Spanish 3Spanish 3

Direct Object Direct Object PronounsPronouns

Direct ObjectsDirect Objects

• Diagram each part of these English sentences:

I want that skirt.

I bought some shoes.

• What is the subject, the verb, the direct object?

DIRECT OBJECT PRONOUNSDIRECT OBJECT PRONOUNS

• A direct object tells WHO or WHAT receives the action of the verb.

Ex: Compré el libro.

I bought the book (book is the direct object because it receives the action ofthe verb)

Direct Object PronounsDirect Object Pronouns

• Direct object pronouns take the place of the direct object in a sentence.

For example:

Direct Object PronounsDirect Object Pronouns

• Instead of saying,

“I want that skirt,” you can say, “I want it.”

• The word “it” takes the place of the word “skirt.”

Direct Object Pronouns Direct Object Pronouns (Spanish)(Spanish)

SINGULAR

lo (him, it, you)

la (her, it, you)

PLURAL

los (them, you all)

las (them, you all)

MASC

FEM.

Placement of Direct Object Placement of Direct Object PronounsPronouns

• Direct Object Pronouns, lo, la, los and las are placed

1. Before a conjugated verb. The direct object pronouns have the same gender and number as the nouns they replace.

Before the Conjugated Verb:Before the Conjugated Verb:

• ¿Cuándo compraste la falda (femenine sing)?

• La (femen. sing) compré hace cinco días.

Before the Conjugated VerbBefore the Conjugated Verb

• Isabel, tienes mi suéter (masc. sing.)?

• No, no lo (masc. sing) tengo.

Before the Conjugated VerbBefore the Conjugated Verb

• ¿Compras esos pantalones (masc. plural)?

• No, no los (masc. plural) compro.

Placement of Direct Object Placement of Direct Object PronounsPronouns

2. When an infinitive follows a verb, the direct object pronoun can be placed before the conjugated verb or attached to the infinitive.

When an When an infinitive follows a infinitive follows a verbverb

• ¿Comprasté el libro sobre Magic Johnson?

No, no pude comprarlo. (I could not buy it)

verb infinitive + pronoun

No, no lo pude comprar.

pronoun verb infinitive

Before the verb or after the Before the verb or after the infinitive:infinitive:

Before the verb:

• ¿Quieres comprar esa falda?

• Sí, la quiero comprar.

After the infinitive:

• ¿Quieres comprar esa falda?

• Si, quiero comprarla.

Direct Object PronounsDirect Object Pronouns

• When the pronoun replaces both a masculine and a feminine direct object noun, we use los.

For example:

Direct Object PronounsDirect Object Pronouns

• Cuándo compraste la falda y el vestido?

• Los compré el sábado.