FRENCH NOTE 73 DIRECT OBJECT PRONOUNS

FRENCH NOTE 73 OBJECT PRONOUNS ( DIRECT)
Let us continue our study of French pronouns. You already know that the words " le, la ,les
L' "are known as direct articles., I made elaborate notes on French Direct Articles. These
same words are capable of playing the role of object pronouns ( direct) . This note is all
about that point.
1. Je mets ce livre sur la table.
I keep this book on the table.
Je mets quoi ? I keep .... What?
Ce livre . This book
Ce livre ( this book) is the Direct Object of the verb "mettre" ( Keep ) conjugated as
" mets" in this sentence.
The Direct Object of the verb in this sentence can be replaced by " LE".
In other words " LE" is the DIRECT OBJECT PRONOUN.
There is another terminology " DIRECT OBJECT COMPLEMENT ".
A complement completes the sense of a verb by giving some more precise information .
Ask the question "QUOI or QUI " to get the DIRECT OBJECT.
Now the above sentence can be written using DIRECT OBJECT PRONOUN.
Je LE mets sur la table.
I keep it on the table.
Why " LE" ?
Easy to understand . The noun " LIVRE" is masculine singular . So " LE".
Have you got it ?
Note the position of " LE". It is placed before the verb unlike the practice in English.
We never say " I it keep on the table".
But in French , that is the correct order while using DIRECT OBJECT PRONOUNS.
The following examples will perfect your understanding of DIRECT OBJECT PRONOUNS.
1. Elle lit un livre
She reads a book.
Elle le lit.
She reads it.
Un livre = le
2. Elizabeth adore Richard.
Elizabeth adores Richard.
Elizabeth l'adore.
Elizabeth adores him.
Richard = le
3. Martin porte une chemise rouge.
Martin wears a red shirt.
Maritin la porte.
Martin wears it.
Une chemise rouge = la
4. La mère réprimande sa fille.
The mother reprimands her daughter.
La mère la réprimande .
The mother reprimands her.
Sa filled= la
5. Thomas sort les voitures du garage.
Thomas takes out the cars from the garage.
Thomas les sort du garage.
Thomas takes them out from the garage.
Les voitures = les.
Important points.
1. Remember that DIRECT OBJECT PRONOUNS in FRENCH can represent persons as well
as nouns other than persons.
2. They are placed immediately before the verb.
When the verb takes different forms like composite tenses, infinitives etc we will study
in subsequent notes. How to use the direct object pronouns in respect of questions
and imperative sentences ? We will learn them in subsequent posts with several examples.
Happy learning !
Please point out inadvertent errors, if any.
Sayee Jayaraman
07/04/2015

Chennai
.