Position of French Object Pronouns - with compound tenses

Take the fastest path to fluent French

In French, object pronouns have a specific place in sentences when using compound tenses.

Where to place object pronouns with compound tenses in French

Look at these sentences:

Ces épisodes ? Il les avait déjà vus.These episodes? He had already seen them.

La télé ? Oui, Marc l'a regardée.Telly? Yes, Marc watched it.

Et le concert ? Les enfants l'ont adoré.What about the concert? The children loved it.

Olivier t'a demandée en mariage !Olivier proposed to you!

Tu lui as parlé.You talked to her.

Ça leur est arrivé la semaine dernière.It happened to them last week.

In a sentence with a verb conjugated in a compound tense, the object pronoun, indirect or direct, is placed as follows:

Subject of the verb + object pronoun + auxiliary avoir or être + past participle

See also the more advanced lesson on past participle agreement with direct objects: Special cases when the past participle agrees (in number & gender) when used with 'avoir' in the compound past in French (Le Passé Composé) 

See also: 

Using le/la/l'/les = it/him/her/them (French Direct Object Pronouns)

Me/te/nous/vous = Me/you/us/you (French Direct and Indirect Object Pronouns)

Using lui/leur = him or her/them (French Indirect Object Pronouns)

Want to make sure your French sounds confident? We’ll map your knowledge and give you free lessons to focus on your gaps and mistakes. Start your Brainmap today »

Learn more about these related French grammar topics

Examples and resources

Ça leur est arrivé la semaine dernière.It happened to them last week.
Olivier t'a demandée en mariage !Olivier proposed to you!
Ces épisodes ? Il les avait déjà vus.These episodes? He had already seen them.
La télé ? Oui, Marc l'a regardée.Telly? Yes, Marc watched it.
Tu lui as parlé.You talked to her.
Et le concert ? Les enfants l'ont adoré.What about the concert? The children loved it.
I'll be right with you...