Just like subject pronouns replace the subject noun in a sentence, direct object pronouns replace the direct object noun in a sentence, which can be a person, thing, noun phrase, or nominalized clause. The direct object pronoun stands for the noun, and agrees with it in number and gender. There are some rules when we use direct object pronouns.
In order to use direct pronouns, we will first define what they are and how they are used.
Lo (masculine) “lo” is always used when referring to something that is masculine.
La (feminine) “La” is used when talking about something or someone who is female.
Los (masculine plural) them
Las (feminine plural) them
Lo, la, los, or las (the direct object pronouns) are placed before the verb we are referring to. When we are trying to make a negative command the “No,” goes before lo, la, los or las.
Things
| The noun as object of the verb | The pronoun used in place of the noun |
| ¿Tiene Ana el libro? Does Ana have the book? | Ana lo tiene Ana has it |
| ¿Tiene Anita la tiza? Does Anita have the chalk? | Anita no la tiene Anita does not have it |
| ¿Aprende Luis las lecciones? Does Luis learn the lessons? | Sí, Luis las aprende Yes, Luis learns them |
Direct pronouns representing persons are expressed by using: me, te, lo, la, and in the plural form: nos, os, los, las. To emphasize who the statement is directed to, we use:
a mí, a ti, a él, a ella, a usted, a nosotros, a vosotros, a ellos, a ellas, a ustedes; however, it is not used under ordinary circumstances.
Persons
Using the verb Ver (to see) we will conjugate appropriately
Singular Plural
| Carlos me ve | a mí | Carlos nos ve | a nosotros |
| Carlos te ve | a ti | Carlos os ve | a vosotros |
| Carlos lo ve | a él / a usted | Carlos los ve | a ellos / a ustedes |
| Carlos la ve | a ella / a usted | Carlos las ve | a ellas / a ustedes |
Direct object pronouns are added at the end of the word for affirmative commands:
¡Tráigalo usted ahora! Bring it right now!