Bonjour Madame ! ‘Il pense à elle’. Can one write as- ‘Il lui pense.’ or is there some difference in these 2 phrases ? Merci en avance !

Shrey R.A1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Bonjour Madame ! ‘Il pense à elle’. Can one write as- ‘Il lui pense.’ or is there some difference in these 2 phrases ? Merci en avance !

Asked 5 years ago
CécileNative French expert teacher in KwiziqCorrect answer

Hi Shrey, 

There are some verbs of emotions when  the indirect object cannot be replaced by the usual pronouns, verbs like 'songer à quelqu'un' , 'avoir recours à quelqu'un' , 'faire attention à quelqu'un', ...which come under the same rule as 'penser à quelqu'un'  if there is one...

You could at a pinch replace by the pronoun 'y' but it is normally for things rather than people.

e.g.

J'ai beaucoup songé à elle ces derniers jours = I thought about her these last few days

Nous avons du avoir recours à eux = We have had to rely on them 

Fais attention à elle! = Beware of her!

Hope this helps

 

 

CécileNative French expert teacher in Kwiziq

Hi Varsha,

 No,  in this case you can only say -

‘Il pense à elle’...

Shrey R.A1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Because of what reason , Madame ?

Shrey R.A1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Is it a special case ?

Shrey R.A1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Bonjour Madame Cécile !

Thank you for your support.

À bientôt !

Shrey R. asked:

Bonjour Madame ! ‘Il pense à elle’. Can one write as- ‘Il lui pense.’ or is there some difference in these 2 phrases ? Merci en avance !

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