les pronoms
 
Replace objects, people and places with pronouns.
This helps us to speak quicker and more naturally.
Remove the object, person or place with a pronoun.
Make sure to put this pronoun in a new spot... right in front of the verb.
Don’t forget to watch for ‘les voyelles qui se cognent’.
 

1. If there is an object, replace that object with le/la/les, depending on if it is masculine/feminine/pluriel. Ask yourself ‘what?’

 
Je vois Sylvie. = Sylvie is an object. She is feminin.
Je la vois.
Je vois un garçon. = Un garçon is an object. It is masculin.
Je le vois.
Je prend les crayons. = Les crayons is pluriel.
Je les prends.
 
Notice how the object is removed, and the pronoun replaces it. The pronoun is then moved in front of the verb.
Don’t forget... a person is an object.
 

1. If something happens to someone, you need lui/leur, depending on singulier or pluriel. Ask yourself ‘to whom?’

 
Je parle à Sylvie. (singulier)
Je lui parle.
Je donne un crayon aux filles. (pluriel)
Je leur donne un crayon.
Je demande à Jacques pour un crayon. (singulier)
Je lui demande.
 
The clue is to look for à /au/aux and then a person.
It does not matter if the person is male or female.
 
 

1. You may also use a pronoun instead of a place. Use ‘y’. Ask yourself ‘where?’

I go to the store. = I go there.
I sit at my desk. = I sit there.
 
Je marche à la maison.
J’y marche.
Elle est dans l’école.
Elle y est.
Il tombe par terre.
Il y tombe.
 
 
Be careful… les voyelles se cognent sometimes.
There are many different places. Often you might be removing many words!
 

1. This is the easiest one. If you see ‘de/des/d’/du’, replace with ‘en’. This means ‘some.’

J’aime de la musique.
J’en aime.
Il mange de pizza.
Il en mange.
 
And don’t forget..... if you have more than one pronoun, keep them in the correct order. You may have to rearrange them!
 
le/la/les                        lui/leur            y          en