Question 1

Why is "lui" used here to mean "her" instead of a direct object pronoun like "la"?

Accepted Answer

In French causative constructions (using faire to have someone do something), the grammar role of the person doing the action changes depending on what else is in the sentence. Because the verb tamponner already has a direct object (les, meaning "them"), the person doing the stamping is forced to become an indirect object. Therefore, we must use the indirect pronoun lui instead of the direct pronoun la.

Question 2

Why are the pronouns "les" and "lui" placed before "fais" instead of before "tamponner"?

Accepted Answer

Normally, when you have a conjugated verb followed by an infinitive, object pronouns go right before the infinitive they belong to. However, the causative faire is an exception: it acts as a single, inseparable unit with the following infinitive. Because they are glued together, all object pronouns must be placed in front of faire.

Question 3

How do we know which order to put "les" and "lui" in?

Accepted Answer

This follows the standard French double pronoun order rules. When you place two third-person pronouns in front of a verb, the direct objects (le, la, les) always come immediately before the indirect objects (lui, leur).

Question 4

Could "lui" mean "him" in this sentence instead of "her"?

Accepted Answer

Yes! Out of context, the indirect object pronoun lui can mean either "to him" or "to her" (unlike the direct objects le and la, which show gender). This sentence could just as easily translate to "I am having him stamp them." You have to rely on the surrounding context to know exactly who is holding the stamp.

Je les lui fais tamponner.

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