Share / Tweet / Pin Me! |
Objetos directos
A direct object is a noun, whether person or thing, that someone or something acts upon. In the simplest sentences, the direct object directly follows the verb, so it’s very easy to see the effect that the verb has on the noun.
Por ejemplo…
Quiero la pintura. | I want the painting. | |
Está leyendo una novela. | He’s reading a novel. | |
Ella conoce a Marco.* | She knows Marco. |
Characteristics of direct objects
- Are always used with transitive verbs
- Are never preceded by prepositions*
- Cannot be removed without altering the meaning of the sentence
- Become the subject when sentence is turned around into the passive voice
- Can always be found by asking "What?" or "Whom?"
Por ejemplo…
What do I want? | The painting. | |
What is he reading? | A novel. | |
Whom does she know? | Marco. |
Direct object pronouns
In order to avoid repeating nouns in a series of sentences or when answering questions, both Spanish and English replace direct objects with direct object pronouns.
En comparación…
Ella ve a Marco. Conoce a Marco desde hace 4 ans. | She sees Marco. She’s known Marco for 4 years. | |
Ella ve a Marco. Lo conoce desde hace 4 ans. | She sees Marco. She’s known him for 4 years. |
As you can see, the second version sounds much more natural, in both languages.
Spanish direct object pronouns
me | me | nos | us | |
te | you | os | you | |
lo | him, you, it | los | them, you | |
la | her, you, it | las | them, you |
Note: Lo is also a neuter object pronoun.
Word order
The most difficult thing to remember about Spanish direct object pronouns is this: they usually go in front of the verb.
Por ejemplo…
Lo como. | I’m eating it. | |
La conoce. | He knows her. | |
Te quiero. | I love you. | |
Me quieres. | You love me. |
However, with infinitives, present participles, and affirmative commands, pronouns can get attached to the end – learn more.
Por ejemplo…
Lo voy a hacer. | I’m going to do it. | |
Voy a hacerlo. | ||
Los quiero comer. | I want to eat them. | |
Quiero comerlos. |
* Note: When deciding between direct objects and indirect objects, the general rule is that if the person or thing is preceded by a preposition, that person/thing is an indirect object. If it is not preceded by a preposition, it is a direct object.
However, in Spanish, the a personal must be used between every verb (except tener) and the person that follows, but this doesn’t necessarily turn that person into an indirect object.
Direct Objects Quiz
Think you’ve got it? Test yourself on Spanish direct objects:
Related lessons
Spanish lesson plans
- Direct Object Pronouns (PPT, 6th – higher ed)
- Direct and Indirect Object Pronouns (Worksheet, 9th-11th grade)
- Direct, Indirect, and Reflexive Pronouns (Worksheet, 10th – higher ed)
- Pronombres (Worksheets, 9th-11th grade)
- ¿Recuerdas? Direct Object Pronouns (Worksheet, 6th-9th grade)
En français
In italiano
Share / Tweet / Pin Me!