Direct Object Pronouns
Pronombres de objeto directo
Lo, la, los, las: replacing the thing the verb acts on.
The rule
The direct object is what the verb acts on: the answer to '¿qué?' or '¿a quién?'. In 'Compro el libro', 'el libro' is the direct object, and the pronoun that replaces it is: me, te, lo, la, nos, los, las. Third person agrees in gender and number with the noun it replaced: el libro → lo, la película → la, los libros → los, las llaves → las.
Placement has two rules. Before a conjugated verb the pronoun stands alone in front of it: 'Lo compro', 'No lo compro'. With an infinitive, a gerund or an affirmative command it attaches to the end: 'Voy a comprarlo', 'Estoy leyéndolo', '¡Cómpralo!'.
With an infinitive or gerund both positions are correct ('Lo voy a comprar' and 'Voy a comprarlo' mean exactly the same thing), but a negative command only allows the front position: 'No lo compres'. Note the accent that appears when attaching keeps the original stress: leyendo → leyéndolo, compra → cómpralo. There is also a neuter 'lo' that stands in for a whole idea rather than a noun: '¿Sabes qué hora es? — No, no lo sé.' In parts of Spain you will hear 'le' for a male person (leísmo); 'lo' is the form used across Latin America and the one to produce here.
Examples
¿Compras el libro? — Sí, lo compro.
Are you buying the book? — Yes, I'm buying it. (el libro → lo)
¿Ves la película? — Sí, la veo.
Are you watching the film? — Yes, I'm watching it. (la película → la)
Lo voy a comprar. / Voy a comprarlo.
I'm going to buy it. (both positions are correct with an infinitive)
¡Cómpralo! / ¡No lo compres!
Buy it! / Don't buy it! (attached in affirmative commands, in front in negative ones)
No lo sé.
I don't know. (neuter lo: it replaces an idea, not a noun)
Try it yourself
Three quick questions, straight from the app. No sign-up needed.
¿Compras el libro? — Sí, ___ compro.
Are you buying the book? — Yes, I'm buying it.
All 23 Direct Object Pronouns questions, free in Hablaba
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