{"id":2284,"date":"2022-10-06T05:30:59","date_gmt":"2022-10-06T05:30:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.escuela-hablamos.com\/?p=2284"},"modified":"2022-09-30T14:07:15","modified_gmt":"2022-09-30T14:07:15","slug":"direct-and-indirect-object-pronouns-whats-the-score","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.escuela-hablamos.com\/ko\/direct-and-indirect-object-pronouns-whats-the-score\/","title":{"rendered":"Direct and Indirect Object Pronouns \u2013 What\u2019s the score?"},"content":{"rendered":"

It\u2019s simply a case of practice, practice, practice<\/span><\/h2><\/div>
<\/div><\/div>
<\/p>\n

Direct objects, indirect objects, pronouns \u2013 there\u2019s a lot of terminology in the title today but it\u2019s a certainty that you\u2019ll have always used these grammatical items<\/b> in your own language and it\u2019s essential when learning Spanish<\/b> to understand how they work. Why you might ask? Well, if you don\u2019t want to sound like a loro <\/b>(<\/i>parrot<\/i><\/b>)<\/i>, you need pronouns to replace nouns<\/b> when speaking and writing to avoid repetition. Let\u2019s have a look at what these terms mean and when, and how, to use them.<\/p>\n

\n<\/div>

Direct object pronouns<\/span><\/h2><\/div>
<\/div><\/div>
<\/p>\n

These pronouns replace the direct object<\/b> in a sentence. The direct object is the receiver of the action of the verb<\/b>. For example,\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  • Leo el libro<\/b> cada ma\u00f1ana > Lo<\/b> leo cada ma\u00f1ana<\/li>\n
  • I read the book<\/b> every morning > I read it<\/b> every morning<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    In the above case, el libro <\/b>is the direct object because that is the thing I\u2019m reading. See what we mean? We\u2019ve then replaced el libro<\/b> with lo <\/b>which is the direct object pronoun <\/b>equivalent of it<\/b> in Spanish. Here are all the other direct object pronouns:<\/p>\n

    \n<\/div>

    <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
    Personal Pronoun<\/b><\/td>\nDirect Object Pronoun<\/b><\/td>\nEnglish<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Yo (I)<\/em><\/td>\nMe<\/td>\nMe<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    T\u00fa (You informal)<\/em><\/td>\nTe<\/td>\nYou<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    \u00c9l\/Ella\/Usted (You formal)<\/em><\/td>\nLo\/La<\/td>\nHim\/Her\/It\/You<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Nosotros (We)<\/em><\/td>\nNos<\/td>\nUs<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Vosotros (You informal group)<\/em><\/td>\nOs<\/td>\nYou<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
    Ellos\/Ellas\/Ustedes (Them\/You formal group)<\/em><\/td>\nLos\/Las<\/td>\nThem\/You<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

    \n<\/div>

    <\/p>\n

    OK, so now we have a reference point, let\u2019s check out some ejemplos <\/b>(<\/i>examples<\/i><\/b>) <\/i>of how to use all of these.<\/p>\n

      \n
    • He hit me <\/b>> Me<\/b> golpe\u00f3<\/li>\n
    • She loves you<\/b> > Te<\/b> ama<\/li>\n
    • I\u2019m waiting for her <\/b>> La<\/b> estoy esperando<\/li>\n
    • The teacher helps us<\/b> with our homework > El profe nos<\/b> ayuda con los deberes<\/li>\n
    • My mum shouted at you all > Mi madre os<\/b> grit\u00f3<\/li>\n
    • Juan doesn\u2019t want them<\/b> > Juan no los<\/b> quiere<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      \n<\/div>

      Indirect Object Pronouns<\/span><\/h2><\/div>
      <\/div><\/div>
      <\/p>\n

      As you can probably guess<\/b> from the name, these pronouns replace the indirect object <\/b>in a sentence. Here is an example:<\/p>\n

        \n
      • Di el bol\u00edgrafo a Pablo <\/b>> Le<\/b> di el bol\u00edgrafo<\/li>\n
      • I gave the pen to Pablo<\/b> > I gave the pen to him<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        From this we can see that the indirect object is the person or the thing which receives the direct object or the result of the action done to it<\/b>. So this means it is one more step removed<\/b> from the verb<\/b> than the direct object. Now let\u2019s see the indirect object pronouns<\/b> in Spanish and their English equivalents.<\/p>\n

