"Je trouve ça" vs. "Je le trouve"

Craig B.C1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

"Je trouve ça" vs. "Je le trouve"

The lesson says that with ça or cela, the word is after the verb trouve, and when there's an object pronoun le, la, les, etc, the pronoun goes before the verb.  Isn't cela an object pronoun?  Why wouldn't "I find it..."  be translated "Je le trouve..."?
Merci, Craig

Asked 2 years ago
Maarten K.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor Correct answer

‘Je le trouve…’ is not incorrect, but it is specific in nature, not general.  (The lesson has examples using “je les/la trouve …” ). In English we might sometimes translate ‘le/la’ as ‘it’, but ‘it’ in English has more extensive meaning and usage with no direct equivalent in French.

Cela/ça are not “object pronouns” - they are indefinite demonstrative pronouns that can be used as subject or object. There is a difference. Only the specific direct object and indirect object pronouns are ‘object pronouns’, and they and the adverbial pronouns are always placed before the relevant verb. Have a look at the 2 links for more detailed information:

https://progress.lawlessfrench.com/my-languages/french/glossary/144 

https://www.optilingo.com/blog/french/french-pronouns/

"Je trouve ça" vs. "Je le trouve"

The lesson says that with ça or cela, the word is after the verb trouve, and when there's an object pronoun le, la, les, etc, the pronoun goes before the verb.  Isn't cela an object pronoun?  Why wouldn't "I find it..."  be translated "Je le trouve..."?
Merci, Craig

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