Pronoun Position with Two Verbs (Infinitives)
Grammar Rule in 30 Seconds
When two verbs appear together, place the object pronoun directly before the infinitive verb, not the conjugated one.
- Place the pronoun before the infinitive: 'Je veux le manger' (I want to eat it).
- In negative sentences, keep the pronoun before the infinitive: 'Je ne veux pas le manger'.
- With multiple pronouns, follow the order: me/te/se/nous/vous -> le/la/les -> lui/leur -> y -> en.
Overview
Mastering pronoun placement in sentences with two verbs is a hallmark of upper-intermediate French proficiency. The core principle is straightforward yet fundamental to the language's structure: when a conjugated verb is followed by an infinitive, any object pronoun semantically linked to the infinitive must be placed directly before that infinitive. This contrasts sharply with English, where the pronoun typically follows the verb it belongs to (e.g., "I want to see it").
In French, you don't "want it"; you "want to see it." The pronoun and the infinitive form a tight, inseparable verbal unit. This isn't an arbitrary rule but a reflection of French syntactic logic, where the action itself (the infinitive) and its object (the pronoun) are grouped together. For a B2 learner, internalizing this structure—thinking Je veux le voir instead of translating I want to see it piece by piece—is crucial for moving beyond literal translation and achieving natural, idiomatic expression.
This pattern is ubiquitous, appearing with modal verbs (pouvoir, devoir), the near future (aller), and many other common constructions.
How This Grammar Works
V1 + pronoun + V2 (infinitive) structure is driven by a principle of syntactic affinity. In a two-verb construction like vouloir faire (to want to do), the first verb (vouloir) is conjugated and often expresses modality (desire, ability, obligation), while the second verb (the infinitive faire) carries the primary semantic action. The object pronoun naturally gravitates to the verb that performs the action upon it.faire, not vouloir.Elle doit lire ce rapport (She must read this report). The object is ce rapport. The action being performed on the report is lire (to read), not devoir (to have to).ce rapport is replaced by the pronoun le, the pronoun must attach itself to lire, creating the inseparable block le lire. The final sentence becomes Elle doit le lire. The pronoun's loyalty is to the infinitive.pronoun + infinitive bond is so significant that it remains intact even during negation. The negative particles ne...pas surround only the conjugated verb (V1), leaving the verbal syntagm untouched: Elle ne doit pas le lire.le lire as a cohesive grammatical element, separate from the modality expressed by doit.Formation Pattern
Subject + V1 (Conjugated) + Pronoun + V2 (Infinitive). This applies to all types of object pronouns.
le, la, les) | Je | vais | le | faire | Je vais le faire. | I'm going to do it. |
lui, leur) | Tu | peux | lui | parler | Tu peux lui parler. | You can speak to him/her. |
me, te, se...) | Il | doit | se | raser | Il doit se raser. | He must shave (himself). |
y | Nous | aimerions | y | aller | Nous aimerions y aller. | We would like to go there. |
en | Vous | allez | en | acheter | Vous allez en acheter. | You are going to buy some. |
ne...pas)
ne...pas always surrounds the conjugated verb (V1). The pronoun + infinitive unit is not affected.
ne | V1 (Conjugated) | pas | Pronoun + V2 | Example | Translation |
Je | ne | veux | pas | le lire. | Je ne veux pas le lire. | I don't want to read it. |
Tu | n' | aimes | pas | le faire ? | Tu n'aimes pas le faire ? | You don't like to do it? |
Elle | ne | va | pas | se taire. | Elle ne va pas se taire. | She is not going to be quiet. |
me, te, se, nous, vous → le, la, les → lui, leur → y → en
Je | vais | te | le | donner. | Je vais te le donner. | I'm going to give it to you. |
Elle | doit | le | lui | dire. | Elle doit le lui dire. | She has to tell it to him. |
Nous | pouvons | l' | y | emmener. | Nous pouvons l'y emmener. | We can take him there. |
Tu | devrais | m' | en | parler. | Tu devrais m'en parler. | You should talk to me about it. |
Ils | veulent | les | leur | envoyer. | Ils veulent les leur envoyer. | They want to send them to them. |
When To Use It
le futur proche)aller (conjugated) + infinitive. The pronoun always precedes the infinitive.Je vais faire mes devoirs.→Je vais les faire.(I'm going to do them.)Tu vas téléphoner à tes parents.→Tu vas leur téléphoner.(You're going to call them.)
