{"id":14201,"date":"2025-07-23T15:43:35","date_gmt":"2025-07-23T14:43:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.frenchfacile.com\/?p=14201"},"modified":"2025-07-23T15:56:15","modified_gmt":"2025-07-23T14:56:15","slug":"whats-the-coi-in-french","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.frenchfacile.com\/en\/whats-the-coi-in-french\/","title":{"rendered":"What’s the COI in French ?"},"content":{"rendered":"","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

\ud83d\udc49 Understand, find, and replace the indirect object (COI) easily in French \ud83d\ude09
\nSimple explanations and video + Exercises with corrections.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":14191,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","tve_updated_post":"

What's the COI in French ?<\/h2><\/div>

The COI in French means: Compl\u00e9ment d\u2019Objet Indirect<\/strong> (French Indirect Object).<\/p>

The COI is a word or group of words that completes the verb.<\/p>

The COI always begins with the preposition \u00e0<\/strong> or de\/d\u2019<\/strong>.<\/p>

\"\ud83d\udc49\" Example:
Je parle \u00e0 mon fr\u00e8re.<\/strong><\/p>

I speak to my brother.<\/em><\/p>

<\/strong>
\u27a4 verb: parle<\/em>
\u27a4 COI: \u00e0 mon fr\u00e8re<\/em><\/p>


<\/p><\/div>

How to find the COI ?<\/h2><\/div>

To find the COI, ask the question to whom \/ to what \/ about whom \/ about what<\/strong> (\u00e0 qui \/ \u00e0 quoi \/ de qui \/ de quoi ?<\/em>) after the verb.<\/p>

Examples:<\/strong><\/p>

Elle pense \u00e0 son avenir<\/strong> \u2192 She thinks about what<\/em>?
\u2192 \u00e0 son avenir (about her future)<\/em> = COI<\/p>

Nous parlons de notre projet<\/strong> \u2192 We\u2019re talking about what<\/em>?
\u2192 de notre projet (about our project)<\/em> = COI<\/p><\/div>

\"What's<\/span><\/div>


<\/p><\/div>

COD vs COI ?<\/h2><\/div>

You might confuse the COD<\/strong> and the COI in French<\/strong>, but actually, it's quite easy to tell them apart.<\/p>

To find the COD<\/strong>:
Just ask the question WHO<\/strong> or WHAT<\/strong> (QUI<\/em> or QUOI<\/em>) after the verb.<\/p>

To find the COI<\/strong>:<\/p>

  1. Ask the question TO WHOM, TO WHAT, ABOUT WHOM, ABOUT WHAT<\/strong> (\u00c0 QUI, \u00c0 QUOI, DE QUI, DE QUOI<\/em>) after the verb.<\/p><\/li>

  2. The COI<\/strong> always begins with \u00e0<\/strong> or de<\/strong>.<\/p><\/li><\/ol>


    <\/p><\/div>

    Phrase<\/th>Question <\/th>Answer<\/th>COD or COI ?<\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
    J\u2019\u00e9coute la radio.
    I'm listening to the radio.<\/td>    		J\u2019\u00e9coute quoi<\/strong> ?<\/td>la radio<\/td>COD<\/td><\/tr>
    Je t\u00e9l\u00e9phone \u00e0<\/strong> mon ami.
    I'm calling my friend.<\/td>    		Je t\u00e9l\u00e9phone \u00e0 qui<\/strong> ?<\/td>\u00e0 mon ami<\/td>COI<\/td><\/tr>
    Elle aime le chocolat.
    She likes chocolate.<\/td>    		Elle aime quoi<\/strong> ?<\/td>le chocolat<\/td>COD<\/td><\/tr>
    Elle r\u00eave de<\/strong> voyager.
    She dreams of traveling.
    <\/td>    		Elle r\u00eave de quoi<\/strong> ?<\/td>de voyager<\/td>COI<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div>
    \t


