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French Phrase

Oui, je l'ai rendu hier.

/wi ʒə l‿e ʁɑ̃dy jɛʁ/
Meaning"Yes, I returned it yesterday."
💡

Meaning

This sentence confirms that the speaker returned something (the thing referred to by 'le') yesterday. It combines a simple affirmation with a passé composé construction.

🎯

When to use

Use it when someone asks whether you have given back an item—like a book, a key, or a borrowed tool—and you want to answer positively, specifying that the return happened yesterday.

✦Grammar Breakdown

Ouijel'airenduhier

1

Oui

Simple affirmation meaning 'yes'.

2

je

First‑person singular subject pronoun.

3

l'

Elided direct‑object pronoun (le) placed before the auxiliary verb.

4

ai

Auxiliary verb 'avoir' used to form the passé composé.

5

rendu

Past participle of the verb 'rendre' (to return). It agrees with the direct object when the object precedes the verb; here the object is masculine singular, so no extra -e.

6

hier

Adverb of time meaning 'yesterday', usually placed at the end of the clause.

🗨In Conversation

A

As-tu rendu le livre que je t'ai prêté ?

Did you return the book I lent you?

Oui, je l'ai rendu hier.

Yes, I returned it yesterday.

B

✕Common Mistakes

  • Oui, je l'ai rendue hier.

    Use 'rendu' for a masculine object; 'rendue' would be correct only if the pronoun refers to a feminine noun.

  • Oui, je l'ai rendre hier.

    The verb must be conjugated in the passé composé, not the infinitive.

  • Oui je l'ai rendu hier.

    Missing comma after 'Oui' is acceptable in speech but written French usually separates the affirmation with a comma.

↔Alternatives

  • Oui, je l'ai retourné hier.

    Yes, I returned it yesterday.

  • Oui, je l'ai remis hier.

    Yes, I handed it back yesterday.

  • Oui, je l'ai donné en retour hier.

    Yes, I gave it back yesterday.

fr

Cultural Tip

In French, the passé composé with 'avoir' requires the past participle to agree in gender and number with a preceding direct‑object pronoun. Because the pronoun 'l'' stands for a masculine singular object (le), the past participle stays 'rendu' (no extra -e). If the object were feminine, you would say 'je l'ai rendue'. Also, placing the adverb 'hier' at the end is the most natural position.