Indirect object pronouns

Kurz erklärt

The indirect object pronouns lui and leur replace à + a person. Use lui for one person and leur for more than one person. They do not show gender: lui can mean ‘to him’ or ‘to her,’ while leur means ‘to them.’

Bildung

subject + lui/leur + conjugated verb; in a simple negative sentence: subject + ne + lui/leur + verb + pas

Verwendung

• Use lui to replace à + one person: Je téléphone à Marie becomes Je lui téléphone.
• Use leur to replace à + several people: Nous parlons aux voisins becomes Nous leur parlons.
• Place lui or leur before the conjugated verb in ordinary statements and questions.
• With an infinitive, place the pronoun before the verb it belongs to: Je vais lui écrire.

Beispiele

• Je lui envoie un message ce soir. — I’m sending him a message tonight.
• Nous leur téléphonons chaque dimanche. — We call them every Sunday.
• Tu ne lui réponds pas ? — Aren’t you answering her?
• Elle va leur montrer la photo. — She’s going to show them the photo.

Typischer Fehler

❌ Je donne lui le livre.

✅ Je lui donne le livre.

Unlike the receiver in English, lui does not come after the verb. Place this French pronoun before the conjugated verb.

Merke

Lui means ‘to him’ or ‘to her’; leur means ‘to them.’ Both normally come before the verb.