FR: I made him give me the ball

[Eddie]

I submit this on behalf of a student who is learning French.

Faire causatif : Comment change-t-on cette phrase en utilisant le faire causatif ? "Il m'a donné la balle" Est-ce uniquement possible de mettre "Je la lui ai fait donné à moi" ? Ou dans ce cas-là est-ce possible de mettre un pronom entre le faire et le verbe donner ? Ex. "Je la lui ai fait me donner". Merci.

 

[Cath.S.]

Hi Eddie,
Je l'ai fait me donner la balle is the correct version, even though it sounds terribly awkward to me.
Je l'ai fait me la donner sounds even worse, but maybe this is a very subjective feeling. Wait for different opinions.

 

[Eddie]

Thanks, egueule!

That's the way I would have written it also, but I wanted to be sure before giving an answer to zambayoshi.

I also found it awkward, and didn't feel most French speakers would use that syntax.

What would be the more conversational way of handling the same idea?

 

[Cath.S.]

My friend suggests "j'ai fait en sorte qu'il me donne la balle / qu'il me la donne". It sounds muuuuch more natural.

 

[Eddie]

I had a feeling the subjunctive would be a better fit! Merci mille fois.

 

[Cath.S.]

I had a feeling the subjunctive would be a better fit! Merci mille fois.

De rien, Eddie (Doudou, ) c'est un plaisir.