A2 Spanish grammar

Spanish Direct and Indirect Object Pronouns: Know the Difference

When a sentence contains a thing affected by the action and a recipient, identify both roles before replacing either noun with a pronoun.

Spanish direct and indirect object pronouns: Identify the thing and the recipient

The direct object is the thing given, shown, or sent; the indirect object is the person receiving it.

Doy el mapa a Elena.
I give the map to Elena.El mapa is direct; Elena is indirect.

Quick check

In Envío la foto a Luis, what is direct?

Choose a pronoun for each role

Use lo, la, los, or las for the thing and me, te, le, nos, os, or les for the recipient.

Le envío la foto.
I send him or her the photo.Le replaces the recipient while la foto remains stated.

Put the indirect pronoun first

When both pronouns appear, the indirect object pronoun comes before the direct object pronoun.

Me lo explican.
They explain it to me.Me, the recipient, comes before lo, the thing.

Common mistakes

Elena is the direct object in Doy el mapa a Elena.

El mapa is direct; Elena is indirect.

Ask what is given and to whom.

La envío la foto a Ana.

Le envío la foto a Ana.

Ana is the recipient, so use le.

Lo me explican.

Me lo explican.

The order is indirect before direct.

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Direct and indirect objects FAQ

What does direct and indirect objects cover?

When a sentence contains a thing affected by the action and a recipient, identify both roles before replacing either noun with a pronoun.

What is the first rule to remember?

The direct object is the thing given, shown, or sent; the indirect object is the person receiving it.

What is another important A2 pattern?

Use lo, la, los, or las for the thing and me, te, le, nos, os, or les for the recipient.

How can I practise Spanish direct and indirect object pronouns?

Complete the focused round, review each correction, and repeat the lesson when its skills become due again.

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