What they are and how to use themSpanish Direct Object Nouns and Pronouns

1Los pronombres de objeto directoDirect objects can be nouns, e.g., people, places, things, ideas, etc. or pronouns that receive the action of the verb. This is true in English and in Spanish.

2Los pronombres de objeto directoEnglish Direct Object Pronounsmeusyouhim, her, itthemPronombres de objeto directo en espaolmenosteoslo, lalos, las3Los pronombres de objeto directoI read the book. I read it. (Yo) Leo el libro.(Yo) Lo leo.Who or what do I read? The book! El libro!The book/it receives the action of the verb.

In Spanish, the direct object pronoun usually goes before the conjugated verb.Los pronombres de objeto directoYou buy the food. You buy it. (T) Compras la comida.(T) La compras.Who or what do you buy? The food! La comida!The food/it receives the action of the verb.

So, in Spanish, where does the direct object pronoun usually go? It goes before the conjugated verb.

Los pronombres de objeto directoShe does it (an activity--no gender) often. Ella) Lo hace a menudo. Who or what do she do? An activity (no gender)The activity/it receives the action of the verb.

So, in Spanish, where does the direct object pronoun usually go? Los pronombres de objeto directoDo you love me? Of course, I love you!

(T) Me quieres?Claro que (yo) te quiero!

Los pronombres de objeto directoWe love you, Mr. Smith! We love you, too, Mrs. Smith

Lo queremos, Sr. Smith!La queremos tambin, Sra. SmithThe direct object to replace the Ud. form of you is lo or la depending on the gender of the person that Ud. refers to.

8Los pronombres de objeto directoI love my children. I love them. Amo a mis hijos.Los amo.

My children are specific people and the direct object of the verb love, so I need a before the direct object noun mis hijos. But, there is NO personal a before direct object pronouns.

Los pronombres de objeto directoLikewise, there is NO personal a after the verbs ser, tener or hay.

Son mis amigos Porfirio y Paloma.Tienen tres hijos.Hay cinco nietos en su familia: Paco, Pedro, Pancha, Pepe y Pilar.

Los pronombres de objeto directoPersonified itemsCountriesExtrao a mi Mxico querido.PetsAmamos a nuestro perrito Spike.

Depersonified PeopleWhen referring to indefinite, non-specific, or anonymous people, we do not use a personal a.Busco un carpintero.Necesitamos unos maestros para las clases.

Los pronombres de objeto directoEnglish Direct Object Pronounsmeusyouhim, her, itthemPronombres de objeto directo en espaolmenosteoslo, lalos, lascon el presente continuo12Los pronombres de objeto directoIn Spanish, there are two possible places to put the direct object pronoun in a present progressive sentence.Example 1: (T) Me ests llamando. Example 2: (T) Ests llamndome.

con el presente continuo

13Los pronombres de objeto directoExample 1: (T) Me ests llamando. In Example 1, the direct object pronoun me is before the conjugated verb, ests.

Example 2: (T) Ests llamndome.In Example 2, the direct object pronoun me is connected to the present participle llamando.

con el presente continuo

Los pronombres de objeto directoNote: If the direct object pronoun is attached to the present participle, an accent mark must be placed over the a in the -ando ending, or the e in -iendo. (llamndome, llamndote, etc. (barrindolo, abriendolas, etc.)

con el presente continuo

Los pronombres de objeto directoNote: By attaching the pronoun, you are adding another syllable to the end of the word. By adding an accent mark to the -ando or -iendo ending, the stress will still be on the same syllable as usual. Remember to put the accent mark over the strong vowel in the dipthong (a or e).

con el presente continuoLos pronombres de objeto directoEnglish Direct Object Pronounsmeusyouhim, her, itthemPronombres de objeto directo en espaolmenosteoslo, lalos, lascon el presente continuo17Los pronombres de objeto directoIn Spanish, there are two possible places to put the direct object pronoun in a sentence with an infinitive.

con los infinitivos

18Los pronombres de objeto directoExample 1: (T) Me vas a llamar.In Example 1, the direct object pronoun me is before the conjugated verb, vas. Example 2: (T) Vas a llamarme.In Example 2, the direct object pronoun me is connected to the infinitive llamar.

con los infinitivos

Los pronombres de objeto directoExample 3: (Yo) Lo puedo hacer.In Example 3, the direct object pronoun me is before the conjugated verb, puedo. Example 4: (Yo) Puedo hacerlo.In Example 4, the direct object pronoun me is connected to the infinitive hacer.

con los infinitivos

Los pronombres de objeto directoExample 5: (l) Lo quiere comprar.In Example 3, the direct object pronoun me is before the conjugated verb, quiere. Example 6: (l) Quiere comprarlo.In Example 4, the direct object pronoun me is connected to the infinitive comprar.

con los infinitivos

Los pronombres de objeto directoNote: It is NOT necessary to add an accent mark to the infinitive. ALL direct object pronouns end in either a vowel or the letter s. According to the rules of Spanish pronunciation, when a word ends in a vowel, an n, or an s, the second to the last syllable gets stressed. This would put the stress then, on the infinitive ending (ar, er, ir) which is the way infinitives are to be pronounced.

con los infinitivos

EL FINPresented by Rita Simons Santiago23