Question 1

Why is lui placed before ai instead of before répondu?

Accepted Answer

In the passé composé, indirect object pronouns like lui must go in front of the conjugated auxiliary verb (ai), not the past participle (répondu).

Question 2

What is the exact word order with the negative words ne ... plus and the pronoun lui?

Accepted Answer

The first part of the negative, ne, comes right after the subject. Then comes the object pronoun (lui) and the auxiliary verb (ai). The second part of the negative, plus (anymore), goes immediately after the auxiliary verb, before the past participle (répondu). The complete order is: ne + pronoun + auxiliary verb + plus.

Question 3

Since the translation says "I didn't answer him", could this sentence also mean "I didn't answer her"?

Accepted Answer

Yes! As an indirect object pronoun, lui means both "to him" and "to her". The French sentence is exactly the same whether you stopped answering a man or a woman. You would only know which one it is from the context of the conversation.

Question 4

If lui referred to a woman, would répondu need an extra "e" at the end?

Accepted Answer

No. In the passé composé, the past participle only changes to match direct objects placed before the verb. Because lui is an indirect object (in French, you answer to someone), répondu does not change to match it.

Je ne lui ai plus répondu.

Breakdown of Je ne lui ai plus répondu.

Questions & Answers about Je ne lui ai plus répondu.

Learn Je ne lui ai plus répondu and more in French