What are the direct object pronouns in Spanish?
Learn how to use the direct object pronouns in Spanish. The object that directly receives the action of the verb is called the direct object. The direct object can also be a person.
Direct object pronouns in Spanish 1
The direct object answers the question “what?” or “whom?” with regard to what the subject of the sentence is doing.
Often, it is desirable to replace the name of the direct object with a pronoun.
When the pronoun replaces the name of the direct object, use the following pronouns:
Subject – Obj. Prep. Pronouns
Yo (I) – me
Tú (You)(Informal) – te
Él /Ella(He/She) – lo, la
Usted (You)(Formal)-lo, la
Nosotros(as)(We) – nos
Vosotros(as)(You)(Informal) – os
Ustedes(You)(Formal) – los, las
Ellos(as)(They) – los, las
Note: In an affirmative statement with one verb, the direct object pronoun comes immediately before the conjugated verb.
Compro = I buy
Compro (la casa). = I buy the house.
(La) compro. = I buy it.
Veo = I see
Veo (el letrero)= I see the sign.
(Lo) veo. = I see it.
Note: When the direct object of the sentence changes to a masculine noun, the masculine pronoun must be used.
e.g.
Lisa tiene = Lisa has
Lisa tiene (el papel)= Lisa has the paper
Lisa (lo) tiene. = Lisa has it.
Lisa tiene = Lisa has
Lisa tiene (la carta). = Lisa has the letter.
Lisa (la) tiene. = Lisa has it.
Note: Likewise, if the direct object of the sentence changes from singular to plural, the plural pronoun must be used.
– Lisa lo tiene. changing from (singular) to (plural)
Lisa tiene = Lisa has
Lisa tiene (el papel)= Lisa has the paper
Lisa (lo) tiene. = Lisa has it.
Lisa tiene = Lisa has
Lisa tiene (los papeles)= Lisa has the papers
Lisa (los) tiene. = Lisa has them.
– Lisa la tiene. changing from(singular) to (plural)
Lisa tiene = Lisa has
Lisa tiene (la carta).= Lisa has the letter.
Lisa (la) tiene. = Lisa has it.
Lisa tiene = Lisa has
Lisa tiene (las cartas). = Lisa has the letters.
Lisa (las) tiene. = Lisa has them.
Tip: Look at how Spanish and English are different.
“Lo tengo” (masculine) and “La tengo” (feminine) BOTH
mean “I have it.”
“Lo quiero” (masculine) and “La
quiero” (feminine) BOTH mean “I want it”
Yo te creo – I believe you.
Ella lo quiere – She wants him.
Yo te amo – I love you
Mi madre la hizo – My mother made it.
Ellos nos preguntan – They asked us.
Tú lo llamas – You call him.
Direct object pronouns in Spanish 2
Note: In a negative sentence with one verb, the direct object pronoun is placed between the negative word and the conjugated verb.
Affirmative Sentence
Cocino la carne – I cook the meat.
La cocino. – (I cook it)
No cocino la carne. – I don’t cook the meat
No la cocino. – (I don’t cook it)
Compare the following affirmative statements with their negative counterparts:
Affirmative Sentence – Negative Sentence
Las quieres.(You want them) – No las quieres. (You don’t want them)
La escucha (He listens to her) – No la escucha (He doesn’t listen to her)
Ellos nos conocen.(They know us) – Ellos no nos conocen. (They don’t know us)
Direct object pronouns in Spanish 3
Note: When a sentence has two verbs, the first verb is conjugated and the second verb remains in the infinitive form.
e.g.
querer (to want)
comer (to eat)
Quiero comer carne asada. – I want to eat roast meat
deber (to must)
hacer (to do)
Debo hacer las tareas – I must do the tasks
Note: In sentences with two verbs, there are two options regarding the placement of the direct object pronoun.
1. Place it immediately before the conjugated verb.
2. Attach it directly to the infinitive.
e.g.
Place it immediately before the conjugated verb.
Lo quiero comer. – I want to eat it.
Lo debo hacer. – I must do it
Ella nos debe llamar. – She should call us.
Carlos lo necesita dividir. – Carlos needs to divide it.
e.g .
Attach it directly to the infinitive.
Quiero comerlo. – I want to eat it.
Debo hacerlo. – I must do it
Debe llamarnos.- She should call us.
Necesita dividirlo. – Carlos needs to divide it.
Look how this works
e.g.
Lo quiero comer. – I want to eat it.
Quiero comerlo. – I want to eat it.
Lo debo hacer. – I must do it
Debo hacerlo. – I must do it
Ella nos debe llamar. – She should call us.
Debe llamarnos. – She should call us.
Carlos lo necesita dividir. – Carlos needs to divide it.
Necesita dividirlo. – Carlos needs to divide it.
Note: These same rules apply for questions and negative statements.
¿Lo debo hacer? – Should I do it?
¿Debo hacerlo? – Should I do it?
Carlos no lo necesita dividir. – Carlos doesn’t need to divide it.
Carlos no necesita dividirlo. – Carlos doesn’t need to divide it.
Advanced Features
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