French grammar
Le lui, la lui, me le, te la
Replace 'it' and 'to him / her' together (le lui / la lui).
From the scene Je le lui ai donné (I gave it to her)
In short
Two pronouns: le / la come before lui (je le lui ai donné) but after me / te (je te l'ai donnée).
Your turn
Which one goes with I gave it (fem.) to him / her?
Options: je le lui ai donné · je te l'ai donnée · je la lui ai donnée
Show answer
I gave it (fem.) to him / her → je la lui ai donnée
How it works
When 'it' (le / la) and 'to him / her' (lui) come together, le/la/les always go before lui/leur: je le lui ai donné.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
Ce soir ? Pourquoi tu ne (blank) donnes pas ?
Clue: it = the present; to me
Options: te le · me la · me le
Show answer
Ce soir ? Pourquoi tu ne me le donnes pas ?
Tonight? Why don't you give it to me?
Good to know
With me / te / nous / vous the order flips: the person pronoun comes first — je te l'ai donnée.
Your turn
Pick the word that fits the line.
Je (blank)apprends... si tu fais la vaisselle.
Clue: it = Galician; to you (tu)
Options: le t' · se l' · te l'
Show answer
Je te l'apprends... si tu fais la vaisselle.
I'll teach it to you... if you wash the dishes.
Good to know
Also watch the past participle: with avoir it agrees with a direct object placed before it, so la → donnée, le → donné.
I gave it (masc.) to him / her je le lui ai donné
Nuria
Oui, je le lui ai donné ce matin.
Yes, I gave it to her this morning.
Your turn
What fills the gap?
Oui, (blank) ce matin.
Options: je le lui ai donné · je la lui ai donnée · je te l'ai donnée
Show answer
Nuria
Oui, je le lui ai donné ce matin.
Yes, I gave it to her this morning.
I gave it (fem.) to him / her je la lui ai donnée
Your turn
What goes with je la lui ai donnée?
Options: I gave it (masc.) to him / her · I gave it (fem.) to you · I gave it (fem.) to him / her
Show answer
je la lui ai donnée → I gave it (fem.) to him / her
I gave it (fem.) to you je te l'ai donnée
Nuria
Je te l'ai donnée. Tu la portes !
I gave it to you. You're wearing it!
Your turn
What fills the gap?
(blank). Tu la portes !
Options: Je le lui ai donné · Je la lui ai donnée · Je te l'ai donnée
Show answer
Nuria
Je te l'ai donnée. Tu la portes !
I gave it to you. You're wearing it!
you give it to me tu me le donnes
Your turn
What goes with tu me le donnes?
Options: you give it to me · I gave it (masc.) to him / her · I gave it (fem.) to him / her
Show answer
tu me le donnes → you give it to me
Common mistake
Not lui le or la lui here. It = the jumper; to her.
Oui, je le lui ai donné ce matin.
Yes, I gave it to her this morning.
Practise it in the story
Meet this rule inside a short animated scene. Answer as it plays, then say the lines yourself.
Practise free in the appSee all forms
| I gave it (masc.) to him / her | je le lui ai donné |
|---|---|
| I gave it (fem.) to him / her | je la lui ai donnée |
| I gave it (fem.) to you | je te l'ai donnée |
| you give it to me | tu me le donnes |
More lines from the story
- NuriaCe soir ? Pourquoi tu ne me le donnes pas ?Tonight? Why don't you give it to me?
- NuriaJe te l'apprends... si tu fais la vaisselle.I'll teach it to you... if you wash the dishes.
- NuriaEncore un livre sur la Galice ! J'adore.Another book about Galicia! I love it.
- JaviC'est pour apprendre le galicien. Tu me l'apprends ?It's for learning Galician. Will you teach it to me?