Direct Object Pronouns (DOP)
Diagram each part of these English sentences: I bought the shoes. What is the subject, the verb, the direct object?
Direct object pronouns take the place of the direct object in a sentence. For example:
Instead of saying, “I bought the shoes” you can say, “I bought them.” The word “them” takes the place of the word “shoes.”
DOP me (me) te (you) lo (him or it) la (her or it) nos (us) os (you all inf.) los (them, you all) las (them, you all)
Placement of Direct Object Pronouns DOP are placed either before a conjugated verb or attached to the end of an infinitive.
Before the Conjugated Verb: -¿Cuándo compraste la falda? -La compré ayer.
-¿Isabel, pagaste mi suéter? -No, no lo pagué.
-¿Compraste los pantalones? -No, no los compré.
Before the verb or after the infinitive when you have 2 verbs back to back: Before the verb: -¿Quieres comprar la falda? -Sí, la quiero comprar. After the infinitive: -¿Quieres comprar la falda? -Si, quiero comprarla.
When the pronoun replaces both a masculine and a feminine dircect object noun, we use los. For example:
Por ejemplo… -¿Cuándo compraste la falda y el vestido? -Los compré el sábado.