Direct Objects (COD) and Indirect Objects (COI) in the passé composé

 Direct Objects (COD) and Indirect Objects (COI) in the passé composé, including how the past participle agrees or does not agree with the COD. Each example is provided with English translations for clarity.

Type	French Sentence	English Translation	Explanation
COD (No Agreement)	J'ai vu Marie.	I saw Marie.	Marie is the direct object, but it comes after the verb. No agreement with the past participle "vu".
COD (Agreement)	Je l'ai vue.	I saw her.	"l'" represents Marie (feminine singular) which is the COD before the verb. The past participle "vue" agrees in gender and number.
COD (No Agreement)	Ils ont acheté des cadeaux.	They bought gifts.	Des cadeaux (gifts) is the direct object, coming after the verb "acheté". No agreement with the past participle.
COD (Agreement)	Les cadeaux que j'ai achetés.	The gifts that I bought.	"Les cadeaux" (the gifts) is the COD, placed before the verb "ai achetés". The past participle "achetés" agrees in gender and number.
COI (No Agreement)	J'ai parlé à mon ami.	I spoke to my friend.	À mon ami is the indirect object. No agreement with the past participle "parlé".
COI (No Agreement)	Elle a écrit une lettre à ses parents.	She wrote a letter to her parents.	À ses parents is the indirect object. The past participle "écrit" does not agree because the COD "une lettre" (a letter) comes after the verb.
COI (No Agreement)	Nous avons donné des conseils à l'élève.	We gave advice to the student.	À l'élève is the indirect object. The past participle "donné" does not agree as the COD "des conseils" (advice) comes after the verb.
COD and COI (Agreement)	Les conseils que nous avons donnés à l'élève.	The advice that we gave to the student.	"Les conseils" is the COD before the verb. The past participle "donnés" agrees in gender and number with "les conseils".

Summary of Rules

• Direct Object (COD) Agreement:
  • Before the Verb: Past participle agrees in gender and number.
  • After the Verb: No agreement.
• Indirect Object (COI):
  • No Agreement Rule: The past participle does not agree with the indirect object, regardless of its position.