Why does acheter use indirect object pronouns?

Question

I don't understand why you would say "Je leur ai acheté" rather than "Je les ai acheté." Isn't that a direct object, the thing being bought?

Gilles 'SO nous est hostile' · Accepted Answer · 2021-05-07 10:16:11Z

3

The two sentences have a different meanings.

Je les ai achetés.

Indicates that you buy something (les), so it could be translated like "I've bought them"

Je leur ai acheté.

Indicates that you buy something from somebody (leur), so it could be translated like "I've bought from them."

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answered May 11 '18 at 9:57

Calins

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Sans oublier Je les leur ai acheté – mouviciel May 11 '18 at 12:54
1

Je leur ai acheté peut vouloir aussi dire qu'on a acheté quelque chose pour quelqu'un (des enfants par exemple). – SdaliM May 11 '18 at 13:32
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On ne fait pas l’accord ? je les ai acheté**(e)s** ? – D. Ben Knoble May 11 '18 at 13:58
Could this be interpreted to mean "I bought it for them"? Or only from them? – temporary_user_name May 7 at 6:27
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@temporary_user_name Could be both. Acheter à quelqu'un can mean buy from someone or buy for someone – XouDo May 7 at 8:06

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Dimitris · Accepted Answer · 2021-05-07 09:32:05Z

2

J'ai acheté les chemises → je les ai achetées.
J'ai acheté les livres → je les ai achetés.
J'ai acheté quelque chose à quelqu'un → I bought something from somebody/ I bought something for somebody.
Je (les) leur ai acheté → I bought (them) from them/I bought (them) for them.

EDIT (merci @Xoudo) One must mention "Je les leur ai acheté" is quasi never used. "Je le lui ai acheté" is much more common.

answered May 7 at 7:57

Dimitris

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One must mention "Je les leur ai acheté" is quasi never used (never heard it). *"Je le lui ai acheté is much more common. – XouDo May 7 at 8:11
@XouDo Thanks. I added your comment to my answer! – Dimitris May 7 at 8:13

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