direct & indirect pronoun order
In French, it is common to use both a direct object pronoun (complément d’objet direct or COD) and an indirect object pronoun (complément d’objet indirect or COI) in the same sentence. These pronouns go before the verb, and they follow a specific order.
To get the order right, you can use two simple rules.
Rule 1: “L is for last”
When combining lui or leur (indirect object pronouns) with another pronoun that does not start with L (such as me, te, nous, or vous), lui or leur goes last.
Examples:
- Tu me le donnes.
You give it to me. - Je nous la montre.
I show it to us. - Il te les envoie.
He sends them to you. - Il vous l’explique.
He explains it to you.
Explanation:
In these examples, le, la, or les (direct objects) come first, and me, te, nous, or vous (indirect objects) come before them. Since these pronouns don’t start with L, “L is for last” applies.
Rule 2: “Double-L” Rule
When both pronouns begin with the letter L (for example le, la, les with lui or leur), lui or leur comes last.
Examples:
- Je le lui donne.
I give it to him. - Elle la leur lit.
She reads it to them. - Nous les lui envoyons.
We send them to him.
Explanation:
Even though both pronouns start with L, the order is still: direct (le, la, les) + indirect (lui, leur). This follows the “double-L” rule: lui or leur still comes last.
Summary Table
| Indirect + Direct Pronoun Combination | Rule Used | Example | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| me + le | L is for last | Tu me le montres. | You show it to me. |
| te + la | L is for last | Il te la donne. | He gives it to you. |
| nous + les | L is for last | Il nous les envoie. | He sends them to us. |
| vous + l’ | L is for last | Je vous l’explique. | I explain it to you. |
| le + lui | Double-L rule | Je le lui prête. | I lend it to him. |
| la + leur | Double-L rule | Il la leur montre. | He shows it to them. |
| les + lui | Double-L rule | Nous les lui offrons. | We offer them to her. |
Negative Sentences
In negative sentences, ne and pas go around the entire pronoun group and the verb.
- Je ne te le donne pas.
I’m not giving it to you. - Nous ne le lui montrons pas.
We’re not showing it to him.
