Direct/indirect object pronouns

Question

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 !

Cécile Janty-Davies · Accepted 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!

Laura K Lawless · Answer

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.