Indirect Object Pronouns

An indirect object is the person who benefits from the action of the verb.

• The indirect object almost always has à in front of it.

• The indirect object is often used with verbs of giving and receiving (donner, offrir, envoyer) and of communicating (parler, téléphoner, dire):

– Je vais envoyer une invitation à ton cousin.

You can use indirect object pronouns to avoid repetition. Just like direct object pronouns, they go in front of the conjugated verb or infinitive.

• Alors, je vous envoie une invitation à ma fête.– So, I’m sending you an invitation to my party.

• Tu pourrais lui offrir un CD.– You could get him/her a CD.

me (m’) (to) me nous (to) us

te (t’) (to) you vous (to) you

lui (to) him, her leur (to) them

If you have both direct & indirect object pronouns in the same sentence, place the pronouns in front of the verb in the order below:

me (m’) le

te (t’) l’ lui

nous la leur

vous les

Example with multiple object pronouns

J’envoie cette carte à mon ami.

Je l’envoie à mon ami. I’m sending it to my friend.

Je lui envoie cette carte. I’m sending him this card.

Je la lui envoie. I’m sending it to him.

Je te l’envoie. I’m sending it to you.