In French, it is common to use up to two pronouns right next to each other. The use of double pronouns allows for concise and precise communication while avoiding repetition. It’s super important to know the French double pronouns order, and by the end of this lesson you’ll be a pro!
The pronouns that can be combined in this way include direct object pronouns, indirect object pronouns, reflexive pronouns, and the pronouns “y” and “en.”
In this lesson, we will explore using French double pronouns in several tenses, both with and without negation.
French Double Pronouns Order Chart
This chart differs slightly when using affirmative commands.
| ME | ||||
| TE | LE | |||
| NOUS | LA | LUI | ||
| VOUS | LES | LEUR | Y | EN |
ME – TE – NOUS – VOUS
These can be reflexive pronouns, direct object pronouns, or indirect object pronouns.
LE – LA – LES
These are direct object pronouns.
LUI – LEUR
These are indirect object pronouns.
Y – EN
Y and EN are adverbial pronouns.
Examples
| Je les lui ai donnés. | passé composé | I gave them to him / her. |
| Je ne les lui ai pas donnés. | négation | I did not give them to him / her. |
| Elle me l’achète. | présent | She’s buying it for me. |
| Elle ne me l’achète pas. | négation | She’s not buying it for me. |
| Il va s’en souvenir. | futur proche | He is going to remember it. |
| Il ne va pas s’en souvenir. | négation | He is not going to remember it. |
| Il les y a vus. | passé composé | He saw them there. |
| Il ne les y a pas vus. | négation | He did not see them there. |
| Elle te les donnera demain. | futur simple | She will give them to you tomorrow. |
| Elle ne te les donnera pas demain. | négation | She will not give them to you tomorrow. |
| Nous allons t’en parler. | futur proche | We are going to talk to you about it. |
| Nous n’allons pas t’en parler. | négation | We are not going to talk to you about it. |
| Je le lui ai dit. | passé composé | I told him (that). |
| Je ne le lui ai pas dit. | négation | I didn’t tell him (that). |
| Elle se les brosse. | présent | She’s brushing them. |
| Elle ne se les brosse pas. | négation | She is not brushing them. |
Why use double pronouns?
Combining pronouns in a sentence helps to clarify the relationships between the subject, objects, and locations, making conversations more precise and concise.
Video + Lesson Guide
Watch my video lesson in which I’ll provide clear explanations, engaging examples, and practical tips to help you grasp the concept of French double pronouns.
Don’t forget to download your free lesson guide, which includes useful examples and additional resources to reinforce your understanding.
