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.
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.
Example:
Who hit the ball? (
Josh hit it.)
Who hit Allen?
(Julia hit him.
Direct Object Pronouns:
me
me
te
you (familiar, singular)
lo
you (formal, singular) or him or it (masculine)
la
you (formal, singular) or her or it (feminine)
nos
us
los
you (formal and familiar, plural) or them masc.)
las
you (formal and familiar, plural) or them (masc.)
Placement:
1.)
If there is only one verb in the sentence...
a.
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)
a.
Place the Direct Object Pronoun before the first conjugated verb form.
b.
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.
¿Están limpiando la casa?
(Are
they cleaning the house?)
Sí, la están limpiando.
Note:
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.
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.
1.)
If there is only one verb in the sentence...
a.
Place the Double Object Pronouns
before the conjugated
verb form.
Ella me dio el libro. (She gave me the book.)
Ella me lo dio. (She gave it to me.)
a. Place the Double Object Pronouns
before the
b.
Attach the Double Object Pronouns
to the end of the
last verb.
Note:
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.
Siempre me lavo las manos.
Siempre me las lavo.
Activity:
Fill in the blanks below with the correct
Direct
Object Pronoun. (Hint: Direct
Object Nouns are in bold.)
1.¿Limpia José su casa?
2.¿Ellos
quieren el libro?
3.¿Vas
a ver la película?
5.¿Vas
a visitar a Julio?
6.¿Estás
mirando el televisor?
7.¿Lava
Pedro los platos?
Key:
1. la 2. lo 3. la / verla 4. lo 5. lo / visitarlo 6. lo /
mirándolo 7. los