Direct object pronouns: le, la, les

Avoid repeating nouns by using it, him, her and them. In French, these pronouns go before the verb.

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The pronouns

The pronoun matches the gender and number of the noun it replaces.
EnglishFrenchExample
it / him (masculine)leJe regarde le film. Je le regarde.
it / her (feminine)laJe mange la pizza. Je la mange.
themlesJ'aime les chats. Je les aime.
before a vowel or silent hl'J'adore la musique. Je l'adore.
me / youme, teIl me regarde. Je t'aime.

Where it goes

Before the verb: Je le regarde. = I watch it.
In a negative, ne ... pas go around the pronoun and the verb: Je ne le regarde pas.
With aller or a modal + infinitive, it goes before the infinitive: Je vais la manger. Je veux les acheter.

In conversation

Tu aimes les épinards ? Non, je les déteste. = Do you like spinach? No, I hate it.
Tu connais Marc ? Oui, je le connais. = Do you know Marc? Yes, I know him.
Où est ma règle ? Je la cherche ! = Where is my ruler? I'm looking for it!
Worked example

Answer in French: Tu fais tes devoirs ? (No, I am going to do them tomorrow.)

  1. Tes devoirs is plural: them = les.
  2. With aller + infinitive, les goes before the infinitive: je vais les faire.
  3. Add non and demain.

Answer: Non, je vais les faire demain.

Key idea

Le (it / him), la (it / her), les (them), l' before a vowel. The pronoun goes before the verb (je le regarde), inside ne ... pas (je ne le regarde pas), and before an infinitive (je vais le faire).

Common mistakes
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Extra practice

2 more questions

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  1. Replace the noun: Je regarde le film.

    1. Je la regarde.
    2. Je le regarde.
    3. Je les regarde.
    4. Je regarde le.
    Show the answer

    Answer: Je le regarde.

    Masculine singular: le, before the verb.

  2. Replace the noun: J'achète les pommes.

    1. Je la achète.
    2. J'achète les.
    3. Je les achète.
    4. Je le achète.
    Show the answer

    Answer: Je les achète.

    Plural: les, before the verb.

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Last updated 2 October 2026. Spotted a mistake? Tell us and we will fix it.

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