FRENCH	ENGLISH
objet direct	Direct object
the noun or pronoun that directly receives the action of the verb
Je lis un livre.	I'm reading a book.
Je fais la vaisselle.	I'm washing the dishes.
The direct object can be replaced with pronouns placed directly before the verbs.
Je vois l’oiseau. / Je le vois.	I see the bird. / I see it.
Je déteste les carottes. / Je les déteste.	I hate carrots. / I hate them.
J’aime beaucoup Robert. / Je l'aime.	I love Robert. / I love him.
Tu entends Françoise ? / Tu m'entends ?	Do you hear Françoise? / Do you hear me?
Ils vont aider notre famille. / Ils vont nous aider.	They are going to help our family. / They are going to help us.
Je connais Claude. / Je le connais.	I know Claude. / I know him.
Je vais appeler le bureau. / Je vais les appeler.	I am going to call the office. / I am going to call them.
In imperative sentences, "moi" is used instead of "me" and "toi" is used instead of "te".
Aide-moi!	Help me.
Assieds-toi.	Sit down.
objet indirect	Indirect object
the noun or pronoun that indirectly benefits from the action of the verb. And objects after verbs like demander à (meaning to ask) and téléphoner à (meaning to phone) are considered indirect objects.
Elle a donné un parapluie à Pierre.	She gave Pierre an umbrella.
Je vais chercher une serviette pour Lucas.	I will get a towel for Lucas.
The indirect object can be replaced with pronouns placed directly before the verbs.
Tu peux apporter un chiffon à Emma ? / Tu peux m'apporter un chiffon ?	Can you bring Emma a rag? / Can you bring me a rag?
J’enverrai un mail à Chloé. / Je lui enverrai un mail.	I will send Chloé an email. / I will send her an email.
Je parlais à mon frère. / Je lui parlais.	I was talking to my brother. / I was talking to him.
Elle écrit une lettre à ses parents. / Elle leur écrit une lettre.	She is writing a letter to her parents. / She was writing them a letter.
Tu l’as pas dit à ta femme. / Tu lui as pas dit.	You didn't tell your wife. / You didn't tell her.
Verbs that require the preposition "à" in French often do so to indicate the recipient, direction, or destination of the action (indirect object). Some common verbs that typically use "à" are: penser (to think about), parler (to talk to), écouter (to listen to), regarder (to look at), obéir (to obey), répondre (to respond to), demander (to ask (someone)), sourire (to smile at), téléphoner (to phone/call), écrire (to write to), donner (to give to), envoyer (to send to), pardonner (to forgive), promettre (to promise (someone), apprendre (to learn (from/to)), acheter (to buy for), prêter (to lend to), manquer (to miss (someone)), réfléchir (to reflect/think about), renoncer (to renounce/give up)
In imperative sentences, "moi" is used instead of "me".
Donne-moi ça !	Help me.
Écoute-moi.	Listen to me.
	Exercises