Direct Object Pronouns

• The object that directly receives the action of the verb is called the direct object.

Bill hit the ball."Ball" receives the action of the verb "hit."

Sherry reads the book."Book" receives the action of the verb "reads."

• The direct object answers the question "what?" or "whom?" with regard to what the subject of the sentence is doing.

Bill hit the ball.Bill hit what?Bill hit the ball.

Sherry hit Bill.Sherry hit whom?Sherry hit Bill.

• Often, it is desirable to replace the name of the direct object with a pronoun.

Example 1

Paul bought the flowers. He took the flowers home and gave the flowers to his wife.

Example 2 with pronoun

Paul bought the flowers. He took them home and gave them to his wife.

• When the pronoun replaces the name of the direct object, use the following pronouns:

me (me) nos (us)te (you-familiar) xxxlo, la –(him, her los, las (them,

it, you-formal) you-all)

• In an affirmative statement with one verb, the direct object pronoun comes immediately before the conjugated verb.

Tengo = I haveTengo el libro. = I have the book.Lo tengo. = I have it.

The pronoun (lo) comes immediately before the verb (tengo).

• Notice that if the subject of the sentence changes, this does not affect the direct object pronoun. Such as:

Juan lo tiene.Juan tiene = John hasJuan tiene el libro. = John has the book.Juan lo tiene. = John has it.

However, if the direct object of the sentence changes to a feminine noun, the feminine pronoun must be used.

Juan tiene la tarea. Juan la tiene

• If the direct object of the sentence changes from singular to plural, the plural pronoun must be used.

María tiene los libros. = Mary has the books.María los tiene. = Mary has them.

• Now, some examples where the direct object is a person.

I know you. They take us.Te conozco. Ellos nos llevan.

Juan sees her. We take them. Juan la ve. Los llevamos.

Try these on your own

1. I have the homework.

2. I know you.

3. They take us.

4. Juan sees the school.

5. We take the books

Answers

• La tengo

• Te conozco

• Nos llevan

• Juan la ve

• Nosotros los llevamos