Language/Spanish/Grammar/Direct-Object-Pronouns
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As a Spanish language teacher for over 20 years, I have witnessed the difficulties that students experience when trying to master the use of pronouns. In this lesson, we will focus on direct object pronouns in Spanish. By the end of this lesson, you will understand how to correctly use direct object pronouns and how to match them with verbs.
Direct Object Pronouns
Direct objects are nouns or pronouns that receive the action of a verb. In Spanish, direct object pronouns are used to replace these nouns or pronouns to avoid repetition in a sentence.
Here are the direct object pronouns in Spanish:
| Spanish | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| me | /me/ | me |
| te | /te/ | you (informal) |
| lo | /lo/ | him/it (masculine) |
| la | /la/ | her/it (feminine) |
| nos | /nos/ | us |
| os | /os/ | you all (informal) |
| los | /los/ | them (masculine) |
| las | /las/ | them (feminine) |
For example:
"Yo como la manzana" (I eat the apple) can be rewritten as "Yo la como" (I eat it)
Notice how the direct object "la manzana" has been replaced by the direct object pronoun "la".
To use a direct object pronoun, follow these simple steps:
1. Identify the verb that has a direct object. 2. Identify the direct object noun, if present. 3. Choose the correct direct object pronoun that matches the noun in gender and number. 4. Place the pronoun before the verb.
Here is an example:
"Juan lee el libro" (Juan reads the book) can be rewritten as "Juan lo lee" (Juan reads it)
Here, the direct object pronoun "lo" is used to replace the direct object "el libro", which is masculine singular.
Placement of Direct Object Pronouns
In Spanish, direct object pronouns can be placed before the verb, as we saw in the previous examples, or attached to the end of an infinitive or present participle.
When using an infinitive or present participle, simply add the direct object pronoun to the end of the verb and place an accent mark over the second to last syllable of the verb. Here are some examples:
"Voy a comer la pizza" (I am going to eat the pizza) can be rewritten as "Voy a comerla" (I am going to eat it)
"Estoy leyendo el periódico" (I am reading the newspaper) can be rewritten as "Estoy leyéndolo" (I am reading it)
Notice how the direct object pronoun is attached to the end of the verb. Also, the accent mark is added to maintain the correct stress on the word.
Practice Exercise
Now, it's time to put your skills to the test! Here are some practice exercises to help you master the use of direct object pronouns:
1. ¿Quieres (la pizza)?
* Do you want it?
2. (Nosotros) comimos el pollo.
* We ate it.
3. (Tú) vas a comprar el vestido.
* You are going to buy it.
4. (Ellos) no ven la televisión.
* They do not watch it.
5. (Ella) va a leer el libro.
* She is going to read it.
Tips
- Remember to choose the correct direct object pronoun that matches the gender and number of the direct object noun. - Practice using direct object pronouns as much as possible to become more comfortable with their use. - Make use of Spanish language media (TV, movies, music) to hear direct object pronouns used in context.
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