Spanish Object Pronouns

Direct, indirect and combined pronouns. The le→se rule and placement options.

Direct object pronouns

PersonPronounExample
memeÉl me ve. (He sees me.)
you (tú)teYo te llamo. (I call you.)
him/it (m)loYo lo compro. (I buy it.)
her/it (f)laYo la veo. (I see her.)
usnosElla nos ayuda. (She helps us.)
them (m)losLos conozco. (I know them.)
them (f)lasLas invité. (I invited them.)

Indirect object pronouns

PersonPronounExample
to memeMe da el libro. (He gives me the book.)
to youteTe escribo una carta. (I write you a letter.)
to him/herleLe digo la verdad. (I tell him the truth.)
to usnosNos envía un mensaje.
to themlesLes compro regalos.

Combining both: indirect + direct

Order: indirect BEFORE direct, both BEFORE verb

Me + lo → Me lo da. (He gives it to me.)
Te + la → Te la envío. (I send it to you.)
Nos + los → Nos los trae. (He brings them to us.)

Le/Les + lo/la/los/las → SE lo/la/los/las

Le + lo = Se lo doy. (I give it to him.) — NOT le lo
Les + la = Se la envío. (I send it to them.)
This "se" replaces le/les to avoid "le lo" which sounds awkward.

Placement with infinitives and gerunds

Before verb: Se lo quiero dar.
Attached to infinitive: Quiero dárselo.
Attached to gerund: Estoy dándoselo.
Both positions are correct and interchangeable.

Quick quiz

1. Yo _____ veo. (I see her.)

2. Ella _____ da el libro. (to me)

3. ¿El café? Yo _____ compro. (it, masculine)

4. Me _____ da. (He gives it to me.)

5. Le + lo becomes _____ lo.

6. Quiero dar_____ . (it to him)

7. Ella _____ escribe una carta. (to us)

8. Las flores? _____ compré ayer. (them, feminine)

9. _____ digo la verdad. (to them)

10. ¿La tarea? Estoy haciendo_____. (it, feminine)

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