Direct & indirect object pronouns

Grammar topic 9

The rule, in plain English

First find what is being acted on. Replace that thing with lo, la, los, or las: Tengo el libro becomes Lo tengo. Then find the receiver—to whom?—and use le or les: Le doy el libro. When both appear, put the receiver first and change le or les to se: Se lo doy, never Le lo doy. These short words normally go before a changed verb.

Why it's hard for English speakers

English says I give it to her, with both parts after give. Spanish puts them before the verb and orders them receiver + thing: Se lo doy. Lo or la matches the thing—el libro becomes lo; la carta becomes la—not the person receiving it.

Worked examples

Start with these worked examples, then reveal more when you are ready.

¿El mapa? Lo tengo en la mochila.The map? I have it in my backpack.Replacing the thing: Lo replaces the masculine singular direct object el mapa.
¿La reserva? La confirmo ahora.The booking? I'll confirm it now.Replacing the thing: La replaces the feminine singular direct object la reserva.
¿Los billetes? Los compramos por internet.The tickets? We buy them online.Replacing the thing: Los agrees with the masculine plural noun billetes.
¿Las llaves? No las encuentro.The keys? I can't find them.Replacing the thing: Las replaces the feminine plural direct object las llaves.
Ana me llama cada domingo.Ana calls me every Sunday.Replacing the thing: Me is the first-person singular direct object: Ana calls whom? Me.
Os veo desde la ventana.I can see you all from the window.Replacing the thing: Os represents vosotros/as as the direct object.
Mi abuela me cuenta una historia.My grandmother tells me a story.Naming the receiver: Me is the recipient of the story and therefore the indirect object.
Te mando un mensaje esta tarde.I'll send you a message this afternoon.Naming the receiver: Te identifies the person receiving the message.
Le explicamos el problema a la profesora.We explain the problem to the teacher.Naming the receiver: Le is required for the recipient; a la profesora clarifies who le means.
El guía nos enseña la ciudad.The guide shows us the city.Naming the receiver: Nos is the group receiving the guide's explanation or showing.
Les escribo a mis padres cada semana.I write to my parents every week.Naming the receiver: Les is plural because the recipients are mis padres.
El libro se lo doy a Juan.I give the book to Juan.Receiver and thing together: Le + lo becomes se lo; a Juan makes the recipient clear.

Direct-object pronouns: what or whom?

Person or thing replaced	Pronoun	Example
Yo	me	Ana me ve.
Tú	te	Ana te ve.
Él/Ella / masculine or feminine thing	lo / la	Ana lo/la ve.
Usted	lo / la	Ana lo/la ve.
Nosotros/as	nos	Ana nos ve.
Vosotros/as	os	Ana os ve.
Ellos/Ellas / masculine, mixed, or feminine plural	los / las	Ana los/las ve.
Ustedes	los / las	Ana los/las ve.

Indirect-object pronouns: to or for whom?

Recipient	Pronoun	Example
Yo	me	Ana me escribe.
Tú	te	Ana te escribe.
Él/Ella	le	Ana le escribe.
Usted	le	Ana le escribe.
Nosotros/as	nos	Ana nos escribe.
Vosotros/as	os	Ana os escribe.
Ellos/Ellas	les	Ana les escribe.
Ustedes	les	Ana les escribe.

Two pronouns together

Meaning	Combination	Result
to me + it	me + lo/la	me lo / me la
to you + it	te + lo/la	te lo / te la
to him/her/you + it	le + lo/la	se lo / se la
to us + it	nos + lo/la	nos lo / nos la
to you all + it	os + lo/la	os lo / os la
to them/you all + it	les + lo/la	se lo / se la

Where object pronouns go

Structure	Position	Example
One conjugated verb	Before the verb	Lo compro.
Conjugated verb + infinitive	Before the first verb or attached to the infinitive	Lo voy a comprar / Voy a comprarlo.
Conjugated verb + gerund	Before the first verb or attached to the gerund	Lo estoy buscando / Estoy buscándolo.
Affirmative command	Attached to the command	¡Cómpralo!
Negative command	Before the command	¡No lo compres!

Common mistakes

Le lo doy.Se lo doy.Le or les changes to se immediately before lo, la, los, or las.
Tengo lo.Lo tengo.With one conjugated verb, place the object pronoun before it.
La doy un regalo a Marta.Le doy un regalo a Marta.Marta is the recipient, so standard Spanish uses the indirect-object pronoun le.
Voy a lo comprar.Lo voy a comprar / Voy a comprarlo.Place lo before the conjugated verb or attach it to the infinitive, not between a and the infinitive.

Practice

¿La carta? ___ escribo.
I have it (el libro) = ___ tengo.
Le + lo = ___ lo
I give it to her = ___ lo doy.
¿Los billetes? ___ compro en línea.
I write to my parents = ___ escribo a mis padres.
Ana gives me the key = Ana ___ da la llave.
We buy them (las entradas) = ___ compramos.