    <\/p>

    Another course for you:  What's the COD in French ?<\/a><\/p><\/div>


    <\/h2>

    COI pronouns<\/strong> in French<\/h2><\/div>

    In French, we really don\u2019t like repeating the same words over and over when they\u2019re close together. To avoid this, we use pronouns<\/strong>.<\/p>

    So instead of saying:<\/p>

    Paul est mon petit fr\u00e8re. Je m\u2019occupe de Paul.<\/strong>
    (Paul is my little brother. I take care of Paul.)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>

    We say:<\/p>

    Paul est mon petit fr\u00e8re. Je m\u2019occupe de lui.<\/strong>
    (Paul is my little brother. I take care of him.)<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>

    We have two types of COI pronouns<\/strong>:<\/p>

    1. COI pronouns that start with \u00e0<\/span> :<\/h3>

    <\/div><\/th>
    		COI pronouns
    <\/th>    		Example without pronoun
    <\/th>    		Example with pronoun
    <\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
    \u00e0 + moi
    <\/td>    		   me
    <\/td>    		Il parle \u00e0 moi.
    <\/td>    		Il me<\/strong> parle.
    He talks to me.
    <\/td><\/tr>
    \u00e0 + toi
    <\/td>    		   te
    <\/td>    		Il r\u00e9pond \u00e0 toi.
    <\/td>    		Il te<\/strong> r\u00e9pond.
    He answers you<\/td><\/tr>
    \u00e0 + lui \/ \u00e0 elle (personne)
    <\/td>    		   lui
    <\/td>    		Elle t\u00e9l\u00e9phone \u00e0 Paul.
    <\/td>    		Elle lui<\/strong> t\u00e9l\u00e9phone.
    She calls him.<\/td><\/tr>
    \u00e0 + nous \/ \u00e0 vous
    <\/td>    		nous \/ vous
    <\/td>    		Il parle \u00e0 vous.
    <\/td>    		Il vous<\/strong> parle.
    He talks to you.<\/td><\/tr>
    \u00e0 + eux \/ \u00e0 elles (personne)
    <\/td>    		   leur
    <\/td>    		Elle parle \u00e0 ses amis.
    <\/td>    		Elle leur<\/strong> parle.
    She talks to them.<\/td><\/tr>
    \u00e0 + chose \/ objet \/ id\u00e9e
    <\/td>    		   y<\/strong>
    <\/td>    		Je r\u00e9ponds \u00e0 la question.
    <\/td>    		J\u2019y<\/strong> r\u00e9ponds.
    I reply to it.
    <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>


    <\/p>

    2. COI pronouns that start with de<\/span> :<\/h3>

    <\/div><\/th>
    		Pronom COI
    <\/th>    		Exemple sans pronom
    <\/th>    		Exemple avec pronom
    <\/th><\/tr><\/thead>
    de + moi
    <\/td>    		de moi<\/strong>
    <\/td>    		Il parle de moi.
    <\/td>    		Il parle de moi<\/strong>.
    He talks about me.
    <\/td><\/tr>
    de + toi
    <\/td>    		de toi<\/strong>
    <\/td>    		Il parle de toi.
    <\/td>    		Il parle de toi<\/strong>.
    He talks about you.
    <\/td><\/tr>
    de + lui (lui \/ elle)
    <\/td>    		de lui<\/strong>
    <\/td>    		Il parle de Paul.
    <\/td>    		Il parle de lui<\/strong>.
    He talks about him.
    <\/td><\/tr>
    de + elle
    <\/td>    		d\u2019elle<\/strong>
    <\/td>    		Elle parle de Marie.
    He talks about Marie.
    <\/td>    		Elle parle d\u2019elle<\/strong>.
    He talks about her.
    <\/td><\/tr>
    de + nous
    <\/td>    		de nous<\/strong>
    <\/td>    		Il parle de nous.
    <\/td>    		Il parle de nous<\/strong>.
    He talks about us.
    <\/td><\/tr>
    de + vous
    <\/td>    		de vous<\/strong>
    <\/td>    		Il parle de vous.
    <\/td>    		Il parle de vous<\/strong>.
    He talks about you.
    <\/td><\/tr>
    de + eux
    <\/td>    		d\u2019eux<\/strong>
    <\/td>    		Il parle de ses amis.
    He talks about his friends.
    <\/td>    		Il parle d\u2019eux<\/strong>.
    He talks about them.
    <\/td><\/tr>
    de + elles
    <\/td>    		d\u2019elles<\/strong>
    <\/td>    		Elle parle de ses amies.
    She talks about his friends.
    <\/td>    		Elle parle d\u2019elles<\/strong>.
    She talks about them.
    <\/td><\/tr>
    de + chose \/ id\u00e9e
    <\/td>    		en<\/strong>
    <\/td>    		Il parle de son projet.
    He talks about his project.
    <\/td>    		Il en<\/strong> parle.
    He talks about it.
    <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/div>


