Question 1

Why is it à lui at the end of the sentence instead of putting lui before the verb?

Accepted Answer

Usually, "to him" uses the indirect object pronoun lui placed before the verb (like je lui parle). However, with certain verbs, including most pronominal verbs followed by à like s'opposer à, you cannot put lui or leur before the verb. Instead, you must keep the preposition à after the verb and use a stressed pronoun like lui, elle, or eux.

Question 2

What if I wanted to say "I oppose it" referring to an idea or a rule, rather than a person?

Accepted Answer

The à + stressed pronoun structure is strictly for people. If you are opposing a non-human thing like an idea or a law, you replace the à phrase with the pronoun y placed before the verb. You would say je m'y oppose.

Question 3

Does this same rule apply to s'adresser à in the first half of the sentence?

Accepted Answer

Yes. S'adresser à (to address someone) is also a pronominal verb that doesn't allow indirect object pronouns like lui or leur before it. If we replaced l'interlocuteur with a pronoun, it would have to be Le conseiller s'adresse à lui.

Question 4

Is interlocuteur as formal in French as "interlocutor" is in English?

Accepted Answer

No, it is much more common in everyday French. While "interlocutor" sounds highly academic or formal in English, un interlocuteur simply means the person you are having a conversation with, or your designated contact person in a business or administrative setting.

Le conseiller s'adresse à l'interlocuteur et je m'oppose à lui.

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