What about when the indirect object is not a him or her, but an it? Do you still use lui?

David S.C1Kwiziq community member

What about when the indirect object is not a him or her, but an it? Do you still use lui?

This question relates to:French lesson "Using lui/leur = him or her/them (French Indirect Object Pronouns)"

Asked 5 years ago

CécileKwiziq Native French TeacherCorrect answer

Hi David,

This is an interesting question as I have been racking my brain to think of examples where you would ring, ask or talk to an 'it'.

Here goes -

J'ai téléphoné à la police -------> Je leur ai téléphoné ( implying that you spoke to some humans)

J'ai téléphoné aux urgences ( A&E) ---------> Je leur ai téléphoné ( idem)

But a very good point!

Like05 years ago

Chris W.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

There are only two genders in French -- he and she, masculine and feminine. "It" can be either one of the two, depending what "it" refers to. But the indirect object pronoun is lui in either case.

Like05 years ago

David S. asked:

What about when the indirect object is not a him or her, but an it? Do you still use lui?

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