5.5: Direct objects
- Page ID
- 415644
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\(\newcommand{\avec}{\mathbf a}\) \(\newcommand{\bvec}{\mathbf b}\) \(\newcommand{\cvec}{\mathbf c}\) \(\newcommand{\dvec}{\mathbf d}\) \(\newcommand{\dtil}{\widetilde{\mathbf d}}\) \(\newcommand{\evec}{\mathbf e}\) \(\newcommand{\fvec}{\mathbf f}\) \(\newcommand{\nvec}{\mathbf n}\) \(\newcommand{\pvec}{\mathbf p}\) \(\newcommand{\qvec}{\mathbf q}\) \(\newcommand{\svec}{\mathbf s}\) \(\newcommand{\tvec}{\mathbf t}\) \(\newcommand{\uvec}{\mathbf u}\) \(\newcommand{\vvec}{\mathbf v}\) \(\newcommand{\wvec}{\mathbf w}\) \(\newcommand{\xvec}{\mathbf x}\) \(\newcommand{\yvec}{\mathbf y}\) \(\newcommand{\zvec}{\mathbf z}\) \(\newcommand{\rvec}{\mathbf r}\) \(\newcommand{\mvec}{\mathbf m}\) \(\newcommand{\zerovec}{\mathbf 0}\) \(\newcommand{\onevec}{\mathbf 1}\) \(\newcommand{\real}{\mathbb R}\) \(\newcommand{\twovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\ctwovec}[2]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\threevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cthreevec}[3]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfourvec}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\fivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{r}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\cfivevec}[5]{\left[\begin{array}{c}#1 \\ #2 \\ #3 \\ #4 \\ #5 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\mattwo}[4]{\left[\begin{array}{rr}#1 \amp #2 \\ #3 \amp #4 \\ \end{array}\right]}\) \(\newcommand{\laspan}[1]{\text{Span}\{#1\}}\) \(\newcommand{\bcal}{\cal B}\) \(\newcommand{\ccal}{\cal C}\) \(\newcommand{\scal}{\cal S}\) \(\newcommand{\wcal}{\cal W}\) \(\newcommand{\ecal}{\cal E}\) \(\newcommand{\coords}[2]{\left\{#1\right\}_{#2}}\) \(\newcommand{\gray}[1]{\color{gray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\lgray}[1]{\color{lightgray}{#1}}\) \(\newcommand{\rank}{\operatorname{rank}}\) \(\newcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\col}{\text{Col}}\) \(\renewcommand{\row}{\text{Row}}\) \(\newcommand{\nul}{\text{Nul}}\) \(\newcommand{\var}{\text{Var}}\) \(\newcommand{\corr}{\text{corr}}\) \(\newcommand{\len}[1]{\left|#1\right|}\) \(\newcommand{\bbar}{\overline{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bhat}{\widehat{\bvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\bperp}{\bvec^\perp}\) \(\newcommand{\xhat}{\widehat{\xvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\vhat}{\widehat{\vvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\uhat}{\widehat{\uvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\what}{\widehat{\wvec}}\) \(\newcommand{\Sighat}{\widehat{\Sigma}}\) \(\newcommand{\lt}{<}\) \(\newcommand{\gt}{>}\) \(\newcommand{\amp}{&}\) \(\definecolor{fillinmathshade}{gray}{0.9}\)Direct Object Noun and Direct Object Pronouns
Direct object nouns and direct object pronouns receive the action of a verb. They answer the questions who or what in a sentence. They both add more information to a sentence, but direct object nouns are more specific.
In the sentence
Decimos la verdad. The truth is what we say, so it is the direct object noun.
In the sentence
La decimos. La replaces the truth, so it is a direct object pronoun.
Direct object pronouns replace direct object nouns to make a sentence shorter. For example
Compro un regalo. El regalo is what is bought, so it is the direct object noun.
Lo compro. Lo replaces el regalo, so it is the direct object pronoun.
In English, direct object nouns and direct object pronouns go after the conjugated verb. In Spanish affirmative sentences, direct object pronouns come before the conjugated verb. In Spanish negative sentences, the direct object pronouns go after the “no” that is in the sentence but before the verb. In Spanish, direct object pronouns must agree in gender and number with the direct object noun that they replace.
Ayudo a un perro. This is an affirmative sentence with a direct object noun.
Lo ayudo. This is an affirmative sentence with a direct object pronoun.
