vous apportez

Andrew-W

Andrew-W

I just finished going through lesson 1.4, Avoir Soif, and I am confused about the formal version of "I'll bring it to you." In both the audio lesson and written in the extra vocabulary section, this phrase is translated to "Je vous apporte ca." But my dictionary says that the conjugation of apporter for vous is apportez. am I missing something?
Shirley-D

Shirley-D

In this case the verb is in the first person singular. The 'vous' is the indirect object, which is placed before the verb. I don't know whether I've explained that clearly. If not, no doubt someone will correct or improve it. This is the first time I've written anything in this forum.
Andrew-W

Andrew-W

Hi Shirley, I see what you are saying. For some reason I was assuming that is was a reflexive verb. But I guess that it isn't? Furthermore I am unclear about whether the indirect object would always go before the verb or not
Shirley-D

Shirley-D

Hi Andrew, my understanding is that both direct and indirect object pronouns nearly always go before the verb, except in the imperative affirmative e.g. donnez-moi. There are further rules about order when you get more than one object pronoun.
Allan-M

Allan-M

Yeah, Shirley, I agree. Je t'aime being the most classic example. The first verb in the sentence will take the form of the subject (je - which is doing the verb) and has nothing to do with the object (te). What makes it all easier from here onwards is that further verbs of the same structure take the root form, e.g. J'aimerai manger quelque chose. (I would love to eat something - and this is an example of an object which is not a pronoun, and therefore goes at the back.) I too am open to correction here, as I am still firmly in the student department.
Allan-M

Allan-M

. . . sorry, that should read "J'aimerais . . ."

Ask a question or post a response

If you want to ask a question or post a response you need to be a member.

If you are already a member login here.
If you are not a member you can become one by taking the free Rocket French trial here.