The noun which is placed after the conjugated verb
without any proposition is called direct object.
Mohan lit le livre.
Mohan reads the book.
Noun verb Noun
subject object
Mohan is the subject.
The subject can be replaced only with a subject pronoun.
Replace Mohan with a subject pronoun Il
le livre is the direct object.
The direct object can be replaced only with a direct object pronoun.
Replace le livre with a direct object pronoun.
Study the table below:
sub.pro meaning d.o.p meaning
je I me, m’ me
tu you te, t’ you
il he, it le, l’ him
elle she, it la, l’ her
nous we nous us
vous you vous you
ils (m) they les them
elles (f) they les them
First convert the direct objectle livre into a subject pronoun.
Le livre is a masculine singular noun.
Le livre = il meaning ‘it’
le livre is direct object and hence you cannot replace the direct object le livre with the subject pronoun‘il’
As we replace a subject with a subject pronoun,
the direct object should be replaced with a direct object pronoun.
Now look at the table above to find the suitable
direct object pronoun : il = le
Though in English the direct object pronoun is placed after
the conjugated verb, in French, the direct object pronoun is
placed before the conjugated verb.
After reading the above note carefully,
learn from the explanation given below.
Il lit le livre.
He reads the book.
He reads it.
Il lit il. il is subject pronoun ;
cannot replace a direct object.
Il lit le. le is direct object pronoun
It is placed after the conjugaed verb.
In affirmative sentences cannot be placed
after the conjugated verb.
Il le lit. le the direct object pronoun is placed
before the conjugated verb.
Il le ne lit pas. Observe where ‘ne’ is placed.
Il ne le lit pas. ‘ne’ should be placed before all
the object pronouns and
immediately after the subject.
le, la, les, l’ are definite articles meaning the.
le, la, les, l’ are also direct object pronouns meaning he, she, it , them.
If le, la, les, l’ is placed before a noun, than it is definite article.
If le, la, les, l’ is placed before a conjugated verb it is direct object pronoun.
Passé composé and direct object
In the passé composé when direct object pronoun is placed before the conjugated verb,whether the verb used is avoir or être, the past participle will agree in number and gender with the direct object noun.
Example:
Mohan a lu le livre.
Le livre is the direct object and it is a masculine singular noun.
Mohan l’a lu.
Le is the direct object pronoun and replaces the direct object le livre.
Note the placement of the direct object pronoun.
The direct object pronoun is placed before the conjugated verb.
Not before the past participle
As le is a masculine singular direct object pronoun there is no change in the past participle.
Mohan a lu les livres.
Les livres is placed after the conjugated verb and is the direct object and is a masculine plural noun.
Mohan les a lus.
les is the direct object pronoun and replaces the direct object les livres and is placed before the conjugated verb.
Not before the past participle
As les is a masuline plural direct object pronoun and placed before the conjugated verb an‘s’ is added to the past participle.
Mohan a lu la lettre.
La lettre is the direct object and placed after the conjugated verb and it is a feminine singular noun.
Mohan l’a lue.
la is the direct object pronoun and replaces the direct object la letter and it is placed before the conjugated verb.
Not before the past participle
As la is feminine singular direct object pronoun an ‘e’ is added to the past participle.
Mohan a lu les lettres.
Les lettres is the direct object placed after the conjugated verb and it is a feminine plural noun.
Mohan les a lues.
les is the direct object pronoun and replaces the direct object les lettres and it is placed before the conjugated verb.
Not before the past participle
As les is a feminine plural direct object pronoun and placed before the conjugated verb ‘es’ is added to the past participle.