Faire/laissez/verbs of perception

Faire Construction Rules

In causative 'faire' (faire + infinitive), all pronouns go before the conjugated form of faire (except affirmative commands), Past participle does not agree with the direct object pronoun in compound tenses

Laisser & Verbs of Perception Rules

Direct object goes before the conjugated verb, With nouns: person doing action goes right after conjugated verb and object acted on goes after infinitive, With two pronouns: one pronoun goes right before conjugated verb and second goes before infinitive

Verbs of Perception Word Order & Agreement

Unlike English, the infinitive goes before the noun and the pronoun goes before the main verb, Je l'ai entendue la chanter = past participle agrees because woman is subject of singing, Je l'ai entendu chanter = no agreement because song is object of singing

Infinitive Verb Pronoun Placement

When the pronoun is the direct object of the infinitive verb, the pronoun goes directly before the infinitive

Affirmative Command Rules

Pronouns follow the verb attached with hyphens (le/la/les before me/te/nous/vous/lui/leur/y/en

me=moi, te=toi), If ending in a vowel, add 's' when 'y' or 'en' is used next

Elle fait construire une maison.

She is having a house built.

Elle la fait construire.

She is having it built.

Elle l'a fait construire par Monsieur Dupont.

She had it built by Mr. Dupont.

Elle la lui fait construire.

She is having him build it.

Elle a fait construire une maison.

She had a house built.

Elle l'a fait construire.

She had it built.

Elle a fait construire une maison par Monsieur Dupont.

She had a house built by Mr. Dupont.

Elle l'a fait construire par Monsieur Dupont.

She had it built by Mr. Dupont.

Elle la lui a fait construire.

She had him build it.

Je laisse Marie finir le travail.

I let Marie finish the work.

Je la laisse finir le travail.

I let her finish the work.

J'entends chanter la chanson.

I hear the song being sung.

Je l'entends chanter.

I hear it being sung.

Je vois Hélène coudre la robe.

I see Hélène sewing the dress.

Je la vois coudre la robe.

I see her sewing the dress.

Je vois Hélène la coudre.

I see Hélène sewing it.

Je la vois la coudre.

I see her sewing it.

J'ai entendu Hélène chanter la chanson.

I heard Hélène sing the song.

Je l'ai entendue chanter la chanson.

I heard her sing the song.

Je l'ai entendue la chanter.

I heard her sing it.

J'ai entendu chanter la chanson.

I heard the song being sung.

Je l'ai entendu chanter.

I heard it being sung.

Je vais acheter le CD. -> Je vais l'acheter.

I am going to buy the CD. -> I am going to buy it.

Je vais parler de cela à Jean. -> Je vais lui en parler.

I am going to talk about that to Jean. -> I am going to talk to him about it.

Il me dit d'acheter le CD. -> Il me dit de l'acheter.

He tells me to buy the CD. -> He tells me to buy it.

Il me demande de ne pas faire le travail. -> Il me demande de ne pas le faire.

He asks me not to do the work. -> He asks me not to do it.

Donne le jouet à l'enfant. -> Donne-le-lui!

Give the toy to the child. -> Give it to him/her!

Donne de la soupe à l'enfant. -> Donne-lui-en!

Give some soup to the child. -> Give him/her some!

Va au cinéma! -> Vas-y!

Go to the movies! -> Go there!

Donne-la-moi! -> Donne-m'en!

Give it to me! -> Give me some!

Achète-le-toi! -> Achète-t'en!

Buy it for yourself! -> Buy yourself some!

Donne du pain. -> Donnes-en

Give some bread. -> Give some : Va au parc. -> Vas-y