Pronombres de objeto directo

lo, la, los, las — replace 'it/her/them'.

In English you say 'I see her' — 'her' replaces a noun. Spanish does the same, but the pronoun goes BEFORE the verb: la veo. This is everyday Spanish — without it, sentences get clunky.

The full set

me = me. te = you (informal). lo = him / it (m.) / you (formal m.). la = her / it (f.) / you (formal f.). nos = us. os = you all (informal, Spain only). los = them (m.) / you all (formal m.). las = them (f.) / you all (formal f.).

Where they go

Right before the conjugated verb: Te veo (I see you). Lo compro (I buy it). Las leemos (we read them). Same position in questions and negation: ¿Lo ves?, No lo veo.

With infinitives and gerunds

When there's a helper construction (e.g. voy a + inf, puedo + inf), you have a choice: Voy a verlo = Lo voy a ver. Both are correct. Note: when attached to an infinitive, the pronoun is glued onto the END as one word: verlo, comerlo, hablarme.

Agreement with the noun

The pronoun matches the noun it replaces in gender and number. Compro el libro → Lo compro (libro is m.). Compro la casa → La compro. Veo a mis amigos → Los veo. Escucho las canciones → Las escucho.

Personal 'a' and pronouns

If the object is a person, the noun version had a in front (the personal a). The pronoun version drops it: Veo a María → La veo (not 'a la veo').

Examples

—¿Tienes el libro? —Sí, lo tengo.

— Do you have the book? — Yes, I have it.

lo replaces el libro (m.).

—¿Comes la fruta? —La como.

— Are you eating the fruit? — I'm eating it.

la replaces la fruta (f.).

Te veo en el mercado.

I see you at the market.

te before the verb.

Los amigos me llaman.

The friends call me.

me — direct object here.

Voy a comprarlo. = Lo voy a comprar.

I'm going to buy it.

Both forms are correct.

No las veo.

I don't see them (f.).

no — before the pronoun and verb.