What is a COD?
COD stands for complément d’objet direct – the direct object. It is the object that follows the verb with no preposition: verb + whom? or verb + what? A COD pronoun replaces it.
From noun to pronoun
Je regarde le film.→Je le regarde.
Je la vois.
I see her. (Marie)
Je le connais.
I know him.
Je les achète.
I buy them.
The direct object pronouns
The first- and second-person forms are gender-neutral. Only in the third person singular does French distinguish gender: le (masculine) and la (feminine). The plural les covers both.
me, te, le, la, nous, vous, les
| Person | Pronoun | English |
|---|---|---|
| 1st sg. | me / m’ | me |
| 2nd sg. | te / t’ | you |
| 3rd sg. masculine | le / l’ | him / it |
| 3rd sg. feminine | la / l’ | her / it |
| 1st pl. | nous | us |
| 2nd pl. | vous | you (plural / formal) |
| 3rd pl. | les | them |
Il me voit.
He sees me.
Tu nous entends ?
Can you hear us?
Je vous invite.
I invite you.
