The position of object pronouns within a sentence in French

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The position of object pronouns within a sentence

The COI (complement d'objet indirect) and COD (complement d'objet direct) pronouns (me, te, lui, leur...) are placed:
• before the verb
• before the auxiliary être or avoir
• before the infinitive

Je te connais bien ; Je ne lui plais pas. I know you well. I don't please him.
Tu les as vus hier ? ; Tu ne leur as pas demandé d'argent ? Did you see them yesterday? You didn't ask them for money?
Je peux vous aider ? ; Je vous prie de ne pas me déranger. Can I help you? Please don't disturb me.

In the imperative, the pronouns are placed:
• before the verb in the negative form
• after the verb in the affirmative form
Note: In the affirmative form, me becomes moi and te becomes toi.

Ne me trompe pas ! ; Ne lui dis rien ! Don't deceive me! Don't tell him anything!
Sauvez-le, il se noie ! ; Donne-lui la main! Save him, he's drowning! Give him your hand!
Dis-moi tout ; Tais-toi, tu dis que des bêtises ! Tell me everything. Be quiet, you're talking rubbish.

When we use two pronouns in the same sentence, the indirect object pronouns me, te, se, nous, vous go before the direct object pronoun PRONOMS COD.
Victor me donne sa photo. → Il me la donne. Victor is giving me his photo. → He is giving it to me.
Je t’offre ces fleurs. → Je te les offre. I'm offering you these flowers. → I'm offering them to you.
Exceptions: the indirect object pronouns lui and leur go after the direct object pronouns PRONOMS COD.
Victor lui donne sa photo. → Victor la lui donne. Victor is giving him his photo. → Victor is giving his photo to him.
Je leur offre ces fleurs. → Je les leur offre. I'm offering these flowers to them. → I'm offering them to them.
In the imperative mood, COD pronouns are placed in front of COI pronouns.
Donne-la-lui ; Offre-les-leur ; Prends-le-moi Give it to her; Give them (to them); Get it for me.

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