A1 Pronouns 11 min read Medium

Pronoun Order in Affirmative Commands (Donne-le-moi)

In affirmative commands, pronouns follow the verb in a hyphenated chain: Verb-DirectObject-IndirectObject, with 'me/te' becoming 'moi/toi'.
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Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds

In affirmative commands, object pronouns follow the verb, connected by hyphens, in the specific order: Verb + Direct Object + Indirect Object.

  • Pronouns come after the verb in affirmative commands: 'Donne-le-moi' (Give it to me).
  • Use hyphens to connect the verb and all pronouns: 'Montre-la-lui' (Show it to him).
  • Direct objects (le, la, les) always come before indirect objects (moi, toi, lui, nous, vous, leur).
Verb + - + Direct Object + - + Indirect Object

Overview

When constructing commands in French, especially when those commands involve pronouns, the standard word order shifts significantly. Unlike typical declarative sentences where pronouns usually precede the verb, in affirmative commands (telling someone to do something), these pronouns attach directly after the conjugated verb. This specific arrangement is crucial for both grammatical correctness and natural comprehension.

Mastering this pattern allows you to give clear, concise instructions and avoid common misunderstandings. For instance, while you might say Tu me le donnes (You give it to me) in a statement, an affirmative command transforms into Donne-le-moi ! (Give it to me!). This restructuring, characterized by hyphens and specific pronoun forms, is a cornerstone of effective communication in French commands, even at the beginner A1 level.

How This Grammar Works

The imperative mood in French, used for commands, requests, and advice, uniquely influences pronoun placement. The core principle is that in an affirmative imperative, the verb takes precedence, moving to the front of the clause, and any accompanying object pronouns then follow it. This contrasts sharply with declarative sentences where object pronouns almost always precede the verb (Je le vois – I see it; Tu lui parles – You talk to him).
The reason for this inversion and post-verbal placement is largely historical and rhythmic, lending greater emphasis to the action being commanded. To visually and grammatically connect the verb and its trailing pronouns, French employs hyphens (-). These hyphens are not optional; they integrate the pronouns into a single grammatical unit with the verb.
Additionally, the first and second person singular indirect object pronouns me (to/for me) and te (to/for you) undergo a transformation, becoming moi and toi respectively when placed after the verb in an affirmative command. This change provides a stronger, more distinct sound to these pronouns in their post-verbal position. Consider Parle-moi ! (Talk to me!) instead of *Parle-me !—the latter is grammatically incorrect and sounds incomplete to a native speaker.

