A2 · Pronouns · Part 1 of 3
El objeto directo
The direct object is what the verb happens to. Once it has been named, Spanish replaces it with a short word rather than repeating it, and that word goes in front of the verb — the opposite of English. Getting this one right is what stops a learner from sounding like a phrasebook.
How to find it
Ask what after the verb. Compré el pan: what did I buy? El pan. That is the direct object, so it becomes lo: lo compré.
- Compré el pan. → Lo compré.I bought the bread. → I bought it.
- Vi la película. → La vi.I saw the film. → I saw it.
- Llamé a mis primos. → Los llamé.I called my cousins. → I called them.
The four forms
They agree with the thing they replace, in gender and number, not with you.
| Replaces | Pronoun | Example |
|---|---|---|
| masculine singular | lo | ¿El libro? Lo tengo. |
| feminine singular | la | ¿La carta? La escribí. |
| masculine plural | los | ¿Los platos? Los lavé. |
| feminine plural | las | ¿Las llaves? Las perdí. |
People are direct objects too
When the direct object is a person, Spanish puts a in front of it. The pronoun still replaces the whole thing, a included.
- Vi a Marta. → La vi.I saw Marta. → I saw her.
- Conozco a tus padres. → Los conozco.I know your parents. → I know them.
Where the pronoun sits
Before the conjugated verb. With an infinitive or a gerund you may attach it to the end instead, and both are correct.
- Lo voy a comprar.I am going to buy it.
- Voy a comprarlo.I am going to buy it. · same thing
- Estoy leyéndolo.I am reading it.
- No lo compres.Do not buy it. · negative command: before
Lo for a whole idea
Lo also replaces a whole sentence or idea, not only a masculine noun. This use has no gender at all.
- —Llegó tarde. —Ya lo sé.He arrived late. — I know.
- No lo entiendo.I do not understand it.
Mistakes to avoid
Compré el pan y compré el pan otra vez.
Compré el pan y lo compré otra vez.
Once it is named, Spanish replaces it rather than repeating it.
Yo la conozco a María muy bien y la veo a ella cada día.
Conozco a María muy bien y la veo cada día.
The pronoun already carries the person; naming her twice is heavy.
Voy a lo comprar.
Voy a comprarlo. / Lo voy a comprar.
The pronoun never sits between the two verbs.
Try it
¿El libro? ___ tengo aquí.
¿Las llaves? No ___ encuentro.
Vi a Marta ayer. ___ vi en el mercado.
Quiero comprar___ mañana.
—Se fue sin decir nada. —Ya ___ sé.