I don't understand why "prends-lui deux" can be a correct solution

Jacqui T.C1Kwiziq community member

I don't understand why "prends-lui deux" can be a correct solution

Please ignore what I have written below.
Asked 7 years ago
Ron T.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
Bonjour Jacqui, «take him two» is the translation for «prends-lui deux». If possible, could you include the question that you are referencing on this and resubmit it à bientôt
Ron T.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor
The lesson concerning «lui» in affirmative commands follows: Using object pronouns le/la/les vs lui/leur in affirmative commands in the imperative mood (L'Impératif) in French I am unsure if this is the lesson you are referencing or not; however, let's look at this example. Ah, les bonbons. Prends-lui deux. This scenario could be two friends talking and the one with the bonbons tells the other to take two to her brother, whom she knows.
Jacqui T.C1Kwiziq community member
Bonjour Ron. Thanks for the clear answer. À bientôt, Jacqui
Thy M.B1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Hello Ron,

I still don't understand your answer as "lui" is a pronoun for people, we are talking about bonbons which are things so shouldn't it be: "Prends-en deux"?

Ron T.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Thy, you are correct, lui is a pronoun for him or her.  In French, lui is the indirect object pronoun for both him and her. It is used for verbs following the preposition à, which means to or at. For example: Je parle à Pierre -> Je lui parle. I speak to Pierre. I speak to him. Je parle à Marie -> Je lui parle. I speak to Marie. I speak to her.

I sense that your confusion is about the bonbons.  

«prends-lui deux» would translate as 
"take him two"  --> him referring to whoever is to receive the bonbons, the only reference in the phrase to the bonbons is "deux" indicating to take 2 bonbons.

Perhaps this will assist in clarifying the usage:

 voila, ici sont deux bonbons, prends-les à lui -->  voila, here are two sweets, take them to him

In this phrase, les is the pronoun for the bonbons and lui is the pronoun for who is receiving the bonbons

Hopefully this clarifies it a bi for you,

bonne chance en continuation

Ron T.C1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Thy, I do not as a habit recommend books that are not part of this website; however, in your case, I will make an exception:  the workbook, study book below can be found on almost any bookseller online, this one just happens to be on amazon.  I have studied several of the "Practice Makes Perfect" books and they are quite good and reputable, published by McGraw-Hill who publishes many textbooks used in schools.

ISBN  978-1260453416

"Practice Makes Perfect: French Pronouns and Prepositions, Premium Third Edition 3rd Edition"

by Annie Heminway (Author)

I don't understand why "prends-lui deux" can be a correct solution

Please ignore what I have written below.

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