    <\/h2>

    Verbs with COI<\/h2><\/div>

    Some verbs are always followed by an indirect object (COI). These are verbs that always use the preposition \u00e0<\/strong> or de<\/strong> in their construction.<\/p>

    \"\ud83d\udccc\" Verbs with \u00e0<\/strong> :<\/h3>
    • t\u00e9l\u00e9phoner \u00e0\/ to call<\/li>
    • parler \u00e0\/ To talk to<\/li>
    • r\u00e9pondre \u00e0\/ to answer<\/li>
    • \u00e9crire \u00e0\/to write<\/li>
    • ob\u00e9ir \u00e0\/to obey<\/li>
    • demander \u00e0\/to ask<\/li>
    • plaire \u00e0\/tto please (someone)<\/li>
    • Etc.<\/li><\/ul>

      Examples<\/strong> :<\/p>

      • Il \u00e9crit \u00e0 sa s\u0153ur. \u2192 \u00e0 sa s\u0153ur<\/strong> = COI
        He writes to his sister. <\/li><\/ul>


        <\/p>

        • Je r\u00e9ponds \u00e0 la question. \u2192 \u00e0 la question<\/strong> = COI
          I answer the question. <\/li><\/ul>


          <\/p>

          \"\ud83d\udccc\" Verbs with de<\/strong> :<\/h3>
          • se souvenir de\/ to remember<\/li>
          • parler de\/to talk about<\/li>
          • avoir besoin de\/to need<\/li>
          • se m\u00e9fier de\/to be wary of<\/li>
          • r\u00eaver de\/to dream about<\/li>
          • Etc.<\/li><\/ul>

            Examples<\/strong> :<\/p>

            • Tu te souviens de cette chanson ? \u2192 de cette chanson<\/strong> = COI
              Do you remember this song? <\/li><\/ul>


              <\/p>

              • Elle parle de son voyage. \u2192 de son voyage<\/strong> = COI
                She talks about her trip. <\/li><\/ul>


                <\/p><\/div>

                Can we remove the COI?<\/h2><\/div>
                1. Sometimes we can remove the COI<\/strong>, but then the meaning of the sentence changes.<\/li><\/ol>


                  Example:<\/p>

                  Je r\u00e9ponds \u00e0 la question. \u2192 \u00e0 la question = COI.
                  I answer the question. <\/em><\/p>

                  Je r\u00e9ponds. \u2192 When I remove the COI, the sentence is grammatically correct but the meaning is not exactly the same.<\/p>


                  <\/p>

                  1. Sometimes we cannot<\/strong> remove the COI at all because it is essential to the verb in the sentence.<\/li><\/ol>


                    Example:<\/p>

                    Ce livre appartient \u00e0 Marie. \u2192 \u00e0 Marie = COI.
                    This book belongs to Marie. <\/em><\/p>

                    Ce livre appartient.<\/span> \u2192 If we remove the COI, this sentence is incorrect. The verb appartenir<\/em> absolutely needs a COI.
                    <\/p>


                    <\/p><\/div>

                    The French COI explained in a video<\/h2><\/div>
                    \n\t\n\n\t
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                    <\/div>\n\t