vouloir (to want), pouvoir (can), devoir (must), savoir (to know how to), falloir (to be necessary), préférer (to prefer), aimer (to like), and détester (to hate).Elle veut voir le film.→Elle veut le voir.(She wants to see it.)Nous devons finir ce projet.→Nous devons le finir.(We must finish it.)Savez-vous utiliser ce logiciel ?→Savez-vous l'utiliser ?(Do you know how to use it?)
voir (to see), entendre (to hear), écouter (to listen to), and sentir (to feel/smell) also follow this pattern when paired with an infinitive. The pronoun represents the object performing the infinitive's action.J'entends les enfants crier.→Je les entends crier.(I hear them shouting.)Tu regardes le chef cuisiner.→Tu le regardes cuisiner.(You are watching the chef cook.)
à or de)commencer à, continuer à, apprendre à, finir de, essayer de, or oublier de. The preposition does not alter the pronoun placement rule; the pronoun still immediately precedes the infinitive.Il a commencé à lire le livre.→Il a commencé à le lire.(He started to read it.)N'oubliez pas d'appeler vos grands-parents.→N'oubliez pas de les appeler.(Don't forget to call them.)
faire (to make/have something done) and laisser (to let) follow their own complex set of pronoun placement rules, especially regarding the agent of the action. While they involve an infinitive, they are a major exception and are treated in a separate grammar guide to avoid confusion.Common Mistakes
*Je veux voir le. instead of the correct Je veux le voir. French object pronouns (outside of the affirmative imperative) are pre-verbal; they cannot follow the verb they depend on. This is a non-negotiable rule.Je le veux voir. This is grammatically incorrect because the pronoun le is the object of voir, not veux. The verb vouloir isn't acting on "it"; it's expressing a desire to perform the action of seeing*. The pronoun must stay with its action verb.Passé Composé*J'ai le vu. The passé composé uses an auxiliary verb (avoir or être) and a past participle, not an infinitive. In compound tenses, the object pronoun always precedes the auxiliary verb. The correct sentence is Je l'ai vu (I saw it). Distinguishing a past participle from an infinitive is critical.Je peux le faire. (I can do it.) | *Je le peux faire. |Passé Composé | Je l'ai fait. (I did it.) | *J'ai le fait. |*Il va lui le dire. is incorrect because the direct object le must precede the indirect object lui. Remembering the strict hierarchy (le before lui) is essential for correctness: Il va le lui dire.Real Conversations
This grammar isn't just for textbooks; it is the backbone of efficient, natural communication in everyday French. You will hear and use it constantly across all registers.
1. Casual Spoken French
In conversation, this structure allows for fluid and concise expression. Notice how it's used to make plans or requests.
- Planning an evening: « Tu veux aller au ciné ce soir ? Je peux t'y emmener si tu veux. » ("Want to go to the movies tonight? I can take you there if you want.")
- A quick request: « Est-ce que tu peux me le prêter juste pour ce week-end ? » ("Can you lend it to me just for this weekend?")
2. Digital Communication (Texting, Social Media)
In text messages, where brevity is paramount, this structure is indispensable. Informal elisions are common.
- « J'peux pas t'aider maintenant, dsl. Faut le finir avant 18h. » ("Can't help you now, sorry. Have to finish it before 6 PM.")
- « Oublie pas de m'envoyer l'adresse ! » ("Don't forget to send me the address!")
3. Professional and Formal Contexts
The rule remains exactly the same in formal writing and speech, lending an air of precision and professionalism.
- In a business email: « Je vous écris pour vous informer de notre nouvelle politique. Nous allons l'implémenter à partir du mois prochain. » ("I am writing to inform you of our new policy. We will implement it starting next month.")
- In a presentation: « Nous devons en discuter plus en détail. » ("We must discuss it in more detail.")
Quick FAQ
Yes, it applies to all direct object pronouns (me, te, le, la, les, nous, vous), indirect object pronouns (lui, leur), and the adverbial pronouns y and en.
Reflexive pronouns follow the exact same pattern. The reflexive pronoun, which is an object pronoun, is placed directly before the infinitive. For example: Je vais me doucher (I am going to shower), not *Je me vais doucher.
The order is strict and must be memorized: me/te/se/nous/vous → le/la/les → lui/leur → y → en. A classic example is Je vais te l'expliquer (I'm going to explain it to you).