        \n<\/div>

        <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
        Personal Pronoun<\/b><\/td>\nIndirect Object Pronoun<\/b><\/td>\nEnglish<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        Yo (I)<\/em><\/td>\nMe<\/td>\nMe<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        T\u00fa (You informal)<\/em><\/td>\nTe<\/td>\nYou<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        \u00c9l\/Ella\/Usted (You formal)<\/em><\/td>\nLe<\/td>\nHim\/Her\/It\/You<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        Nosotros (We)<\/em><\/td>\nNos<\/td>\nUs<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        Vosotros (You informal group)<\/em><\/td>\nOs<\/td>\nYou<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
        Ellos\/Ellas\/Ustedes (Them\/You formal group)<\/em><\/td>\nLes<\/td>\nThem\/You<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

        \n<\/div>

        <\/p>\n

        Do some of those look familiar<\/b>? That\u2019s because a lot of them are the same as the direct pronouns<\/b>. Let\u2019s see them being used in some different sentences.<\/p>\n

          \n
        • Can you give me<\/b> a pencil? > \u00bfMe<\/b> puedes dar un l\u00e1piz?<\/li>\n
        • Laura washed the car for you<\/b> > Laura te <\/b>lav\u00f3 el coche<\/li>\n
        • She always buys him<\/b> expensive gifts > Siempre le<\/b> compra regalos caros<\/li>\n
        • My friends will bring us<\/b> some wine > Mis amigos nos<\/b> traer\u00e1 vino<\/li>\n
        • He gave you<\/b> some sweets yesterday > Os<\/b> dio unos chuches ayer<\/li>\n
        • We will send them<\/b> a letter > Les <\/b>vamos a mandar una carta<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          So far, so good, right? When learning Spanish<\/b> you will always need to use both sets of pronouns<\/b> to make your speaking <\/b>and writing<\/b> sound more natural<\/b>. You\u2019ll also probably need to use both direct and indirect object pronouns together<\/b>. Let\u2019s look at how this works as there are a few changes to what we\u2019ve seen so far.<\/p>\n

          \n<\/div>

          Sentences with both Direct and Indirect Object Pronouns<\/span><\/h2><\/div>
          <\/div><\/div>
          <\/p>\n

          Clearly, there\u2019ll be many occasions where you want to use both types of pronouns together. This is simply a case of following some reglas <\/b>(<\/i>rules<\/i><\/b>) <\/i>and being careful with a couple of cambios <\/b>(<\/i>changes<\/i><\/b>) <\/i>which you need to make.<\/p>\n

          Firstly, you must always put the indirect object pronoun<\/b> before the direct object pronoun<\/b>. This is different to English and so you really need to remember this pattern. For instance,<\/p>\n

          \n<\/div>

          <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
          English word order<\/b><\/td>\nSpanish word order<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
          We gave it to you<\/u><\/td>\nTe lo<\/u> dimos<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
          She bought it for us<\/u><\/td>\nNos lo<\/u> compr\u00f3<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
          They said it to you<\/u><\/td>\nOs lo<\/u> dijeron<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

          \n<\/div>

          <\/p>\n

          Secondly, there\u2019s a bit of a problem with the pronouns le\/les<\/b> and lo\/la\/los\/las <\/b>being used together. Because it\u2019s a bit of a trabalenguas<\/b> (<\/i>tongue twister<\/i><\/b>) <\/i>to say Le lo dije<\/b><\/span> <\/b>(I said it to him\/her)<\/i>, for example, we always change le\/les <\/b>to se<\/b> when we are using both direct and indirect<\/b> object pronouns together. <\/b>Look at the following table of examples to get a clearer idea of how this rule works.<\/p>\n

          \n<\/div>

          <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
          English word order<\/b><\/td>\nSpanish word order<\/b><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
          I gave it to her<\/u><\/td>\nSe lo<\/u> di – NOT Le lo di<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
          She bought them for him<\/u><\/td>\nSe los<\/u> compr\u00f3 – NOT Le los compr\u00f3<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n
          They said it to them<\/u><\/td>\nSe lo<\/u> dijeron – NOT Les lo dijeron<\/span><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

          \n<\/div>

          <\/p>\n

          Thankfully, that\u2019s all the rules you\u2019ll need! It\u2019s simply a case of practice, practice, practice<\/b>. And where better place to get studying Spanish<\/b> and having lots of chances to speak and write <\/b>than by joining us at Hablamos<\/b>! We have a full range of courses to suit all your needs and you\u2019ll be slipping those pronouns into your speech like a native in no time<\/p>\n

          \n<\/div>

          Hablamos – full-on Spanish!<\/mark><\/span><\/h3><\/div>
          <\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>