Formation Pattern

1
Forming affirmative commands with pronouns requires adherence to a strict sequence. The process begins with the imperative form of the verb, followed by the object pronouns, connected by hyphens. Let's break this down systematically, building from simple to more complex scenarios.
2
First, you need the imperative form of the verb. The imperative exists for three grammatical persons: tu (informal singular), nous (we/let's), and vous (formal singular or plural). For regular -er verbs, a key detail for the tu form is the omission of the final -s. For example, parler (to speak) becomes Parle ! (Speak!). However, if the pronouns y or en immediately follow, the -s is retained (e.g., Vas-y ! – Go there!), though for A1, we will primarily focus on direct and indirect object pronouns.
3
Here's a quick reference for common imperative forms:
4
| Verb Type | Infinitive | tu imperative (singular informal) | nous imperative (let's/we) | vous imperative (plural/formal) |
5
|:---------------|:-----------|:------------------------------------|:-----------------------------|:----------------------------------|
6
| Regular -er | parler | Parle | Parlons | Parlez |
7
| Regular -ir | finir | Finis | Finissons | Finissez |
8
| Regular -re | vendre | Vends | Vendons | Vendez |
9
| Irregular | avoir | Aie | Ayons | Ayez |
10
| Irregular | être | Sois | Soyons | Soyez |
11
Next, you introduce the object pronouns. French distinguishes between direct object pronouns (DOPs), which answer "who?" or "what?" regarding the verb's action, and indirect object pronouns (IOPs), which answer "to whom?" or "for whom?" The order in which these appear after the verb is fixed.
12
1. Single Pronoun Commands:
13
When there's only one object pronoun, it directly follows the imperative verb.
14
Direct Object Pronouns (DOPs): These replace nouns that are direct objects. They are le (him/it, masculine singular), la (her/it, feminine singular), and les (them, plural for both genders). Note that l' is used before a vowel or mute h for le or la in declarative sentences, but this doesn't apply after a verb in an affirmative command since the verb will always end in a consonant or be followed by a hyphen. So Mange-la ! (Eat it!), Prenez-les ! (Take them!).
15
Indirect Object Pronouns (IOPs): These replace nouns that are indirect objects. For the third person, these are lui (to/for him/her) and leur (to/for them). For the first and second person, me and te transform into moi (to/for me) and toi (to/for you) in affirmative commands. The forms nous (to/for us) and vous (to/for you, formal/plural) remain unchanged.
16
Examples with IOPs:
17
Parle-moi ! (Talk to me!)
18
Téléphonez-lui ! (Call him/her!)
19
Écrivez-nous ! (Write to us!)
20
2. Double Pronoun Commands:
21
When both a direct and an indirect object pronoun are present, their order is strictly defined. The Direct Object Pronoun (DOP) always comes before the Indirect Object Pronoun (IOP). They are both attached to the verb by hyphens.
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General Pattern: Verb - DOP - IOP
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| Verb | Direct Object Pronoun | Indirect Object Pronoun | Example | Meaning |
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|:-------|:----------------------|:-----------------------------------|:-----------------------------------------|:-----------------------------|
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| Donne| le (it/him) | moi (to me) | Donne-le-moi ! | Give it to me! |
26
| Raconte| la (it/her) | toi (to you) | Raconte-la-toi ! | Tell it to yourself! |
27
| Offrez| les (them) | lui (to him/her) | Offrez-les-lui ! | Offer them to him/her! |
28
| Envoie| le (it/him) | nous (to us) | Envoie-le-nous ! | Send it to us! |
29
| Dites| la (it/her) | vous (to you) | Dites-la-vous ! | Tell it to yourselves! |
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| Prépare| les (them) | leur (to them) | Prépare-les-leur ! | Prepare them for them! |
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Crucial Reminder: The pronouns moi and toi are used when they follow the verb, even if they are indirect objects. Lui, nous, vous, and leur keep their forms.
32
Example: If you have a document and want your friend to give it to a third person (him/her), you would say: Donne-le-lui ! (Give it to him/her!). Here, le is the direct object (the document), and lui is the indirect object (to him/her).

When To Use It

This grammatical structure is essential for giving direct instructions, making requests, or offering advice in a clear and idiomatic French manner. You will encounter and use it in countless everyday situations where immediate action is expected from the listener. Understanding this pattern ensures your commands are not only grammatically correct but also naturally understood by native speakers.
  • Giving Instructions or Orders: This is the most straightforward use. Whether you are telling someone to hand you something or to perform an action related to an object or person.
  • Passe-moi le sel ! (Pass me the salt!) -> Passe-le-moi ! (Pass it to me!)
  • Écoute les instructions ! (Listen to the instructions!) -> Écoute-les ! (Listen to them!)
  • Making Requests: When you politely ask someone to give or do something for you or for someone else.
  • Apportez-nous les boissons, s'il vous plaît. (Bring us the drinks, please.) -> Apportez-les-nous, s'il vous plaît ! (Bring them to us, please!)
  • Offering Advice or Suggestions: While often framed less directly, the imperative can be used for strong suggestions, and pronouns follow this rule.
  • Dis la vérité à ta mère ! (Tell the truth to your mother!) -> Dis-la-lui ! (Tell it to her!)
This pattern is ubiquitous in daily interactions, from cooking instructions (Mélangez-les bien ! – Mix them well!) to customer service scenarios (Donnez-moi votre nom ! – Give me your name!). Its prevalence makes it a fundamental skill for A1 learners.

