Direct Object Pronouns
The object that directly receives the action of
the verb is called the direct object.
Tracey throws the ball.
"Ball" receives the action of the verb "throws."
The direct object can also be a person.
Stephen sees Maureen. (DO=Joyce)
When the pronoun replaces the name of the
direct object, use the following pronouns:
me (me)
te (you-familiar)
lo, la (him, her, it, you-formal)
nos (us)
os (you-all-familiar)
los, las (them, you-all-formal)
The direct object pronoun comes immediately
before the conjugated verb.
Tengo la pluma. = I have the pen.
La tengo. = I have it.
Juan tiene el libro. = John has the book.
Juan lo tiene. = John has it.
María tiene los libros. = Mary has the
books.
María los tiene. = Mary has them.
Now, some examples where the direct
object is a person.
I know you. Te conozco.
She loves him. Ella lo ama.
She loves me. Ella me ama.
Juan sees her. Juan la ve.
They call us. Ellos nos llaman.
We call them. Los llamamos.
Choose the correct pronoun.
They want the book.
quieren.
I know them. (Juan and Maria)
conozco.
Juan knows me.
conoce.
You love me.
amas.
You (ustedes) drink milk.
beben.
B. Give the correct form of the verb.
You (ustedes) understand the lesson.
(comprender)
La
.
She watches television. (mirar)
La
.
You (familiar, sing) understand the lesson.
(comprender)
La
.
I love her. (amar)
La
.
She believes it. (creer)
Lo
.
C. Answer the following questions. The answer
will substitute a pronoun for the direct object
noun.
¿Dónde compra Pablo los libros?
compra en la librería.
¿Conoces la capital de España?
Sí,
conozco.
¿Miras las telenovelas?
Sí,
miro.
¿Dónde estudia Bill el español?
estudia en Guatemala.
¿Comprenden ustedes esta lección?
Sí,
comprendemos.
In a negative sentence with one verb, the d.o.p is
placed between the negative word and the verb.
I buy the books. Compro los libros.
Los compro. (I buy them.)
I don't buy the books. No compro los libros.
No los compro. (I don't buy them.)
Compare the following affirmative statements
with their negative counterparts.
Los compras. No los compras.
Guadalupe siempre lo estudia.
Guadalupe nunca lo estudia.
Ellos nos conocen.
Ellos no nos conocen.
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A. Choose the correct pronoun.
I love him.
amo.
I don't love him.
No
amo.
I know them. (Juan and Maria)
conozco.
I don't know them. (Juan and Maria)
No
conozco.
Juan knows me.
conoce.
Juan doesn't know me.
No
conoce.
He buys the magazines.
compra.
B. Change the following sentences from
affirmative to negative.
La comprendemos.
No
.
María lo vende.
María
Ellos la ven.
Ellos
Las conocemos.
.
ven.
conocemos.
C. Answer the following questions in the
negative. The answer will substitute a pronoun
for the direct object noun.
¿Compra Marta la falda?
No, no
compra.
¿Comes tú la manzana?
No,
la como.
¿Venden las chicas los dulces?
No, no los
.
¿Quieren ustedes el ordenador?
No, no
queremos
When a sentence has two verbs, the first verb is
conjugated and the second verb remains in the
infinitive form.
Puedo pagar diez euros. I am able to pay 10
euros.
Elena prefiere hablar español. Elena prefers to
speak Spanish.
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
Lo quiero ver. I want to see it.
Lo debemos comprar. We should buy it.
Quiero verlo. I want to see it.
Debemos comprarlo. We should buy it.
These same rules apply for questions and
negative statements.
¿Lo debemos comprar? ¿Debemos comprarlo?
Juan no lo necesita lavar. Juan no necesita
lavarlo.
Fill in the blank in order to form sentences
that are true and correct.
Model:
Marta prefiere hablar el inglés.
Marta prefiere hablarlo.
Marta lo prefiere hablar.
Juan prefiere hablar el español.
Juan
hablarlo.
Juan lo
hablar.
Usted debe comprar la pluma.
Usted
debe comprar.
Usted
comprarla.
Preferimos comer los mariscos.
Los
comer.
Preferimos
Quiero ver el menú.
.
quiero ver.
Quiero
.
Quieres comprar la casa.
quieres comprar.
Quieres
.
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