Direct and Indirect Object in Spanish

How to Use the Spanish Direct and Indirect Object Pronouns Together?

Direct and indirect object pronouns "together" in spanish

Learn how to use direct and indirect object in Spanish. Here are the direct object pronouns and the indirect object pronouns

Direct Object Pronouns/ Indirect Object Pronouns/ English Equivalent me/ me/ me te/ te/ you (familiar) lo, la/ le/ him, her, it, you (formal) nos/ nos/ us os/ os/ you-all (informal) los, las/ les/ them, you-all (formal)

Note: When you have both a direct object pronoun and an indirect object pronoun in the same sentence, the indirect object pronoun comes first.

e.g.

Ellas me los dan. – They give them to me. IO pronoun: me DO pronoun: los Yo te la vendo. – I sell it to you. IO pronoun: te DO pronoun: la

Note: Whenever both pronouns begin with the letter “l” change the first pronoun to “se”

le lo = se lo

le la = se la

le los = se los

le las = se las

les lo = se lo

les la = se la

les los = se los

les las = se las

Tip: The reason for changing “le lo” to “se lo” is merely to avoid the tongue-twisting effect of two short consecutive words that begin with the letter “l”.

Note: In negative sentences, the negative word comes directly before the first pronoun.

e.g.

No te la puedo arreglar – I can’t fix it for you.

Nunca se los compro. – I never buy them for her.

Note: Because the pronoun “se” can have so many meanings, it is often helpful to clarify it by using a prepositional phrase.

e.g.

Ella se lo preguntó. – She asked him (to Joseph).

Nosotros se lo hicimos. – We did it to him. (to Joseph)

Ellos se lo comieron. – They ate (it)

Yo te la cambié. – I changed it (for you)

Note: In sentences with two verbs, there are two options regarding the placement of the pronouns. Place them immediately before the conjugated verb or attach them directly to the infinitive.

e.g.

Place it immediately before the conjugated verb

Ella se lo necesita dar – She needs to give him (the key)

Ella nos lo debe prestar – She must lend us (the money).

e.g.

Attach it directly to the infinitive

Ella necesita dárselo – She needs to give him the key.

Ella debe prestárnoslo – She must lend us (the money)

Look how it works:

e.g.

Ella se lo necesita dar – She needs to give him (the key)

Ella necesita dárselo – She needs to give him (the key)

Ella nos lo debe prestar – She must lend us (the money)

Ella debe prestárnoslo – She must lend us (the money)

Note: When attaching the pronouns to the infinitive, a written accent is also added to the final syllable of the infinitive. This preserves the sound of the infinitive.

e.g.

Ella necesita dárselo

Ella debe prestárnoslo

Note: When the pronouns are attached to the infinitive, make the sentence negative by placing the negative word directly before the conjugated verb.

e.g.

Ella no necesita dárselo – She doesn’t need to give him (the key) Ella no debe prestárnoslo – She shouldn’t lend us (the money)

Note: When the pronouns come before the conjugated verb, make the sentence negative by placing the negative word directly before the pronouns.

e.g.

Ella no se lo necesita dar – She doesn’t need to give him (the key) Ella no nos lo debe prestar – She shouldn’t lend us (the money)

Advanced Features

Popular Spanish categories to find more words and phrases:

A new category where you can find the top search words and phrases translated into English and Spanish. Be an expert in no time!

English to Spanish

A new category where you can find the top search words and phrases translated into English and Spanish. Be an expert in no time!

This category has hundreds of words translated into Spanish and English. Just like a dictionary!

Translate

This category has hundreds of words translated into Spanish and English. Just like a dictionary!

In this Spanish category, you will find the translation of words and phrases in Spanish, with many sentences that will help you determine how each phrase or word is applied.

Spanish translation

In this Spanish category, you will find the translation of words and phrases in Spanish, with many sentences that will help you determine how each phrase or word is applied.

Here are several infographics if you are looking to learn or teach the basic Spanish vocabulary for foreigners. Learn basic Spanish. Videos and resources to learn basic Spanish, Spanish for beginners.

Basic Spanish language

The different verb tenses of Spanish are essential to understanding the language. Find out how to refer to the past, present, and future.

Spanish Verb Tenses

The different verb tenses of Spanish are essential to understanding the language. Find out how to refer to the past, present, and future.

Spanish to Go offers introductory courses you can take to learn Spanish online at your own pace. Whether you are learning Spanish to study or because you want to travel to a Spanish-speaking country. Find online courses to learn grammar, and basic Spanish.

Courses

Study Spanish grammar, learn the rules, and know-how and when to apply them.

Grammar

Study Spanish grammar, learn the rules, and know-how and when to apply them.

Direct and Indirect Object in Spanish

How to Use the Spanish Direct and Indirect Object Pronouns Together?

Note: When you have both a direct object pronoun and an indirect object pronoun in the same sentence, the indirect object pronoun comes first.

e.g.

Note: Whenever both pronouns begin with the letter “l” change the first pronoun to “se”

le lo = se lo

le la = se la

le los = se los

le las = se las

les lo = se lo

les la = se la

les los = se los

les las = se las

Tip: The reason for changing “le lo” to “se lo” is merely to avoid the tongue-twisting effect of two short consecutive words that begin with the letter “l”.

Note: In negative sentences, the negative word comes directly before the first pronoun.

e.g.

No te la puedo arreglar – I can’t fix it for you.

Nunca se los compro. – I never buy them for her.

Note: Because the pronoun “se” can have so many meanings, it is often helpful to clarify it by using a prepositional phrase.

e.g.

Ella se lo preguntó. – She asked him (to Joseph).

Nosotros se lo hicimos. – We did it to him. (to Joseph)

Ellos se lo comieron. – They ate (it)

Yo te la cambié. – I changed it (for you)

Note: In sentences with two verbs, there are two options regarding the placement of the pronouns. Place them immediately before the conjugated verb or attach them directly to the infinitive.

e.g.

Place it immediately before the conjugated verb

Ella se lo necesita dar – She needs to give him (the key)

Ella nos lo debe prestar – She must lend us (the money).

e.g.

Attach it directly to the infinitive

Ella necesita dárselo – She needs to give him the key.

Ella debe prestárnoslo – She must lend us (the money)

Look how it works:

e.g.

Ella se lo necesita dar – She needs to give him (the key)

Ella necesita dárselo – She needs to give him (the key)

Ella nos lo debe prestar – She must lend us (the money)

Ella debe prestárnoslo – She must lend us (the money)

Note: When attaching the pronouns to the infinitive, a written accent is also added to the final syllable of the infinitive. This preserves the sound of the infinitive.

e.g.

Ella necesita dárselo

Ella debe prestárnoslo

Note: When the pronouns are attached to the infinitive, make the sentence negative by placing the negative word directly before the conjugated verb.

e.g.

Ella no necesita dárselo – She doesn’t need to give him (the key) Ella no debe prestárnoslo – She shouldn’t lend us (the money)

Note: When the pronouns come before the conjugated verb, make the sentence negative by placing the negative word directly before the pronouns.

e.g.

Ella no se lo necesita dar – She doesn’t need to give him (the key) Ella no nos lo debe prestar – She shouldn’t lend us (the money)

Popular Spanish categories to find more words and phrases:

Comments

Leave a Reply