Pronoun Order (combined object pronouns)

Overview

When two object pronouns appear together before a verb, they follow a fixed order. Memorize the ladder — it never changes (except in affirmative imperatives).

The order ladder (before the verb)

When stacking pronouns, place them in this order from left to right:

Examples with two pronouns

Subject + pronoun(s) + verb.

• Je te le donne. (I give it to you — te before le)
• Il me les envoie. (He sends them to me)
• Nous le lui expliquons. (We explain it to him — le before lui)
• Elle les leur montre. (She shows them to them)
• Je m'en souviens. (I remember it — me + en)
• Il y en a trois. (There are three of them)

In the negative

The pronouns stay glued to the verb; ne and pas wrap around the whole block.

• Je ne te le donne pas.
• Il ne me les envoie pas.
• Nous ne le lui expliquons pas.

EXCEPTION: affirmative imperative

In commands (affirmative only), pronouns go AFTER the verb with hyphens, and the order changes: direct object → indirect object, with moi/toi instead of me/te.

• Donne-le-moi ! (Give it to me!)
• Dis-le-lui ! (Tell it to him/her!)
• Apporte-les-nous !
• BUT negative imperative keeps normal order: Ne me le donne pas !