Key learning points

1. Grouping vocabulary by word class is a useful strategy for deepening understanding of words and their role in sentences.
2. Direct object pronouns precede the verb. In negation, the direct object pronoun goes after ne and before the verb.
3. Singular reflexive pronouns are me, te and se. They precede the verb.
4. When translating, consider word order carefully, especially with direct object pronouns, reflexives and negation.
5. Direct object pronouns can be used to answer questions more efficiently, by avoiding repetition of the noun.

Keywords

• Word class - a category of words of similar function e.g. nouns, adjectives, verbs or adverbs

• Reflexive - when the subject and object of a verb are the same

• Direct object pronoun (DOP) - replaces the noun receiving the action of the verb e.g. it, her, us.

• Negation - two elements e.g. ‘ne … pas’ around the main verb expressing negative meaning

Common misconception