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Object pronouns

B1

Object pronouns replace the direct or indirect object and usually go before the conjugated verb.

Overview

Object pronouns replace the direct or indirect object and usually go before the conjugated verb.

At a glance
  1. 1.Direct object pronouns
  2. 2.Indirect object pronouns
  3. 3.Order: indirect before direct
  4. 4.le/les becomes se
  5. 5.Placement of pronouns

Rules

5

1Direct object pronouns

me, te, lo/la, nos, os, los/las replace the direct object (whom/what?).

  • ¿Ves la película? Sí, la veo.Do you see the film? Yes, I see it.la = the film
  • Te llamo mañana.I'll call you tomorrow.
  • Compro los libros y los leo.I buy the books and read them.los = the books

2Indirect object pronouns

me, te, le, nos, os, les replace the indirect object (to whom?); le/les for him/her/them.

  • Le doy el regalo a María.I give the gift to María.le = to María
  • ¿Me dices la verdad?Are you telling me the truth?
  • Les escribo a mis padres.I write to my parents.les = to my parents

3Order: indirect before direct

With two pronouns, the indirect one always comes before the direct one.

  • Te lo doy.I give it to you.te (IO) + lo (DO)
  • Me las trae.He brings them to me.me + las
  • ¿Nos lo explicas?Will you explain it to us?

4le/les becomes se

Before lo, la, los, las, le and les always change to se.

  • Se lo di (a él).I gave it to him.le + lo → se lo
  • Se las mando a ellos.I send them to them.les + las → se las
  • Se la regalo a mi madre.I give it to my mother.

5Placement of pronouns

Before the conjugated verb; attached to infinitive, gerund or affirmative imperative.

  • Quiero verte. / Te quiero ver.I want to see you.Infinitive: both ok
  • Estoy haciéndolo.I'm doing it.Gerund: attached
  • ¡Dámelo!Give it to me!affirmative imperative

Test

18

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