Placing Spanish Object Pronouns with Infinitives and Gerunds

In this lesson, you will place direct object pronouns correctly when a sentence contains an infinitive or a gerund. You already know that a direct object pronoun comes before a simple conjugated verb. With certain two-verb structures, Spanish gives you another valid position.

Review: before a simple conjugated verb

— I buy it.
— I am looking for it / her.
— I need them.

With a conjugated verb plus infinitive

You can often attach the direct object pronoun to the infinitive.

— I want to buy it.
— I need to look for it / her.
— I am going to buy the tickets.
— I am going to buy them.

Another correct position with the infinitive structure

With many familiar two-verb structures, the pronoun can also appear before the conjugated verb.

— I want to buy it.
— I need to look for it / her.
— I am going to buy them.

The two positions express the same basic object relationship.

Do not use both positions

Choose one position, not two.

Correct:

— I want to buy it.
— I want to buy it.

Do not repeat the same pronoun before the conjugated verb and on the infinitive.

The pronoun belongs to the action that takes the object

In — I want to buy it, lo is the object of — to buy.

The pronoun stays semantically connected to the verb whose action affects the object.

With estar + gerund

You can place the direct object pronoun before estar.

— I am looking for it / her.
— I am buying it.
— We are reading them.

Attach the pronoun to the gerund

You can also attach the pronoun to the gerund.

— I am looking for it / her.
— I am buying it.
— We are reading them.

When the pronoun is attached to the gerund, a written accent is often required to preserve the original stress.

Compare the two gerund positions

— I am looking for it / her.
— I am looking for it / her.
— I am buying it.
— I am buying it.

Do not separate an attached pronoun

When the pronoun is attached to an infinitive or gerund, write it as part of the same word.

— to buy it
— to look for it / her
— buying it
— looking for it / her

Keep gender and number correct

The placement changes, but the choice of pronoun still depends on the object.

— the T-shirt → I want to buy it.
— the phone → I want to buy it.
— the tickets → I am going to buy them.
— the suitcases → I am looking for them.

Short shop exchange

Person A: — Are you looking for the white T-shirt?

Person B: — Yes, I am looking for it.

Person A: — Do you want to buy it?

Person B: — Yes, I want to buy it.

A practical placement method

Identify the verb whose action takes the direct object.
Choose the correct direct object pronoun.
With a simple conjugated verb, put the pronoun before it.
With many conjugated-verb + infinitive structures, put the pronoun before the conjugated verb or attach it to the infinitive.
With estar + gerund, put the pronoun before estar or attach it to the gerund.
When attaching a pronoun to a gerund, preserve the required written accent.
Never duplicate the same object pronoun in both positions.

From Pronoun Placement to Reading Product Labels

You can now place direct object pronouns correctly with simple verbs, infinitives, and gerunds. The next lesson uses shopping language in product descriptions, labels, and basic instructions.