Double pronouns (me le, me la)

Two object pronouns in one sentence: the core idea

Sometimes one verb has two objects:

• Direct object = the thing (What? Who?) → le / la / les
• Indirect object = the person (To whom?) → me / te / lui / nous / vous / leur

French can replace both objects with pronouns, and they go before the verb.

Step-by-step: how to build the sentence

1. Find the direct object (the thing). Replace it with le / la / les.
2. Find the indirect object (the person with à). Replace it with me / te / lui / nous / vous / leur.
3. Put them together before the verb in the correct order (see below).

Word order you must remember (A2): two common patterns

Quick self-check: “Who?” vs “What?”

• If you can ask “What?” and answer with a thing → it becomes le / la / les.
• If you can ask “To whom?” and answer with a person → it becomes me / te / lui / nous / vous / leur.

Mini test: Elle envoie le fichier à son collègue.

• What does she send? → le fichier → le
• To whom? → à son collègue → lui
• Result → Elle le lui envoie.

Elision: when le/la become l’

le and la become l’ before a vowel or silent h.

• Je vous l’apporte. (l’ = le/la)
• Il me l’envoie.

Tip: les never changes.

Imperative (“Give it to me!”): different placement

With commands (Donnez… / Rendez…), pronouns attach to the verb with hyphens.

Key point: in the imperative, you often see le/la/les first, then moi/toi/lui/nous/vous/leur.

What to pay attention to (typical learner traps)

• Don’t keep the noun after using a pronoun.
  

  Je le lui donne. (✅) Je le lui donne le document.

• Don’t use English word order.
  

  Je donne le à lui. → Je le lui donne. / Je donne le document à lui.

• Be consistent: decide which object you replace (one or both).
  

  Je donne le document à mon collègue → Je donne le document à lui (rare) → better: Je le lui donne.

You’re ready if you can do this in 10 seconds

1. Spot the thing → le/la/les.
2. Spot the person with à → me/te/lui/nous/vous/leur.
3. Choose the order:
   me/te/nous/vous + le/la/les OR le/la/les + lui/leur.
4. Put both pronouns before the verb (or after with a hyphen in the imperative).