1 of 17 © Boardworks Ltd 2006 Direct object pronouns This icon indicates the slide contains activities created in Flash. These activities are not editable.

1 of 17 © Boardworks Ltd 2006

Direct object pronouns

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Def

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Direct object pronouns le / la / l’ / les 1

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Reread this extract from the dialogue:

– Bonjour mademoiselle. Je peux vous aider?– Je cherche un pull en laine.– Vous aimez ce pull rouge?– Oui, je l'aime, mais je préfère ce pull rose. C'est combien?– C'est €35,75.– C'est très joli. Je le prends.

Can you see how the lady says I like it and I’ll take it?

Je l’aime. – I like it.Je le prends. – I’ll take it.

She doesn’t want to repeat the word pull every time she refers to the jumper, so she uses the word for it instead. If she didn’t do this, the conversation would be very repetitive!

Direct object pronouns le / la / l’ / les 2

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Direct object pronouns le / la / l’ / les 3

In English, we use it or them to avoid repetition:Do you like onions? No, I hate them!Do you like French? Yes, I love it!

In English, we use it or them to avoid repetition:Do you like onions? No, I hate them!Do you like French? Yes, I love it!

We do exactly the same in French: Tu aimes les oignons? Non, je les déteste!Tu aimes le français? Oui, je l’adore!

We do exactly the same in French: Tu aimes les oignons? Non, je les déteste!Tu aimes le français? Oui, je l’adore!

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Direct object pronouns le / la / l’ / les 4

In French we usele, la, l’ and les to avoid repetition. They are direct object pronouns.

In French we usele, la, l’ and les to avoid repetition. They are direct object pronouns.

If you use them in your written and spoken French, then your work will sound more natural.

If you use them in your written and spoken French, then your work will sound more natural.

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So how do we use them? Read the following sentences to see if you can work out the rules. – How do we choose which one to use? – Where does it go in the sentence?

Vous aimez ce pull rouge? Oui, je l'aime. Vous prenez le pull? Oui, je le prends.

Vous prenez la ceinture verte? Oui, je la prends.Vous aimez la ceinture verte? Oui, je l’aime.

Vous prenez les chaussures noires? Oui, je les prends.Vous aimez les chaussures noires? Oui, je les aime.

Direct object pronouns le / la / l’ / les 5

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Direct object pronouns le / la / l’ / les 6

The direct object pronoun goes directly in front of the verb. Note that les is not shortened before a vowel.

When referring to something masculine, you use ‘le’.Vous prenez le pull? Oui, je le prends.

When referring to something feminine, you use ‘la’.Vous prenez la ceinture verte? Oui, je la prends.

When referring to something masculine or feminine and the following word starts with a vowel (or a silent h), use l’.Vous aimez la ceinture verte? Oui, je l’aime.

When referring to something plural, use les.Vous aimez les chaussures noires? Oui, je les aime.

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Can you answer each of the following questions in the affirmative, using a direct object pronoun in each case?

1 Tu aimes ces fleurs rouges?2 Tu préfères de la viande?3 Tu détestes le tennis?4 Tu prends ces chaussures?5 Tu portes ta nouvelle robe bleue?6 Tu achètes cet ordinateur?7 Tu regardes la télé?8 Tu ranges ta chambre?9 Tu laves la voiture de papa?10 Tu fais tes devoirs?

Oui, je les aime.Oui, je la préfère.Oui, je le déteste.Oui, je les prends.Oui, je la porte.Oui, je l’achète.Oui, je la regarde.Oui, je la range.Oui, je la lave.Oui, je les fais.

Direct object pronouns le / la / l’ / les 7

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Direct object pronouns le / la / l’ / les 8

Tu détestes ton frère?

Tu détestes ton frère?

Oui je le déteste.

Oui je le déteste.

This time, le, la and l’ mean him or her, but les still means them.

Oui je l’aime.

Oui je l’aime.

Tu aimes ta sœur?

Tu aimes ta sœur?

Tu attends tes parents?

Tu attends tes parents?

Oui je les attends.

Oui je les attends.

Oui nous vous attendons.

Oui nous vous attendons.

Vous nous attendez?

Vous nous attendez?

You can use direct object pronouns to refer to people.

Yannick, viens ici! Je veux te montrer quelque chose!

Yannick, viens ici! Je veux te montrer quelque chose!

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Direct object pronouns le / la / l’ / les 9

In summary:

me – mete – youle – him / it la – her / it

nous – usvous – youles – them

The direct object pronoun goes directly in front of the verb.

When referring to something masculine, we use le.

When referring to something feminine, we use la.

When referring to something masculine or feminine and the following word starts with a vowel, we use l’.

When referring to something plural, we use les, which is never shortened before a vowel.

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Direct object pronouns le / la / l’ / les 10

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Direct object pronouns le / la / l’ / les 11

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Once you feel confident using direct object pronouns in the present tense, then you can start using them in other tenses too!The futur proche is easy to use with direct object pronouns. Can you see where they need to go in the sentence?

They go between aller and the infinitive.

Direct object pronouns & the immediate future 1

Le match de football est à 19h. Je vais le regarder.

Le match de football est à 19h. Je vais le regarder.

Ma chambre est en désordre. Je vais la ranger.

Ma chambre est en désordre. Je vais la ranger.

J’ai besoin d’une jupe. Je vais l’acheter chez Topshop.

J’ai besoin d’une jupe. Je vais l’acheter chez Topshop.

Où sont Loïc et Yannick? Je vais les appeler.

Où sont Loïc et Yannick? Je vais les appeler.

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Direct object pronouns & the immediate future 2

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Direct object pronouns and the perfect 1

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Direct object pronouns and the perfect 2