Direct object pronouns (me, te, lo, la, nos, os, los, las)

¿Quieres la manzana? Sí, la quiero.Do you want the apple? Yes, I want it.

Once something has already been named, you don't need to repeat the noun every time you talk about it — a small pronoun can stand in for it instead. A direct object pronoun replaces the thing (or person) directly receiving the action of the verb.

Quick shortcut: me, te, lo/la, nos, os, los/las — usually placed right before the conjugated verb; with affirmative commands, attached to the end instead. lo/la/los/las must match the gender and number of the noun they replace.

The direct object pronouns

Veo a Juan. → Lo veo. (I see him.) Compro las flores. → Las compro. (I buy them.) The pronoun matches the noun it replaces, not the speaker or listener — las flores is feminine plural, so it becomes las, regardless of who's talking.

Where the pronoun goes

The direct object pronoun goes right before the conjugated verb:

¿Tienes mi libro? Sí, lo tengo. (Do you have my book? Yes, I have it.) ¿Conoces a mis padres? No, no los conozco. (Do you know my parents? No, I don't know them.)

With an infinitive or a gerund, the pronoun can attach to the end instead, and both options are equally correct:

Voy a comprarlo. / Lo voy a comprar. (I'm going to buy it.) Estoy leyéndolo. / Lo estoy leyendo. (I'm reading it.)

With an affirmative command, the pronoun always attaches to the end: ¡Cómelo! (Eat it!), never ¡Lo come!

Common mistakes

• ❌ ¿Tienes la llave? Sí, lo tengo. → ✅ ¿Tienes la llave? Sí, la tengo. (la llave is feminine, so the pronoun must be la, not lo)
• ❌ Veo los a mis amigos. → ✅ Veo a mis amigos. / Los veo. (once the pronoun replaces the noun phrase, the noun phrase itself drops out — the pronoun isn't inserted alongside it)
• ❌ Quiero lo comprar. → ✅ Quiero comprarlo. / Lo quiero comprar. (with an infinitive, the pronoun attaches to its end or moves before the first conjugated verb — it can't sit between the two verbs)
• ❌ ¡Cómelo no! (trying to say "don't eat it") → ✅ ¡No lo comas! (a negative command puts the pronoun back in front, unlike an affirmative one — this contrast is worth remembering as its own pattern)

Quick check

Replace the underlined noun with the correct direct object pronoun.

1. ¿Compras el pan? Sí, ___ compro.
2. ¿Ves a María? Sí, ___ veo.
3. ¿Tienes las entradas? Sí, ___ tengo.
4. ¿Conoces a mis hermanos? Sí, ___ conozco.
5. ¿Necesitas mi ayuda? Sí, ___ necesito.

Key takeaways

• Direct object pronouns (me, te, lo, la, nos, os, los, las) replace a noun that's already been named.
• lo/la/los/las match the gender and number of the noun they replace, not the speaker.
• With a conjugated verb, the pronoun goes right before it; with an infinitive or gerund, it can go before the first verb or attach to the end.
• With an affirmative command, the pronoun always attaches to the end (¡Cómelo!); with a negative command, it goes back in front (¡No lo comas!).