Learn French: Ils ont soif, je leur en verse un verre. - They are thirsty, I am pouring them a glass of it.

Ils ont soif, je leur en verse un verre.

They are thirsty, I am pouring them a glass of it.

Breakdown of Ils ont soif, je leur en verse un verre.

a / an (masculine)

ils

they (masculine/mixed)

le verre

the glass / the drink

Questions & Answers about Ils ont soif, je leur en verse un verre.

Why are the pronouns in the order leur en?

When you have multiple object pronouns before a verb, they follow a strict order. Indirect object pronouns like lui or leur (to him/her, to them) always come before the adverbial pronouns y and en.

Why do we need the word en here? Can't I just say je leur verse un verre?

In English, you can simply say "I am pouring them a glass." But in French, if you state a quantity (un verre) without naming the noun it measures (like water or juice), you must use en to stand in for "of it." Leaving it out makes the sentence sound incomplete to a French speaker.

Why is the sentence using ont instead of sont for "they are thirsty"?

In French, physical sensations like thirst, hunger, heat, and cold are expressed using the verb avoir (to have) followed by a noun. So instead of being thirsty, you "have thirst" (avoir soif).

Does the verb verser naturally take an indirect object like leur?

Yes. When you pour something for someone, French treats it as pouring something to someone. The underlying structure is verser quelque chose à quelqu'un. That à quelqu'un (to someone) is replaced by the indirect object pronoun leur.