Direct Object Pronouns

Direct Objects Diagram each part of these English sentences: I want that skirt. I like the shoes. What is the subject, the verb, the direct object?

Direct objects A direct object noun receives the action of the verb and generally follows the verb. The direct object answers the question what? or whom? with regard to what the subject of the sentence is doing.

Direct Object Pronouns Direct object pronouns take the place of the direct object in a sentence. For example:

Direct Object Pronouns Instead of saying, “I want that skirt,” you can say, “I want it.” The word “it” takes the place of the word “skirt.”

Direct Object Pronouns (English) me you him, her, it us them

Direct Object Pronouns (Spanish) me(me) te(you) lo(him or it) la(her or it) nos(us) vos (you all inf.) los (them masc., you all) las (them fem., you all)

Placement of Direct Object Pronouns Direct Object Pronouns, me, te, lo, la, nos, los and las are placed either before a conjugated verb or attached to the end of an infinitive.

Before the Conjugated Verb: ¿Quieres la falda? Sí, la quiero.

Before the Conjugated Verb Isabel, ¿tienes mi suéter? No, no lo tengo.

Before the Conjugated Verb ¿Compras los pantalones? No, no los compro.

Before the verb or after the infinitive: Before the verb: Quieres comprar la falda? Sí, la quiero comprar. After the infinitive: Quieres comprar la falda? Si, quiero comprarla.

Direct Object Pronouns When the pronoun replaces both a masculine and a feminine direct object noun, we use los. For example:

Direct Object Pronouns ¿Cuándo usas la falda, el traje y el vestido? Los uso cuando voy a la iglesia.

Direct objects (person/pet) Amar (to love), extrañar (to miss) querer (to love/ to want) admirar (to admire) When a direct object noun in Spanish is a person or a pet; it is preceed by the word “a”. This is called the personal “a”; there is no English equivalent for this construction. For example:

Direct objects (person/pet) Yo amo a mi madre. Yo la amo. ¿Extrañas a mis abuelos? Sí, los extraño.