Object Pronouns

**__OBJECT PRONOUNS__**

There are two types of object pronouns, direct and indirect.  First, let's deal with direct object pronouns.

**Pattern:  Direct object pronouns are used to replace a noun that receives the action of a verb.  They must agree with the noun they replace in gender and number.**

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**__Direct Object Pronouns__**

Direct objects receive the action of a verb in a sentence.

**For example:**

John eats __the apple__.  Carol buys __the shoes__.

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As with other nouns, direct objects can be replaced with pronouns.

**For example:**

John eats __it__.  Carol buys __them__.

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**Here are the same examples in Spanish:**

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John come **la manzana**.  Carol compra **los zapatos**.

John **la** come.  Carol **los** compra.

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\- Note:  As you can see, the word order changes (the pronoun comes before the verb).

\- Note:  Object pronouns can also be attached to the end of infinitive verbs and gerunds:

Yo quiero ver**lo**.  I want to see him.

Yo estoy viéndo**lo**.  I am seeing him.

The Spanish direct object pronouns are:

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me              nos

te                os

lo, la            los, las

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\- Notice that only 2 of the direct object pronouns in Spanish match gender:  lo \[la\] and los \[las\].

Direct objects can be people as well.  Just remember that the pronoun you use must match the person receiving the action, not the person performing it.

**For example:**

John hugs **her**.  =  John **la** abraza.

Jane kisses **him**.  =  Jane **lo** besa.

You call **me**.  =  Tú **me** llamas.

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**Pattern:  Indirect object pronouns are used to replace a noun that receives the direct object.**

**__Indirect Object Pronouns__**

Indirect objects receive the direct object of a sentence.

**For example**:

Paul gives flowers to **Rachel**.  Jim buys pizza for **Rob and Emilie**.

In these examples, flowers and pizza receive the action of the sentences and are direct objects, but Rachel and Rob and Emilie are the indirect objects because they receive the flowers and pizza.

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As usual, we can replace our nouns with pronouns.  In this case we would say:

Paul gives flowers **to her**.  Jim buys pizza **for them**.

**Here are the same examples in Spanish:**

Paul da flores a Rachel.  Jim compra pizza para Rob y Emilie.

Paul **le** da flores.  Jim **les** compra pizza.

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Again, the word order has changed (pronouns before verbs).

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**The Spanish indirect object pronouns are:**

me          nos

te           os

le            les

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\- Notice that none of the indirect object pronouns must match in gender.

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**__All Together Now__**

It is perfectly acceptable to use both direct object pronouns and indirect object pronouns in the same sentence.  From the previous example above, you could change

"Jim buys pizza for Rob and Emilie" to "Jim buys it for them."

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There are two rules to remember when you use both direct object pronouns and indirect object pronouns in Spanish.

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**__Rule #1__**: Indirect object pronouns come before direct object pronouns.

**Example**:

Yo doy el dinero a ti.

Yo te lo doy.

In this example, ***el dinero*** is the direct object and is replaced with ***lo***.  We are replacing the indirect object with a pronoun as well (te).  They both come before the verb, but remember to put the indirect object pronoun first!

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**__Rule #2__**:  If the indirect object pronoun is in 3rd person (either le or les), it must be changed to **se** if it is used with a direct object pronoun.

**From the example above**:

Jim compra pizza para Rob y Emilie.

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