No. The only time an object pronoun follows a verb in French is with an affirmative command (e.g., Prends-le ! - "Take it!"). This exception never applies to infinitives.
passé composé?The key is identifying the second verb. In this rule, the second verb is an infinitive (-er, -ir, -re). In the passé composé, the second verb is a past participle. With an infinitive, the pronoun goes before it. With a past participle, the pronoun goes before the auxiliary avoir or être.
The rule is highly consistent. The main exceptions to be aware of are the causative verbs faire and laisser, which have their own specific and more complex pronoun placement patterns. For nearly all other V1 + infinitive constructions (modals, near future), this rule is ironclad.
Correct pronoun placement is fundamental to the rhythm and logic of French. Misplacing a pronoun sounds as jarring to a native speaker as saying "I want see it" in English. It signals that the speaker is still translating word-for-word rather than thinking within French grammatical structures. Mastering this rule demonstrates a deeper understanding of the language and is essential for clear, fluid, and natural communication.
Pronoun Placement Structure
| Subject | Conjugated Verb | Pronoun | Infinitive |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Je
|
veux
|
le
|
manger
|
|
Tu
|
peux
|
la
|
voir
|
|
Il
|
va
|
lui
|
parler
|
|
Nous
|
devons
|
les
|
aider
|
|
Vous
|
souhaitez
|
y
|
aller
|
|
Ils
|
vont
|
en
|
acheter
|
Meanings
This rule dictates where object pronouns (COD/COI) are placed when a sentence contains a conjugated verb followed by an infinitive.
Direct Object Pronoun
Replacing a direct object with a pronoun before an infinitive.
“Je peux le faire.”
“Tu dois la voir.”
Indirect Object Pronoun
Replacing an indirect object with a pronoun before an infinitive.
“Je vais lui parler.”
“Tu peux leur dire.”
Adverbial Pronouns
Placing 'y' or 'en' before the infinitive.
“Je veux y aller.”
“Il faut en manger.”
Reference Table
| Form | Structure | Example |
|---|---|---|
|
Affirmative
|
Subj + Conj + Pron + Inf
|
Je veux le voir
|
|
Negative
|
Subj + ne + Conj + pas + Pron + Inf
|
Je ne veux pas le voir
|
|
Interrogative
|
Conj + Subj + Pron + Inf?
|
Veux-tu le voir?
|
|
Double Pronoun
|
Subj + Conj + Pron1 + Pron2 + Inf
|
Je vais te le donner
|
|
Negative Double
|
Subj + ne + Conj + pas + Pron1 + Pron2 + Inf
|
Je ne vais pas te le donner
|
Formality Spectrum
Je souhaite le voir. (General)
Je veux le voir. (General)
Je veux le voir. (General)
Je veux le voir. (General)
The Infinitive Magnet
Pronouns
- le/la/les Direct Object
- lui/leur Indirect Object
- y/en Adverbial
Examples by Level
Je veux le manger.
I want to eat it.
Tu peux la voir.
You can see her.
Il va le faire.
He is going to do it.
Nous voulons les aider.
We want to help them.
Je ne peux pas le trouver.
I cannot find it.
Tu dois lui parler.
You must speak to him.
Elle va y aller.
She is going to go there.
Ils veulent en acheter.
They want to buy some.
Je vais te le donner.
I am going to give it to you.
Il faut nous les envoyer.
We must send them to us.
Tu peux m'en parler.
You can talk to me about it.
Elle ne veut pas vous les montrer.
She doesn't want to show them to you.
J'espère pouvoir vous le confirmer.
I hope to be able to confirm it to you.
Il est important de ne pas les oublier.
It is important not to forget them.
Je souhaite les lui présenter.
I wish to introduce them to him.
Nous allons essayer de nous y habituer.
We are going to try to get used to it.
Il convient de les leur expliquer clairement.
It is appropriate to explain them to them clearly.
Je ne saurais vous le dire.
I wouldn't know how to tell you.
Il faut savoir les en empêcher.
One must know how to prevent them from doing it.
Elle a décidé de ne pas nous y inviter.
She decided not to invite us there.
Il s'agit de les leur faire comprendre.
It is a matter of making them understand them.
On ne peut pas toujours les en détourner.
One cannot always divert them from it.
Il est impératif de les lui remettre en main propre.
It is imperative to hand them to him personally.
Je ne peux que vous le conseiller vivement.
I can only strongly advise you to do it.
Easily Confused
Learners place pronouns before the infinitive in Passé Composé.
Learners try to use the infinitive rule in the imperative.
Learners use the infinitive rule for single verbs.
Common Mistakes
Je le veux manger.
