not to repeat the noun. It is always placed before the verb.
It answers to the question:
- Qui ? (for a person)
- Quoi ? (for a thing)
Have a question?
Take online language lessons with a professional teacher
- Native & verified teachers
- Free trial lesson
- Learning materials included
Diana-Andreea G. 
25.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Arnaud I.
17.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Elise D.
45.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Angela L. 
18.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Oussama C. 
15.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Chiara R.
24.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Anna S. 
22.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Cristina O.
25.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Anis K.
12.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Lara L. 
35.00 €/h
Free trial lesson!
Group lessons!
Chart of the French direct object pronouns
| COD | |
|---|---|
| Singular | Me Te Le La |
| Plural | Nous Vous Les |
Formation of the French direct object pronouns
1. For yourself, the person who is talking (I), you use the pronoun me or m' (in front of a vowel or an h)
- Il connaît Julien depuis le lycée. ------> Il me connaît depuis le lycée. (He knows Julian since high school)
- Ils adorent Marie. -------> Ils m'adorent
This direct object pronouns cannot apply to the 1st plural person: nous
2. For the person who you talking to (you), you use the pronoun te or t' (in front of a vowel or an h)
- Je n'ai pas vu Sandra à la gare. -----> Je ne t'ai pas vu à la gare. (I didn't saw you at the train station)
- Nous tuerons Léo -----> Nous te tuerons. (We will kill you)
This direct object cannot apply to the 2nd plural person: vous
3. For people that are talking (we), you use the pronoun: nous
- Ton amie invite notre famille à dîner. -----> Ton amie nous invite à dîner
- Vous attendez vos amies. -----> Vous nous attendez.
This pronoun cannot apply to the 1st singular person: je
4. For the people we are talking to (you), you use the pronoun: vous
- J'attends mes amies et toi -----> Je vous attends
- Je ne vois plus Marie et Rosie -----> Je ne vous vois plus
In general, this pronoun is used in all personal pronouns as a cortesy for a person.
5. For a person or a thing, you use:
- la or l' for the feminine complement
- le or l' for the masculine complement
- les for many things or many persons
Examples
| COD | Object pronouns | Examples | |
| Feminine complement | Je regarde la télévision | Je la regarde | (I am watching the TV) |
| Masculine complement | Ils voient le jardin Vous adorez le professeur | Ils le voient Vous l'adorez | (They see the garden) (You love the professor |
| many things or persons | Nous achetons les fruits Vous voyez les enfants | Nous les achetons Vous les voyez | (We are buying fruits) (You see the children) |
Note that the direct object pronouns le,la,les,l' always agree in gender and in number with the complement/noun it replaces.
2) The French Indirect object pronouns
The French direct object pronoun replaces a indirect object complement (COI) and makes it possible not to repeat the noun. It is always placed before the verb.
It answers to the question:
- à qui ?
- à quoi ?
Chart of the French indirecti object pronouns
| COI | |
|---|---|
| Singular | Me Te Lui |
| Plural | Nous Vous Leur |
These pronouns are usually used with the communication verbs that are built with the preposition à:
- dire à
- téléphoner à
- parler à
- envoyer à
- donner à
- offrir à
- répondre à
- écrire à
- demander à
Examples
| Pronouns | COI | Pronoun |
|---|---|---|
| me | Le professeur a donné un devoir à moi | Le professeur m'a donné un devoir |
| te | Je parle à toi | Je te parle |
| lui | Nous avons envoyé une lettre au président | Nous lui avons envoyé une lettre |
| nous | Le voisin apporte des pommes à nos amies | le voisin nous apporte des pommes |
| vous | Il demande pardon à tes amies | Il vous demande pardon |
| leur | Vous écrivez une poésie aux parents des élèves | Vous leur écrivez une poésie |
Note that in front of a,e,i,o,u,y and h te and me become m' and t'
Exercises
- Reflexive vs object pronouns in French
- Fill in the blank exercise about the direct object pronouns in French
- Fill in the blank exercise about the indirect object pronouns in French
Reflexive vs object pronouns in French
Fill in the blank exercise about the direct object pronouns in French
Fill in the blank exercise about the indirect object pronouns in French
Exercises
- Reflexive vs object pronouns in French
- Fill in the blank exercise about the direct object pronouns in French
- Fill in the blank exercise about the indirect object pronouns in French
Reflexive vs object pronouns in French
Fill in the blank exercise about the direct object pronouns in French
Fill in the blank exercise about the indirect object pronouns in French
What our students say
Unlike in other platforms, all our teachers are manually verified by our professional team. Trust in the experiences of our students.
Bonjour! Veux-tu apprendre français? ou l'améliorer?
My classes are structured according to my students' needs, I use different teaching methods and I rely on listening each of my students' expectations and goals. Dynamism and constant learning are my purposes in my classes.
I have worked as a French teacher for more than ten years.
I have academic studies in English and French from Montréal, Canada, where I lived for several years. I have a Bachelor in Teaching French as a foreign language from the Université de Bourgogne.