Common Mistakes

Learners frequently make specific errors when applying pronoun order in affirmative commands. Being aware of these pitfalls and understanding why they occur can significantly accelerate your mastery.
1. Forgetting or Misplacing Hyphens:
  • Error: Donne le moi
  • Correct: Donne-le-moi !
  • Explanation: The hyphens are not just stylistic; they are grammatical connectors that bind the pronouns to the verb, forming a single unit. Omitting them makes the phrase sound disjointed and ungrammatical, similar to saying "Give it to me" as three separate words without any connection.
2. Using me or te instead of moi or toi:
  • Error: Parle-me ! or Donne-me-le !
  • Correct: Parle-moi ! or Donne-le-moi !
  • Explanation: This is a very common error. Remember the rule: me and te always change to moi and toi when they appear after the verb in an affirmative command. This sound change creates a stronger syllable at the end of the verb-pronoun chain.
3. Incorrect Pronoun Order (especially with double pronouns):
  • Error: Donne-moi-le ! (Direct translation from English "Give me it!")
  • Correct: Donne-le-moi !
  • Explanation: In French affirmative commands, the direct object pronoun (DOP) always precedes the indirect object pronoun (IOP). This is a rigid rule. Thinking of it as Verb-DOP-IOP helps reinforce the correct sequence. The direct object (what is given) is perceived as being more directly linked to the verb than the indirect object (to whom it is given).
4. Confusing with Negative Commands:
  • Error: Applying the Verb-Pronoun order to negative commands.
  • Correct: Ne me le donne pas ! (Don't give it to me!)
  • Explanation: Negative commands revert to the standard pre-verbal pronoun order, with ne and pas surrounding the entire verb-pronoun block. The pronouns me and te also revert to their pre-verbal forms. This is a critical distinction: affirmative commands place pronouns after the verb, negative commands place them before.
5. Forgetting the s for -er verbs when y or en follow (a more advanced nuance):
  • Error (for A1 learners often): Va-y !
  • Correct: Vas-y ! (Go there!)
  • Explanation: While not directly related to Donne-le-moi, it's a common imperative mistake for -er verbs. The s is added back to the tu form of -er verbs (and aller) only when y or en immediately follow for euphony.

Real Conversations

This grammatical structure is incredibly common in spoken French, making your understanding of it vital for natural conversation. You'll hear it in casual exchanges, professional settings, and media. Pay attention to how natives use it to internalize the rhythm and flow.

- In a café:

- Servez-nous deux cafés, s'il vous plaît. (Serve us two coffees, please.)

- Implicit: Servez-les-nous, s'il vous plaît ! (Serve them to us, please!)

- At home, asking for help:

- Child: Maman, j'ai faim ! (Mom, I'm hungry!)

- Parent: Prends une pomme ! (Take an apple!) -> Prends-en une ! (Take one!) – Note: en is for quantity, but illustrates the post-verbal pronoun. Donne-la-moi ! (Give it to me!) – if referring to the last piece of pie.

- Giving directions:

- Tournez à droite au carrefour, puis continuez tout droit. Ne vous inquiétez pas, vous y êtes presque. (Turn right at the intersection, then continue straight. Don't worry, you're almost there.)

- Explique-moi le chemin encore une fois, s'il te plaît. (Explain the way to me again, please.)

- Texting friends:

- Envoie-la-moi quand tu l'auras ! (Send it to me when you have it!) – referring to a photo.

- Raconte-moi tout plus tard ! (Tell me everything later!)

Native speakers naturally prioritize clarity and brevity. Using pronouns correctly in commands achieves this by avoiding repetition of nouns and maintaining a smooth, efficient sentence structure. This is also why you will find these structures in formal documents and instructions, demonstrating its standard grammatical acceptance across registers.

Quick FAQ

  • Q: Why do me and te change to moi and toi in affirmative commands?
  • A: This change is for phonetic reasons. When these pronouns follow the verb, moi and toi provide a stronger, more distinct sound that is easier to articulate and hear than me and te in that position. It helps maintain the natural rhythm of the spoken language.
  • Q: Can I use y or en with le/la/les or moi/toi/lui/nous/vous/leur in the same command?
  • A: Yes, but this forms a more complex pronoun order that extends beyond the core Verb-DOP-IOP pattern for A1. If y or en are present, they typically come after the direct and indirect object pronouns in affirmative commands (e.g., Donne-les-moi-là ! or Vas-y !). For A1, focus on Verb-DOP-IOP first.
  • Q: Does this rule apply to all verbs in the imperative mood?
  • A: Yes, the post-verbal placement of pronouns and the moi/toi transformation applies universally to all verbs used in the affirmative imperative, whether regular or irregular.
  • Q: Is it acceptable to omit the hyphens in informal writing, like texts?
  • A: While some very informal texts might omit hyphens for brevity, it is grammatically incorrect. For clarity and to develop good habits, always use hyphens. It is a fundamental part of the written French language for these constructions.
  • Q: How can I distinguish between a direct object pronoun and an indirect object pronoun?
  • A: Ask yourself: "What is being verbed?" for the direct object. Ask "To whom?" or "For whom?" is the action being done for the indirect object. For instance, in Donne-le-moi !, le (it) answers "What are you giving?" (direct), and moi (to me) answers "To whom are you giving it?" (indirect).
  • Q: What if I have multiple indirect objects, like "Give it to him and to her"?
  • A: French typically avoids three or more pronouns directly attached to the verb in a command, as it becomes very clunky. In such cases, you would generally rephrase the sentence, perhaps by repeating the verb or using prepositional phrases for clarity (e.g., Donne-le à lui et à elle !). For A1, focus on single and double pronoun commands.

