The direct object (COD) in French
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The direct object complement (French: le complément d'object direct) is an element of the verbal group, not introduced by a preposition, which makes it possible to specify the object of an action performed. The COD allows to complete a verb.
The COD:
Examples | Passive form | Translations |
---|---|---|
Je fais mes devoirs | Mes devoirs sont faits par moi | (I am doing my homework) |
Nous achetons un cadeau. | Un cadeau est acheté par nous | (We are buying a gift) |
Je pars faire la cuisine. | La cuisine est faite par moi | (I am going to cook) |
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It is important to know what is the subject and the verb before finding out what is the direct complement.
The direct object complement answers the following questions:
In these two examples, you will study the entire sentence.
Nous achetons un cadeau. (we are buying a gift)
Pierre attend son amie. (Peter is waiting for his friend)
The COD usually follows the verb except if it is a pronoun. The COD can be replaced with pronouns like:
When it is placed before the verb, the COD becomes a pronoun and has to agree in gender and number with the complement.
Position | Examples | Translations |
---|---|---|
After the verb | Nathalie fait la vaisselle | (Natalia is washing the dishes) |
Before the verb | Nathalie la fait | (Natalia washes it) |
Do not forget that when the COD is before the verb, it agrees with the verb that use the auxiliary avoir to form the compound times.
The grammatical nature (French: la nature grammaticale) of a direct object can be:
Nature | Examples | Translations |
---|---|---|
Noun or nominal group | Samantha conduit la voiture | (Samantha is driving the car) |
Pronoun | Samantha la conduit | (Samantha is driving it) |
Subordinate clause | Samantha pense que tu sois faché | (Samantha thinks that you were angry) |
Infinitive verb | Nous espérions dormir | (We thought we would sleep) |
Write the pronoun that would replace the direct object. Direct objects are in bold.
Bonne chance !
Example: J'écris une lettre → Je l'écris.
1. Nous écrivons les instructions à suivre → Nous écrivons.
(We are writing the rules to follow)
2. Nous écoutons le conférencier → Nous écoutons.
(We are listening to the lecturer)
3. Tu ne respecte pas tes parents → Tu ne respectes pas.
(You don't respect your parents)
4. Léo mange la banane → Leo mange
(Leo is eating the banana)
5. Mon copain et moi regardons un film → Mon copain et moi regardons.
(My boyfriend and I are watching a movie)
6. Ma mère écoute les informations à la radio → Ma mère écoute à la radio.
(My mother listens to the news with the radio)
7. Notre invité apprécie le vin rouge → Notre invité apprécie
(Our guest loves red wine)
8. La servante achète les fruits au marché → La servante achète au marché.
(The maid buys fruits at the market)
9. Ils descendent l'escalier de la salle → Ils descende.
(They are coming down)
10. Mon amie m'a offert un bouquet de roses → Mon amie me a offert.
(My friend offered me a rose bouquet)
Write the pronoun that would replace the direct object. Direct objects are in bold.
Bonne chance !
Example: J'écris une lettre → Je l'écris.
1. Nous écrivons les instructions à suivre → Nous écrivons.
(We are writing the rules to follow)
2. Nous écoutons le conférencier → Nous écoutons.
(We are listening to the lecturer)
3. Tu ne respecte pas tes parents → Tu ne respectes pas.
(You don't respect your parents)
4. Léo mange la banane → Leo mange
(Leo is eating the banana)
5. Mon copain et moi regardons un film → Mon copain et moi regardons.
(My boyfriend and I are watching a movie)
6. Ma mère écoute les informations à la radio → Ma mère écoute à la radio.
(My mother listens to the news with the radio)
7. Notre invité apprécie le vin rouge → Notre invité apprécie
(Our guest loves red wine)
8. La servante achète les fruits au marché → La servante achète au marché.
(The maid buys fruits at the market)
9. Ils descendent l'escalier de la salle → Ils descende.
(They are coming down)
10. Mon amie m'a offert un bouquet de roses → Mon amie me a offert.
(My friend offered me a rose bouquet)
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Hello!
