On the Lawless French Causative Construction with Objects and Agreement page (https://www.lawlessfrench.com/grammar/faire-causative-2/) there is a cartoon of some kids washing a car with the caption 'Je les fais laver la voiture'. Why is it 'les' and not 'leur'?
Causative construction
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Bonjour Tom, thank you for your question.
You are absolutely right - the correct pronoun in this sentence is leur. I'm traveling at the moment but will fix the graphic as soon as I can. Merci et bonne continuation !
Jim J. Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
Bonjour Tom,
Is it not simply "I had them wash the car", where "them" are the "agents" of the subject "I"?
Bonne Journée
Jim
Tom A. Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
It's just that there is this rule: 'When you have a recipient and an agent, the former is always the direct object and the latter, the indirect object. ' As illustrated by 'Hélène lui fait coudre une robe'.
Jim J. Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
Bonjour de nouveau Tom,
Perhaps the meaning is "made them wash the car", so now we have a direct object (les)
Otherwise, let's see what a staff expert can add.
Bonne journée
Jim
Tom A. asked:
Causative construction
On the Lawless French Causative Construction with Objects and Agreement page (https://www.lawlessfrench.com/grammar/faire-causative-2/) there is a cartoon of some kids washing a car with the caption 'Je les fais laver la voiture'. Why is it 'les' and not 'leur'?
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