"Elle adorait ça !" vs "Elle l'adorait !"

JoanA1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

"Elle adorait ça !" vs "Elle l'adorait !"

"Quand ma fille était petite, nous allions à la piscine toutes les semaines. Elle adorait ça !" 

I write "Elle l'adorait !" , why is it wrong? To replace a statement, we must use "ça" ?

Asked 4 years ago
CécileKwiziq team memberCorrect answer

Hi Joan, 

It is indeed a question of what she adored, ça replaces 'aller à la piscine toutes les semaines'.

For instance,

Elle adorait manger au restaurant ----> Elle adorait ça 

Elle adorait faire de la danse ----> Elle adorait ça

You would use 'l'adorait' for a person or a pet :

Elle adorait sa tante Ursuline ----> Elle l'adorait 

Elle adorait son chat Filou -----> Elle l'adorait 

Hope this helps!

ShreyA1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Bonjour Madame Cécile !

Your answer clearly differentiates that if one wants to replace a person, pet or a thing then the direct object pronouns are used. 

Whereas, when replacing an activity or an action like going, dancing then ça is preferred.

However, the lesson under the following link explains that the direct object object pronouns can be used to refer to previously mentioned ideas.

Using neuter pronouns le or l' to refer to previously mentioned ideas (French Direct Object Pronouns)

So, that is where lies my confusion how to decide between le/ ça .

Also, a small request as your student and a part of Kwiziq community. Of late, I answered a few questions and posted a follow-up to one of my previous questions as there was a confusion in understanding the right concept.

I understand that there is time constraint but whenever you feel like, please take a look at them. 

Merci du fond de mon cœur! Bonne année !

CécileKwiziq team member

Hi Shrey 

This is a good point! It is indeed to do with specific verbs of taste like 'aimer', 'adorer', 'détester' which can apply to a person or a thing and they differ from the rule and lesson you quote. I have no idea why it is just the way it is.

As in all rules there are exceptions.

e.g.

 You will say -

Je déteste le broccoli, je déteste vraiment çaI hate broccoli, I really hate it

But 

Je déteste cet acteur, je le déteste vraiment = I hate this actor, I really hate him

Or 

J'aime aller me promener dans le parc le dimanche, j'aime vraiment ça I love going for a walk in the park on Sundays, I really like it

J'aime le judo, j'aime vraiment ça = I love Judo,  I really like it

but

J'aime cette fille, je l'aime à la folie I love this girl, I love her to bits

Hope this helps!

 

JoanA1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor
"En général, je préfère la montagne à la plage. Je trouve ça plus stimulant,..." 

I found these sentences in A2 writing test "I prefer going skiing". 

My question is: the verb "trouver" is not a verb of taste like adorer,aimer,.., why we can't say "Je le trouve stimulant"? 

ShreyA1 Kwiziq Q&A super contributor

Bonjour Joan !

I think here, the verb “trouver” is used in the sense of “ to prefer/to choose/ to opt out” giving a connotation of the speaker’s ‘taste’  that he likes the mountains than the beach.

Hence, as Madame Cécile points ‘ça’ is applicable here.

However, her opinion would be highly appreciated.

CécileKwiziq team member

Hi Joan and Shrey,

You cannot say:

Je le trouve plus stimulant speaking about an activity, it is has to be ça.

I don't make the rules it's just how things are, sometimes difficult to explain...

JoanA1Kwiziq Q&A regular contributor

Thanks Madame Cécile and Shrey. So, when using with verb of taste and talking about activity, we must use ça. Anymore exception can be advised?

"Elle adorait ça !" vs "Elle l'adorait !"

"Quand ma fille était petite, nous allions à la piscine toutes les semaines. Elle adorait ça !" 

I write "Elle l'adorait !" , why is it wrong? To replace a statement, we must use "ça" ?

Sign in to submit your answer

Don't have an account yet? Join today

Ask a question

Find your French level for FREE

Test your French to the CEFR standard

Find your French level
Thinking...