2 UNSTRESSED OBJECT PRONOUNS
Usage
a Other common verbs which, like apprendre, take indirectobject pronouns where an English
speaker might expect a direct object pronoun are: nuire(to harm), obéir, plaire, ressembler,
téléphoner. The construction of the following should also be noted: donner, envoyer, offrir,
permettre, promettre, reprocher. They all follow the pattern promettre quelque chose à quelqu’un,
so that a direct object pronoun will be required for the thing promised, and an indirect object
for the person to whom it is promised, e.g. Il lui a promis un congé, or Il le lui a promis. Note
also the following verbs which all take an indirect object for the person involved + de+
infinitive: conseiller, défendre, demander, dire, ordonner, permettre, e.g. Il lui a demandé de
partir.
b When the verb faireis followed by an infinitive, and both it and the infinitive have direct
objects, the object of fairebecomes an indirect object.
e.g. Je lui ai fait ranger sa chambre(I made her tidy her room).
c ‘Neutral’ leoften occurs in French with être+ adjective, where there would be no object
pronoun in English, e.g. Moi je suis contente, mais Jean ne l’est pas. On the other hand, use of
‘neutral’ leis notfound in French where an English speaker might expect it in, e.g. Je trouve
difficile de comprendre cette explication(I find it difficult to understand.. .). The verbs
involved are typically croire, penser, juger, etc.
d The pronoun en, which stands in the place of a phrase introduced by de, may be used for
people or for things, e.g. elle s’occupe des enfants> elle s’en occupe. It should also be noted that
enmay stand not only for de+ noun, but also for de +infinitive.
e.g. J’ai envie de partir> J’en ai envie
e The pronoun ystands in the place of a phrase introduced by à, dans, en, sur, etc., e.g. je pense à
mon travail> j’y pense; je l’ai vu dans la rue> je l’y ai vu. Unlike en, it is not normally used to
refer to people. Like enit may stand not only for à+ noun, but also for à+ infinitive.
e.g. Je tiens à partir> J’y tiens
f A small number of verbs in French involve yor enas an integral part of their structure with no
discernible specific meaning attached to the pronoun, e.g. s’enaller(= to go away); envouloir
à quelqu’un(= to hold a grudge against someone); il y a(= there is, there are).Form
It should be noted that the unstressed object pronouns leand lesnevercombine with the
prepositions àand deto form au(x)or du/des, e.g. Il m’a interdit de le faire; Il m’a autorisé
àlefaire. The contracted forms au(x)and du/desrepresent à/de +definite article (see
Chapter 13).60 French Grammar in Context