1. Pronoun Order in Affirmative Commands

Verb Direct Object Indirect Object Full Form
Donne
le
moi
Donne-le-moi
Montre
la
lui
Montre-la-lui
Apporte
les
nous
Apporte-les-nous
Prête
le
leur
Prête-le-leur
Envoie
la
vous
Envoie-la-vous
Raconte
les
moi
Raconte-les-moi

Special Forms

Original Command Form Example
me
moi
Donne-moi
te
toi
Donne-toi
en
en
Donne-m'en

Meanings

This rule dictates the sequence of object pronouns when giving a direct command or request in French.

1

Direct Command

Giving an instruction to perform an action on an object for someone.

“Apporte-le-moi.”

“Prête-la-lui.”

2

Polite Request

Asking someone to do something using the imperative form.

“Montre-le-moi, s'il te plaît.”

“Envoyez-la-leur.”

3

Instructional

Giving steps for a task.

“Prends-le-moi.”

“Pose-la-là.”

Reference Table

Reference table for Pronoun Order in Affirmative Commands (Donne-le-moi)
Form Structure Example
Affirmative
Verb-DO-IO
Donne-le-moi
Negative
Ne-IO-DO-Verb-pas
Ne me le donne pas
Question
Verb-Subject-DO-IO
Donnes-tu le livre à moi?
Short Answer
Pronoun-Verb
Je le lui donne
With 'en'
Verb-IO-en
Donne-m'en
With 'y'
Verb-DO-y
Mets-la-y

Formality Spectrum

Formal
Donnez-le-moi, s'il vous plaît.

Donnez-le-moi, s'il vous plaît. (Asking for an item.)

Neutral
Donne-le-moi.

Donne-le-moi. (Asking for an item.)

Informal
Donne-le-moi !

Donne-le-moi ! (Asking for an item.)

Slang
File-le-moi !

File-le-moi ! (Asking for an item.)

Pronoun Flow

Imperative Verb

Direct Object

  • le it (m)
  • la it (f)
  • les them

Indirect Object

  • moi to me
  • lui to him/her
  • nous to us

Affirmative vs Negative

Affirmative
Donne-le-moi Give it to me
Negative
Ne me le donne pas Don't give it to me

Decision Flow

1

Is it a command?

YES
Check polarity
NO
Standard order
2

Is it affirmative?

YES
Verb-DO-IO
NO
Ne-IO-DO-Verb-pas
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Examples by Level

1

Donne-le-moi.

Give it to me.

2

Montre-la-moi.

Show it to me.

3

Apporte-les-nous.

Bring them to us.

4

Prête-le-lui.

Lend it to him.

1

Raconte-la-moi.

Tell it to me.

2

Envoyez-les-leur.

Send them to them.

3

Donne-m'en.

Give me some.

4

Pose-la-là.

Put it there.

1

Explique-le-lui clairement.

Explain it to him clearly.

2

Montrez-la-nous demain.

Show it to us tomorrow.

3

Donne-les-moi sans hésiter.

Give them to me without hesitation.

4

Apporte-m'en un peu.

Bring me a little of it.

1

Laisse-le-moi sur le bureau.

Leave it for me on the desk.

2

Envoie-la-lui dès que possible.

Send it to him as soon as possible.

3

Raconte-les-nous en détail.

Tell them to us in detail.

4

Donne-les-leur avant de partir.

Give them to them before leaving.

1

Prête-la-moi pour la soirée.

Lend it to me for the evening.

