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5.3: Los objetos directos y sus pronombres

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    316397
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    Direct Object Nouns and Direct Object Pronouns

    Direct Object Nouns

    In a sentence, the direct object noun is the person, animal, thing, idea, or event that the verb directly affects.

    The photos below illustrate that a typical Spanish sentence begins with a subject pronoun, followed by a verb.

    • If a direct object is present, it usually comes after the verb.
    • To identify the direct object, ask: Verb affecting what? (left photo) or Verb affecting whom? (image on the right).
    • In Spanish, when the direct object is a person or a pet, it is preceded by a, known as the personal "a"—a construction that has no direct equivalent in English.

    Decorative

    Direct Object Pronouns

    Direct Object Pronouns are words that replace direct object nouns to avoid repetition of a noun already mentioned. Below are the direct object pronouns used to replace direct object nouns:

    Direct Object Pronouns
    Singular Plural
    me = me nos = us
    te = you os = you
    lo = you (m.); him; it (m.) los = you (m.); them (m.)
    la = you (f.); her; it (f.) las = you (f.); them (f.)

    Placement of the Direct Object Pronouns (DOP)

    The placement of the direct object pronoun in a Spanish sentence can be confusing because it differs from English. Observe the differences between English and Spanish below:

    • I study Spanish = Yo estudio español.
    • I hear the boys = Yo escucho los chicos.
    Comparison of Direct Object Pronouns Placement in a Sentence
    English: Spanish:

    Subject Pronoun + Conjugated verb + DOP

    I study it. [it= Spanish]

    I hear them. [them = the boys]

    Subject Pronoun + DOP + Conjugated verb

    Yo lo estudio. [lo = español]

    Yo los escucho. [los = los chicos]

    As shown in the chart, the direct object pronoun (DOP) marked in blue, is placed before the conjugated verb in bold (but after the subject pronoun). If the sentence is negative, the negative word "no" precedes the DOP:

    Subject Pronoun + DOP + Conjugated verb

    Yo (no) lo estudio. [lo = español]

    Yo (no) los escucho. [los = los chicos]

    When the infinitive or present participle is used, there are two options for direct object pronoun placement: before the conjugated verb, or attached to the infinitive or present participle. When a pronoun is attached to a present participle, an accent mark is added. Note that the direct object pronoun and the explanation of the direct object being replaced is highlighted in blue and bold in the chart.

    Options for Direct Object Placement with Conjugated Verb + Verb in Infinitive
    Subject Pronoun + DOP + Conjugated verb OR Subject Pronoun + Verb in the infinitive+DOP

    Yo lo voy a estudiar. [lo = español]

    Yo los voy a escuchar. [los = los chicos]

    OR

    OR

    Yo voy a estudiarlo. [lo = español]

    Yo voy a escucharlos. [los = los chicos]

    Options for Direct Object Placement with Conjugated Verb + Verb in the Present Participle
    Subject Pronoun + DOP + Conjugated verb OR Subject Pronoun + Verb in the present participle+DOP

    Yo lo estoy estudiando. [lo = español]

    Yo los estoy escuchando. [los = los chicos]

    OR

    OR

    Yo estoy estudiándolo. [lo = español]

    Yo estoy escuchándolos. [los = los chicos]


    This page titled 5.3: Los objetos directos y sus pronombres is shared under a CC BY-NC 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Sara Jacome-Thompson, Evergreen Valley College (ASCCC Open Educational Resources Initiative) .