Apuntes: Direct Object Pronouns

Direct object pronouns allow us to avoid repetition of nouns!  Why does the following conversation sound silly? Juan: Hey Sally! Did you do the homework? Sally: Yes, I did the homework. Did you do the homework? Juan: No, I did not do the homework. Can you help me with the homework?

Direct Object:  The direct object receives the action of a sentence.  To find the direct object change the sentence to a WHAT or WHOM question.  George ate the apple.  What did George eat?  The apple = the direct object

 Make the sentence into a question:  Mariano drinks coffee. What does Mariano drink?  Juanita helped him. Whom did Juanita help?

A Direct Object Pronoun (DOP) replaces the direct object.  George ate the apple.  George ate it.  She calls the doctor.  She calls him/her.

The Direct Object Pronouns: ME = MENOS = US TE = YOUOS = Y’ALL LO = HIM, IT, YOU (Ud.) LA = HER, IT, YOU (Ud.) LOS = THEM, YOU (Uds.) LAS = THEM, YOU (Uds.)

In Spanish, the DOP goes before the verb.  George eats the apple.  George come la manzana.  George eats it.  George la come.

Find the D.O. 1.¿Escribes la carta? 2.¿Lees las instrucciones? 3.¿Buscas el teléfono? 4.¿Sabes la dirección? 5.¿Terminas la tarea? 6.¿Prefieres el libro rojo?

Let’s answer the questions with the DOPs. 1.¿Escribes la carta? 2.¿Lees las instrucciones? 3.¿Buscas el teléfono? 4.¿Sabes la dirección? 5.¿Terminas la tarea? 6.¿Prefieres el libro rojo? Sí, la escribo. Sí, las leo. No, no lo busco. No, no la sé. Sí, la termino. Sí, lo prefiero.

Object pronouns can also be attached to the end of infinitives. Example: I am going to invite them. Los voy a invitar. OR Voy a invitarlos. Te vamos a visitar. OR Vamos a visitarte. Vamos a visitarte.

Answer these questions as if you are Julio(a) and/or Luis(a): Example: Julio, ¿vas a preparar la comida? Sí, voy a prepararla. 1.Luis, ¿vas a servir las bebidas? 2.Julio y Luis, ¿van a probar Uds. el postre? 3.Julio y Luis, ¿van a traer Uds. los platos? 4.Luis, ¿vas a cocinar bien la carne? 5.Julio y Luis, ¿van a poner Uds. la mesa? This material is the property of the AR Dept. of Education. It may be used and reproduced for non-profit, educational purposes only after contacting the ADE Distance Learning Center at

1.¿Me invitas a un café? 2.¿Me llevas al centro? 3.¿Me esperas un minuto? 4.¿Me llamas por teléfono? 5.¿Me ayudas con la tarea? 6.¿Me entiendes ahora? 7.¿Me buscas en la biblioteca? This material is the property of the AR Dept. of Education. It may be used and reproduced for non-profit, educational purposes only after contacting the ADE Distance Learning Center at

1.Luis, ¿vas a servir las bebidas? Sí, voy a servirlas. 2.Julio y Luis, ¿van a probar Uds. el postre? No, no vamos a probarlo. 3.Julio y Luis, ¿van a traer Uds. los platos? Sí, vamos a traerlos. 4.Luis, ¿vas a cocinar bien la carne? Sí, voy a cocinarla bien. 5.Julio y Luis, ¿van a poner Uds. la mesa? No, no vamos a ponerla. This material is the property of the AR Dept. of Education. It may be used and reproduced for non-profit, educational purposes only after contacting the ADE Distance Learning Center at

La Tarea: