1. Subject pronoun
When the subject (noun) is replaced with a pronoun,
it is called subject pronoun.
Generally, the noun which is placed before the
conjugated verb is called subject. So subject pronoun
comes at the beginning of the sentence.
Subject pronoun
je I
tu you
il he, it
elle she, it
nous we
vous you
ils (m) they
elles (f) they
2. Direct object:
Generally the noun which is placed after the conjugated
verb without any proposition is called direct object.
Subject pronoun Direct object pronoun
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
3. Indirect object:
Generally the noun which is placed after the conjugated verb
with a proposition is called indirect object.
Use the indirect object pronoun to replace à + person.
do not use the indirect object pronoun if it is à + other
than person.(see below the pronoun ‘y’)
Subject pronoun Direct object pronoun Inirect object pronoun
je I me, m’ me me, m’ to me
tu you te, t’ you te, t’ to you
il he, it le, l’ him lui to him
elle she, it la, l’ her lui to her
nous we nous us nous to us
vous you vous you nous to you
ils (m) they les them leur to them
elles (f) they les them leur to them
3. The pronoun ‘y’
The pronoun ‘y’ is used to
1. replace a place with the proposition
à, dans, chez, sous, sur etc.
2. à + anything other than person.
4. The pronoun ‘en’
The pronoun ‘en’ replaces :
1. de + noun
2. du + noun
3. de la + noun
4. de l’ + noun
5. des + noun
6. definite quantity + noun
6.1 The definite quantity should be mentioned in the
affirmative sentence.
6.2 The definite quantitive shoud not be mentioned
in the negative sentence.
7. indefinite quantity + noun
The indefinite quantity should be mentioned both in the
affirmative and negative sentence.
NOTE : Generally ‘en’ will not replace a person except
with definite quantity.
Direct object in passé compose:
When the direct object pronoun is placed before the
conjugated verb, the past participle will agree in number
and gender with the direct object noun.
Word order:
When the direct object pronoun and the indirect object pronoun
both are in third person (singular or plural form)
the word order is
direct object pronoun + indirect pronoun + y + en + conjugated verb.
When the direct object pronoun and the indirect object pronoun are
in other than third person (singular or plural form)
the word order is
indirect object pronoun + direct pronoun + y + en + conjugated verb.
In negation ne is placed immediately after the subject pronoun and
before all the object pronouns and pas after the conjugated verb.