Spanish Direct Object Pronouns
Spanish Direct object pronouns are those used to replace the direct object noun in a sentence. The direct object is used to refer to a person, animal or thing, which receives the action of the verb. For instance “Juan compró el libro. Therefore “el libro” is the direct object. In Spanish the direct object pronouns are usually placed in front of the verb, as you can see in our example. Juan lo compró. Please watch the video and take the quiz below.
Spanish Direct object Pronouns at work
Stage 1
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The Spanish direct object pronouns are, me (me), te (you), lo/la (it,him,her/ Pay attention to the gender) , nos (us), os (you) and los/las (them / then again, keep in mind the gender). They must agree in number as well as gender with the nouns they replace. Take a look at the following example. Juan compró la pelota. (Juan la compró). Juan compró los libros. (Juan los compró). In this video you will see them at work.
Direct Object Pronouns at work with things
Direct object expressed
No reconozco ese cuadro.
(I do not recognize that picture. )
Pepe apagó la televisión.
(Pepe turned the television off)
Vosotros cuidaréis los perros.
(You take care of the dogs )
Tu llevas las llaves.
(You carry the keys. )
Direct object pronoun
No lo reconozco .
(I do not recognize it. )
Pepe la apagó.
(Pepe turned it off)
Vosotros los cuidaréis.
(You take care of them. )
Tu las llevas.
(You carry them. )
Using Spanish Direct Object Pronouns with persons
In the following examples, we will use the verb "conocer". As you can see, the action of the verb affects to the person. (To know someone):
¿Tú me conoces? Do you know me?
Si te conozco. Eres amigo de Luis. Yes I know you. You are friend of Luis.
¿Tú nos conoces? Do you know us?
Si os conozco. Sois amigos de Luis. Yes I know you. You are friends of Luis.
¿Tú los/las conoces? Do you know them?
Si los/las conozco. Son amigos de Luis. Yes I know them. They are friends of Luis.
Placing the Spanish Direct Object Pronouns
These pronouns are usually placed in front of the verb in Spanish.
BUT. When there is a conjugated verb plus an infinitive in a sentence, there are two places where direct object pronouns can be located:
Take a look at this example : Juan y María quieren comprar las entradas. (Juan y María want to buy the tickets.)
Before the conjugated verb. (Juan y María las quieren comprar.)
After the conjugated verb, attached to the ending of the infinitive. (Juan y María quieren comprarlas.)
The same rule applies to the gerund (-ing).
Example : Juan y María están comprando las entradas. (Juan y María are buying the tickets.)
Before the conjugated verb. (Juan y María las están comprando.)
After the conjugated verb, attached to the ending of the gerund. (Juan y María están comprándolas.)
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Stage 2
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Spanish direct object pronouns
