Object pronouns with affirmative and negative commands

Kurz erklärt

With an affirmative command, object pronouns come after the verb and are joined to it with hyphens. With a negative command, they return to their usual position before the verb. In affirmative commands, me and te normally become moi and toi.

Bildung

Affirmative: verb + le/la/les + moi/toi/lui/nous/vous/leur + y + en. Negative: ne + me/te/se/nous/vous + le/la/les + lui/leur + y + en + verb + pas. Use hyphens only after an affirmative command; moi and toi become m’ and t’ before en.

Verwendung

• Place one or more object pronouns after an affirmative command: Prends-le.
• Keep the fixed pronoun order when two pronouns follow the verb: Donne-le-moi.
• Place pronouns before the verb in a negative command: Ne me le donne pas.
• Use m’ or t’ before en in an affirmative command: Donne-m’en deux.

Beispiele

• Donne-le-moi, s’il te plaît. — Give it to me, please.
• Ne me le donne pas maintenant. — Don’t give it to me now.
• Envoyez-les-lui demain. — Send them to him tomorrow.
• Donne-m’en deux. — Give me two of them.

Typischer Fehler

❌ Donne-moi-le.

✅ Donne-le-moi.

English can place the recipient before the thing, as in ‘Give me it,’ but French affirmative commands put le, la, or les before moi or toi.

Merke

After a positive command, attach the pronouns to the verb. After a negative command, put them before the verb.