Grammar guide

Spanish direct object pronouns (lo, la, los, las)

A direct object pronoun replaces the person or thing that receives the action. In Spanish it agrees with that noun in gender and number, and usually goes before the verb.

The rule

How object pronouns work

Find the object first, then pick the pronoun and its place.

Direct

lo, la, los, las Match the gender and number of the noun you replace. Me, te, nos and os are both direct and indirect. Compré las flores y las puse en la mesa.

Indirect

le, les The person who receives something or benefits from it: to whom, for whom. Le di el libro a mi hermano.

Position

Before the verb, or attached Before a conjugated verb; attached to an infinitive, a gerund or an affirmative command. Lo veo. · Quiero verlo. · Dámelo.

Both together

Indirect first, and le becomes se Before lo, la, los and las, the pronouns le and les turn into se. Se lo di ayer. (not le lo)

Typical mistakes on this topic

• Spanish direct object pronouns: lo, la, los, las Compré las flores y la puse en la mesa. Compré las flores y las puse en la mesa.
• Spanish indirect object pronouns: le, les Lo di el libro a mi hermano. Le di el libro a mi hermano.
• Double object pronouns: se lo, not le lo Le lo di ayer por la tarde. Se lo di ayer por la tarde.
• Leísmo: le instead of lo or la A Juan le vi en el parque. A Juan lo vi en el parque.

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