Direct Object Pronouns In Spanish El Complemento Directo
A direct object tells who or what receives the action of the verb. I want that skirt. I bought some shoes. What are the direct objects?
I want that skirt. Skirt is the direct object. I bought some shoes. Shoes are the direct objects.
To avoid repeating a direct object noun, we often replace it with a direct object pronoun. In English the words are: It and Them
I want that skirt. What can we replace skirt with? I bought some shoes. What can we replace shoes with?
I want that skirt. I want it. I bought some shoes. I bought them.
In Spanish these are four of the direct object pronouns: SingularPlural lo (it/him) masc.los (them) masc. la (it/her) fem.las (them) fem. The direct object pronoun must agree in both number and gender with the noun they replace!!!!!!
In Spanish these are the other direct object pronouns: SingularPlural menos teos lo = you (Ud.) masc. los = you all (Uds.) masc. la = you (Ud.) fem. las = you all (Uds.) fem.
These are TWO of the places that direct objects can be placed in a sentence: 1. Right before a conjugated verb Tengo la carta. La tengo. 2.After and attached to an infinitive Necesitamos lavar el carro. Necesitamos lavarlo. Lo necesitamos lavar.
I want that skirt.Skirt D.O. Quiero esa falda. Falda D.O. La quiero. Falda is singular and feminine which is la. Since there is not an infinitive in the sentence, we must put la in front of the conjugated verb.
Let’s practice: I need shirts. Yo necesito camisas. I need them. Do you have my sweatshirt? ¿Tienes mi sudadera? Do you have it? She is going to buy a dress. Ella va a comprar un vestido. She is going to buy it.
I need them. (Camisas- fem. plural) Las necesito. Do you have it? (Sweatshirt- fem. sing) ¿La tienes? She is going to buy it. (Vestido- masc. sing) Ella va a comprarlo. OR Ella lo va a comprar.
In the first two examples, we placed the direct object pronoun before the conjugated verb (the sentences did not have an infinitive). In the third example, we placed the direct object pronoun attached to comprar (the infinitive for to buy) or we placed it before the conjugated verb, “va.” BOTH WAYS ARE CORRECT!!!!!
More practice: You bought them? (pants) ¿___________? I have it. (book bag) ____________ I need it. (pen) (b ) _______________. She is going to eat them. (carrots) __________________.
More practice: You bought them? (pants) ¿Los compraste? I have it. (book bag) Yo La tengo I need it. (pen) Yo lo necesito. She is going to eat them. (carrots) Ella va a comerlas. Ella las va a comer.