indirect object

17 oct. 2017 09:57 - language-swap

Niveau intermédiaire

The COI « complément d'objet indirect » (indirect object) is a complement of the verb to which it is linked by a proposition.
Examples:
Julie pense à une solution.
Je me sers de mon téléphone.

In order to know what the direct object is, you can ask “à Quoi?”, “de quoi” (what?) or “à Qui?” and “de qui?” (who?) after the verb.
Examples:
J'ai prêté mon vélo à Sophie. Tu as prêté ton vélo à qui? À Sophie.
Il se sert de son téléphone. Tu te sers de quoi? De ton téléphone.

In a sentence which already has a direct object, the indirect object has to be put right after and cannot be moved.
Example:
Thomas demande des conseils(COD) à son professeur(COI).

The indirect object can be a personal pronoun which precedes the verb.
Examples:
Dis-lui merci de ma part
Je te donne du chocolat