Why is it not Je me les brosses (les dents) rather than je me les brosse?
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Jennifer C.Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor
Why is it not Je me les brosses (les dents) rather than je me les brosse?
This question relates to:French lesson "Position of Double Pronouns in French - Reflexive Pronoun + Direct Object Pronoun"
Asked 7 years ago
Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor
Hi J,
It's because the subject of the verb is 'Je'. So in English, it's 'I brush' and in French 'Je (me) brosse. The verb agrees with the subject and not the object (teeth). And brosser is regular, so Je brosse, etc.
Jennifer C.Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor
Merci bien, I had forgotten the reflex and was into the preceding direct object.. so easy to get lost in the maze.
Noeleen O.Kwiziq community member
Hi i too teplied je les couvres instead of je les couvre...
so if ive understood corectly it would be tu les couvres
elles les couvrent ??
Subject rather object
Jennifer C.Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor
Hi Noeleen, you have, I believe, just upped the confusion stakes another level. It is only the past participle of the verb that agrees with the preceeding direct object and then only when the auxiliary verb is avoir. The être verbs in the passé composé agree with the subject. In the present tense verb construction there is no agreement with the object so yes je les couvre, tu les couvres. I think this is right but you definitely had me going for a minute.
Jennifer C.Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor
And of course I too had forgoten that. Witness my original question. Oh dear!
Mary Anne B.Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor
I just learned a fascinating detail. I never made the distinction that "être" verbs do not require the past participle, in passé composé" to agree with the preceding direct object. I am glad I checked this section!
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