2

Montre-les-lui sans tarder.

Show them to him without delay.

3

Apporte-les-nous à la gare.

Bring them to us at the station.

4

Donne-m'en la moitié.

Give me half of it.

1

Laisse-la-lui si tu peux.

Leave it for him if you can.

2

Raconte-le-moi plus tard.

Tell it to me later.

3

Envoyez-les-nous par courrier.

Send them to us by mail.

4

Donne-les-leur immédiatement.

Give them to them immediately.

Easily Confused

Pronoun Order in Affirmative Commands (Donne-le-moi) vs Negative Imperative

Learners use the affirmative order in negative sentences.

Pronoun Order in Affirmative Commands (Donne-le-moi) vs Indicative Mood

Learners use the imperative order in statements.

Pronoun Order in Affirmative Commands (Donne-le-moi) vs Indirect Object Placement

Learners put IO before DO in commands.

Common Mistakes

✗

Me le donne

✓

Donne-le-moi

Pronouns must follow the verb in affirmative commands.
✗

Donne-moi-le

✓

Donne-le-moi

Direct object must come before the indirect object.
✗

Donne le moi

✓

Donne-le-moi

Hyphens are mandatory.
✗

Donne-le-me

✓

Donne-le-moi

'Me' becomes 'moi' in post-verbal position.
✗

Montre-lui-la

✓

Montre-la-lui

Direct object must precede indirect object.
✗

Ne le donne-moi pas

✓

Ne me le donne pas

Negative commands use pre-verbal pronouns.
✗

Donne-le-lui-en

✓

Donne-le-lui-en

Correct order is DO-IO-en.
✗

Donne-le-nous-y

✓

Donne-le-nous-y

Y always comes last.
✗

Prête-la-leur

✓

Prête-la-leur

Correct order.
✗

Donne-m'y

✓

Donne-m'y

Correct contraction.
✗

Raconte-la-moi

✓

Raconte-la-moi

Correct.
✗

Donne-le-moi

✓

Donne-le-moi

Correct.
✗

Envoyez-la-lui

✓

Envoyez-la-lui

Correct.

Sentence Patterns

___-le-moi.

___-la-lui.

___-les-nous.

___-m'en.

Real World Usage

Restaurant very common

Apportez-le-moi, s'il vous plaît.

Texting constant

Envoie-la-moi !

Office common

Envoyez-les-lui.

Travel occasional

Montrez-la-moi.

Food Delivery common

Donnez-le-moi à la porte.

Social Media common

Partage-la-moi !

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💡

Hyphens are key

Always use hyphens in affirmative commands. It's the visual sign of the rule.
⚠️

Don't forget the order

Direct object (le/la/les) always comes before the indirect object (moi/lui/nous).
🎯

Moi and Toi

Remember that 'me' and 'te' change to 'moi' and 'toi' when they follow the verb.
💬

Politeness

Even when using a command, add 's'il vous plaît' to be polite.

Smart Tips

Remember the order: Verb-DO-IO.

Me le donne → Donne-le-moi

Direct first, Indirect second.

Montre-lui-la → Montre-la-lui

Put it at the end.

Donne-en-moi → Donne-m'en

Check if it's affirmative.

Ne le donne-moi pas → Ne me le donne pas

Pronunciation

Donne-le-moi (don-luh-mwah)

Hyphenation

Pronounce as one continuous word.

Mwah / Twah

Tonic forms

Moi and Toi are stressed.

Command

Donne-le-moi ↓

Falling intonation for a firm command.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Directly to the verb, then the Indirect person. 'Direct-Indirect' is the order.

Visual Association

Imagine a conveyor belt. The verb is the engine, the direct object is the first box, and the indirect person is the second box waiting to receive it.

Rhyme

In a command, the verb comes first, then the direct, then the indirect, that's the worst!

Story

You are a king. You point at a crown (Direct Object) and tell your servant (Indirect Object) to take it. You say: 'Prends-la-lui!' (Take it for him!).

Word Web

DonneMontreApportePrêteRaconteEnvoyez

Challenge

Write 5 commands using different verbs and objects in 5 minutes.

Cultural Notes

Using 'Donne-le-moi' is standard, but adding 's'il te plaît' is essential for politeness.

In Quebec, you might hear 'Donne-le-moi donc' to soften the command.

