9.8.5

Direct Object

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What is the Direct Object?

The direct object is the object or thing that is having something done to it. For example 'I wash the dog'. In this sentence, the dog is the direct object. In Spanish, dog would be replaced by a pronoun. The sentence would become 'I wash it'.

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Me - me

  • Ella me ama.
    • She loves me.
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Te - you

  • Te veo.
    • I can see you.
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Lo, la, (le) - him, her, it

  • Lo is used for masculine things and people.
    • Yo como el pollo → Yo lo como.
      • I eat chicken → I eat it.
  • La is used for feminine things and people.
    • Henrique tiene la cuchara → Henrique la tiene.
      • Henry has the spoon → Henry has it.
  • Le is used when talking about people who are masculine in some parts of Spain.
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Nos - us

  • Nos invitaron a almorzar.
    • They invited us to have lunch.
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Os - you

  • Os echo de menos.
    • I miss you.
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Los, las, (les) - them, you

  • 'Los' is used for male things and people.
    • Necesito los zapatos → los necesito.
      • I need the trainers → I need them.
  • 'Las' is used for feminine people and things.
    • Vemos a las chicas → las vemos.
      • We can see the girls → We can see them.
  • Les is often used in Spain for people who are masculine.
    • Veo a los chicos → les veo.
      • I see the boys &rightarow; I see them

Position of the Direct Object Pronoun

Normally the pronoun comes before the verb, but there are two exceptions when they become attached to the end of the verb.

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Before the verb.

  • Lo hago.
    • I do it.
  • Te llamo .
    • I call you.
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After the Verb

  • These pronouns come after the verb on two occasions: giving commands and with infinitives.
  • When they come after the verb, they become attached to the verb.
    • Digame.
      • Tell me.
    • Tengo que hacerlo.
      • I have to do it.

Jump to other topics

1The Basics

2Current & Future Study & Employment

3Identity & Culture

3.1Me, My Family & Friends

3.2Me, My Family & Friends - Translations

3.3Technology in Everyday Life

3.4Technology in Everyday Life - Translations

3.5Free Time Activities

3.6Free Time Activities - Translations

3.7Customs & Festivals in Spanish Speaking Countries

3.8Customs & Festivals - Translations

4Areas of Interest

4.1Home, Town, Neighbourhood & Region

4.2Home, Town, Neighbourhood & Region - Translations

4.3Social Issues

4.4Social Issues - Translations

4.5Global Issues

4.6Global Issues - Translations

4.7Travel & Tourism

4.8Travel & Tourism - Translations

5Listening Practice

6Common Tenses

7Important Verbs

8Advanced Tenses

9Extra Grammar

9.1Articles

9.2Negatives

9.3Nouns

9.4Asking Questions

9.5Adjectives

9.6Adverbs

9.7Conjunctions

9.8Pronouns

9.9By, With, From, Of

9.10Verbs

9.11Comparisons

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