Direct Object Pronouns Direct Object Pronouns (DOP), like Subject Pronouns, are used to avoid repetition in a conversation or in a text. If you see or use a DOP, you know that implicitly you are referring or should refer to an object already mentioned in the conversation or text. DOPs can replace only nouns, that is a special type of noun the direct object. Direct objects are nouns that receive directly (not spuriously) the work done by the subject. DOPs can only be used in sentences with transitive verbs (verbs that act upon or modify an object’s property, position, nature, etc.). In English DOPS are placed after the verb; however, in Spanish they are placed in front of the verb or attached to the infinitive of a compound verb (For example, voy a comprarlo). An EXCEPTION: One must place the DOP after the verb, when giving a positive command in Spanish.
Preliminary Examples The Subject Pronoun, the Personal Pronoun, and the Object Pronoun VS. The Direct Object Pronoun.
Mercedes pinta su primer cuadro. Ella lo pinta. Direct Object Pronoun cuadro Object Noun lo Subject Pronoun Ella Mercedes Noun Subject Action Transitive Verb pinta
Él la conoce. Miguel conoce a Luisa. Direct Object Pronoun Personal Pronoun Subject Pronoun Personal Pronoun la Luisa ella Miguel Él Él conoce
Yo voy a llevar a ti al cine después de hablar con Marta. Preposition Yo voy a llevar a ti al cine después de hablar con Marta. Yo te voy a llevar al cine después de hablar con ella. Direct Object Pronoun Object Pronoun Personal Pronoun Object of Preposition Pronoun Personal Pronoun Object Pronoun llevar ella ella Ella Marta tú a ti te Petra Personal Pronoun Subject Pronoun yo yo Lorenzo Hablo con Petra Soy Lorenzo
Mi mamá va a leer la carta a mí y a mi hermana. Ella se* la va a leer. Ella me la va a leer. Mi mamá va a leer la carta a mí y a mi hermana. Ella la va a leer a mí y a mi hermana. Ella nos la va a leer. Direct Object Direct Object Pronoun Indirect Object Pronoun Indirect Object la la carta Object Pronoun Personal Pronoun Indirect Object Pronoun Indirect Object a ella su hermana le (se*) ella Personal Pronoun Object Pronoun Paco me Yo a mí Subject Pronoun Personal Pronoun su mamá ella ella
Subjects, Objects, and Pronouns Name of Person Personal Pronoun Subject Pronoun Object Pronoun Direct Object Pronoun Indirect Object Pronoun Ed yo mí me Francisco tú ti te Marta ella la le Lorenzo él lo Marta y Petra ellas los les Ed, Marta y Petra nosotros nos