When there are two pronouns in a sentence, it can be challenging to decide which goes where. Here are a few simple rules.
Two Object Pronouns
Rule 1: The direct object pronouns le, la, les come after the indirect object pronouns me, te, nous, vous.
Rule 2: But the direct object pronouns le, la, les come before the indirect pronouns lui and leur.
Adverbial Pronouns
Rule 2: The pronouns y (there, to there) and en (some, some of) are always behind all other pronouns. If both are there, then en is at the very end.
Regular Pronoun Order
Rule 3: In the vast majority of situations, here is how the regular pronoun order would work:
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Subject pronoun | me, te se, nous, vous | le, la, les | lui, leur | y, en | conjugated verb |
Indicative Pronoun Order
Rule 4: In the affirmative imperative sentence, pronouns follow the verb directly and are connected to it and each other with hyphens in the next order:
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Verb in the imperative | le, la, les | moi, toi, lui, nous, vous, leur | y, en |
For example:
Stay Cautious
Two pronouns is the limit in one sentence. If the sentence requires to use more, reword it to remove the spare pronouns.
Also, stay cautious when using two pronouns in the sentence - be sure to fully understand how each French pronoun works. This way, you will avoid misunderstanding when talking to someone in French.
Quiz
1/4Translate: I didn't see him there.