Direct & Indirect Object Pronouns for Spanish

Direct & Indirect Object Pronouns in Spanish

Spanish in Atlanta will briefly cover Spanish direct object pronouns and indirect object pronouns in Spanish.

• What are direct/indirect object pronouns?
• How to use them?
• Basic easy rules to follow
• FREE direct object pronouns practice below

Spanish Direct Object Pronouns:

99% of all foreign languages have direct object pronouns. You use them everyday in English and don’t even realize it! DOPs were created to:

• Shorten a sentence
• Prevent being redundant
• Make a Spanish sentence more efficient!

Direct Object Pronouns:

ME  = ( yo)

TE = (tú)

LO= (él or Usted)

LA = (ella or Usted)

NOS= (nosotros)

LOS= ( ellos or ustedes)

LAS= ( ellas or ustedes)

How are  Spanish Direct Object Pronouns Used?

DOPs are used to REPLACE the “object” of the Spanish sentence. The object will always be towards the end of the Spanish sentence and NOT the beginning. Study the direct Object pronoun examples below. Some of the DOPs are gender number sensitive!

1. ORIGINAL SENTENCE:     Diego ayuda a los estudiantes
2. DOP SENTENCE version:  Diego LOS ayuda.

Diego is the subject of the sentence above and los estudiantes is what can be converted into a DOP! Los Estudiantes is plural & masculine which is why you are using LOS as the DOP and not LAS.

1.ORIGINAL SENTENCE:  Daniel  llama a su amiga Lisa.

2. DOP SENTENCE  version: Daniel LA llama.

 

Daniel is the subject of our sentence and ” su amiga Lisa” is what can be converted into a DOP.  “Su amiga Lisa” is singular and feminine so LA is the correct direct object pronoun.

1. ORIGINAL SENTENCE:   Athena tiene el dinero.
2. DOP SENTENCE version: Athena LO tiene.

 

Athena is the “doer” the subject; some students accidentally turn the subject into a DOP- never! You never do that only the “object”. El dinero is masculine and singular so LO is the appropriate DOP! Practice your DOPs with Spanish in Atlanta’s free beginner Spanish quiz with answer key!

Free DOP Spanish worksheet

 

Direct Object Pronoun Placement Rules:

There are 2 DOP placement options!  1st rule: you always put the DOP before the conjugated verb. Observe the examples below.

1. Ella lo tiene.
2. Ellos la visitan el lunes.
3. Nosotros los ayudamos.
4. Usted la compra.
5. Yo las tengo.

The DOP always goes BEFORE the conjugated verb, when there is only one verb in the sentence. Examples 1-5 all have one verb so the DOP has to go in between the subject and the verb that is conjugated.

DOP Placement Rule #2:

If your sentence has 2 verbs then you can put the DOP at the end of the 2nd unconjugated verb or put the DOP before the conjugated verb. You have a choice because you have 2 verbs. If you don’t have 2 verbs you must default to Rule #1 Study the examples below!

1. Ellas quieren visitarlos
2. Nosotros necesitamos ayudarla
3. A usted le gusta escucharlo
4. Yo quiero traerlas
5. La maestra necesita prepararnos

All of the sentences above have 2 verbs that is why I can put the DOP at the end of the infinitive verb ( the verb that is not conjugated). Want beginner Spanish quizzes? Comment below!

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Beginner Spanish Quiz DOPs:

Enjoy Spanish in Atlanta’s free beginner Spanish quiz. This free Spanish worksheet includes the answer key so you can check your own work!

Free beginner Spanish Quiz DOPs