No lo ayudo. This is a negative sentence with a direct object pronoun.
When the direct object noun is a person or loved animal, you must use the personal a. English does not have a personal a. The personal a identifies the direct object noun as a person or loved animal.
Veo al perro. The dog is what I see, so it is the direct object noun. The dog is a living being, so it requires a personal a.
Lo veo. Lo replaces the dog, so it is a direct object pronoun. You do not need a person a with a direct object pronoun.
The direct object pronouns are
singular plural
me = me nos = us
te = you (familiar) os = you (familiar)
lo = him, it, you (formal, masculine) los = them, you (formal, masculine) la = her, it, you (formal, feminine) las = them, you (formal, feminine)
Some Spanish verbs that frequently use direct object nouns or direct object pronouns are listed below. Notice how the first example for each verb is more specific and includes a direct object noun. Then, the second example shortens the direct object noun to a direct object pronoun.
ayudar La profesora ayuda a los estudiantes mucho. La profesora los ayuda mucho.
comprar Mi madre compra buena comida. Mi madre la compra.
conocer Quiero conocer al estudiante nuevo. Lo quiero conocer. OR Quiero conocerlo.
decir Digo el título. Lo digo.
invitar Invito a mis amigas. Las invito.
llevar Mi hermana lleva los libros. Mi hermana los lleva.
querer La profesora quiere a los perros. La profesora los quiere.
tener Tengo los billetes. Los tengo.
traer Vamos a traer las invitaciones. Las vamos a traer. OR Vamos a traerlas.
ver ¿Están mirando el programa? ¿Lo están mirando? OR ¿Están mirándolo?
In a verb construction such as the present progressive or ir + a + infinitive, the direct object pronoun can go before or after the entire construction. It cannot be placed in the middle of it. So,
Te estoy ayudando. OR Estoy ayudándote.
Te voy a llamar. OR Voy a llamarte.
If you are using the present progressive and put the direct object pronoun at the end, you must accent the vowel in the second-to-last syllable of the present participle.
Remember that direct object nouns and direct object pronouns answer the questions who or what and they receive the action of a verb. They add more information to a sentence. Direct object nouns are more specific and direct object pronouns replace direct object nouns making the sentence shorter.
Now let us practice direct object nouns and direct object pronouns
Prácticas.
A. Change each direct object noun to a direct object pronoun.
direct object noun direct object pronoun
la mamá la
1. el profesor
2. los libros
3. las gatas
4. la tarea
5. el mapa
6. la bicicleta
7. la foto
8. las computadoras
9. los coches
10. las enchiladas
11. el taco
12. la comida
13. el café
14. las vacaciones
15. el viaje
B. Identify the direct object noun or direct object pronoun in each sentence. Then, explain if it is a direct object noun or direct object pronoun.
1. Tú me llamas frecuentemente.
2. Lo escribo.
3. Quieres escribir un libro.
4. Nos vemos.
5. Ven al elefante.
6. Nos hablamos por teléfono.
7. Quiero comer unos tacos.
8. Los preparo.
9. Maricarmen compra una chaqueta.
10. ¿Los compras?
11. Me ayudas mucho.
12. Conocemos a la directora.
13. ¿Lo conocen?
14. Tus padres te llevan.
15. ¿Me llevas?
C. Rewrite each sentence by replacing the direct object noun with the appropriate direct object pronoun.
1. Escribo la carta.
2. Decimos muchos chistes.
3. Escribes el texto.
4. ¿Ves al gato?
5. Ayudamos a nuestros amigos.
6. Tenemos el libro.
7. Escucho la canción frecuentemente.
8. Compramos mucha ropa.
9. Estudias francés.
10. Tienes unos buenos amigos.
11. Voy a escribir la carta. (There are two ways to write this.)
12. Estamos repasando la tarea. (There are two ways to write this.)
13. Estoy pidiendo un café. (There are two ways to write this.)
14. Vamos a cantar la canción. (There are two ways to write this.)
15. Vamos a invitar a nuestros padres. (There are two ways to write this.)
D. La música. In the song Amiga, Si Lo Ves by Jenni Rivera she uses the direct object pronoun lo to talk about an ex. Listen to the song and then write one of the sentences in which she uses a direct object pronoun.
E. What is a direct object? How a direct object noun is different from a direct object pronoun? Write three sentences with a direct object noun. Then, rewrite them with direct object pronouns.