Direct Pronouns

Replacing nouns with pronouns makes our use of the language much more fluid and economical. In both English and French, the choice of which pronoun to use is determined by its role in the sentence, i.e. subject, direct object or indirect object, etc.

The direct object is the person or thing that receives the action of the verb in a sentence. To determine the direct object in a sentence, ask yourself the question: Who? or What? Direct object pronouns take the place of the direct object nouns. While a noun that is the direct object follows the verb, the pronoun is instead placed in front of it, for example: Tu prends l’avion (You take the plane), Tu le prends (You take it).

☞  – Est-ce que tu regardes la télé ?   Do you watch TV?

• Oui, je la regarde.   Yes, I watch it.
  ☞  – Est-ce que tu aimes le professeur ?   Do you like the teacher? 
• Oui, je l’aime.  Yes, I like him

The French direct object pronouns are as follows:

Practice