Direct Object Pronouns

Ms. Valdez

Spanish 2 and 3

Direct Object Pronouns

• A direct object answers who or what after a verb.

• Comprendo la pregunta.

• I understand what? . .. the question

Direct Object Pronouns

• To avoid repeating a direct object, we often replace it with “it”.

• Do you understand the question?

• Yes, I understand it.

Direct Object Pronouns

•Spanish works the same way.

•The direct object pronouns are:

Direct Object Pronouns

• Direct object pronouns can refer to people or things.

• They agree in gender and number with the nouns they replace.

Direct Object Pronouns

• Me replaces a me noun.• Te replaces a tu noun• Nos replaces an us noun• Os replaces a you all (vosotros) noun• Lo replaces a masc. singular noun.• La replaces a fem. singular noun.

Direct Object Pronouns

•Los replaces a masculine plural noun

•Las replaces a feminine plural noun

For example

• If Tomas were to be referred to as him, lo would be the pronoun we would use.

• Tomas = masc sing.• Masc. singular d.o. pronoun =

lo

For example

• If shoes were to be referred to as them, we would choose los.

• Zapatos = Masculine plural

• Los = Masculine plural pronoun

Direct Object Pronouns

• A direct object pronoun is placed just before the conjugated verb.

• ¿Lees el periódico?

• Sí lo leo.

• When the pronoun replaces both a masculine and feminine direct object noun, los is used.

• ¿Compras el vestido y las dos faldas?

• Sí, los compro.

Direct and Indirect Object Pronouns Used Together

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

Ellos me los dan.They give them to me.

IO pronoun: meDO pronoun: los

Ella te la vende.She sells it to you.

IO pronoun: teDO pronoun: la

Direct and Indirect Object Pronouns Used Together

Whenever both pronouns begin with the letter "l" change the first pronoun to "se."le lo = se lole la = se lale los = se losle las = se lasles lo = se loles la = se lales los = se losles las = se las

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". To demonstrate this, first quickly say "les las" and then quickly say "se las." See how much easier it is to say "se las?"

In negative sentences, the negative word comes directly before the first pronoun.No se lo tengo.I don't have it for you.Nunca se los compro.I never buy them for her.