Object Pronouns in Spanish

This section explains Object Pronouns in Spanish. Object pronouns replace the object (person or thing) in a sentence to avoid repetition. In Spanish, object pronouns come before the verb in most cases.

Direct Object Pronouns

A direct object is the thing or person that directly receives the action of the verb.

Spanish Direct Object Pronouns:

Foundation Examples:

1. Yo te veo. → I see you.
2. Ella nos ayuda con los deberes. → She helps us with the homework.
3. Pedro la compra. → Pedro buys it (the jacket).
4. No los encontramos. → We don’t find them.
5. ¿Me escuchas? → Do you listen to me?

Higher Tier Examples:

6. Voy a llamarla mañana. → I’m going to call her tomorrow.
7. No quiero comprarlos. → I don’t want to buy them.
8. El profesor quiere enseñarnos español. → The teacher wants to teach us Spanish.
9. ¿Has visto a Juan? Sí, lo vi ayer. → Have you seen Juan? Yes, I saw him yesterday.
10. Las he enviado por correo electrónico. → I have sent them by email.

Indirect Object Pronouns

An indirect object is the person receiving the action (to whom or for whom something is done).

Spanish Indirect Object Pronouns:

Foundation Examples:

1. Te doy un libro. → I give you a book.
2. Nos manda un mensaje. → He sends us a message.
3. Le compro flores. → I buy her flowers.
4. Os traigo comida. → I bring you all food.
5. Les explico la tarea. → I explain the homework to them.

Higher Tier Examples:

6. Voy a decirle la verdad. → I’m going to tell him the truth.
7. Mi abuela nos ha cocinado paella. → My grandmother has cooked us paella.
8. Le mandé un correo ayer. → I sent him an email yesterday.
9. Si tuviera tiempo, te ayudaría. → If I had time, I would help you.
10. No les gustó la película. → They didn’t like the film.

Using Direct and Indirect Object Pronouns Together

When both direct and indirect object pronouns appear in the same sentence:

1. Indirect object pronoun comes first.
2. Direct object pronoun comes second.
3. Le/Les changes to "Se" if followed by lo, la, los, las (to avoid repetition).

Higher Tier Examples:

1. Mi padre me lo ha comprado. → My father has bought it for me.
2. Voy a mandártelo mañana. → I’m going to send it to you tomorrow.
3. Nos la trajeron de España. → They brought it to us from Spain.
4. Se los di hace un mes. → I gave them to them a month ago.
5. Si pudieras, ¿me lo explicarías? → If you could, would you explain it to me?

Object Pronouns with Commands (Imperatives)

In affirmative commands, object pronouns attach to the end of the verb:
✅Dímelo. → Tell it to me.
✅Cómpralos. → Buy them.
✅Envíasela. → Send it to her.

In negative commands, object pronouns come before the verb:
❌No me lo digas. → Don’t tell it to me.
❌No los compres. → Don’t buy them.
❌No se la envíes. → Don’t send it to her.

Practice Exercises

1. Translate into Spanish:
   • I see you every day.
   • She sends me a letter.
   • They gave it to us.
   • I’m going to buy it for him.
   • Don’t tell me the answer!
2. Fill in the blanks with the correct pronoun(s):
   • Juan ___ dio un regalo. (Juan gave me a gift.)
   • Mamá ___ compra flores. (Mum buys them flowers.)
   • Yo ___ explico la lección. (I explain the lesson to you.)
   • ¿Puedes traer___ el libro? (Can you bring it to me?)
   • Te prometo que ___ escribiré. (I promise I will write to you.)

Final Tips for Learning Spanish

✅ Remember the word order: object pronouns usually go before the verb, except in commands and infinitives.
✅Be careful with "le" and "les" – they change to "se" when combined with lo/la/los/las.
✅Practise using both direct and indirect object pronouns together to sound more natural.