DIRECT OBJECT PRONOUNS The object that directly receives the action of the verb is called the direct object. "Ball" receives the action of the verb "hit." Sherry reads the book. "Book" receives the action of the verb "reads." The direct object can also be a person. (DO=Bill) The direct object answers the question "what?" or "whom?" with regard to what the subject of the sentence is doing. Bill hit what? Sherry hit whom? Often, it is desirable to replace the name of the direct object with a pronoun. ie Direct Object Pronouns Example 1 Paul bought the flowers. He took the flowers home and gave the flowers to his wife. Example 2 Paul bought the flowers. He took them home and gave them to his wife. When the pronoun replaces the name of the direct object, use the following pronouns ( on board) me (me) te (you-familiar) lo, la (him, her, it, you-formal) nos (us) os (you-all-familiar) los, las (them, you-all-formal) In an affirmative statement with one verb, the direct object pronoun comes immediately before the conjugated verb.
Tengo = I have Tengo la pluma. = I have the pen. La tengo. = I have it. The pronoun (la) comes immediately before the verb (tengo). Notice that if the subject of the sentence changes, this does not affect the direct object pronoun. Juan la tiene. Juan tiene la pluma. = John has the pen. Juan la tiene. = John has it. and María la tiene. María tiene = Mary has María tiene la pluma. = Mary has the pen. María la tiene. = Mary has it. However, if the direct object of the sentence changes to a masculine noun, the masculine pronoun must be used. Juan lo tiene. Juan tiene el libro. = John has the book. Juan lo tiene. = John has it. but Juan la tiene. Juan tiene la pluma. = John has the pen. Juan la tiene. = John has it. Likewise, if the direct object of the sentence changes from singular to plural, the plural pronoun must be used.
Juan lo tiene. Juan tiene el libro. = John has the book. Juan lo tiene. = John has it. but María los tiene. María tiene = Mary has María tiene los libros. = Mary has the books. María los tiene. = Mary has them. In a negative sentence with one verb, the direct object pronoun is placed between the negative word and the conjugated verb. Affirmative Sentence I buy the books. Compro los libros. Los compro. (I buy them.) Negative Sentence I don't buy the books. No compro los libros. No los compro. (I don't buy them.) When a sentence has two verbs, the first verb is conjugated and the second verb remains in the infinitive form. poder to be able to pagar to pay Puedo pagar diez pesos. I am able to pay 10 pesos.
preferir to prefer hablar to speak Elena prefiere hablar español. Elena prefers to speak Spanish. In sentences with two verbs, there are two options regarding the placement of the direct object pronoun. 1. Place it immediately before the conjugated verb. 2. Attach it directly to the infinitive. Here are examples of the direct object pronoun placed before the conjugated verb: Lo quiero ver. Lo debemos comprar. María nos debe visitar. Juan lo necesita lavar. Here are examples of the direct object pronoun attached directly to the infinitive: Quiero verlo. Debemos comprarlo. María debe visitarnos.
Juan necesita lavarlo. Here are the two methods side by side. Neither method is "better" than the other. Lo quiero ver. Quiero verlo. Lo debemos comprar. Debemos comprarlo. María nos debe visitar. María debe visitarnos. Juan lo necesita lavar. Juan necesita lavarlo. These same rules apply for questions and negative statements. Lo debemos comprar? Debemos comprarlo? Should we buy it? Juan no lo necesita lavar. Juan no necesita lavarlo. John doesn't need to wash it.