I learned French at an early age in immersion in a French-speaking region and I studied French formally for 11 years, obtaining a native level.
À bientôt!
J. J.
Natalia is a great teacher. She uses a variety of teaching methods and always considers my wishes and learning goals. The atmosphere is very pleasant, we speak a lot about random topics but also about situations from my work, which really helps to improve my conversation skills.
Natalia L.
We work with Janeke on improving her skills using situations from her work environment. Also, we discuss different topics, using a variety of materials. I have seen her French improve very quickly. Congratulations Janeke!
I am French living in Lisbon in Portugal. I have lived in different countries such as England, the United States and India. It gave me some experience of learning a foreign language and teaching it.
I am passionate about different cultures and try to share my love for French culture with you in a lively way.
I adapt to the needs of the students, whether to improve their oral, written, prepare for an exam or a job interview. I prioritize the conversation to allow the student to "unblock" and have fun speaking the language. I write down the vocabulary and grammar that the student lacks to express himself.
Learning a foreign language is, in my view, above all through cultural curiosity. We want to learn a language because we want to live in the country, travel there or get to know it better. We feel attracted. It is its Culture that motivates us in our learning: music, film, text, literature, way of being and cultural differences forming "another world". This means that learning is not just about learning a list of words and grammar lessons, as is taught too often in school. Practice again and again through conversation, books, music, movies and above all the pleasure of speaking and listening.
I adapt the student's personal work according to their available time and their objective (conversation, deadline for an exam, scheduled trip, etc.).
I am at your disposal for any further information.
See you soon,
L. G.
Amazing teacher! Very helpful and listens well to the student's wishes. Would recommend her to everyone.
Florence F.
Training is my passion. I like interacting with people. I am passionate about reading, watching movies, and music. I love to explore new places and have keen interest in arts and literature.I love meeting new people because every person is a whole new world you can learn from. I am also a keen reader and an enthusiastic traveller.
M. .
She is kind. She listen to me and tries to adapt the course to my expectations. She has all the books to prepare The DELF and DALF Exam which she offers for free to the student.
Hella K.
Bonjour! Veux-tu apprendre français? ou l'améliorer?
My classes are structured according to my students' needs, I use different teaching methods and I rely on listening each of my students' expectations and goals. Dynamism and constant learning are my purposes in my classes.
I have worked as a French teacher for more than ten years.
I have academic studies in English and French from Montréal, Canada, where I lived for several years. I have a Bachelor in Teaching French as a foreign language from the Université de Bourgogne.
I learned French at an early age in immersion in a French-speaking region and I studied French formally for 11 years, obtaining a native level.
À bientôt!
L. T.
Very modern. At the same time, we process texts via a file. The lessons were adapted to my needs and are very effective and recommendable!
We worked with Lida to perfect her French. She is at a very advanced level and we study specific vocabulary for her work. She is a very dedicated student and I see her speaking French better and better. Lida, keep up the good work!
Hi! My name is Tiphaine, I'm french, I'm 37 years old and I live in Seville.
I grew up in the outside of Paris, I travelled all over the world and I live in Spain for 10 years now.
I'm a musician, a dancer and I love to cook and hike.
I'm a french teacher, and it's my passion! I speak 3 languages, and thanks to my learning I was able to live amazing experiences in many countries.
That's why I became a teacher, to be able to share with you my love for french language and culture and to guide you in your progress.
For me, each language is a way of seeing and interpreting the world, as glasses of different colors.
Understanding the way a language works is understanding how its people see things; it's such a exciting process, I can't wait to share it with you!
I have more than 8 years experience, in schools, companies and universities.
I work with people from all ages, beginners to advanced. I know most of french manuals.
I can prepare you to DELF and DALF exams. I also have a specialization in french for specific goals and french business.
I can offer you thematic courses, to improve your pronunciation, increase your vocabulary, prepare you for traveling or for a new job.
All my classes are in french, I adapt my vocabulary and speech speed according to your level.
I also adapt my method to your needs, personality, to take the best advantage of my classes and your french learning.
I use diversified ressources, from quizz to podcasts, videos, songs and games.
Whatever are your motivations, if you want to learn french in a pleasurable and rewarding way, book a class with me!
J. M.
The strategy of Tiphaine is simple but very effective. She assess each students by understanding their needs and goals first. What I enjoy most is I get to speak french with her more than I did in my other french classes. She also give life advices on the side. :)
Tiphaine R.
1 - If you are looking for a well-structured French program to take you from a beginner level to advanced level to be able to travel to France, i have developed with success my own program which includes 70 worksheets from basic to advance level.
2 - If you are thinking taking any DELF exam, I can help you as I have experience in this field (3 years with Ensemble en Francais - online school).
3 - If you are a VCE French student, I definitively will be able to boost your skills to do well at the exam due to my experience as VCE French teacher and also as a VCE assessor.
4 - Finally I have also an extensive experience in teaching French at the primary and middle school level
R. W.
Francois is teaching our daughter in French at the moment. She is a total beginner and they started from scratch. Both work for one hour daily and agree on homework which is being checked in the next lesson. The lesson via Skype is working well with the exchange of material Skype as well. We can definitely see progress.
