Direct Objects and Direct Object Pronouns (DOP)

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

I eat the cookies.

Yo como las galletas.Raúl kisses his wife.

Raúl besa a su esposa.

A direct object is a thing or person that answers what or whom, respectively, in

the following equation:

SUBJECT + VERB + WHAT (WHOM)

DIRECT OBJECT

Yo como las galletas

Identifying a direct object

Pronouns are particles (little words) that take the place of the object itself, so that the objectdoes not have to be repeated over and over.

-Quiero comprar el vestido.

-Quieres llevar el vestido?

- Sí. Después, quiero pagar por el vestido.

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- Quiero comprar el vestido.

- Lo quieres llevar?

- Sí. Después, quiero pagarlo.

The direct object pronouns in Spanish are as follows:

mete

lo, la

nosos

los, las

for people

(lo, la) (los, las)for people and things

These are used exclusively

These are used

I eat the cookies.

Yo como las galletas.

Yo las como.

Notice that third-person direct object pronouns agree in gender and number with the noun they replace.

Now let’s see how pronouns replace things or people that are direct objects.

Raúl kisses his wife.

Raúl besa a su esposa.

Raúl la besa.

Notice that third-person direct object pronouns agree in gender and number with the noun they replace.

Now let’s see how pronouns replace things or people that are direct objects.

The direct object pronoun is placed before the conjugated verb.

Pablo quiere mirar la televisiónPablo wants to watch T.V.

Pablo la quiere mirar.Pablo wants to watch it.But, again, the object pronoun may be attached to the

end of the infinitive verb.

Pablo quiere mirarla.Pablo wants to watch it.

FIN