First of all, what are the direct object pronouns? They are pronouns, then they replace a noun. We use them, essentially to avoid repetitions. For example,
Voy a comprar un abrigo y voy a usar el abrigo durante el invierno.
(I’m going to buy a coat and I’m going to wear the coat during the winter).
It’s easier if we say:
[1 ] Voy a comprar un abrigo y voy a usarlo durante el invierno.
[2] Voy a comprar un abrigo y lo voy a usar durante el invierno.
(I’m going to buy a coat and I’m going to wear it during the winter).
The direct object refers to the thing, person, object… which directly receives the consequences of the action that the verb indicates.
For example,
When you buy, you buy “something”. Then, if I say “I buy a coat”, “I” is who does the action indicated by the verb and “a coat” is the direct “consequence” that the verb indicates. You buy “something”, as I said before.
Where can I write the direct object?
When we use direct object pronouns with the near future tense, the direct object pronoun can go before (example [2]) or after the verb (example [1]). However, direct object pronouns usually go before the verb.
Uso mi abrigo durante el invierno (I wear my coat during the winter).
[3] Lo uso durante el invierno (I wear it during the winter).
Ganaré un concurso de poesía (I’ll win a poetry contest).
[4] Lo ganaré (I’ll win it).
Hice la maleta (I did my suitcase).
[5] La hice (I did it).
When do you use “la”, “las”, “lo”, “los”?
The direct object pronouns are “la”, “las”, “lo”, “los”. You Will use “la” when the noun which you want to replace is feminine and singular and “las” when the noun is feminine and plural. On the other hand, you’ll use “lo” to replace a masculine and singular noun and “los” to replace a masculine and plural nouns. As you imagine, the direct object pronoun agrees with the noun it replaces always.
Examples
> Envié un mensaje (I sent a message).
[6] Lo envié.
Mensaje is a masculine and singular noun, then you’ll use “lo”.
> Iris escribe una carta (Iris writes a letter).
[7] Iris la escribe.
Carta is a feminine and singular noun, then you’ll use “la”.
> Hace los deberes (She does her homework).
[8] Los hace.
Deberes in Spanish is a plural and masculine noun, be careful with that! For that reason you’ll use “los”.
> Horneamos unas tartas (we bake some cakes).
[9] Las horneamos.
Tartas is feminine and plural noun, then you’ll use “las”.
Finally, look at the following table:
| Masculine | Feminine | |
| Singular | LO (him/it) | LA (her/it) |
| Plural | LOS (them) | LAS (them) |
If you have doubts, don’t hesitate to contact me! You can send an email to: belriesco@outlook.com . Please, share this content if you find it useful! I’ll really appreciate it! Many thanks in advance.
Letras en Español – Ms. Riesco Almeida ©
Letras en español 