Today, we're going to review the COD and COI pronouns. Don't be afraid, don't go away! It's going to be fine!


We'll review the basics, understand the logic behind this grammar rule, because there is one. And we will practice this point of French grammar.

 


(you, now)
 

What is a pronoun?

First, it's interesting to understand what a pronoun is. I'm not asking you to memorize what I'm going to tell you now, but to understand the use of a pronoun. This will help you.


A pronoun is a word that replaces a noun or a nominal group (i.e. a noun with one or more adjectives and/or articles).


For example, look at this sentence: Jules mange une pomme.
 

Une pomme, it's a name
 

And if I say : Jules la mange
 

I then replaced my name by a pronoun, here “la”.

 

Why do we use a pronoun?

We use a pronoun to avoid repeating a noun in a sentence and to make sentences shorter.
 

For example, if I ask: 

Tu regardes la télévision ?
 

To avoid making a long sentence and saying: Oui, je regarde la télévision. I will say : Oui, je la regarde.
 

The use of pronouns is not mandatory and that's why it's difficult for you. We tend unconsciously (or sometimes consciously) to avoid using grammar points that we find difficult. But, as I often say, you have to get out of your comfort zone to progress.
 

 

Direct and Indirect Complementary Pronouns in French :

Today we're going to focus on direct and indirect complement pronouns and their use.


You can find several names for these pronouns: pronoms compléments directs et indirects / pronoms COD et COI.

COD means "complément d’objet direct" and COI means "complément d’objet indirect".
 

I call them "pronoms COD et COI" because it's shorter.
 

Honestly, we don't really care what you call them. The important thing is to know how to use them well. That's what we'll see now.
 

 

Direct object pronouns in French :

The French COD pronouns are:

Direct object pronouns (COD) in French

The COD pronouns replace the direct complements found when answering the question "quoi ?" or "qui ?".
 

They are called "direct complements" because there is no preposition between the noun or the nominal group and the verb. The link between the noun and the verb is then direct. 
 

If the noun or noun phrase represents an object, to know what I'm going to replace with my pronoun, I ask myself the question: sujet + verbe + quoi ?
 

If the noun or noun phrase represents a person, to know what I'm going to replace with my pronoun, I ask myself: sujet + verbe + qui ?

 

For example, for an object :

Il change les draps.

Il change quoi ?

Les draps. (eux) 

→ Il les change.

 

For example, for a person:

Je connais Julie.

Je connais qui ?

Julie (elle)

→ Je la connais

 

Indirect object pronouns in French :

The French COI pronouns are: 


Indirect object pronouns (COI) in French

The COI pronouns replace the indirect complements found when answering the question:  'à quoi ?" or "à qui ?"
 

And these are called indirect, because there is a preposition between the noun or nominal group and the verb.
 

Similarly, if the noun or noun phrase represents an object, in order to know what I am going to replace with my pronoun, I ask myself the question: sujet + verbe + à quoi ?
 

If the noun or noun phrase represents a person, to know what I'm going to replace with my pronoun, I ask myself: sujet + verbe + à qui ?
 

For example, for an object :

Je donne de l'eau à mes plantes.

Je donne de l'eau à quoi ?

→ à mes plantes (à elles)

Je leur donne de l'eau

 

For example, for a person :

Je téléphone à mon père.

Je téléphone à qui ?

→ à mon père

Je lui téléphone.
 

⚠️  Generally (not always), COI pronouns are used with verbs of communication : téléphoner à, raconter à, parler à, dire à, envoyer à, donner à, demander à, écrire à, communiquer à, etc.

 

In summary on COD and COI pronouns in French:

The pronouns COD and COI in French are the same, EXCEPT for if the pronoun designates a person or an object, which can be replaced by "il" and "elle" in singular and plural.
 

Je regarde + moi : Je me regarde

Je ressemble à + moi : Je me ressemble 

 

Je regarde + toi : Je te regarde

Je ressemble à + toi : Je te ressemble 

 

Je regarde + le film : Je le regarde

Je ressemble à + mon frère : Je lui ressemble

 

Je regarde + la mer : Je la regarde

Je ressemble à + ma soeur : Je lui ressemble

 

Je regarde + nous : Je nous regarde

Je ressemble à + nous : Je nous ressemble

 

Je regarde + vous : Je vous regarde

Je ressemble à + vous : Je vous ressemble

 

Je regarde + les oiseaux : Je les regarde

Je ressemble à + mes cousins : Je leur ressemble

Je regarde + les étoiles : Je les regarde

Je ressemble à + mes copines : Je leur ressemble