The structure remains the same, but the tone is often more direct.

This structure dates back to Old French, where pronouns were clitics that could attach to the verb.

Conversation Starters

“

Peux-tu me donner le livre ?

“

Dois-je montrer la photo à Marc ?

“

Que dois-je faire avec ces dossiers ?

“

Comment dois-je envoyer ces lettres ?

Journal Prompts

Describe a time you asked someone for help.
Write a short set of instructions for a friend.
Imagine you are a manager giving orders.
Write a dialogue about sharing items.

Common Mistakes

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

Incorrect

Correct

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Test Yourself

Fill in the blank.

Donne-___-moi.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: le
Direct object comes first.
Choose the correct order. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Donne-le-moi
DO-IO order.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Me le donne.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Donne-le-moi
Pronouns follow the verb.
Transform to command. Sentence Transformation

Tu me le donnes. ->

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Donne-le-moi
Affirmative command.
Is this true? True False Rule

In negative commands, pronouns follow the verb.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
They precede the verb.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Montre-moi la photo. B: ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Montre-la-moi
DO-IO order.
Order the words. Sentence Building

moi / le / donne

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Donne-le-moi
Correct order.
Sort the pronouns. Grammar Sorting

Which comes first?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Direct Object
DO-IO order.

Score: /8

Practice Exercises

8 exercises
Fill in the blank.

Donne-___-moi.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: le
Direct object comes first.
Choose the correct order. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Donne-le-moi
DO-IO order.
Correct the sentence. Error Correction

Find and fix the mistake:

Me le donne.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Donne-le-moi
Pronouns follow the verb.
Transform to command. Sentence Transformation

Tu me le donnes. ->

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Donne-le-moi
Affirmative command.
Is this true? True False Rule

In negative commands, pronouns follow the verb.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: False
They precede the verb.
Complete the dialogue. Dialogue Completion

A: Montre-moi la photo. B: ___.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Montre-la-moi
DO-IO order.
Order the words. Sentence Building

moi / le / donne

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Donne-le-moi
Correct order.
Sort the pronouns. Grammar Sorting

Which comes first?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Direct Object
DO-IO order.

Score: /8

Practice Bank

10 exercises
Translate 'Bring it to us' into French. Translation

Translate: Bring it to us.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Apporte-le-nous.
Reorder the words to form a correct command. Sentence Reorder

lui / dites / le

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Dites-le-lui.
Fill in the blank for 'Show it (f.) to me'. Fill in the Blank

La photo ? ___ !

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Montre-la-moi.
Choose the correct order for 'Return them to us'. Multiple Choice

Which is correct?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Rends-les-nous.
Find the correctly punctuated sentence. Multiple Choice

Choose the correct sentence:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Expliquez-le-leur.
Fix the error: 'Donne-les-me.' Error Correction

Correct the mistake: Donne-les-me.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Donne-les-moi.
Fill in the blank for 'Talk to him about it'. Fill in the Blank

Le projet ? ___ !

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Parle-lui-en.
Reorder for 'Lend it (f.) to yourself'. Sentence Reorder

la / prête / toi

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Prête-la-toi.
Translate 'Serve it to them' (formal). Translation

Translate: Serve it to them.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Servez-le-leur.
Choose the correct sentence for 'Offer it to us'. Multiple Choice

Which one is right?

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Offre-la-nous.

Score: /10

FAQ (8)

It's a historical feature of French that marks the imperative mood.

It always goes at the end: 'Donne-m'en'.

No, it's a common mistake.

Yes, all verbs in the affirmative imperative.

Direct objects answer 'what/who', indirect answer 'to whom'.

No, it's a strict rule.

Yes, it's standard French.

It's a phonological change for stress.

Scaffolded Practice

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Mastery Progress

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In Other Languages

Spanish high

Dámelo

Spanish uses accent marks to maintain stress.

German low

Gib es mir

German does not use post-verbal clitics.

Japanese none

Sore o watashi ni kudasai

Japanese has no clitic system.

Arabic partial

A'tini iyyaha

Arabic uses a different suffix system.

Chinese low

Gei wo ta

Chinese has no conjugation or clitics.

English low

Give it to me

English does not use post-verbal clitics.

Learning Path

Prerequisites

Next
French Negative Commands: Pronoun Order (Ne me le pas)

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