Direct Object Pronouns: Referring to Previously Mentioned People and Objects

A) Direct object pronouns are used to avoid having to repeat the direct object over and over in a conversation or in writing. Each third person form must agree in number and gender with the noun that it replaces, and all direct object pronouns precede the conjugated verb.

me - me te - you lo - you, him, it la - you, her, it nos - us os - you los - them las - them

Additional Vocabulary*

uso - I use sentarme - sit (myself) down amables - friendly casi - almost

A direct object receives the action of the verb in a sentence and generally answers the question what? or whom?

¿Miran Uds. la televisión en el salón? Do you all watch television in the living room? Here, the subject Uds. is performing the action in the sentence, while the direct object la televisión receives the action of the verb miran.

Remember to use the personal "a" before a direct object noun if it refers to a person or personified entity, such as the family pet.

¿Ves a Duque, mi perro? Do you see Duque, my dog?

D) If the verb is in the present progressive form, the pronoun may be placed immediately before the conjugated form of estar, or attached to the end of the gerund. When pronouns are attached to a gerund, a written accent marks the original stressed syllable.

—¿Estás limpiando la cocina? Are you cleaning the kitchen? —Sí, la estoy limpiando. OR —Sí, estoy limpiándola. Yes, I'm cleaning it.

C) In the case of a conjugated verb followed by an infinitive, the direct object pronoun may be placed just before the conjugated verb or attached to the infinitive.

—¿Puedes llamarme a la casa? Can you call me at home? —Sí, te puedo llamar. OR —Sí, puedo llamarte. Yes, I can call you.

B) In a negative sentence, the word no is placed just before the direct object pronoun

—¿Usas mucho la piscina de tu casa? Do you use the pool at your house much? —No, no la uso mucho. No, I don't use it much.