At Work 5
Send me a postcard!
We've seen how to use le or la to say things like Elle le voit and Elle la voit.
To say to him, to her, or to it, you'll use lui instead. Keep in mind that some French verbs use à when we wouldn't use to in English!
Elle écrit une lettre à Jean.
She writes a letter to Jean.
Elle lui écrit une lettre.
She writes a letter to him.
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Elle répond à Sylvie.
She answers Sylvie.
Elle lui répond.
She answers her.
Elle donne un jouet au chat.
She gives a toy to the cat.
Elle lui donne un jouet.
She gives a toy to it.
Notice that the à disappears as well when you use lui.
Il lui écrit une lettre.
He writes a letter to him.
What are you going to say to them?
To say to them, you'll use leur.
La directrice envoie un e‑mail aux employés.
The director sends an email to the employees.
La directrice leur envoie un e‑mail.
The director sends an email to them.
Je dois leur montrer ces documents.
I have to show these documents to them.
She, to her, writes…
And remember, the words lui and leur come before the verb, not after!
Je dois leur montrer ces documents.
I should show them these documents.
Le directeur m'a écrit un e‑mail alors je lui réponds.
The director wrote me an email, so I'm replying to him.
Je lui présente mon collègue.
I'm introducing my coworker to her.