Direct & Indirect Object Pronouns

Introduction

Object pronouns replace nouns that receive the action of a verb. Instead of repeating "I see the book," you say "I see it." Spanish has two sets: direct object pronouns and indirect object pronouns. Learning where to place them is just as important as knowing which one to use.

Direct Object Pronouns (DOPs)

The direct object answers what? or whom? after the verb.

Yo leo el libro. → Yo lo leo. (I read it.)

Examples

• ¿Ves a María? → ¿La ves? (Do you see her?)
• Compro los zapatos. → Los compro. (I buy them.)
• Ella me llama. (She calls me.)

Indirect Object Pronouns (IOPs)

The indirect object answers to whom? or for whom?

Doy el libro a Juan. → Le doy el libro. (I give him the book.)

Examples

• Te escribo una carta. (I write you a letter.)
• Le digo la verdad. (I tell him/her the truth.)
• Nos dan las llaves. (They give us the keys.)

Redundancy is normal: Spanish often uses both the pronoun and the full phrase: Le doy el libro a Juan. This is grammatically correct and very common.

Placement Rules

Before a conjugated verb

• Lo veo. (I see it.)
• Te llamo mañana. (I'll call you tomorrow.)

Attached to an infinitive

• Quiero verlo. (I want to see it.)
• Voy a decirte algo. (I'm going to tell you something.)

Attached to a gerund (-ando / -iendo)

• Estoy leyéndolo. (I'm reading it.)

Attached to affirmative commands

• ¡Dime! (Tell me!)
• ¡Cómpralo! (Buy it!)

Before negative commands

• ¡No me digas! (Don't tell me!)

Double Object Pronouns

When both a DOP and an IOP appear together, the indirect goes first:

• Me lo da. (He gives it to me.) — IOP + DOP + verb

Le/Les → Se

When le or les comes before lo/la/los/las, it changes to se:

• Le lo doy. → Se lo doy. (I give it to him/her.)
• Les las mando. → Se las mando. (I send them to them.)

Practice