Direct and Indirect Pronouns
by Jessica Broessel & Veronica Ezquerra

What is a Direct Object Noun?
The Direct Object Noun recieves the action of the verb in a sentence.  It answers to the question what? or whom? in relation to the verb.

Example:

Josh hit the ball.  (What does Josh hit)
Ball recieves the action of the verb hit.

Julia hit Allen. (whom does Julia hit)
Allen recieves the action of the verb hit.

What is a Direct Object Pronoun?
The Direct Object Pronoun replaces the Direct Object Noun in a sentence. These pronouns refer to people, animals or things already mentioned and are used to avoid repeating the noun.

Example:

Who hit the ball? ( Josh hit it.)
Who hit Allen? (Julia hit him. )

Direct Object Pronouns:

Placement:

1. If there is only one verb in the sentence...
   1. Place the Direct Object Pronoun before the conjugated verb form.
      Example:
      ¿Mira Raúl la televisión? (Does Raul watch television?)
      No, no lo mira. (No, he doesn’t watch it.)
2. If there are two verbs (one conjugated and one infinitive or present participle)
   1. Place the Direct Object Pronoun before the first conjugated verb form.
   2. Attach the Direct Object Pronoun to the end of the last verb.
      Examples: 
      ¿Vas a ver a Julianna? (Are you going to see Julianna?)
      Sí, la voy a ver. / Si, voy a verla. (Yes, I am going to see her.)
      ¿Están limpiando la casa?  (Are they cleaning the house?)
      Sí, la están limpiando. Or, Sí, están limpiándola. (Yes, they are cleaning it)

    

Note:  When a direct object is attached to a present participle, as shown in the 2nd example, a written accent is needed over the stressed vowel of the participle.  (-iéndo or -ándo).

The Personal a:
When a direct object noun refers to a specific person, group of persons or an animal (pet) the word a is placed before the direct object.  This is called the personal a and has no equivalent in English.

Direct Object Pronouns and Indirect Pronouns:
When direct object and indirect object pronouns are used in the same sentence the indirect object pronoun precedes the direct object pronoun .  Place these double object pronouns before the conjugated verb.

Placement: 

1. If there is only one verb in the sentence...
   1. Place the Double Object Pronouns before the conjugated verb form.
      Example:
      Ella me dio el libro. (She gave me the book.)
      Ella me lo dio. (She gave it to me.)
2. If there are two verbs (one conjugated and one infinitive or present participle)
   1. Place the Double Object Pronouns before the first conjugated verb form.
   2. Attach the Double Object Pronouns to the end of the last verb.

Note: The written accent mark when attaching double object pronouns.

Examples:

Él quiere darme el regalo.  (He wants to give me a gift.)
Él me lo quiere dar. Or, Él quiere dármelo.  (He wants to give it to me.)
Te está diciendo la verdad. (She is telling you the truth.)
Te la está diciendo.  Or, Está diciéndotela. (She is telling it to you.)

Note: Le and les (indirect object pronouns) can not be used with lo, los, la and las. Change le or les to se.

Examples:

Le dió el regalo a Sana.(He gave the gift to Sana.)
Se lo dió.  (He gave it to her.)
Les va a cantar la canción. (She’s going to sing them a song. )
Se la va a cantar.  Or, Va a cantársela  (She’s going to sing it to them.)

Direct Object Pronouns and Reflexive Pronouns:
When direct object and reflexive pronouns are used in the same sentence the reflexive pronoun precedes the direct object pronoun.

Example:

Siempre me lavo las manos. (I always wash my hands.)
Siempre me las lavo. (I always wash them.)

Activity: Fill in the blanks below with the correct

Direct Object Pronoun. (Hint:  Direct Object Nouns are in bold.)

Key:  1. la  2. lo 3. la / verla 4. lo 5. lo / visitarlo 6. lo / mirándolo 7. los