My name is Ivan. I am a Russian tutor with 16 years of teaching experience. The levels I teach are A1~B2. Individual learners and groups are welcomed!
Our main focus will be on speaking. At each lesson we will work on pronunciation, learn to ask questions and give detailed answers, playing out various role-plays. After every lesson, you will be assigned written and/or audio homework. You will get detailed feedback on every unclear point.
In my lessons, I use e-textbooks (not included in lessons’ price), and my materials (included in lessons’ price).
I won't promise that you will speak Russian in 5 lessons or 1 week, but I promise that you will practice a lot and there will be no unclear points left behind.
Don’t be afraid to take the first step!
Remember: “The devil is not so black as he is painted”!
See you soon in our first lesson!
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The professor's preparation is impeccable. Perfect to go from basic to advanced level. He organizes the lessons with PDFs and documents customized by him according to the student. Friendly and experienced, perfect for all ages.
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2 - If you are thinking taking any DELF exam, I can help you as I have experience in this field (3 years with Ensemble en Francais - online school).
3 - If you are a VCE French student, I definitively will be able to boost your skills to do well at the exam due to my experience as VCE French teacher and also as a VCE assessor.
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Francois is teaching our daughter in French at the moment. She is a total beginner and they started from scratch. Both work for one hour daily and agree on homework which is being checked in the next lesson. The lesson via Skype is working well with the exchange of material Skype as well. We can definitely see progress.
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Hello everyone, and welcome to my classroom. I hope you are all doing well. My name is Kimberley, and I live in South Africa. I have an honors degree in Environmental health. My hobbies include hiking, cooking, singing, participating in outdoor activities as well as 0reading books. I enjoy engaging in conversations with people whether old or young and have excellent interpersonal skills. In my classroom, I can help you with pronunciation of words, grammar and reading comprehension. My classes are never dull as I make it as interesting and practical as it can be. Lastly the motto of this classroom is practice makes perfect. I hope to see you in my lessons very soon.
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The conversation can be about a topic you’d like to talk about, or we can use a video, an audio, or an image and discuss around this support.
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I look forward to meeting you, so feel free to try a free trial course ;)
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Join a small group of learners of 2 or 3 for conversation lessons with me. An article or video to watch before the lesson and a conversation with personalized corrections during the lesson. This option saves you at least 10 euros per lesson on Colanguage.
Group opening:
Monday and/or Wednesday from 17:30 to 18:30 (French time).
Level: intermediate (B1)
Also, standard French lessons
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- 2 hours a week
- ask for schedule
Don’t know your level? Ask for a free level test.
I give Skype lessons to people who need or want to improve their French language. I like to use material from the internet (videos, article etc.) to introduce a theme which leads to a lesson and a conversation.
I like to create engaging learning with my students. I will give as homework a document to watch or to read with comprehension exercises so the time we have on skype is only speaking practice and explanation if needed.
I can help you prepare DELF-DALF Exams or work on specific needs (as professional French).
Really like to speak about all the subjects with the student especially those the student like so it gives the motivation to speak in the foreign language.
The free first lesson is organize to know your tastes, your level and your needs so we can plan the next lessons about the objectives you fixed.
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With me, you can express yourself freely and make mistakes without fear, I'll take note of them without interrupting. Essential is that the conversation flows and that we understand each other.
I am Belgian and my mother tongue is French. I have always loved literature, culture, and languages. I studied in Flanders for 10 years, lived in France and Switzerland for 4 years, and I currently live in Valencia, Spain.
I followed the DAEFLE training (teaching French as a foreign language) in 2017.
My practice: - online conversation / support for self-taught students
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Method: - interests and culture
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- I encourage listening to podcasts and the use of applications such as Duolingo outside of class for vocabulary and repetition
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I love learning new languages and meet new students.
I have experience in teaching Italian to foreign students and I also have the CEDILS certificate to teach Italian as second/foreign language.
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Hello,
My name is Tiska. I am a French Teacher with experiences with adults and teenagers in Public Education (USA) and Language Schools. I am holding a Master Degree in FLE (Teaching French as a Foreign Language).