Francois D.
Hello everyone, and welcome to my classroom. I hope you are all doing well. My name is Kimberley, and I live in South Africa. I have an honors degree in Environmental health. My hobbies include hiking, cooking, singing, participating in outdoor activities as well as 0reading books. I enjoy engaging in conversations with people whether old or young and have excellent interpersonal skills. In my classroom, I can help you with pronunciation of words, grammar and reading comprehension. My classes are never dull as I make it as interesting and practical as it can be. Lastly the motto of this classroom is practice makes perfect. I hope to see you in my lessons very soon.
G. P.
Kimberley is a friendly and professional teacher with excellent English books and an impeccable teaching method. She is perfect for those just starting out in the English language and highly recommended for school and college students.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Kimberley C.
Training is my passion. I like interacting with people. I am passionate about reading, watching movies, and music. I love to explore new places and have keen interest in arts and literature.I love meeting new people because every person is a whole new world you can learn from. I am also a keen reader and an enthusiastic traveller.
R. T.
Very helpfull teacher with excellent tips on how to improve your french. The informal style has a lot of merit and can help you aquire the language in a natural, unstructured and unforced fashion. Recommended for anyone who prefers a learn by doing approach.
Hella K.
Hello!
My name is Ivan. I am a Russian tutor with 16 years of teaching experience. The levels I teach are A1~B2. Individual learners and groups are welcomed!
Our main focus will be on speaking. At each lesson we will work on pronunciation, learn to ask questions and give detailed answers, playing out various role-plays. After every lesson, you will be assigned written and/or audio homework. You will get detailed feedback on every unclear point.
In my lessons, I use e-textbooks (not included in lessons’ price), and my materials (included in lessons’ price).
I won't promise that you will speak Russian in 5 lessons or 1 week, but I promise that you will practice a lot and there will be no unclear points left behind.
Don’t be afraid to take the first step!
Remember: “The devil is not so black as he is painted”!
See you soon in our first lesson!
G. P.
The professor's preparation is impeccable. Perfect to go from basic to advanced level. He organizes the lessons with PDFs and documents customized by him according to the student. Friendly and experienced, perfect for all ages.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Ivan O.
Hello,
My name is Tiska. I am a French Teacher with experiences with adults and teenagers in Public Education (USA) and Language Schools. I am holding a Master Degree in FLE (Teaching French as a Foreign Language).
Join a small group of learners of 2 or 3 for conversation lessons with me. An article or video to watch before the lesson and a conversation with personalized corrections during the lesson. This option saves you at least 10 euros per lesson on Colanguage.
Group opening:
Monday and/or Wednesday from 17:30 to 18:30 (French time).
Level: intermediate (B1)
Also, standard French lessons
- level A2 (low intermediate)
- 2 hours a week
- ask for schedule
Don’t know your level? Ask for a free level test.
I give Skype lessons to people who need or want to improve their French language. I like to use material from the internet (videos, article etc.) to introduce a theme which leads to a lesson and a conversation.
I like to create engaging learning with my students. I will give as homework a document to watch or to read with comprehension exercises so the time we have on skype is only speaking practice and explanation if needed.
I can help you prepare DELF-DALF Exams or work on specific needs (as professional French).
Really like to speak about all the subjects with the student especially those the student like so it gives the motivation to speak in the foreign language.
The free first lesson is organize to know your tastes, your level and your needs so we can plan the next lessons about the objectives you fixed.
F. D.
Tiska is a very good teacher: her lessons are well structured and she follows your French level perfectly. The method she uses is modern and leaves room for conversation. Homework is a real party with the videos, listening to music videos and grammar which is well explained in the book. I can highly recommend Tiska for your French lesson.
Tiska G.
I want to help people to improve the level of their chosen language.
A. .
I can’t recommend Nancy highly enough. She’s a great teacher. Very patient, flexible and personable.
Nancy C.
thanks for this Anne-Sophie. It is great to have you as a student.
Do you want to learn Spanish with a kind and patient teacher? Someone to help you gain confidence and practice the language with topics according to your level and needs? In addition to that ... Do you want to get a study material and corrections? Well, I'm the right teacher for you . My name is Andrea and I'm from South America - Ecuador. I am a full-time Spanish teacher and I have a variety of resources to help you learn Spanish online.
I am currently studying French and I know how beneficial and fun it is to learn with a friendly and patient teacher who teaches you and helps you speak the language with confidence.
If you want to know a little more about me, I invite you to watch this video about reserving a hotel room.
https://youtu.be/d7F7mxOfKmA
G. P.
Andrea is a delightful and brilliant teacher. She has been teaching Spanish since 2018 and her study method is based on the student's level and the goals they want to achieve. In her you will find a prepared, experienced and friendly person. She relies on several books for teaching Spanish and her lessons are creative, very innovative and super interactive. With her you will never be bored.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
Andrea H.
