If you’re learning French, you’ve probably heard teachers talk about COD.
In this lesson, you’ll learn:
- What a COD is in French
- How to identify it easily
- Where it is placed in a sentence
- What COD pronouns are and why French uses them
- Common mistakes English speakers make
What Does COD Mean in French?
COD stands for Complément d’Objet Direct, which simply means: Direct Object
A COD is the person or thing that receives the action of the verb, without a preposition.
👉 This is very similar to English.
Example:
- I eat an apple.
- Je mange une pomme.
➡️ Une pomme = COD
➡️ An apple = direct object
How to Identify the COD
To find the COD, ask the question:
Verb + what?
Verb + whom?
Examples:
- Je regarde un film
→ I watch what? → un film (COD) - Elle aime Paul
→ She loves whom? → Paul (COD)
COD Placement in a Simple Sentence
In a normal sentence, the COD comes after the verb:
- Je mange une pizza (I eat a pizza)
- Il lit un livre (He reads a book)
- Nous regardons la télé (We are watching TV)
What Are COD Pronouns?
In French, COD pronouns are small words that replace the direct object.
👉 Their main purpose is to avoid repetition and make sentences sound more natural.
Example:
- J’achète des fleurs. –> Je les achète ➡️ Les replaces des fleurs
- Je regarde le film. –> Je le regarde. ➡️ Le replaces le film
- J’appelle mon frère. –> Je l‘appelle ➡️ L’ replaces le film
COD Pronouns List
Here are the French COD pronouns and what they mean in English:
| French | Meaning |
|---|---|
| me | me |
| te | you (singular, informal) |
| le (l’) | him / it (masculine) |
| la (l’) | her / it (feminine) |
| nous | us |
| vous | you (plural or formal) |
| les | them |
💡 Le and la can replace people or things, depending on the context, and they change to l’ when placed before a vowel or a silent H.
Where Do COD Pronouns Go?
👉 COD pronouns are placed BEFORE the verb.
This rule is essential in French.
Examples:
- Je regarde le film → Je le regarde
- Tu appelles Marie → Tu l’appelles
- Il écoute la chanson → Il l’écoute
⚠️ This is different from English, where the pronoun comes after the verb.
Common Mistakes English Speakers Make
❌ Putting the pronoun after the verb
❌Je regarde le
✅ Je le regarde
❌ Repeating the noun instead of using a pronoun
❌ Je prends le livre et je lis le livre
✅ Je prends le livre et je le lis
Key Takeaways
✔️ COD = direct object
✔️ Answers what? / whom?
✔️ COD pronouns replace the object
✔️ Used to avoid repetition
✔️ Pronoun goes before the verb
Quiz
Let’s practice and see if everything is understood.