Direct/indirect object pronouns

JamesC1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Direct/indirect object pronouns

Okay, don't laugh, but why would chercher take a direct object pronoun? For example, why is it "il les cherche" and not "il leur cherche".

Merci !

Asked 1 year ago
CécileKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

Hi James, 

I am afraid it is just the way it is.

Il les cherche = He is looking for them

Il me cherche He is looking for me 

Some verbs can have the same meaning and one will have a direct object or an indirect object normally introduced by à -

appeler quelqu'un = to call /ring somebody 

téléphoner à quelqu'un = to call /ring  somebody

Je l'ai appelé/e lundi = I rang him/her on Monday 

Je lui ai téléphoné lundi I ran him/her on Monday 

Hope this helps!

LauraKwiziq team member

Bonjour James -

Sometimes verbs that need a preposition in English don't have one in French. Chercher is one of these - it means "to look for" - the idea of "for" is in the verb itself, so it takes direct objects only.

Other common French verbs without prepositions are

  • attendre (to wait for)
  • demander (to ask for)
  • écouter (to listen to)
  • regarder (to look at)
You just need to memorize these verbs with the full meaning (including the preposition) in order to remember that they take direct objects in French.

Direct/indirect object pronouns

Okay, don't laugh, but why would chercher take a direct object pronoun? For example, why is it "il les cherche" and not "il leur cherche".

Merci !

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