Object pronouns: le, lui, y, en
Replacing nouns — and where the pronoun goes.
15 minutes · A free lesson from B1 : Indépendant (independent) · Roman and Urdu pronunciation guides and English meanings are shown under each phrase
| Pronoun | Replaces | Example |
|---|---|---|
| le, la, lesSay: luh, la, lehلَ, لا, لےMeans: the (masculine, feminine, plural); him, her, them | a direct object | Je connais Paul → Je le connais.Say: zhuh koneh pol, zhuh luh koneh.ژَ کونے پول, ژَ لَ کونے.Means: I know Paul → I know him. |
| lui, leurSay: lwee, loerلوی, لَغMeans: (to) him or her, (to) them | à + a person | Je parle à Marie → Je lui parle.Say: zhuh parl a maree, zhuh lwee parl.ژَ پاغل ا ماغی, ژَ لوی پاغل.Means: I talk to Marie → I talk to her. |
| ySay: eeایMeans: there (replaces à + a place) | à + a place or thing | Je vais à Paris → J'y vais.Say: zhuh vehz a paree, zhee veh.ژَ وےز ا پاغی, ژی وے.Means: I am going to Paris → I am going there. |
| enSay: ah(n)اںMeans: some, of it (replaces de + a thing) | de / du / des + a thing, or a quantity | Je bois du thé → J'en bois.Say: zhuh bwa due teh, zhah(n) bwa.ژَ بوا دیُ تے, ژاں بوا.Means: I drink tea → I drink some. |
The pronoun goes before the verb — and in the passé composé, before avoir or être: Je ne les ai pas vus.
| avoir | Say avwar | اوواغ | Means: to have |
| être | Say ehtr | اےتغ | Means: to be |
| Je ne les ai pas vus. | Say zhuh nuh lehz eh pa vue. | ژَ نَ لےز اے پا ویُ. | Means: I didn't see them. |
Lesson quiz
Check what you have learned. Choose an answer to see whether it is right, and why.
Quick check: Which pronoun replaces “à Paris” in “Je vais à Paris”?
- en
- y
- le
Show the answer
B: y — y replaces à + a place: j'y vais.
Quick check: Which pronoun replaces “du thé” in “Je bois du thé”?
- y
- lui
- en
Show the answer
C: en — en replaces de, du or des + a thing: j'en bois.
Quick check: Which sentence replaces “à Marie” in “Je parle à Marie”?
- Je lui parle.
- Je la parle.
- Je parle lui.
Show the answer
A: Je lui parle. — lui replaces à + a person, and it goes before the verb.
Quick check: Which position does the pronoun take in the passé composé?
- After the past participle
- Before avoir or être
- The end of the sentence
Show the answer
B: Before avoir or être — Je ne les ai pas vus: les comes before ai.
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