Join a small group of learners of 2 or 3 for conversation lessons with me. An article or video to watch before the lesson and a conversation with personalized corrections during the lesson. This option saves you at least 10 euros per lesson on Colanguage.
Group opening:
Monday and/or Wednesday from 17:30 to 18:30 (French time).
Level: intermediate (B1)
Also, standard French lessons
- level A2 (low intermediate)
- 2 hours a week
- ask for schedule
Don’t know your level? Ask for a free level test.
I give Skype lessons to people who need or want to improve their French language. I like to use material from the internet (videos, article etc.) to introduce a theme which leads to a lesson and a conversation.
I like to create engaging learning with my students. I will give as homework a document to watch or to read with comprehension exercises so the time we have on skype is only speaking practice and explanation if needed.
I can help you prepare DELF-DALF Exams or work on specific needs (as professional French).
Really like to speak about all the subjects with the student especially those the student like so it gives the motivation to speak in the foreign language.
The free first lesson is organize to know your tastes, your level and your needs so we can plan the next lessons about the objectives you fixed.
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Ilaria V.
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Thanks Giacomo!
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Hello!
My name is Ivan. I am a Russian tutor with 16 years of teaching experience. The levels I teach are A1~B2. Individual learners and groups are welcomed!
Our main focus will be on speaking. At each lesson we will work on pronunciation, learn to ask questions and give detailed answers, playing out various role-plays. After every lesson, you will be assigned written and/or audio homework. You will get detailed feedback on every unclear point.
In my lessons, I use e-textbooks (not included in lessons’ price), and my materials (included in lessons’ price).
I won't promise that you will speak Russian in 5 lessons or 1 week, but I promise that you will practice a lot and there will be no unclear points left behind.
Don’t be afraid to take the first step!
Remember: “The devil is not so black as he is painted”!
See you soon in our first lesson!
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The professor's preparation is impeccable. Perfect to go from basic to advanced level. He organizes the lessons with PDFs and documents customized by him according to the student. Friendly and experienced, perfect for all ages.
This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
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1 - If you are looking for a well-structured French program to take you from a beginner level to advanced level to be able to travel to France, i have developed with success my own program which includes 70 worksheets from basic to advance level.
2 - If you are thinking taking any DELF exam, I can help you as I have experience in this field (3 years with Ensemble en Francais - online school).
3 - If you are a VCE French student, I definitively will be able to boost your skills to do well at the exam due to my experience as VCE French teacher and also as a VCE assessor.
4 - Finally I have also an extensive experience in teaching French at the primary and middle school level
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Francois is teaching our daughter in French at the moment. She is a total beginner and they started from scratch. Both work for one hour daily and agree on homework which is being checked in the next lesson. The lesson via Skype is working well with the exchange of material Skype as well. We can definitely see progress.
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Hello everyone, and welcome to my classroom. I hope you are all doing well. My name is Kimberley, and I live in South Africa. I have an honors degree in Environmental health. My hobbies include hiking, cooking, singing, participating in outdoor activities as well as 0reading books. I enjoy engaging in conversations with people whether old or young and have excellent interpersonal skills. In my classroom, I can help you with pronunciation of words, grammar and reading comprehension. My classes are never dull as I make it as interesting and practical as it can be. Lastly the motto of this classroom is practice makes perfect. I hope to see you in my lessons very soon.
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This review was written by a coLanguage team member during a manual screening of this teacher profile.
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Hi!
My name is Krisztina! I’m a teacher of German and French with the corresponding qualifications. I've grown up in a bilingual family (Hungarian-German), so I speak both languages as a native language. I’ve been teaching for six years, so I’m able to estimate your needs, and to meet them. In my lessons, I recreat real life situations, so that you will be able to adapt yourselves to different circumstances. I’m a patient, positive and creative person, who is looking forward to see you in her lessons. So don’t hesitate to book a lesson with me.
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I am very satisfied with my new teacher. Looks like I'm going to get French soon! Looking forward to each lesson. Krisztina knows many languages, which allows her to understand pronunciation difficulties and to remain patient. Hope to pass C1 one day!
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