FREN 1105 · Les Pronoms : Reference and Word Order

Led by Claude Favre de Vaugelas Simulacrum

1. Module 5 ○ Open

   Les Pronoms : Reference and Word Order

   Led by Claude Favre de Vaugelas Simulacrum

   The question

   French has more pronouns than English, and they sit in tighter, more rule-governed positions. The subject pronouns (*je · tu · il · elle · on · nous · vous · ils · elles*); the direct object (*me · te · le · la · nous · vous · les*); the indirect object (*me · te · lui · nous · vous · leur*); the reflexive (*me · te · se · nous · vous · se*); the famously two-letter *y* and *en*; the disjunctive (*moi · toi · lui · elle · nous · vous · eux · elles*); the relative (*qui · que · dont · où · lequel · auquel · duquel · ce qui · ce que · ce dont*); the demonstrative (*celui · celle · ceux · celles · ceci · cela · ça*); the possessive (*le mien · la mienne · les nôtres*); the indefinite (*quelqu'un · quelque chose · personne · rien · chacun · tout*). The order they take when more than one appears in front of a verb is fixed and must be drilled. How does this system work, and how does the student come to feel the order in the bones rather than calculating it each time?

   Outcome

   The student can place pronouns correctly in any French sentence, including affirmative imperatives, compound tenses with two pronouns, and complex relative clauses; and can choose between *qui · que · dont · où* without hesitation. (CEFR B1-B2 pronoun system)

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   Practice scenarios

   Pronoun Order Drill

   Vaugelas Simulacrum gives you twenty short English sentences, each containing material that in French requires two or more pronouns in front of the verb. You must produce the French equivalent with correct pronoun ordering. Examples: *"I gave it to him"* → *je le lui ai donné* · *"He told it to me"* → *il me l'a dit* · *"Give it to me"* (imperative) → *donne-le-moi* · *"There are some there"* → *il y en a* · *"She thought about them"* → *elle y pensait* · *"We spoke about it"* → *nous en avons parlé*. After the twenty, Vaugelas Simulacrum examines each, corrects the order, and drills the patterns where you faltered.

   Your goals

   • Produce all twenty sentences with correct pronoun ordering.
   • Correctly use *y* (à + thing) and *en* (de + thing, partitive) where they apply.
   • Apply correct word order in affirmative imperative (*donne-le-moi · dis-le-lui*).
   • Apply correct word order in compound tenses (pronouns before auxiliary; agreement of past participle with preceding direct object).
   • After the drill, produce three of your own sentences using two pronouns each, on a topic of your choosing.

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