Personal Pronouns (COD/COI) MCQs Quiz | Class 9
This quiz is for Class 9 students studying French (Code 018). It focuses on the Grammar unit, specifically on the topic of Personal Pronouns (COD/COI). You will be tested on your understanding of Pronoms personnels compléments (COD, COI). Answer all 10 questions and click submit to see your score and download a PDF of your answers.
Understanding Personal Pronouns: COD and COI
In French grammar, personal pronouns that function as objects are crucial for avoiding repetition and making sentences more fluid. They are divided into two main categories: Direct Object Complements (Compléments d’Objet Direct – COD) and Indirect Object Complements (Compléments d’Objet Indirect – COI).
1. Complément d’Objet Direct (COD)
The COD is the person or thing that directly receives the action of the verb. It answers the questions “qui?” (who?) or “quoi?” (what?) asked after the verb.
- Example: Je mange la pomme. (I eat the apple.) -> Question: Je mange quoi? -> la pomme (COD).
- Pronoun replacement: Je la mange. (I eat it.)
The COD pronouns are:
- me / m’ : me
- te / t’ : you (singular, informal)
- le / l’ : him, it (masculine)
- la / l’ : her, it (feminine)
- nous : us
- vous : you (plural or formal)
- les : them (masculine or feminine)
The pronoun is usually placed before the verb. In the passé composé, it is placed before the auxiliary verb (avoir or être).
2. Complément d’Objet Indirect (COI)
The COI is the person or thing that indirectly receives the action, often introduced by prepositions like “à” or “de”. It answers the questions “à qui?” (to whom?), “à quoi?” (to what?), “de qui?” (from/about whom?), or “de quoi?” (from/about what?).
- Example: Je parle à mon ami. (I speak to my friend.) -> Question: Je parle à qui? -> à mon ami (COI).
- Pronoun replacement: Je lui parle. (I speak to him/her.)
The COI pronouns are:
- me / m’ : to me
- te / t’ : to you (singular, informal)
- lui : to him, to her
- nous : to us
- vous : to you (plural or formal)
- leur : to them
Notice that “lui” is used for both masculine and feminine singular, and “leur” is used for both masculine and feminine plural. Like COD pronouns, COI pronouns are placed before the verb.
Summary Table of COD and COI Pronouns
| Person | Pronom COD | Pronom COI |
|---|---|---|
| 1st person singular (je) | me / m’ | me / m’ |
| 2nd person singular (tu) | te / t’ | te / t’ |
| 3rd person singular (il/elle) | le / la / l’ | lui |
| 1st person plural (nous) | nous | nous |
| 2nd person plural (vous) | vous | vous |
| 3rd person plural (ils/elles) | les | leur |
Quick Revision Points
- Identify the object first: Is it direct (COD) or indirect (COI)?
- Ask the right question: “quoi/qui” for COD, “à qui/à quoi” for COI.
- Choose the correct pronoun: Refer to the table above.
- Placement: The pronoun almost always goes before the conjugated verb (or the auxiliary in compound tenses). Example: Je vais le voir. (I am going to see him.)
- Agreement with Passé Composé: When using ‘avoir’, the past participle agrees in gender and number with a preceding COD pronoun. Example: J’ai acheté la robe. -> Je l’ai achetée.
Extra Practice Questions
Replace the underlined words with the correct personal pronoun.
- Tu regardes le film?
- Il écrit une lettre à ses parents.
- Nous avons invité nos amis à la fête.
- Elle donne le cadeau à sa soeur.
- J’aime beaucoup cette chanson.
