Spanish Direct Object Pronouns: Replacing Repeated Names and Things

In this lesson, you will replace a direct object that is already known with a direct object pronoun. This helps you avoid repeating the same person or thing.

The direct object pronouns

Pronoun	Typical meaning
	me
	you
	him / it, masculine singular
	her / it, feminine singular
	us
	you all
	them, masculine or mixed plural
	them, feminine plural

Replace a masculine singular thing with lo

— I see the phone.

— I see it.

The — the phone.

Replace a feminine singular thing with la

— I am looking for the T-shirt.

— I am looking for it.

Replace masculine plural things with los

— I buy the tickets.

— I buy them.

Replace feminine plural things with las

— I am looking for the suitcases.

— I am looking for them.

Replace a person already identified

— I see Carlos.

— I see him.

— I see Ana.

— I see her.

The personal a appears with the full human direct object, but it disappears when the noun is replaced by or .

Use me, te, nos, and os for people

— Ana sees me.
— I see you.
— The teacher listens to us.
— Ana sees you all.

Pronoun position with a simple present-tense verb

Put the direct object pronoun before the conjugated present-tense verb.

— I want it / him.
— I need it / her.
— I see them.
— I am looking for them.

Choose lo, la, los, or las from the object

Do not choose the pronoun based on the owner of the object or on the English word “it.” Match the Spanish noun being replaced.

Subject versus object

Compare:

— Ana is looking for Carlos.

— She is looking for him.

Ana is still the subject. replaces Carlos, the direct object.

Avoid repeating the noun unnecessarily

Person A: — Do you have the passport?

Person B: — Yes, I have it.

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

Person B: — Yes, I am looking for it.

Plural examples

Person A: — Are you buying the tickets?

Person B: — Yes, I am buying them.

Person A: — Do you need the suitcases?

Person B: — Yes, I need them.

A practical replacement method

Identify the direct object, not the subject.
Confirm that the listener already knows which object or person you mean.
For third person, match gender and number: , , , or .
Use , , , or when those people are the direct objects.
Put the pronoun before a simple conjugated present-tense verb.
Do not choose the pronoun from English “it”; choose it from the Spanish object.

From Direct Object Pronouns to Infinitives and Gerunds

You can now replace repeated direct objects with , , , , , , , and before a simple present-tense verb. The next lesson shows where these pronouns can appear with infinitives and gerunds.