Object Pronouns – Saying More with Less
Introduction
When we speak or write, we use pronouns to avoid repeating the same nouns over and over. Instead of saying: María compró el libro. María le dio el libro a su amiga. Su amiga leyó el libro, we can say: María compró el libro y se lo dio a su amiga, quien lo leyó. Much smoother!
In Spanish, there are two types of object pronouns that help us do this. The direct object is who or what the action is happening to. It answers the question "what?" or "who?" after the verb. The indirect object is who the action is being done for or to. It answers the question "for whom?" or "to whom?"
Knowing how to use these pronouns fluently will make your Spanish sound more natural and far less repetitive.
In case you'd like to watch some videos to learn the rules of object pronouns, here are some that we recommend:
- Intro To Spanish Direct And Indirect Object Pronouns (in English)
- Double Object Pronouns in Spanish: Direct and Indirect Object Pronouns (conversation modeled in Spanish)
- Easy Trick to Master Spanish Object Pronouns FAST | Pronombres de Objeto Directo & Indirecto (in Spanish)
- Learn DIRECT and INDIRECT object pronouns in SPANISH | (Lo, La, Los, Las VS Le, Les) (in English)
Reference Guide
Direct Object Pronouns
Use these to replace the direct object (who or what the action is happening to). The pronoun must match the gender and number of the noun it replaces.
| Person | Pronoun | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st singular | me | me | Ella me llama. |
| 2nd singular (tú) | te | you | Yo te veo. |
| 3rd singular masculine | lo | him / it (masc.) / you (usted, masc.) | Ella lo compra. |
| 3rd singular feminine | la | her / it (fem.) / you (usted, fem.) | Él la busca. |
| 1st plural | nos | us | Ella nos ve. |
| 3rd plural masculine | los | them (masc.) / you all | Tú los traes. |
| 3rd plural feminine | las | them (fem.) / you all | Nosotros las pedimos. |
Non-binary Direct Object Pronouns
Spanish is a gendered language, and the traditional pronouns reflect a binary understanding of gender. However, many Spanish speakers are actively working to create and normalize more inclusive language that reflects a wider spectrum of gender identities. The use of le and les as gender-neutral direct object pronouns is one of the most common emerging conventions, but practices vary widely. When in doubt, it's always best to ask someone which pronouns they use and respect their preferences.
| Person | Pronoun | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3rd singular non-binary | le | them / you (usted, non-binary) | Le conozco. |
| 3rd plural non-binary | les | them / you all | Les veo. |
When learning the gender-neutral direct object pronouns presented here, don't confuse them with the indirect object pronouns of le and les.
Indirect Object Pronouns
Use these to replace the indirect object (who the action is being done for or to). Unlike direct object pronouns, indirect object pronouns do not change based on gender.
| Person | Pronoun | Meaning | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st singular | me | to/for me | Ella me da el libro. |
| 2nd singular (tú) | te | to/for you | Él te manda dinero. |
| 3rd singular / usted | le | to/for him, her, them, you (formal) | Ella le escribe una carta. |
| 1st plural | nos | to/for us | El guía nos muestra el camino. |
| 3rd plural / ustedes | les | to/for them, you all | Ella les trae café. |
Where Do the Pronouns Go?
- Before a conjugated verb: This is the most common placement. Ella lo compra. / Yo te llamo.
- Attached to an infinitive: When the sentence has an infinitive (like after querer, poder, deber, ir a), you can attach the pronoun to the end of the infinitive instead. Both options are correct. Ella lo va a comprar. / Ella va a comprarlo.
- Attached to a gerund (-ando/-iendo): Same rule applies with gerunds. When you attach the pronoun, a written accent is added to keep the original stress. Ella lo está comprando. / Ella está comprándolo.
- When using two pronouns together: The indirect object pronoun always comes first, followed by the direct object pronoun. Me lo da. / Te la mando.
The Se Construct: When le/les Meets lo/la/le/los/las/les
When an indirect object pronoun (le or les) appears right before a direct object pronoun (lo, la, los, or las, and le, les when we include non-binary pronouns), the indirect pronoun always changes to se. This is because the combination le lo, le la, le le etc. is considered awkward to say in Spanish.
- le + lo → se lo: Ella se lo da. = She gives it to him/her/you.
- les + los → se los: Nosotros se los traemos. = We bring them to them/you all.
- le + la → se la: Elle se la mando. = They (singular) send it to him/her/you.
- les + las → se las: Él se las explica. = He explains them to them/you all.
- le + le → se le: Ustedes se le hacen. = You all do it for them (singular)/you.
- les + les → se les: Yo se les hago. = I make them for them/you all.
This se is not a reflexive pronoun. It is simply a substitute for le or les in this specific context. If the meaning is unclear from context, you can always add a clarifying phrase: Se lo doy a ella. / Se los mando a ustedes.
Instructions
How this activity works:
- Select a practice mode: Direct Pronouns, Indirect Pronouns, or Both Together.
- Read the sentence carefully and identify the object(s) indicated by the mode you selected.
- Think about which pronoun replaces the object and where it should go in the sentence.
- Click Show Answer to see the rewritten sentence and an explanation.
- Click Next Sentence to continue practicing.
Don't worry if your answer is slightly different from the one shown. There is often more than one correct placement, especially with infinitives and gerunds. Focus on understanding the logic behind each answer.
Practice Modes
Practice Sentence
Once you select a practice mode, a sentence will appear here for you to practice.
Answer & Explanation
Once you click Show Answer, the rewritten sentence and explanation will appear here.