Objetos Directos e Indirectos

Direct Object (Objeto Directo)

The direct object receives the action of the verb directly. It answers “what?” or “whom?”

Direct Object Pronouns:

• me - me
• te - you (informal)
• lo - him, it (masculine), you (formal masculine)
• la - her, it (feminine), you (formal feminine)
• nos - us
• os - you all (informal, Spain)
• los - them (masculine), you all (formal masculine)
• las - them (feminine), you all (formal feminine)

Position: Before the conjugated verb or attached to infinitive/gerund

Examples:

• Veo a Juan → Lo veo - I see him
• Compro el libro → Lo compro - I buy it
• Quiero comprarlo - I want to buy it
• Estoy leyendolo - I’m reading it
• Te quiero - I love you
• La conozco bien - I know her well
• Los veo mañana - I’ll see them tomorrow

Indirect Object (Objeto Indirecto)

The indirect object indicates to whom or for whom the action is performed. It answers “to whom?” or “for whom?”

Indirect Object Pronouns:

• me - to/for me
• te - to/for you (informal)
• le - to/for him, her, you (formal)
• nos - to/for us
• os - to/for you all (informal, Spain)
• les - to/for them, you all (formal)

Position: Same as direct object pronouns

Examples:

• Doy un regalo a María → Le doy un regalo - I give her a gift
• Escribo una carta a mis padres → Les escribo una carta - I write them a letter
• Me gusta el café - I like coffee (literally: Coffee is pleasing to me)
• Te digo la verdad - I tell you the truth
• Nos compra flores - He/She buys us flowers

Using Both Together

When using both pronouns together:

1. Indirect object comes first
2. Direct object comes second
3. le/les changes to se before lo/la/los/las

Structure: se + lo/la/los/las

Examples:

• Doy el libro a Juan → Se lo doy - I give it to him
• Compro flores para María → Se las compro - I buy them for her
• Escribo una carta a ellos → Se la escribo - I write it to them
• Envío el paquete a ti → Te lo envío - I send it to you
• Explico la lección a nosotros → Nos la explica - He/She explains it to us

Clarification

To clarify se, add a + pronoun/noun:

• Se lo doy a él - I give it to him
• Se lo doy a ella - I give it to her
• Se lo doy a usted - I give it to you (formal)
• Se los mando a ellos - I send them to them

Common Verbs with Indirect Objects

• Dar (to give): Le doy un regalo
• Decir (to say): Te digo la verdad
• Prestar (to lend): Me prestas el libro
• Mostrar (to show): Les muestro la casa
• Enviar (to send): Nos envían cartas
• Pedir (to ask for): Le pido ayuda
• Explicar (to explain): Te explico el problema
• Gustar (to like): Me gusta la música

Practice Examples

• Veo a María → La veo
• Escribo a Juan → Le escribo
• Escribo una carta a Juan → Se la escribo
• Doy el libro a ti → Te lo doy
• Compramos regalos para ellos → Se los compramos