1. Know what a Direct Object is in English
2. Know what Direct Object Pronouns are in English. AND
3. Understand the purpose of substituting the pronoun for the object.
What is a Direct Object?
The DIRECT OBJECT is the object that receives the direct action of the verb. It answers the question Who? or What? We use direct object pronouns to avoid saying the name of the OBJECT (person or thing) over and over again.
• I want a skirt. SKIRT, is the DIRECT OBJECT
• He saw the money. MONEY, is the DIRECT OBJECT
• We called Bob. Bob, is the DIRECT OBJECT
• You know Sally. Sally, is the DIRECT OBJECT
Notice in English, the DIRECT OBJECT follows the verb. When I was growing up, we had to diagram the parts of the sentence... I = Subject ... want = Verb ... skirt = Direct Object
I didn't appreciate it back then, but now it makes Spanish sentences easier to understand.
Direct Object Pronouns in English
• ME
o My husband loves ME.
o Me = Direct Object Pronoun
• YOU
• HIM, HER, IT
o She saw him.
o Him = Direct Object Pronoun
• US
o He likes us.
o Us = Direct Object Pronoun
• YOU (plural...or Y'ALL)
o I told y'all.
o Y'all = Direct Object Pronoun
• THEM
o We bought them.
o Them = Direct Object Pronoun
Why substitute?
Easy! I bought a car. My car is gold. My car is new. My car is shiny. My car is fast... I could do this all day, but why use the word car over and over again when I can SUBSTITUTE a pronoun...it for car. NOW, using the Direct Object Pronoun...I bought a car. I like it. It's gold, new, shiny...
Now that you understand how to use Direct Objects and Direct Object Pronouns in English...Spanish should be a breeze!
1.Know what a Direct Object is...in Spanish
2. Know what Direct Object Pronouns are...in Spanish AND
3. Understand the purpose of substituting the pronoun for the object.
What is a "Spanish" Direct Object?
Same as in English, Spanish Direct Objects receives the direct action of the verb and answer the questions ¿Qué? o ¿Quién?
• Quiero una falda. FALDA, is the DIRECT OBJECT
• Él vio el dinero. DINERO, is the DIRECT OBJECT
• Nosotros llamamos a Bob. Bob, is the DIRECT OBJECT
• Conoces a Sally. Sally, is the DIRECT OBJECT
Notice in Spanish (just like in English), the DIRECT OBJECT follows the verb. When I was growing up, we had to diagram the parts of the sentence... (yo) = Subject (remember sometimes we don't need the subject pronoun because the person is already in the verb)... quiero = Verb ... una falda = Direct Object
Direct Object Pronouns en español
Notice that the Spanish direct object pronouns for 3rd person singular (it) and 3rd person plural (them) are based on gender. The pronoun you use depends upon the gender of the noun you're substituting. REMEMBER, in Spanish we have to make sure our number and gender agree...pronouns included.
For example: I want a skirt. Yo quiero una falda. Using pronouns...I want it, but that it in Spanish has to be "la" because it represents the skirt... Make sense?
NOW, the object in both languages is placed after the verb, BUT the DIRECT OBJECT PRONOUN, is placed BEFORE the conjugated verb in SPANISH.
¿Quién compró el café? Who bought the coffee?
• direct objects/AFTER the verb in both languages
Sally lo compró. Sally bought it. (where it = el café)
• direct object pronouns
o after the verb in English
o BEFORE the verb in Spanish
***As always pay attention to your gender and your numbers = make sure they agree***
NOW... there's always one little thing that's SLIGHTLY difficult ... no need to panic, just pay attention
When a conjugated verb and an infinitive are used together... In other words, when there are 2 verbs, the direct object pronoun can be placed :
1. BEFORE the conjugated verb (this is the same way you do it if there is only ONE verb, so you only have to learn one way)
• I want to buy a car. Quiero comprar un carro.
• I want to buy it. Lo quiero comprar.
2. ATTACHED to the infinitive. (for those of you who have to translate everything, this is the one you'll like, because this translated exactly the way you would say it in English...you'll like it)
• I want to buy a car. Quiero comprar un carro.
• I want to buy it. Quiero comprarlo.
If you need additional help check out the following sites:
http://www.studyspanish.com/lessons/dopro1.htm
http://conjuguemos.com/home/docs/nologin/spanish_fillin_grammar_44.html
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