Je veux le manger.
Je veux manger le.
Je veux le manger.
Le je veux manger.
Je veux le manger.
Je veux manger.
Je veux le manger.
Je ne le veux pas manger.
Je ne veux pas le manger.
Je veux pas le manger.
Je ne veux pas le manger.
Je veux lui manger.
Je veux le manger.
Je veux lui le donner.
Je veux le lui donner.
Je vais y le mettre.
Je vais l'y mettre.
Je veux en le manger.
Je veux en manger.
Il faut les leur faire les donner.
Il faut les leur faire donner.
Je ne saurais le vous dire.
Je ne saurais vous le dire.
Il a décidé de le ne pas faire.
Il a décidé de ne pas le faire.
Il veut les y envoyer.
Il veut les y envoyer.
Sentence Patterns
Je veux ___ le faire.
Tu peux ___ parler.
Il faut ___ en acheter.
Je souhaite ___ le confirmer.
Real World Usage
Je vais t'appeler.
Je souhaite vous rencontrer.
Je voudrais le goûter.
Je peux y aller.
Il faut le voir !
Je vous le confirme.
The Magnet Rule
Don't be fooled by the first verb
Negation
Register
Smart Tips
Find the infinitive and attach the pronoun to it.
Keep the pronoun inside the 'ne...pas' sandwich with the infinitive.
Follow the standard order (me/te/se/nous/vous before le/la/les).
Treat them like any other object pronoun.
Pronunciation
Liaison
Pronouns ending in vowels may link to infinitives starting with vowels.
Declarative
Je veux le manger ↘
Falling intonation for statements.
Memorize It
Mnemonic
The infinitive is the magnet; the pronoun is the metal.
Visual Association
Imagine a magnet (the infinitive) pulling a metal ball (the pronoun) toward it, away from the first verb.
Rhyme
When two verbs meet in a line, the pronoun hugs the second one fine.
Story
I wanted to eat the cake. I said 'Je veux le manger'. The 'le' jumped from the 'veux' and stuck to the 'manger'. Now it's happy.
Word Web
Challenge
Write 5 sentences using 'Je veux' and different pronouns in 5 minutes.
Cultural Notes
The rule is strictly followed in all registers.
Similar to France, though informal speech might drop pronouns.
Standard French rules apply.
Derived from Latin clitic placement rules.
Conversation Starters
Que veux-tu faire ce week-end ?
Peux-tu m'aider avec ce projet ?
Souhaites-tu leur parler demain ?
Comment peux-tu les convaincre ?
Journal Prompts
Common Mistakes
Test Yourself
Je veux ___ manger.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Je ne le veux pas faire.
Je peux le voir.
donner / vais / le / je / te
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Je vais ___ envoyer.
Il faut ___ y habituer.
Score: /8
Practice Exercises
8 exercisesJe veux ___ manger.
Which is correct?
Find and fix the mistake:
Je ne le veux pas faire.
Je peux le voir.
donner / vais / le / je / te
Je veux lui parler.
Je vais ___ envoyer.
Il faut ___ y habituer.
Score: /8
Practice Bank
10 exercisesvais / l' / regarder / Je / .
We want to see them.
Tu peux ___ entendre ?
How do you say 'She is not going to buy them'?
Match the following:
Ils vont appeler nous.
Je vais ___ écrire.
pouvez / me / vous / aider / ?
He can't find it.
Choose the reflexive option:
Score: /10
FAQ (8)
It is a syntactic rule in French where the pronoun acts as a clitic attached to the infinitive.
No, the pronoun stays with the infinitive.
The order is fixed (me/te/se/nous/vous -> le/la/les -> lui/leur -> y -> en).
No, it is standard across all registers.
No, that is grammatically incorrect.
It depends on the verb and whether it takes a direct or indirect object.
No, in Passé Composé, the pronoun goes before the auxiliary.
Very few, mostly in archaic or poetic language.
Scaffolded Practice
1
2
3
4
Mastery Progress
Needs Practice
Improving
Strong
Mastered
In Other Languages
Lo quiero comer / Quiero comerlo
Spanish flexibility vs. French rigidity.
Ich will es essen
German pronouns are independent words.
Sore o tabetai
Particle-based vs. clitic-based.
Uridu akalahu
Suffix vs. prefix.
Wo xiang chi ta
Post-verbal vs. pre-infinitive.
I want to eat it
Post-verbal vs. pre-infinitive.
Learning Path
Prerequisites
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